For those thinking I am going to talk about this (and how it looks remarkably similar to this), you are about to be sorely disappointed.

Over 2 1/2 years ago I started riding a motorbike.  It was on my todo list for a long time, and after moving to Belfast I bit the bullet and started lessons.  After the basic lessons, a CBT exam, manoeuvres test and on-road test were passed I purchased my CBF600.  Since then I have put over 14k miles on the bike involving a lot of short runs and a few longer ones.  Doing all these miles presented four interesting observations.

1. I never realised how bad car drivers could be, until I started riding a motorbike.
2. If I rode a motorbike the way I rode a car when I was 21, I would be dead.  I enjoy riding a bike.   I have no interest in dying.
3. After you pass the motorbike test you have basic skills.  And I mean BASIC.  It’s nowhere near enough to drive effectively or safely.
4. Watching riders like my brother, Bill Buchan, Tim Clark, or even talking bikes with Steve McDonagh and Sean Cull, I realised I don’t know dick about bikes. (not forgetting the lotusphere hog riders too).

So at the start of the Summer I began research on more advanced biking techniques. Enter the Institute of Advanced Motorists.  This course (and subsequent exam) is aimed at upping your game to becoming a safer and more progressive (read: faster) rider.  You sign up to the Institute, pay your very small fee and you being your training.  If you pass the test, there is a side benefit of having significantly discounted insurance in future.

My training was hosted by adelaide insurance in Belfast.  They scheduled nights where you are followed and assessed by certified observers and they beat you into shape.  These guys stick to you like glue on the road, watch every move you make and cajole you to ride better, safer and typically faster.  They want you to get better.  They work around your schedule and observers even met me when it suited me to help me get ready for the test.

From an abysmal start in May I slowly got better until they decided I could put in for the exam.  Last night, I took it.  Think back to your driving test all those years ago.  Yeah.. it was as stressful as that but advanced.  The relief when I heard the sentence “I am pleased to tell you you have met the required standard….” was incredible.   The best line of the night when I was finished?  The examiner reminding me that “You are not an expert now.  Don’t ever consider yourself an expert.  It will be a learning experience until you never ride again”.  Noted.

I cannot recommend this course and exam enough.  No really, I can’t.

The strangest thing about all this expert training and examination was the cost.   There is a cost to join the IAM.  It’s not much.  After that, all these hours of education and practical skills transfer?

Free.  They wouldn’t take money.  Adelaide Insurance paid for all of it.  Even if you were not a customer.  They didn’t try to sell insurance to me once.  All they want to do is promote safe riding and driving.   No catch. No obligation.

What did I do?  I moved my insurance to them.  Of course I did.

And the conference has ended for another year.  Once again, Rudi and the team put together a purely technical, zero bullshit conference with meat on it’s bones.  As ever, it is a pleasure to present at this.  The delegates are smart, and fast, but also great fun.  I presented on Mobile technologies, DAOS and a shortened version of Adminblast with Bill.

Sitting the bar of the Maritem hotel, Gelsenkirchen.  Tomorrow involves a rental car to Weize Airport, flying to Edinburgh to collect my motorbike, riding to Stranraer to catch the late night ferry to Belfast, then riding home.  Anyone want to take bets on all that working out?  Tip:  Ryanair are involved.

En route to Admincamp for the week, both Bill and I decided that the sensible approach of flying over the Gelsenkirchen just would not do.  So we decided to meet up and do something silly.  Enter the “advanced cornering course” from pro-scot.

I left Belfast at 5am, and  drove through horrible rain to Larne for the ferry to Scotland.  Berthing at Troon, I drove to Kirkaldy to meet Bill.  From there, the “five-hour” course started.   This was the route taken (click on it for more details).

Not one dual-carraigeway or a motorway.  All secondary roads, for SEVEN hours.  The start began with the instructors (two instructors for just Bill and I) following us for 30 minutes.  They assess you, then show you what is possible by leading for a few minutes.

That was a humbling experience.  One of the riders (Ruth) was on a 20 year old baby fireblade.

For the rest of the day, they encourage, cajole and force you to up your biking game, staying within the law (with exception to speed) but safely progressing at a pace I personally had never done before.   Using radio links to your helmet, they push you hard.  Progression is the key.  Nothing unsafe.  Nothing illegal.  But no hanging about.  By the end of the day, I passed through over 250 miles (and another 100 miles to get there) of the toughest driving I have ever done.   I will say that the scenery was stunning, because I know it is (ask Warren and Kitty) but you are too busy reading the road to look.   Both Bill and I were exhausted at the end.  The instructors?  They had another hour to go to get home and were chilled and ready for more.   If you are interested in biking, this is a fantastic day.  Excellent value for money.  Drive to scotland.  Take this course.  Hell, let me know when and I will do it again.  Just get ready to up your game.  Marvellous.

Having taken the 2-wheel approach to meet up with Bill Buchan, followed by a tough biking course in Scotland yesterday, we are heading to Edinburgh Airport to fly to Gelsenkirken, Germany for the annual Admincamp event.  ”Rudifest” is well known for being a deep dive event, and over Tuesday and Wednesday I will be presenting three times.  One of them will be with Bill.  God help us all.

They have made a damn good product.  Help them make it better. Short questionnaire.  Fill it out. I did.

Available now.

Vocals aside, the piano accompaniment is stunning.

If so, read Gabs post.  It makes sense.  There is also a helpful offer at the end from both of us.

Question

Will Lotus Traveler support Apple iOS 5?

Answer

When Apple formally releases iOS version 5, IBM Lotus Notes Traveler will support the same mail, calendar and contact features in iOS 5 that Traveler supports today in iOS 4. New capabilities in iOS 5 (e.g. folder management enhancements and reminders) may not be supported by Lotus Notes Traveler when iOS 5 ships, but will be considered for utilization/support in a future release of Traveler.

Taken from here

NETGEAR is pleased to announce the release of RAIDiator 4.1.8, the latest firmware for the ReadyNAS Duo and NV+ network attached storage product lines.  This release is also designed to work with older Sparc-based ReadyNAS products, including ReadyNAS 600, X6, NV, 1000S, and 1100.

New features and enhancements

1. Added support for Mac OS X 10.7 “Lion”.
2. Added warning when NFS access to home shares is enabled.
3. Added a redirect for http://<host>/ip to https.
4. Added enhancements to advanced AFP permission settings.
5. Provide download links for exported users and groups instead of asking for email.
6. Updated ReadyNAS Remote to the latest revision.

My NV+ has been my Time Machine target for a long time.  Although it stopped working with OSX Lion, a beta version was released within days that addressed the issue.  Happy to see a supported Fimware Release is available as of today.

Updating as I type this.