Who are we chatting to?

[Cajun]

Profession: System Administrator for NZ's largest Port & Kiwibiker Pack leaders minion
Age:30
Bike: 2004 GSX-R 600, 2006 RSV-R 1000
First bike bike i owned: 96 ZZR-250,
How many Years riding:15
First/best bike memory:First was my father having scooters going backwards and forwards to work, or maybe it was dwnundabkr, in his teenage years, coming around, and going for rides on back of his bikes, in the front lawn.
Best bike memory, I think was day i picked up my GSX-R and took it for a ride, my first, brand new bike. Had many great days over 5 years on this bike.
Estimated km to date: 100,000+

[madbikeboy]

Profession: Rocket Scientist.
Age: 35
Bike: Scoot (GSXR1000), and a pint of GSXR goodness, CBX1000.
First bike: Unknown honda chook chaser at age 11.
How many Years riding: 3 weeks.
First/best bike memory: First bike memory, sneaking my bike under the house using the cloak of darkness. Getting it going using petrol stolen from the neighbours lawnmower, and a pair of pliers. Did my first wheelstand in the paddock next to the house, crashed 0.02 seconds later. Got in a bit of trouble for crashing and owning a mc... First time I redlined a ZZR11 on the private northern racetrack. The first time I redlined a GSXR13 on the private northern racetrack. The night the police helo came looking for me, as I was hiding like the worst sort of coward under a horsetruck in a barn. The first time I rode scoot with all the mods, and the thrill of top speed on the evil bitch she had become. Countless rides with ZX-Rider etc over the years, past the Miranda loop at shameful speeds. The first time I rode an RGV, then an RG. Actually, they count as worst memories, strokers are a bitch mistress. The tour de movenpick with my fav pillion riding bitch.
Km's to date: Never thought about it, a lot though.

Adding one more -
Why do I still do it?: It's trite, but nothing else compares. It's like standing in the mosh pit of a Metallica concert, with 50,000 screaming fans; real life is like elevator music as polite background noise... The sensation of the rear squirming, breaking traction and spinning, knee down, peg on the deck.

Does anyone else recall the motorway stopping at the top of Sunset Road? Was it just us who used to race to the end of the motorway and back again? I have this sudden balst of nostalgia... I can recall doing a million miles an hour up Parnell Road on an RGV that was almost brand new). I'm old.........

[Metalor]

Name: Mikkel
Profession: Nano-tech engineer
Age: ~9*10^17 ns.
Bike: A green, a red and a black one - trying to sell the red one... the red ones are too fast.
First bike: The red one.
How many Years riding: 1.75
First/best bike memory: No way I can choose just one. Hell, even the crashes have been good...
Estimated km to date: Around 30,000 kms so far.

Worked it out, you'd be approx. 28.519279032626055213324207164043 years old, haha!


Mate, you serious? you're a nano-tech engineer? HOW DO I GET THAT JOB?!

I'm serious, how do I get that job. I'm doing a physics major, VERY interested in nanotechnology, especially carbon nanotubes!! Imagine bikes made out of the stuff!!!

[xwhatsit]

Age: ~9*10^17 ns.

Hmm... younger than I thought. Hope you're going to have a good party in 18 months?


Name: Tom
Profession: Student -- two weeks away from finishing uni and starting my first proper job (Dunno what my job title will be... software engineer? Computer engineer? Something geeky.)
Age: ~6.8 * 10^17 ns.
Bike: Super Cub C50, CB250RS x 3
First bike: Yamaha V50
How long riding: ~1.104 * 10^17 ns.
First/best bike memory: Doing Cape Reinga with GiJoe1313 and Gremlin; waking up in the morning to leave Auckland and the sun is coming up; riding until it gets dark, sun goes down while we're at the Cape; riding back to Auckland and the sun coming up again just as we reach the Harbour Bridge.
Km's to date: Roughly 54 million fathoms (that's about 3241 pico-parsecs for you modern folks).

[Mikkel]

Worked it out, you'd be approx. 28.519279032626055213324207164043 years old, haha!

Well, 3rd of January 1981 - so it's not too far off.

I'm going to be a pedant - you should say I was approximately 30 years old. I only provided one significant digit.

Mate, you serious? you're a nano-tech engineer? HOW DO I GET THAT JOB?!

I'm serious, how do I get that job. I'm doing a physics major, VERY interested in nanotechnology, especially carbon nanotubes!! Imagine bikes made out of the stuff!!!

Yes, I am serious - I love the hype-i-ness of that title. I did my M.Sc. Engineering Physics in Denmark - thesis on fabrication of polymer lasers through nano-imprint lithography. Currently doing my PhD on superlening at Canterbury (in the field of plasmonics and metamaterials). Did a couple of short-term jobs as a researcher on two different EU projects while I waited to be able to move down here.

If you want a proper job in the field you'd have to move to the US or Europe - hardly anything here. Plenty of challenges to overcome in regards to CNTs before they can be even considered as a structural material. There's a lot of hype and a lot of misunderstandings around the term nano-technology... but there's also a vast number of applications. My advice if you want to work in that area is to do a few chemistry and bio-chemistry papers on the side to complement your physics degree.

Currently my biggest complication for the future is figuring out how to get a relevant industry job in NZ when the PhD is done - which will hopefully be inside a year.

[Beemer]

Profession: journalist, editor and photographer
Age: Let's not go there, but it's over 40!
Bike: Suzuki Goose
First bike: Suzuki RG150
How many years riding: 11
First/best bike memory: I had fun riding around the South Island on a Honda XRB200 back in 2000, great scenery and a great way to get to know my new boyfriend (who is now my husband!). He taught me how to ride on gravel by taking me to the quarry at Otaki - man, that was fun! I also loved the first week I owned my BMW F650CS - did 1200kms that week and you couldn't get the grin off my face. Two Stay Upright advanced riding courses at Manfeild were a load of fun too - those Aussie guys are great.
Estimated km to date: Not as many as most people - probably only about 35,000 or so. But I didn't start riding until 11 years ago and I've been a pillion for many, many more kms.

And Megageoff76, I came third in the Female Class of the Wellington Motorcyclist of the Year competition in 2000 - my only trophy!

[Thani-B]

Profession: Database Consultant
Age: 20
Bike: GN250
First bike: GN250
How many Years riding: 1 and a half
First/best bike memory: My first real "long" trip. Joined a few other riders on the way, went to Taupo and back to Auckland on a nice sunny day.
Estimated km to date: 10,000 ish

[martybabe]

thesis on fabrication of polymer lasers through nano-imprint lithography.
.

I luffs you but you really must stop making up words, it frightens the old people


Profession: Ex firfighter, house husband and love god
Age: 29 always have been always will be
Bike: GSX1400 but I'm watching another two
First bike: Yamaha DT125
How many Years riding: 34 big ones
First/best bike memory: Buying an FJ1200, it was an epiphany
Estimated km to date: must be millions by now

[Tubbsy]

Profession: journalist, editor and photographer
Age: Let's not go there, but it's over 40!
Bike: Suzuki Goose
First bike: Suzuki RG150
How many years riding: 11
First/best bike memory: I had fun riding around the South Island on a Honda XRB200 back in 2000, great scenery and a great way to get to know my new boyfriend (who is now my husband!). He taught me how to ride on gravel by taking me to the quarry at Otaki - man, that was fun! I also loved the first week I owned my BMW F650CS - did 1200kms that week and you couldn't get the grin off my face.

So how is the Beemer F650CS? Planning on riding the Nullarbor with a mate of mine once I get my full.

[kunoichi]

Profession: Student/manager
Age:19
Bike:kawasaki ninja 250cc 2008
First bike:kawasaki ninja 250cc 2008
How many Years riding: just under a year
First/best bike memory: my best mate rocks up on his bike, he teaches me how to turn it on, engine fires, i fall in love!
Estimated km to date: 10500km

[JimO]

Profession: plastering and tiling contractor
Age: 48
Bike:cagiva raptor 1000
First bike: ts 185 suzuki
How many Years riding: 34
First/best bike memory: riding a deltex rockhopper (mini bike) through the hedge aged 8
Estimated km to date: have no idea

[jim.cox]

Profession: Luddite
Age:Long of tooth & grey of hair
Bike:82 Ducati MHR
First bike:Suzuki GT550
How many Years riding: lots
First/best bike memory: too many to list
Estimated km to date: 44180*10^6

[Metalor]

Yes, I am serious - I love the hype-i-ness of that title. I did my M.Sc. Engineering Physics in Denmark - thesis on fabrication of polymer lasers through nano-imprint lithography. Currently doing my PhD on superlensing at Canterbury (in the field of plasmonics and metamaterials).

If you want a proper job in the field you'd have to move to the US or Europe - hardly anything here. Plenty of challenges to overcome in regards to CNTs before they can be even considered as a structural material. There's a lot of hype and a lot of misunderstandings around the term nano-technology... but there's also a vast number of applications. My advice if you want to work in that area is to do a few chemistry and bio-chemistry papers on the side to complement your physics degree.

Currently my biggest complication for the future is figuring out how to get a relevant industry job in NZ when the PhD is done - which will hopefully be inside a year.

Superlensing! haha, green eyed monster is rearing it's head here! Awesome mate, bet you worked like a bitch to get to where you are, good on ya.

Yea, there's heeeeaaaaps of hype with nanotech, rightly so though! I'm excited by the possible implications it means for future technology and development. All those science mags eg New Scientist are made to hype it up and get people interested, the more people interesed = more people likely to get involved in the field.


Bugger... was hoping you weren't gonna say chemistry. It just doesn't hold my attention. Tried a couple of introductory papers at uni, just didn't interest me to be honest.

Maybe I'll just get the degree then go from there. Apparently banks like physics students for their maths/problem solving skills. Not that I want to work in a bank.


Awesome mate, good to see another science oriented person here!

[Danae]

Profession: Broke-arse student
Age: 18
Bike: Scooter currently (Yamaha Vino)
First bike: Will probably be a Suzuki FXR 150, but would prefer a Honda CBR 150R
How many Years riding: 1/2 a year, lol
First/best bike memory: Best so far was dirtbiking over at motorbyclist's place
Estimated km to date: Not much, just daily commuting

[lankyman]

You know you can display all this info on you're profile page aye...