Product Guide - ClikCreative

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY……………..
Every September for the last four years Press manufacturer
KBA have been running a motorbike tour for enthusiasts
from the printing trade. Organised by Christian Knapp and
Mark Nixon, the trip is growing in popularity. So far the
regions visited include the Scottish Highlands, Devon and
Cornwall, Cork, Kerry and Connamara, and in 2009 Wales.
The chosen route in 2010 is Brittany and Normandy. The
actual route hasn’t been planned yet but it is expected to
include a number of the historic WWII sites. I look
forward to receiving my invitation.
The number of bikers for each trip averages twelve and the bikes are
about as diverse as are the riders. From Triumph Bonneville (CK) and Harley
Davidson (MK) to Ducati, BMW, Yamaha and even a Honda Fireblade. If it has
two wheels and you can keep up you are good to go. The average age of the
bikers is a closely guarded secret. Lets just say we check ahead to make sure
that there is Complan available at our overnight venues.
So far the weather has been favourable except for Connemara in the
West of Ireland which quickly got renamed the Wet of Ireland. You maybe
familiar with the saying “fill your boots”, well on this occasion Christian
actually filled a glass with rainwater from his boots. On each trip the
scenery has been nothing short of spectacular and it never ceases to
amaze just how much more enjoyable it is when viewed from a bike.
However, perhaps the best aspect of these tours is the making of new friends
and having the craic. Its amazing that so little discussion of the print industry
takes place, its all horsepower this and petrol consumption that. These tyres
are grippy and these exhaust pipes are megga. And of course “How low
can you go” (before falling off that is).
The tours have been well planned and well marshalled. Thanks to
Klaus Loch (KBA) and Roger Pitts (Headly Brothers Ltd. UK) the group
is kept together and the speed is kept to a happy and safe median. Of
course you always get one renegade who has a rush of blood and
wants to test that his rev limiter is working correctly. These (rare)
transgressions are always punished, usually by a fine (a round of drinks
normally suffices).
Once a year is not enough these days and as a result of a
conversation at this years Irish Print Awards there is the prospect of
one or perhaps two local tours taking place. Michael O’Brien of
Webprint Concepts has offered to chart a route taking in West Cork
and Kerry, while Dave Phillips of Alpha Graphics in Belfast has offered
to plan a route taking in the beautiful Antrim coast. No dates have
been fixed yet but if you are interested in participating please get in
contact
As for the weather, we’ll keep our fingers crossed.
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