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Carolyn Barnes talking!

Carolyn is a Marine Biologist and a Suffolk Advanced Motorcyclist Observer. She shares her enthusiasm for biking in the interview below.

How long have you been riding bikes?
I passed my bike test in 1995 at the grand old age of 29 (well it felt old then as everyone else was under 20 although now it sounds VERY young!)

How many miles do you travel per year?
It varies considerably as I have moved around a lot due to my work. I have averaged only about 5,000 a year over the last 10 years but this includes doing very little for 3 years when living in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and a great deal more when living in North Wales and now I'm based in Suffolk I expect the miles to increase again.

What kind of bike/s do you ride?
Currently a CBR600 but I am trying to decide what to replace him with (his name is Boris).

What is your ideal bike?
A cross between a CBR600 and a Pan European???? The fun of the CBR and the comfort of the Pan. Any ideas?

Do you ride a bike as part of your job, to commute or simply for leisure?
At the moment I just use my bike for leisure, including observing for SAM. I did teach CBT for a while but prefer to ride when I feel in the mood rather than because I have to

Where do you usually ride?
I'm only now getting to know Suffolk, having moved here a year ago. I tend to observe around Woodbridge, Framlingham and Lowestoft.

Do you take biking holidays?
I've only done long weekends away in Wales.

What is the attraction of motorcycling for you?
The fun and freedom it gives. It is the nearest thing to the scuba diving experience that I think is possible in this country! (Yes, I do dive in the UK but it isn't much fun, in my opinion).

What would improve the motorcycling experience for you?
Finding the right bike and people who want to ride in the same manner that I do - I usually find that people are either too slow (and I'm no Rossi) or much too fast.

Do you have any favourite biking experiences that you would like to share?
I only have one real biking story, not sure I would call it a "favourite" though it makes other people laugh!

Having taken the 1-week intensive course all those years ago on an SR125 I bravely went and ordered my first "big bike", a CB500. I waited 2 months so I could have a new 'N' plate and nervously I went and picked it up on the 1 August, worrying all the way there (on the back of the then boyfriend's fireblade) that I had forgotten which side was the clutch and which the brake!

Anyway I duly picked it up and rode off down the road. After a couple of miles I relaxed and thought how silly I'd been to worry - no problem! As I pulled up at the first set of traffic lights I casually leaned the bike as I'd done with the SR and as the world went into slow motion I felt the bike dropping onto its side. My brand new bike - scratched? No way! I made sure my leg stayed under it to protect that lovely paintwork!

But then, how to get up??? Fortunately the big burly lorry driver who had pulled up behind me leapt from his cab to come to my rescue (no sign of the now ex-boyfriend of course) with gleeful cries as he got close of "Cor, it's a bird, luvverly".