Today was another Ulysses Slow Handling event at the Riverbank Carpark and once again, as well as the usual spread of American Style enclosed courses, we set a more Japanese style competition course.

We set three enclosed courses and two of them were set with varying expansions so a rider can ease into the swing of it at 40% oversize, then as they gain confidence step down to 25%, 10% or the standard size. Even with this easing in, unfortunately several riders were content to enjoy the spectacle, but as for me....I was like a pig in shit!! ….and enjoyed the hell out of it.

I got to the carpark at about 0810 with Steve and Jim turning up shortly after to help set-up, while Ron & Ann got the BBQ and drinks stall ready. We dropped two courses from the plan and were ready to go at about 1000, with time for a quick practice before the punters arrived at about 1030.

After the briefing it was all a bit of a blur as we got into it and finally started the competition at 1200, whereby half a dozen tried their hands at it but once again John Medlin took it out....although I must say, watching XP@ throw his Transalp around made for an impressive spectacle. Some of the IAM boys turned up as well and showed there skills.

Bloody good day and once again I managed some Go Pro footage as well as getting Woody to film me with my Lumix.

I acquired a new toy this week in the form of a Hero 3 Black Go Pro Video Camera. I didn't really know what I was getting with it, apart from the 32Gb mini SD card I ordered, so when it arrived I went back online and ordered a suction cup mount, then started to read the instructions and check it out.

Fortunately a few mates have these things, or have used them so a few emails to the likes of BanditRider & XP@ and I had some good info to start with.

The ST is a pretty smooth machine with all the fairings and few exposed screws, so mounting options are pretty much a Ram Mount off the clutch reservoir, but I'm not that keen to film through the screen. I have the Tip-Over bars fitted between the pillion pegs and the panniers to they would be an option, but would show a lot of leg pointing forward and I always ride with the panniers fitted so wouldn't be great pointing back...and hence the suction cup mount.

Once I received it I found I can stick it to the front, between the headlight and the screen, but it's pretty exposed there. It goes nicely under the mirror on the right hand side fairing and it can go on the top of the topbox pointing to the rear, so I set it up on the fairing (applying a safety tether to the forks) and 'had a go mate!' It took quite a few tries to get it right because I had to experiment with the extension mounts to get it sitting square as well as trying it in different positions on the fairing to get a good view. Of course, each time I shifted position, the varying angles on the fairing meant making adjustment to square it back up.

I eventually got it right and the next morning was to big the big test ride. I was off to the gym and going there was still dark so I put it on to as I was leaving and opted to take the long way back to the office....via the Ngauranga Gorge - Hutt Road - Onslow Road....and there was shitloads of traffic so that was interesting for a change!!

I got some good footage and today I needed to go to the Riverbank Carpark in the Hutt to check out for my proposed layout for a slow ride event next Sunday, so set the camera up again.

This evening has been spent experimenting with editing and I seem to have the hang of that now, but I can't seem to get it to upload to You-Tube so I'll need to work on that. Otherwise it 'all good' and I'm pretty happy with the results...

….and what a bloody ripper earthquake today!!