thepilliondiaries-blog

[thepilliondiaries-blog]

[thepilliondiaries-blog]

Sometimes a family is a robot mother, a neglectful alien father, his monkey butler, a man with a gorilla body and a human head, an actress, poor batman, a junkie in a skirt, their dead brother, a violinist, and a 58 year old hitman in the body of a thirteen year old child.

[thepilliondiaries-blog]

A very happy gal 😊

[thepilliondiaries-blog]

Dirt Covered Smiles

On Saturday morning at 9am I rode a motorbike for the first time. 

I rode pillion up to the caravan park up the hill from Mark’s cottage. The sky was just waking up in it’s yellow and blue hues. It was worryingly windy, but my excitement was not to be tampered with. I climbed onto the bike, a Honda crf 250, shifting around until comfortable and placed my hands on the handlebars and BAM!- immediate butterflies.

Mark went through the basics with me; where the clutch and brakes were, how to get out of neutral and into first, how to use the clutch and how to balance (all things I knew in theory, but i find it’s always best to learn as if you’re seeing it for the first time so that you can tick off what you’re doing in your head and in order.) 

It began with a few short bursts, at the end of which as soon as I stopped I fell over, I knew as the bike started to tip that I wouldn't be able to hold the weight because of my wrist (snapped it in half a few years ago after falling from a horse and although now completely healed is quite weak, especially in colder months), so all three times I fell over with the bike, almost in slow motion like a bad comedy sketch. Each time Mark walked over from where he had been watching in the middle of the field, pulled the bike up off of me and let me get up in my own time, then patiently explained what I was doing wrong and what I needed to do next. 

At one point I did get rather close to a caravan (all empty for the winter season), and pulled the brake and turned to see Mark wincing, but he walked over and turned me around, helping me climb back on. His patience is overwhelming, and it is definitely one of the things I adore about him the most. 

All in all it went very well for a first go. I definitely need to work on steering and just generally trusting the bike more. We have decided to practice as many Saturday’s as we can...maybe next week I will actually get out of 1st gear! 

It was a day that I will never forget, and one I am very grateful for.  

Be kind and ride safe. 

Love, Frankie 

x

[thepilliondiaries-blog]

From the Ground Upwards

Hi all,

Well it’s safe to say it’s been a while! I’m going to trying and shorten this summary as much as possible but it has been one hell of a few months. Firstly, me and my ex who is featured in posts and pictures previously on this blog are no longer together. I wont go into details, basically I came home to Devon for a couple of weeks after being in hospital in Oxford and whilst I was here we broke up (the day before my birthday too!) and I stayed down here.

However, this is not a sad post to say the least. Though I am grateful for all the opportunities and memories - especially bike related, that I had with my ex I do believe that us parting was for the best. I went on to have an incredible summer in which I spent hours and hours swimming in the sea, had barbecues with family and friends, ran riot when my best friend came to visit and we had the house to ourselves for weeks, I got a new job, and most importantly a relationship came out of the blue. 

A neighbour I have known for many years and I ended up together one night, which surprised us both and at the time we thought we were just fooling around, then fooling around turned to dates and nights out, and I am happy to say roughly six and a half months later we are extremely happy as a couple. 

Now what would this post be without the mention of some pretty engines? My partner owns a Triumph Street Triple and a Honda crf. We have been out for many adventures - Including a ride across Dartmoor! And even more excitingly, he has been helping me practice on the Honda. I will write about this in a separate post. 

I hope you all had a fab christmas and that the new year brings you lots of adventures. 

Be kind and ride safe.

Love, Frankie 

[thepilliondiaries-blog]

Such a poser... Oops! (That’s a can of Monster energy btw) 

[thepilliondiaries-blog]

[thepilliondiaries-blog]

21st April - The Caldarium Egg Run (AKA The Perfect Day.)

6.30am soon arrives. Scott gets up, I grunt and roll over. He says bye and heads downstairs. A few moments later I hear shouting and swearing from outside. Of course, the bike wont start. I hear a loud bang and not long after I head downstairs. By this time, he’s gone and I go out to inspect the bike. The battery was flat, and the one that had been on charge overnight hadn’t charged.

Over the past few months I’ve managed to try and not panic until the last second, so I make a coffee and message Scott to see if there are any alternatives. Luckily Scott works at a building suppliers where they have a super charger for the lorries. So I chuck the battery in a backpack and head over to his work, give him the battery and cross my fingers.

Scott hurries back from work, extremely stressed and rushing like mad. He chucks the battery in the bike, tells me to put my gear on and within ten minutes we’re making our way as quick as possible (not without a crazy amount of shouting and swearing) to the Littlemore Rugby Club.

Mark in the middle facing the camera, Scott and I on the right. No idea what is going on with my butt. Think my phone was in my back pocket? photograph credit to @paulnikki fab photographer and great guy. 

A small relief washed over me after seeing Mark’s excited grin as we pulled into the car park. He would be blocking during the rally, which is where a couple of chosen club members ride ahead of the pack and cut off any traffic coming from the side roads to let the pack through. He would also be riding a V-Rad since his bike had broken after a crash, only adding to his excitement. After and chat and a few giggles the stress began to wash away and was replaced with excitement. 

When the rest of the club arrived Caldarium’s president called everyone over for a briefing before we set off. Hearing so many bikes start at once gave me goosebumps, and once we were all geared up we moved into the pack and left the rugby club. The feeling of riding in a pack was incredible, riding pillion I didn’t think I’d be that bothered about it, but It’s definitely a great feeling. Occasionally a few excited howls, many grins and the revving of engines. Mark seemed in his element and did a fantastic job being as it was his first ride with the club as prospect and his first time blocking.

Our first stop was Fewcott House Nursing Home in Fritwell. We went inside in groups to hand out Easter eggs and fluffy toys to the elderly. One elderly lady pointed to a triumph and told her carer she was going to take it and ride off into the sunset!

We stayed there for around half an hour before climbing back on the bike and heading to our second stop, a disability centre in Bicester. Riding past the idyllic landscapes, the bright yellow mustard fields and rolling hills made me feel incredibly calm, and reminded me of my home in Devon. 

We carried out the same procedure at the disability centre and met some of the patients, they all had a wonderful sense of humour and beautiful smiles. The nurses bought out a tea and coffee station for us. Scott and I took this opportunity to have a look at some of the bikes, including a bike decorated with characters from Tim Burton’s ‘The Corpse Bride’. 

Unfortunately upon pulling into the disability centre, a girl in front of us broke harshly with no warning and my glove got caught where I was holding the back of the bike, so I slammed into the back of Scott whilst my arm stayed at the back causing quite a painful stretch in my wrist. I was too happy to worry about it at the time, however the next day was rather painful. 

I’ll post more pictures in a separate post. The bike above is Yorkie’s custom bandit, pretty neat, huh? 

The ride just kept getting more and more beautiful as the day moved on. The ride back to the club was met with a pink sky. We were riding behind Hagrid on his Honda Goldwing, and on the back in a carrier he had his dog Lily, who was bravely standing almost on top of the carrier quite enjoying the breeze!

When we returned to the club they began setting up a BBQ. We stretched out on the grass and I made some friends, particularly a couple that came to sit with us. Dan, the male counterpart was part of the Hog membership and had quite a few hog patches on his vest. His parents happened to live near mine in Devon, so we were talking for quite a while. His girlfriend Claire was extremely lovely and had the best pair of Harley boots I think I have ever seen.

Jack and Abi also came to join us, which topped off the perfect evening. 

Mark was busy prospecting, and after staying around to see one of the prospects receive their patches and Pockets’ receive her birthday cake Scott and I bid farewell and rode home. Exhausted, Exhilarated and feeling on top of the world, I fell asleep almost immediately. The trip was around 80 miles in a full circle. 

It was the most perfect day. 

Stay Loyal, Ride safe. 

Frankie X

[thepilliondiaries-blog]

20th of April - Revival of The Bandit.

On the 20th of April Mark, Scott and I were sat in the carport next to the bike feeling rather glum. None of us had been able to get the bike working and the egg run was fast approaching. Technically, Scott could have ridden it and just not used the rear brake, but he wouldn’t go without me regardless of my insisting (bless). Suddenly a light bulb went off between the boys.

The rear brake pad on the Bandit was identical to the one on Jack Jack’s currently out of action Suzuki GSXR SRAD, and luckily Jack is one of the most generous and sweet people we know. Regardless of it being 10pm, Mark, Scott, Abi, Jack and I piled into Mark’s car and made our way out to Duns Tew where Jack’s mum lives, stopping at his Grandpa’s on the way to pick up some tools. Jack’s mums house is incredible, it’s like a house from one of those country living magazines. I spent most of the time drooling over the convection oven and playing with the fluffiest doggo in the world. 

At first the plan was to get Jacks Bike running then ride it over to Scott’s to do the work, but unfortunately the GSXR didn’t want to play. So with experienced hands (I mean Mark, I was pretty useless but happy to be learning) and poor lighting we stripped the brake pads and headed back home hoping for the best. The bike had been off of the road for around a week or two, and just hearing the engine breathe again made me giddy with excitement. She’s had a lot go wrong recently, but for an 18 year old bike she’s doing pretty good if you ask me. 

We said our goodbyes around midnight and Scott and I dragged each other to bed. He would have to be up at 6.30am to do a half day of work before we sped over to the Littlemore Rugby Club to join the Caldarium MCC for the ride out. I just prayed that all the stress that I could see in his face would wash away with a good night of sleep and prayed even harder that the bike would start in the morning...

[thepilliondiaries-blog]

17th of April - Southern Fried Spontaneity

The brake calipers are officially dead. We have two days to either borrow some that will fit or borrow a bike. We might be able to borrow Boe’s bandit, however it’s much more powerful than Scott’s and he’s uncomfortable having me ride pillion on bike he’s not used to. Currently we’re trying to spray the hell out of the calipers with brake cleaner to put on the bike and pump them to bleed them,  in the hope that it will make a difference.

In other news, Polly and I have set a target for doing our tests & getting on the road. We discovered a company (Not the ideal word for it, It’s more of an incentive) called VC London. To quote the website  VC London focuses on “Celebrating, empowering & supporting women to get out on the road less travelled” and every year they hold a camp in the Welsh Countryside - 

“A WOMENS MOTORCYCLE, OUTDOOR & ADVENTURE WEEKEND OF MOTORCYCLES, SKATEBOARDING, CAMPING, BEGINNERS RIDING LESSONS,  LIVE TALKS & DISCUSSIONS, RIDE OUTS, DIRTBIKING, LIVE MUSIC & PARTYING SET IN THE BRECON BEACONS”. 

I will link the website & facebook page at the bottom of this post. They recently held a live panel talk at Red Bull studios with champion Boulderer Shauna Coxsey, pioneering Porsche racer Nathalie McGloin Racing , Flat track racer Leah Tokelove & automotive expert Becky Evans. It’s is a truly empowering, motivational, riveting talk that will make you proud to be a woman, it honestly gave me goosebumps and I strongly recommend checking it out - you wont regret it.

Polly and I believe that it would be a really great experience for us and a great beginners trip to get used to the roads. The other exciting idea, just a pipe dream at the moment really, is after a couple of years experience riding Polly and I driving to Spain via Amsterdam & France & vlogging the experience. Obviously this will take a couple of years of saving and experience, not to mention the planning that would need to go into it, but it’s definitely on the bucket list. It’s nice to have an achievable dream, and someone to share it with. 

Our biggest concern about the CBT is being able to hold up the bikes. Polly is quite petite and I have the upper arm strength of a nat. Jack claims that it’s easier than it seems... But jack is also a regular gym attendee. The boys are talking about borrowing a 125 for Polly and I to get acquainted with so that we have some idea of what we’re doing. Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated. 

Mark came over yesterday and the boys picked up an instant barbecue and a ton of food, so we had a spontaneous barbecue in the carport, accompanied by country music playing from Mark’s car. Music, food, smokes, sunshine & good company...Perfect! 

Stay Loyal, Ride Safe. 

- Frankie X

VC London Website Home page - http://www.vclondon.co.uk/

Website Camp VC - http://www.vclondon.co.uk/camp-vc-2017/

VC London Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/vclondon/

VC London Live Talk at Red Bull Studios -https://www.facebook.com/vclondon/videos/1787569548217538/

[thepilliondiaries-blog]

14/15th April - Fix One, The Other Falls Off.

I woke up yesterday afternoon with a hammering hangover. As it turns out Gin and Raspberry and Cranberry tea don’t mix well...Or they mix too well. When I eventually wondered outside I found Scott and Charming hard at work on their bikes. Scott had the harrowing job of replacing his rear wheel bearings and Charming was busy fitting a new bike chain. I walked over to Scott and inspected the bike, seeing it without the rear wheel was a little unnerving.

Apparently (according to the various YouTube videos we had consulted) the easiest way to remove old wheel bearings is to heat them up with a blow torch and knock them out with a hammer, and guess the only two tools we didn’t possess... This resulted in SIX hours of trying to knock the wheel bearings out using an adjustable wrench in place of a hammer and a flathead screwdriver to trying and push them through. We even began trying to break the ball bearings to get through but the damn things just wouldn’t budge.

Even though the task itself was relatively stressful, sitting outside in the sun accompanied by good people and great coffee working on the bike all day was my idea of heaven.

Finally, help arrived in the form of fellow bikers; Mark, Polly & Boe and Jack & Abi. Of course, Mark gets straight out the car, whacks on a pair of black rubber gloves and knocks the wheel bearings out in two minutes flat, all before he’s even said hello. SIX hours of work done in TWO MINUTES! Turns out all it needed was brute force and a little faith. So, job done, right? Not quite.

Day turned to night as we finished fitting the new wheel bearings and placed the wheel with some unusual difficulty back on to the bike, (I say we, I mean Jack, Mark, Boe and Scott crowded around the back wheel as Polly, Abi and I put the world to rights over more coffee and Lemon Drizzle cake that I had made that morning). All was well until we heard those dreaded words - “Uh, guys? was this important?” Boe held up the spacer, the object that keeps the wheel together and aligned and also keeps the brake calipers in place. It turns out we had forgotten to put it back in the wheel, and whilst removing the wheel once again unfortunately the diagnosis became more traumatic.

The boys noticed that the Bandit’s brake calipers were nearly corroded. I didn’t have to look at Scott to see the frustration and confusion overcome him. Not only could we not afford to replace the calipers just yet, we also had an egg run coming up at the weekend with the local MCC.

The time flew to 10.30pm and after a final cup of tea and some chatter we called it a night with a plan to continue the following day. Eight and a half hours of working on the bike...and I had loved every second. The day had also been a reminder that my partner and I are surrounded by wonderful friends willing to drop everything at a moments notice just to help out however they can.  

At the end of the night Scott and I collapsed onto the sofa and he noticed that my mood had dipped. I began to explain the feeling I get whenever they leave, like a parent watching their kids go back off to college. Scott told me that I was a part of the family now, and to remember that family isn’t necessarily blood family, and I cried. My family situation has been complicated recently, and I’ve been going through one of the most difficult periods of my life. To know that I am lucky enough to have these incredible people that I can call family around me makes the bad times just that much easier.

Stay Loyal, Ride Safe.

- Frankie X

[thepilliondiaries-blog]

Our precious. ❤🔧

[thepilliondiaries-blog]

Such Fine a Time!  - The Wheatsheaf, Oxford.

I moved to Oxford on the 21st of June and long before then when I had visited my brother at his university (Oxford Brookes) , I had come across the glorious Wheatsheaf. 

The Wheatsheaf is an american-esque biker dive bar that resides down an alleyway off of the main high street. It stole my heart immediately. As you walk in your eyes are spoilt with oddities to browse, all over the walls and the ceilings are number plates, photos, band memorabilia and much much more. (Including a Darth Vader figure holding a jagermeister shot glass and a blackboard with the quote “Carrots may help you see in the dark, but alcohol gives you double vision”). The pub itself is long and narrow, the bar being in the middle, the pool table at the far end and the Darts board along with a few small tables as you come in the main door. Upstairs there is a music venue, hosting live music, often of the local variety. 

The landlord must be one of my favourite characters that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, a man of few words, and yet one of the funniest and most charming people I’ve met. The bar staff are equally as charismatic; Jack -  the short, well built man, covered in tattoos with a heart of gold. Lauren - the feisty yet equally chilled barmaid, Millie, the smiling, giggling, happy girl who wears THE BEST T-shirts and a few others I’ve met only briefly. 

However it isn’t just the staff that make this place what it is, it’s the locals. From the older lot who besiege the pool table,  the middle aged dwellers ready for any conversation should silence fall, The ex/current/to be bikers that bring the noise and laughter of a decent christmas, and finally the girls who spit in the face of inequality and societal norms. 

This became my home away from home, and what started as visiting every wednesday soon became “If I’m not at work I’m at The Sheaf.” However I wasn’t alone. I was accompanied by my good friend Sarah, who had in fact drunkenly told most of the Wheatsheaf we were married, after I drunkenly proposed to her in Purple Turtle. (I know, we’re classy ladies). I had known a couple of the local girls from previous visits and, as these things go, slowly got introduced to more and more locals every time I went. 

Looking back on it, it really sounds silly but to be invited to sit at what I called ‘The Locals’ table” was a little bit of an honour to me, little did I know that it would be the start of something even more wonderful. Firstly, I was introduced to Mark, a tall, hugely built, bear of a man with a golden sense of humour and a tendency to burst into song every half hour. I noticed Mark and his friend were both wearing leather biker cut-offs with patches, meaning that they either were in had been a member of a club. I was then introduced briefly to his best friend, Scott. Scott had very few words to say, but was friendly none-the-less. 

Mark had then told me that a guy they were talking to found me attractive and proceeded to try and initiate conversation  between us. I sat opposite my impromptu date and Scott sat next to him. To say the conversation had become dull would be to say that Hunter Thompson was a devout christian, and by this point Scott was laughing to himself as I tried to drop the hint that the feeling wasn’t mutual. 

That’s how I met what I can only describe as family. Scott and I are now in a happy relationship and Mark is like a brother to me. Imagine if I’d just stuck to Wednesday nights...

Stay Loyal, Ride Safe.

-Frankie X

[thepilliondiaries-blog]

Our baby, the Suzuki Bandit.