Travis of the Himalayas

From Anthony Brown who rode on the recent Sideburn x Helmet Stories Himalaya tour...

The riders on the Sideburn Himalaya trip were generous people.

Travis had packed light and we all set about kitting him up with some new riding gear

Newbold Wears:

Kufi Hat - purchased from hippy shop in Daramasala (£1.50)

Tibetian wool scarf - Purchased from a small shop in Killar (£3.00)

Sunglasses - Models Own

Axo original Finnish MX pants - Found on market still in small village close to Pangi Valley (£5.00 we didnt barter too much they were unworn)

Woolie Jumper- Colorado thrift store

Mandels - Models own

Backpack - Brought from outfitters enroute (£2.50)

We blew the £10 budget by 50p but I think the backpack bonds the whole outfit together.

SB Himalayas 2016: Part 2

The next instalment of Anthony Co-Built/DTRA Brown's reports from the Sideburn x Helmet Stories Himalaya trip from earlier in September.
The 2016 trip sold out in under three weeks. If you are interested in the September 2017 trip, get in touch via dirt @ sideburnmagazine.com  See Part 1 of the 2016 tale.

  Positive encouragement to use your horn on the back of every truck

Riding and camping in the Himalaya’s was epic. The Royal Enfield’s keep things right. 450 enduro bikes would have been fun but I am sure some of the riders would not have returned if we had faster bikes. The Enfield’s are asthmatic especially as you climb, stops are regular not for fuel but to re attach parts that fall off. Geoff (my Co-Built partner in crime) had packed a ton of cable ties. Geoff took his exhaust skills to new levels attaching pipes to frames with cable ties on an almost hourly basis. Those who have driven or ridden in India will know the horn is a major part of driving over there. It's constant and all the riders in the group picked up the hang of the horn pretty quickly, a couple of short beeps to approach anything and a kind of thank you bip once you have passed whatever it was. 

Riding in a large group is not for everyone and I was pleased that as the ride took shape people set their own pace. Our mate Nick the plumber was always at the front grinding through the brake pedal on every tarmac corner and going through parts quicker than underpants. Positions in the mid pack changed as people stopped to take photographs or a leak. It was nice a feel you could set off ride with a friend for a while stop and then ride with someone else.

Temple on top of tarmac high pass on day 1 of riding

Truck descending the dirt side of the same pass on day 1 of riding

I am not going to write lots about the route, one of my favourite things about the trip was that Vir and Harsh didn’t tell you too much about what was coming. It was like a surprise, the scenes unfolded in front of us as we rode. When people asked questions (some more than others) the answers were never rude, but they did a brilliant job of keeping things simple and not building up expectations of what was to come. The ride is unforgettable if you want to know details discover it for yourself. The photos that I took feel flat in comparison to the experience. 

Regular stops were a key part of riding, they enabled people to take a rest but also let the riders get a real slice of mountain village life. 18 riders descending on a small town or village is a big deal but I never felt unwelcome, in fact the opposite everyone was really welcoming.
Anthony Brown

Belgian Road Trip

Last Saturday morning I crawled out of bed at 2.30, woke up my 13-year-old son 15 minutes later, made a coffee and left for Belgium at 3am.

We met the Co-Built crew of Anthony, Anna, Geoff, Guy, Karina and Norm, in two other vans at the Eurotunnel for a 6.50 crossing. 

On the other side we drove the three hours/175 miles to Huesden-Zolder, where they have bread vending machines on street corners, street after street with no two houses are the same, a famous road racing circuit and a speedway track.

The British riders met with the Belgian DTRA contingent, plus the Dutch Brothers (only one of whom lives in Holland, the others are in Switzerland).
The Helzold track is going to host Hells Race, what could be the first ever dirt track race in Belgium, later this summer. Two of the Belgian DTRA riders, Angelo and Bram, have organised the meeting with the assistance of the local speedway club. The idea was to invite one dirt track class to an early-season speedway race for the speedway organisers to see what, if anything, they had to do differently. So this was an invite-only do at the Helzold Stars Speedway international meeting.

Saturday was open practice, Sunday was race day. Above is Belgian David's XT500.

Belgian Bram and his new Co-Built.

Norm and his Trackmaster Triumph twin.

Bram, David, and Hank looking mean. Co-Built Anthony's arm with an old Sideburn patch.

Guy and Geoff on their Co-Built Rotax singles. Guy painted both of them. Two very fast and stylish UK riders were back on the pace after disappointing (for their usual high standards) results at Rye House.

Co-Built Anthony (16), Jan-Willem Dutch Brother (15 - J and M Rotax), Angelo (55 Starracer KTM)

 Geoff and Jan-Willem

 Jan-Willem brought two bikes, his Astro...

and his J and M Rotax, with the wheels he designed himself. I had a few electrical problems, just as race day practice started, and both Anthony and Jan-Willem let me have a few laps on their bikes. Both were great and Jan's is sweet as. Short, great power delivery. I felt comfortable on it instantly.

I've started wearing an Icon AirFrame Pro to race in. It's the first Icon helmet with a flat shield/visor that allows tear-offs. I'm very impressed with the comfort. The lining is light grey, which shows up the dirt, but it is removable. It has carbon composite construction and a quick-release Pro-Lock system (which is similar to the Shoei system for those familiar with that). No tools required to remove it. Icon are so good with the details and I love the anodised gold double D-rings. Mine is an unbranded Rubatone Ghost Carbon and it's not as easy to wash as a gloss would be. Recommended. 

Luckily there was a couple of hours between practice and our first heat race. Anthony helped me find the problem with the bike, the CDI ('They never go wrong,' said Anthony). We swapped it, I turned the rear tyre for a better, but still worn edge and got going. I was disappointed with my results at Rye House, but think I know why. I felt pretty good at Helzold and beat both Anthony and Geoff Co-Built in a couple of the five 8-lap heats, which is a very rare occurrence now, so I can away feeling good.

Jan-Willem's brother, Mick, came from the Netherlands (2-hour drive) with a KTM DTX and this J and M Rotax. He chose to race his KTM and came second in the meeting having hardly raced at all for a year. Those Dutch Bros are fast!

Angelo is one of the men behind Hells Race. He also organises the Flanders Chopper Bash, and I'm sure Hells Race is going to be good.

They better book this flagman...

Support your local racetrack. Do like Angelo and support your local flat track magazine too. Sideburn zip hoodies are heavyweight and last for years.

Belgium is not known for its cuisine. I went for the chav pizza.

We rushed from the track as soon as the meeting ended for 21.20 crossing home. We were booked on different trains, all set off at different times but all got on the same, earlier train. Then it was 170 miles back north through England and home for just before midnight on Sunday night. Back to work (and school for Max) the next morning.

I was only accepted to race only a few days before the event (thanks Angelo!) and if I could have got out of going on Friday night without screwing people about I would have. Work is busy, I'm trying to build a hooligan bike for the next DTRA race,  I could do with saving money, but I'm so glad I went. Good friends, good riding and good spending time with my son. Motorcycle fun times. G

Photos: Stephen Volders, Bart Knops, Carina, Max I, GI

Get along to Hells Race!

Sideburn in the Himalayas 2016 Edition! UPDATE

UPDATE: Sorry, there was slight confusion over the dates. Now corrected. Please check carefully before booking flights.

Sideburn's inaugural 2015 Himalayan adventure with Helmet Stories was so fantastic we've decided to do it again in SEPTEMBER 2016. 

Ride the unforgettable road of the Pangi Valley and the Himalayas in the far north of India with Sideburn's rep, 'Co-Built' Anthony Brown and respected local tour leaders, Helmet Stories

Seven days of riding, camping and feasting with India’s most fun motorcycle tour company and your favourite motorcycle magazine. Read all about it in Sideburn 23. 

PRICE: 110,000 rupees (approx. £1100, US$1600, €1400, AU$ 2300 at current exchange rates).

INCLUDES: Royal Enfield 500 Bullet bike rental; meals and drinks on the road; all accommodation (twin sharing in hotels, individual tents when camping); sleeping bag; guides; back-up truck; full support of mechanics and catering staff.

WHEN: 11-19 September 2016 (see notes below)

WHERE: Chandigarh and Pangi Valley in Himachal.

WHICH FLIGHTS TO BOOK

You must be in New Delhi on Saturday 10 September 2016 , to be able to catch a train at 7.40am on Sunday 11th*. Fly home  on 19 September 2016**. Helmet Stories can suggest hotels if you want to arrive before or leave later to have more time to acclimatise and relax.

* It is possible to get cheap internal flights, to avoid the train journey from Delhi to Chandigarh (though the train is a good experience) and the very long taxi journey back to Delhi (which is not such a good experience).
** Your flight home is dependent on choosing the road transfer (included in price) or booking your own internal flight back to Delhi. Vir at Helmet Stories can help advise internal flights.

12 places only.

HOW TO BOOK

Contact vir@helmetstories.com

The trip is run by the highly experienced Helmet Stories company.

All payments to Helmet Stories.

50% deposit on booking.

25% two weeks before trip

25% on arrival in Delhi

NOT INCLUDED: Flights to and from New Delhi; any accommodation before the 11^th or after the night of 18^th; transfer to Delhi railway station on day 1; Internal flights if you choose those over the organised transfer; Specialist personal insurance (highly recommended); Riding kit (bring your own); Tourist visa; Damage to the motorcycles.

ITINERARY*

Sunday 11 September, Day 1: Transfer from Delhi to Chandigarh by train, 250km. Train leaves at 7.40am so you will need to be in Delhi the day before. 
Nice hotel in Chandigarh and time to explore by taxi.
Alternatively, book a cheap internal flight (at your own cost. About £50). Helmet Stories will supply details.

Day 2: Chandigarh – Manali transfer by 4x4 - 185 miles 
Early start to reach Manali by late-afternoon. Last hot running water for four days in a luxury hotel. Meet the bikes. 

Day 3: Manali ­– Urgos - 110 miles.

Very easy if the sun is out, very tough if the rain gods come out to play. There's perfect tarmac with hairpin after hairpin, mud to play in, wooded tracks running along feisty rivers and a campsite shaded by willows at the end of the day. A perfect start to come to terms with your motorcycle, a 500cc Royal Enfield.
Camp overnight.

Day 4: Urgos – Phindri - 55 miles.

Challenging riding on this ball-breaking road. Couple of chai stops along the way. Stunning camp on a lush mountain side. Time to hike to the gushing river of snow melt for a refreshing wash.

Day 5: Phindri – Sural Bhatori via Killar 
70 miles of the same terrain as Day 4. Cliffside dirt roads. Rewarding riding.
Camp overnight with an unforgettable view (see below).

Day 6: Sural-Sach Pass– Satrundi - 75 miles.

Even more ball-breaking roads and crossing a 14,500ft (4500m) mountain pass. This is not a gentle blast down the Pacific Coast Highway.
Camp overnight in a forest clearing.

Day 7: Satrundi – Khajjiar - 75 miles
Tarmac begins (sort of...) We ride through the mini-Switzerland of India. Overnight in a hotel (with a huge monkey god statue in the grounds). Back to hot running water!

Day 8: Khajjiar – McLeodganj - 80 miles
The last day of riding is marked with scenic back roads, mainly tarmac and ending in the official home of the exiled Dalai Lama. Overnight in a hotel. Say goodbye to the bikes and the loyal mechanics.

Monday 19 September

Day 9: McLeodganj – New Delhi airport by van/bus (or optional internal flight) - 600km/370 miles. It is possible to fly home the same night if you arrange a late flight out of Delhi.

* Organisers reserve the right to change the itinerary without prior warning.

Sideburn in the Himalayas

It's been a month since I returned from the Himalayas and I haven't mentioned it once on the blog, which even strikes me as weird. The main reason was I didn't want to post any photos that Ben ended up using in Sideburn 23, that we're working on right now. That article is laid out now, so I can share a few of my own snaps.

This Himalayan adventure was the second Sideburn-endorsed fly-ride road trip. The first was our desert and mountain trip to Morocco that Ben took (with the excellent MotoAventures) back in the Spring. Read about it in Sideburn 21. We're running another Morocco trip in October 2016, and all 12 places sold out in six days to riders from Australia, USA, UK and Kuwait. If there are people who missed out on this trip we could run another in October 2016, with a special guest Sideburn representative, so get in touch.

And we're also almost definitely doing another Himalayan trip to the Pangi Valley next September. So if you fancy that, email us for details. The date is likely to be September 10 - 18. Same route as this year's, same Helmet Stories crew.

The idea for doing these trips is simply Motorcycle Fun Times. To bring a group of like-minded people together (like-minded because they all read Sideburn - or that was the idea, but the word spreads and we've had a few people on the trips who didn't know anything about the magazine and were told about the trip by mates, which was unexpected but not a bad thing). It's also so we can work with and promote small companies we like.

For a tiny company Sideburn tries to do a lot - make and sell magazines and merch; organise Dirt Quakes and other events, videos; attend other people's events; pay artists, writers and photographers; sponsor races and now run trips. We are massively appreciative of everyone who supports us and makes all these things happen. Please keep doing it because no one's getting rich making niche magazines and we want to keep going.

Here's some more info about the Indian trip...

It's a long way down in the Pangi Valley. No barriers, dirt roads... Up ahead is Mark from the Jerkyls, the Australian dirt track club. I'd never met him before and now I love him like one of own eyes. That's what these trips can do. In turn, Mark enjoyed the trip so much he signed up for our 2016 Morocco as soon as it went on sale. He's bringing five other Jerkyls with him. It's going to be carnage.

Young Dan getting a move on at dusk to get the tents up before sunset.

We rode along valleys for days. It was hard at times, but never boring. 

A lot of the rest of the time was going up and down mountain passes. Look at this photo. Who wouldn't want to do this trip?

Four nights in a hotel, four nights free camping. One night the field the guides had used previously had been 'stolen' by another tour company, almost unbelievably. The guides spoke to the locals, and one of the guides jumped in a car with them and drove off. We hung around for half-an-hour or so, tired and wondering what was going to happen. Then the car reappeared and we rode 15 minutes up a mountain track, in a long conga line of Royal Enfields, until we came to this heli-pad, at 10,000ft. We camped around the side, gathered wood for a massive fire, washed in the stream running down the mountain side and had one of the wildest nights of the trip.

Motorcycle fun times! 

If our trips don't work with your schedule Helmet Stories run other trips in India.

MotoAventures run tours in Portugal, South Africa, Greece and Morocco on KTMs and BMW twins. Quote SB23 when booking to get a discount on any MotoAventures trip. G

UK: Looking Good

Our friends James from Kingdom of Kicks and photographer James A Grant, among others, went on a Sailor Jerry-supported road trip around the UK on their Harleys, meeting up with friends (including Sideburn stockists Strong Adolfo's in Cornwall).
Anyway, the film really makes me want to ride the peripheries of our cramped medium-sized island. G

DAY 1 London to Brighton
DAY 2 Brighton to Dorset via Southampton
DAY 3 Dorset to Cornwall
DAY 4 Cornwall
DAY 5 Cornwall to Bristol
DAY 6 Bristol to Wales
DAY 7 Cardiff to Manchester
DAY 8 Manchester drive to Lake District
DAY 9 Lake District to Glasgow
DAY 10 Glasgow to Inverness
DAY 11 Tuesday 1st Sep – Edinburgh - Party at Sneaky Pete’s Bar
DAY 12 Edinburgh to Newcastle
DAY 13 Newcastle to Nottingham
DAY 14 Nottingham to Bedford - The Trip Out Festival, Bedford
DAY 15 Bedford - The Trip Out Festival
DAY 16 Bedford to London - Finish

Dear Jack

When was the last time you sent a postcard? I used to send tons. Now we can so effortlessly send an email or a text message the significance of the physical message is all too easily forgotten.

Jack Kerouac's 1957 book (written in 1951, the same year as this postcard) On The Road was inspirational reading to me when I was at art school. Neal Cassady was one of the Merry Pranksters. BP

Dennis Hopper in Rome

SCRATCHING THE SURFACE

PHOTOGRAPHS BY DENNIS HOPPER

Questa è la storia di un uomo/bambino che decise di sviluppare i suoi cinque sensi e di vivere e fare esperienze piuttosto che limitarsi a leggere. - Dennis Hopper

La mostra è stata realizzata in collaborazione con The Hopper Art Trust, dedito alla salvaguardia dell'opera e della memoria di Dennis Hopper. The Hopper Art Trust é stato fondato dal Dennis Hopper Estate nel 2010 e ha sede a Los Angeles, California.
www.dennishopper.com

FINO A NOVEMBRE 8, 2014
INGRESSO GRATUITO

GAGOSIAN GALLERY
VIA FRANCESCO CRISPI 16, 00187 ROME
+39 06 4208 6498
WWW.GAGOSIAN.COM

Wheels and Waves reportage

Wheels and Waves was fantastique! Thank you to Vincent and all the Southsiders for such a great weekend in Biarritz. We also had some great riding over the Pyrénées into Spain. More photos to follow.

There were some proper heroic types who had defied logic, having their own arduous road trip adventures just to make it down there.

Good people. Good times. BP

Patrick's SacMile Road Trip

This is a short report from Patrick of the Sang Froid Riding Club on his trip from Portland to Sacramento for the GNC Mile race earlier this year. Patrick makes the Broke Bone patches we sell.

I just realized I never got back to you about the Sacramento Mile. That Mile was some of the best motorcycle racing I've ever seen, for a number of reasons. An extra $50 or so (not much) lets you go anywhere on the infield; you can stand at the entrance of turn one when the freight train roars by, get blasted with a mixture of dirt, rubber, and race fuel. 

The crowd was enthusiastic and the stands keep them grouped close, which amplifies the excitement. The last couple laps of the Expert main I was up in the stands, and we were on our feet, everyone cheering like crazy. Great stuff. The Pro main, where Shanya Texter won, was equally as impressive.

The pits are open too (all day if you have a pit pass, after the races otherwise), so you can walk up and shoot the bull with the tuners and riders. 

The track's also open for walking, both before and after the races. So in a nutshell - an absolute blast, I'd go to another in a heartbeat.

The ride down was outstanding too, the RC51 ran like a top and returned with a knackered rear tire - perfect excuse for big burnouts at the local bar at homecoming.

Below, The Broke Bone patch. The idea is you sew it on your riding kit where you've broken a bone in an accident. It's a badge of honour. Evel cleared us out, a while back, but we've restocked.