Xanas7's Virtual Shack

As I start writing this it is 23:20 on Sunday the 29th of April 2012.
I leave for the biggest adventure of my life in less than a month with my mates Jamie, JP, Matt & Oli, so I feel compelled to jot something down about it for 2 reasons. One being that it might be nice for a few others to read, but mostly as a prompt to myself to actually think about what I need to have in place before I leave my house on the 25th of May.

The biggest thing on my mind is my health.
As I missed out on the trip last year due to putting my back out at work, I am now consciously avoiding putting myself in that position again. As a result, I expect my colleagues have noticed that I have taken my foot off the gas a little. Thankfully they are all so competent at what they do, as a team we are not suffering any adverse effects by me doing this. I am by no means being a slacker (at least I don’t think so lol), but if any of them are reading this, I want to say thanks for being the kick ass bunch you are!

The second thing on my mind is the old “Have I got everything?”
The bike is in good running order, but I’ll be taking it to Windy Corner to get Danny to give it a check over & make sure everything is going to last the trip.
My luggage all works & fits on the bike fine as I tested it all through last summer. I have my tent, cooking equipment, thermarest, sleeping bag, hydro-backpack, camping stools, Passport, bike documentation & my power adapters to charge my phone and MP3 player from my bike as I ride.
As far as riding kit and clothing goes, I am literally only taking underwear,  T-shirts, 1 pair of Kevlar jeans, swim shorts, my leather jacket & my mesh summer gloves. As for footwear,  this has been a big issue. I was torn between wearing my boots (comfy & safe while riding but hurt like hell to walk in) or my trainers (comfy but not so safe if I drop the top heavy luggage laden bike on my foot). So I’ve ordered some Alpinestars Fastback WP Boots. They are still reinforced footwear but with less shin protection. So if I go over my bars in a crash I’m likely to break my leg. but lets be honest, if that happens, I think I’m fucked if I have my bones in my leg intact or not!

Finally the financial situation was the piece of the puzzle I really wanted to get right before I left, instead of getting into debt & spending all year paying it off. Since being mostly a recluse since Christmas, working a lot & my job promotion almost a year ago, it’s put me in a strong place for this trip, which means I’m prepared for the worst, if something should happen while we’re away. I also took out a credit card for the first time in my life as a sort of Plan-B. This means the first round is on me lads

The more I think about this trip the more I realize what I’m getting myself into. It’s a massive adventure that will live with me forever I’m sure. But what I’m looking forward to most of all, is working with the guys on documenting the whole trip for you all to see when we get back. I’m not talking holiday snaps & snippets of video. We wanted to do this as professionally as possible. Like a ‘Long Way Round’ style only more ‘Half-Arsed in that General Direction’. All of us on this trip became friends due to our love of filming our riding & talking to an audience on Youtube. It’s only fitting that we try and make this something we can look back on and not only remember the trip, but remember how this all started for all of us.

It’s now 00:03 on Monday 30th April. I’m another day closer and I honestly can’t wait!

So, for Comic Relief, I will be getting people to sponsor me to ride to every Sainsbury’s store in Region 45 (I work for Sainsbury’s remember, I’m not just some sad-act!).
So, I will be setting off from Nuneaton at 8am on the Wednesday (16th March) before Comic Relief (18th March) and heading off to my first store on my list which is Redditch.

My stops on the tour:

• Nuneaton (start)
• Redditch
• Northfield
• Selly Oak
• Kings Heath
• Maypole
• Marshall Lake
• Solihull
• Acocks Green
• Castle Vale
• Mere Green
• Tamworth (Lunch)
• Courthouse Green
• Coventry
• Canley
• Kenilworth
• Warwick
• Leamington
• Rugby
• Nuneaton (Finnish)

View Larger Map
The Travel time is meant to be 5 and a half hours, but you need to add the time it’ll take to park up, and grab a member of the stores staff to sit on my bike out the front of the shop, so I can take a photo. I’m estimating the day to take up to 8 hours, but as most stores are open from 8am – 8pm, I’ve got 12 hours to make sure I get every single store on my list! Even if I get hit by a truck, I’ll get the ambulance to park out the front of the remaining stores on my list! hmm, can you fit a Daytona in the back of an ambulance?

This idea only came to life a few days ago, so I’m focusing on getting my sponsorship form sorted for the people who I work with and live near. If you wish to sponsor me, and don’t live local, contact me and I’ll see if I can set up some form of official sponsorship thingy via the Comic Relief website.

Please remember that all this is to raise money for Comic Relief, and as a person who is very fortunate in life, I’d like to use my passion of riding a motorcycle to help those who are in need of a helping hand in life.
I’ll update this page with the sponsorship info once my work has set it all up for me, and to save you keep checking back here, I’ll let you all know via Twitter and Facebook when its all up and sorted

I ordered some Midland G7 bike radios for me and my dad for Christmas from Maplin, I ordered them quite late, but that arrived 3 days before Christmas, so when they arrived, my mum sent me a text while I was at work saying “Your radios have arrived, do you want me to wrap them up for you while your at work?”. Naturally I said yes, as anyone who works in retail over Christmas will tell you, finding a spare minute when you have no energy is damn near imposable at that time of year.

So Christmas morning come, me and my dad both open our radios only to find half the contents in each box is either broken or missing! So the first opertunity I had to take them over to my closest store which is in Coventry. I explained and showed them what the situation was, and that I still wanted the product, I just wanted a working pair. This was on 31/12/2010 and they said to allow for up to 14 days for my new radios to arrive.

Yesterday (18/01/2011) I recieved an  email from Maplin telling me I had been given a full refund. Usually when there is a problem, you receive a phone call to discus your options. Isn’t that why we are required to give our phone numbers on their stupid little forms in the first place?! I couldn’t even call them that evening as the Email was sent at 16:57 and their call centre closed at 15:00!

Anyway, I thought to myself, fuck it! You’ve been given the refund, just go pick up some from the Coventry store. So I grabbed my bag and kitted up to shoot over to Coventry to go pay full price, as opposed to the internet discount offer,  just so I could have these damn radios! I want to take them with me to Spain at the end of February and I want to be familiar with them.
So I arrive at the store, only to be told that they no longer stock this item, and that is probably why I was given a full refund. Now why did this take an entire month to realise I’d waisted my time and money!

*Sigh* I give up. If anyone can tell me of a better place to pick up some Midland G7/G8 Radios with the bike kit, please let me know in the comments section, or via Twitter @Xanas7

This video is about a few good friends saying goodbye and showing support in this dark hour. Seriously now, my HDD broke down and I lost most of my recorded footage since 2009. hope you get emotional watching this and maybe giggle a little. it’s ok, it’s all just great acting.
No harddrives (other than the original dead one), were harmed while doing this film.
This video is the result of a joint effort of the people that supported my idea. This began in Twitter after i asked for some clips of people doing an eulogy to my “dead” hard drive. I took it to the extreme by ‘performing’ funeral service to it. After all, it’s such an impersonal piece of hardware, but it helps us hold our memories for us. Shame when they fail.

Thanks for being so supportive guys, and helping me make this collaboration video come true!
love to (in no particular order, same as on the video):
danmoto73
Svengalie
Mad_stu
funkiershit
xanas7
chado34

U guys rock and i hope we can do come some other collaboration in the near future.

follow me on twitter:
twitter.com/m3anmachin3
subscribe me on youtube for more videos!

Yes, 2010 is almost over and it’s that time where we think back to all the highs and lows of the past year, And look forward to our plans for the next 365 days. So lets start with what has been.
From a bikers perspective, it has been a fantastic year:
I’ve travelled the country, from Manchester, Leeds, London, Stratford, Brighton, Cheltenham & Chippenham, to name but a few.
I have taken part in the Ace Cafe to Brighton Burnup where I rode with about 15 friends, and tens of thousands of other bikers.
I have achieved the 1/4 mile at Santa Pod in 12.010 seconds.
I have been to watch the MotoGP at Silverstone.
I have also attended the Triumph birthday celebrations at Mallory Park.
And for me, one of the greatest moments, was going for a ride out with my dad. Him on my SV650S, and me riding my new Daytona 675.

I can never express just how much becoming a motorcyclist has changed my life for the better. Its hard to think its close to 2 years since I set the wheels in motion, but before I did, I was suffering with depression, I felt my life was going nowhere, and all this was making me a very angry and hate filled person. I know I still have a way to go before I can return to the person I was 6-7 years ago, but just being able to take time out and get out on the bike has become my happy place. It has removed me from my routine of drink and drug use with my friends, and allowed me to return to being my true self, and achieve that feeling of freedom I have so desperately desired!

The combination of Geek and Biker has made me find many new friends who’s company I enjoy, and feel I have nothing to prove. That to me is refreshing, and reminds me of the people who I was friends with when I was 15-16.
Motorcycle vlogging has become our common link, yet we all retain our individuality and share our views with the world. This has lead to me meeting many of the people I ride with regularly, after receiving emails or direct messages through Youtube, Twitter and other mediums.
So I think I can say my life has truly changed for the better and all this in the space of a year!

So what does the new year hold for me regarding 2 wheeled antics?
Well, first thing on the cards is to get another vlog up ASAP. This snow and ice has made it impossible to get my bike out of my road so a vlog update is required. As well as a layout and design change for Xanas7.co.uk
Also on the ‘to do’ list, is to meet up with the lads somewhere around Oxford to plan more details for our Europe trip in the Summer.
Then comes the biggy! The Spain Offroad Trip! 11 dudes, on dirt bikes, trekking across Spain’s mountain ranges!
Providing I come back alive, more track days and trips to Santa Pod! (I can’t let Ross’ Duke beat my Daytona!)
Then at some point 5-6 of us will be heading across Europe visiting all the places we have ever wanted to go!
The Brighton Burnup is a must again for next year, as it was truly an experience I cannot put into words. You’ll just have to turn up and tag along to see what I mean

I’ve managed to dig myself out of the rut I was in, now the only way is up! Bring on 2011!

When I think back to the day I passed my motorcycle test over 1 year ago, the relief was incredible! All the time and money that had been spent, finally paid off, and the Suzuki SV650S sitting in my garage could finally hit the road! It was raining, cold and I had such a fear of the pull from the V2 engine, I rode like real granny, but it felt so damn good!

Sure enough the smug look on my face disapeared when I pulled up at work to say to my friends who were working that I had passed, only to try and fire her up to show them the awesome sound, and only hearing a clicking sound from the battery and no engine. My first ride out ended up with me pushing the bike 2 miles home!

It ended almost as it began. Rain, cold, dark, but at least she got me home this time. A truly sad moment as I pulled into the garage, turned off the engine and hugged my baby goodbye, sharing a moment to think of the new world she had opened for me in this last year. All the journeys I had made, the places I had seen, the people who have become good friends, all because of a motorcycle.

Now begins a new chapter. Year 2, now with the Triumph Daytona 675 Masterbike edition!

Wow, was it really July when I last updated this thing!

Anyway, so many things are changing and so many things are in the pipeline for the coming months I’ll try and do my best to get the gist of these across to you now.

So first up is that today I sold the SV650S to a born again biker and I know she is going to a good home and being looked after… Its still at my house, my dad said he wanted to buy it, so today he insured himself on it and dug out his old gear and took off on it for an hour.
I can tell you that watching someone else go off on your bike is probably one of the most unnerving  feelings, not knowing if they will respect its personality and keep her rubber side down. Thankfully he made it back with the bike, both in 1 piece. He paid me for it anyway so it wasn’t a financial worry

So, with the SV now gone, what am I doing? Well, I’m “borrowing” the SV until 23:59 on Wednesday (03/11/10) as that’s when my insurance runs out. So I will have to walk to work for 2 days before I pick up my new bike. The 2007 Triumph Daytona 675, Masterbike Edition!
I have a passion for Triumph’s for a number of reasons. The factory is located just down the road from me and I have friends who work there, the styling is always so beautifully finished on all Triumph’s, they always allow for someone looking at one to find something about the styling and/or engineering that they like. Also the Daytona is know as being an extremely light weight and skinny bike. So as a rider who also fits that profile, it always seemed a match made in heaven for me. And finally, the inline 3 cyclinder engine produces a smooth ride and yet is always sitting there quietly waiting for you to twist your wrist and shoot off into the distance like Wayne Rooney after a ‘mature’ hooker.
So yea, that’s the biggest change that is happening, and I look forward to bringing you more video’s of my adventures on the Daytona

The other thing I wanted to let those who don’t already know in on, is I will be doing a load of lifetime firsts and doing the things I’ve always wanted to do.
In February, I will be embarking on a journey with 10 other riders. Only 4 of whom I know, and 5 (maybe 6) new faces. Together we will be doing an action adventure off road motorcycle trip in Spain.
I mentioned that there were lifetime firsts for me. Well, first of all, I’ve never been abroad in my life! I’ve never flown, I’ve never done any dirt biking and as I said before, I’ve never met some of the guys I’ll be riding with. Although we have spoken via Motovlog.com and Youtube, and while we all come from different parts of the UK, and maybe have different views on life and politics, we all share a love of motorcycles and posting our antics on motorcycles on Youtube. The time is ticking away and I honestly can’t wait for this trip to come around!

“Why are you all of a sudden grabbing life by the balls and doing the things you want now, instead of putting it off like you usually do” I hear you ask.
Well a few things have brought the fact that life can be shorter than you think. So if my time comes sooner rather than later, I want to be able to feel I have lived life to the fullest, made many friends and made a difference to peoples lives. Also my philosophy has always been that life is for the living, and pussyfooting around things that could be bad for your life expectancy, within reason. I’m not eating uranium, no matter how tasty it looks! Living long and achieving little is a waist!

So, on that note, stop reading this post and go juggle some squirrels that are on fire or something!

Ok, so I may have forgoten to update the site for a few weeks now. been rather busy so I’ll give you a little update on whats going on.

Recording Equipment

Ok, the last update was to do with me “planning” to buy new equipment to vlog with. Those plans… have finally came to reality and I am now running my new GoPro HD and Olympus VN-55PC and a Tie-Clip stereo microphone.
However, due to the amount of time it takes to convert the video file to something I can edit with (it just gives me juddery footage to edit with otherwise), then the time to compile the video and then finally to upload to Youtube, my motovlogs will now only be in a low quality. Videos that are meant to be viewed for their nice views, riding etc, will still be available in 720 or 1080 as I feel those kind of videos are worth watching in high quality.
Video of the new GoPro footage from 2 test angles:

Silverstone

I recently went to watch the British MotoGP at Silverstone. Truly an awesome day out, not as much going on around the circuit when compared to the F1 last year but well worth the trip. Oh and I met Steve Parrish!

Vlog of my trip to Silverstone with footage from the race from my view:

Apologies for the poor microphone in this video, its fixed now, I promise :)

Latest Motovlog

as proof my audio is no longer sucking balls, my latest vlog gives some shout outs to some new boys. As usual its not until I got home that I remembered about a dozen other new vloggers I think you guys should check out, so watch the video and visit the channels posted below!

Evilnunmit
Houltmac
Oli333
Damage2k9 not mentioned in my video but a sound bloke and well worth checking out!

Ok, so my Sony Webby HD has packed up. It didnt like being taken over 80mph and would cut out. Now it cuts out, reboots itself and is next to useless for using as a POV camera.
However, I am using this as an oppertunity to get some real recording equipment. Things that will take the punishment of a 130mph wind and not only record but stay fixed to my bike should I wish to use different mounting angles. So I am adding the GoPro HD to my shopping list. With its 1080p, and ability to record at 60fps for extra smooth slow-motion shots, along with its wide angle view to capture the bike, the road and the surroundings in full beautiful HD. The downside is that it has no external microphone jack, so I will require a seperate audio recording device to Olympus VN-5500. This comes with an external microphone and headphone jack and records in exelent quality.

This should set me back around £350 but I enjoy riding and currently have 60 people subscribed to my video channel on Youtube, as well as many of my friends on Facebook have enjoyed viewing my video rides and photo’s of my adventures. So as I enjoy making these videos, I can enjoy them again and again even during the winter by watching them back in awesome quality, and hopefully I can continue to take part in the video challenges and general banter that the motovloging community seem to be so good at.

I will post an update video once all this arrives.

On Saturday 17th of April 2010, 16 guys from Motovlog.com met at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham. The first member arrived at around 9:30am, the 2nd (me) arrived at 10am and from then, the rest just flowed into the carpark. 11am and still no sign of Savethefreak, Mysteriousvlogger and Carlsant1. We wandered into the cafe and looked out from the balcony awaiting their arrival. They finally turned up an hour and a half later but given they had traveled from Manchester via A-roads and they left at 4am, I think they can be forgiven for that!
Below is a picture of how the biggest motovlog meet up looked!

And here is the video of my ride there and seeing Houltmac “All by himself”

And our trip around the museum

For more videos on our trip click the links below and visit their channels. Their stuff is much better than my crap lol
DCTim
Pedaway
Houltmac
Savethefreak
Hughes111