What did you do WITH your bike today.

[Fender1515]

Weather outlook for the day is blue sky and sunny, off to the Driffield show and then Filey, for a  paddle, about 200 mile trip, transport, car or bike, what do you think!!

[Simon Davey]

Has to be the bike! 

[Nick the wanderer]

Fitted an old leather pannier l picked up ages ago, bolted it onto the bike so it's fixed. Only a couple of bolts if l get bored of it.

Perfect size for a couple of sausage rolls and a can of dandelion and burdock. Vintage retro!

Just nice to get out without it raining all day.

 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

6 hours ago, Nick the wanderer said:

Fitted an old leather pannier l picked up ages ago, bolted it onto the bike so it's fixed. Only a couple of bolts if l get bored of it.

Perfect size for a couple of sausage rolls and a can of dandelion and burdock. Vintage retro!

Just nice to get out without it raining all day.

 

Lovely bag that. 

[Nick the wanderer]

11 hours ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

Lovely bag that. 

Thanks. It's really thick leather and been repaired a few times (new straps) Very old and solid.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

3 hours ago, Nick the wanderer said:

Thanks. It's really thick leather and been repaired a few times (new straps) Very old and solid.

No wonder I like it then - it's like me - old and thick.

[Simon Davey]

I've had my bike for more than seven months, today was the first time I've actually had a real, and proper ride.

I decided that as it was too hot to do any work on our little farm, I'd go for a ride on my now repaired little machine.

Feckin' Nora!! I just had the time of my life, it took me 1 hour 40 min's to do 45 miles, but I'd decided to go to Mersea island (Essex), and back again via Sainsbury's.

 

So I had a 3 hour round trip, backside hurting towards the end of the outgoing journey, and shoulders hurting on the way home.

I spent most of the time going through towns and villages at 20-30Mph, it was sweltering crawling along, no opportunities to overtake as it was school home time.

But I just turned up the volume on Bob Marley and enjoyed my bike's new ability to actually crawl along in traffic, or bimble along at 30Mph.

I'm absolutely buzzing, I just want to get back on it, I'm so much happier with it, and I feel so confident riding it now. Happy Days......

Having reached the harbour (sort of) at West Mersea, it was at this point that I renewed my vows with her.

 

Edited July 18, 2024 by Simon Davey

[S-Westerly]

Having survived a week with 4 grandchildren rode home via some very nice twisty B roads touching at Clee Hill, Bromyard and Ledbury before home.

[Tinkicker]

Had the yeller out.  Again a hoot to ride and the carburation is flawless.  Very sweet runner.
Having ridden both the 175 with 15bhp and the 100 with 10 bhp so close together, I am satisfied that I am expecting too much from the 175 and I am not going to suddenly find fire breathing performance.  I did at one point and look how that ended up.  A long push home.
My memories of the 175 were made when I weighed 140 lbs wet through and looked like a string bean.  Now I weigh just over 200lbs and my ex bodybuilding shoulders are twice as wide... So its like having a small passenger sat on the back.

The 175, despite being a far larger and heavier  bike in physical terms does get to 45 mph far quicker than the 100 with just 5hp more power.  I am satisfied than the 100 is giving her all, such a sweet and willing motor and the 175 is noticeably quicker.

Anyway a nice little 40 minute ride on the yeller and a lot of fun to be had sub 50 mph.
Of course 50 year old brakes and suspension means you would not want to be going over 50mph on the bumpy country lanes around these parts and a 40 minute ride is enough to give her a little exercise.
She is not a bike to be going on a 200 mile run on, she would make it, but I doubt I would. She is very much a popping into town bike or taking to light trails.

Little yeller pays her respects to the 892 British and Commonwealth Aircrew who lost their lives flying Halifax and Wellington bombers over Nazi Germany from RAF Snaith during WW2.

 

 

Propeller from a Snaith based Halifax mk3 that ditched into the North Sea not far from the Dutch coast.
The damage to and position of the blades indicate that the engine was shut down and the prop feathered at the time the aircraft crashed into the sea. The propeller shows some signs of shrapnel damage, notably on the leading edge of the upper blade a bit up from the hub and further towards the tip, the trailing edge has been shot away.

 

 

[Simon Davey]

5 hours ago, Tinkicker said:

Had the yeller out.  Again a hoot to ride and the carburation is flawless.  Very sweet runner.
Having ridden both the 175 with 15bhp and the 100 with 10 bhp so close together, I am satisfied that I am expecting too much from the 175 and I am not going to suddenly find fire breathing performance.  I did at one point and look how that ended up.  A long push home.
My memories of the 175 were made when I weighed 140 lbs wet through and looked like a string bean.  Now I weigh just over 200lbs and my ex bodybuilding shoulders are twice as wide... So its like having a small passenger sat on the back.

The 175, despite being a far larger and heavier  bike in physical terms does get to 45 mph far quicker than the 100 with just 5hp more power.  I am satisfied than the 100 is giving her all, such a sweet and willing motor and the 175 is noticeably quicker.

Anyway a nice little 40 minute ride on the yeller and a lot of fun to be had sub 50 mph.
Of course 50 year old brakes and suspension means you would not want to be going over 50mph on the bumpy country lanes around these parts and a 40 minute ride is enough to give her a little exercise.
She is not a bike to be going on a 200 mile run on, she would make it, but I doubt I would. She is very much a popping into town bike or taking to light trails.

Little yeller pays her respects to the 892 British and Commonwealth Aircrew who lost their lives flying Halifax and Wellington bombers over Nazi Germany from RAF Snaith during WW2.

 

 

Propeller from a Snaith based Halifax mk3 that ditched into the North Sea not far from the Dutch coast.
The damage to and position of the blades indicate that the engine was shut down and the prop feathered at the time the aircraft crashed into the sea. The propeller shows some signs of shrapnel damage, notably on the leading edge of the upper blade a bit up from the hub and further towards the tip, the trailing edge has been shot away.

 

 

 

So much time and skill put into those restores, it's great that you're getting out and about on them.

I went into a trance whilst pondering the end of that aircraft.... Shudders........

 

Edited July 21, 2024 by Simon Davey

[Shepherd]

Took a ride out to my childhood holiday destinations today.

Great Yarmouth, Corton, Hopton and Lowestoft.  

Nothing much changed, except all looks a bit smaller now.

Stopped at Southwold on the way back, for a first time visit. Will call by again, it's a lovely little place.

Thought I was doing alright speedwise on the A12, until a few bikes went past me like I was going backwards 

240 miles later, and 2 up, the Versys handled it beautifully. Got a numb rear end now though  

[bonio]

I was in Southwold this afternoon. Had to pop by and pay the lady by the boating lake for ice creams we'd had yesterday - but we only found we had no money after we'd started eating them. 

Edited July 22, 2024 by bonio

[smallfrowne]

On 22/07/2024 at 00:00, bonio said:

I was in Southwold this afternoon. Had to pop by and pay the lady by the boating lake for ice creams we'd had yesterday - but we only found we had no money after we'd started eating them. 

That is classic bonio. I bet she wasn't even annoyed. 

 

I've did this this morning:

 

Missed a session then back out though. Last time round Peter Hickman lapped me at least 3 times. Black lines all over barn corner and out on the start finish, into the distance. Bloody excellent  

[bonio]

Sounds like a great time mate. Good to see you're using all your rubber.

 

[Simon Davey]

41 minutes ago, smallfrowne said:

That is classic bonio. I bet she wasn't even annoyed. 

 

I've did this this morning:

 

Missed a session then back out though. Last time round Peter Hickman lapped me at least 3 times. Black lines all over barn corner and out on the start finish, into the distance. Bloody excellent  

 

What have you been doing? 

Why have you glued grass to the front wheel? 

[JRH]

On a dry and sunny day took the opportunity for a ride out to Hungry Hogs for a quick lunch bacon and sausage bap ️ and another tag.

[teo63]

Took the old nail out for a potter and ran out of fuel

Edited July 23, 2024 by teo63

[smallfrowne]

4 hours ago, Simon Davey said:

 

What have you been doing? 

Why have you glued grass to the front wheel? 

I errr, went to Cadwell but detoured slightly off the beaten path. And the wheel took hold of some sods. Rammed tight into the bead of the tyre. Bike is a bit of a state but it hung on til the last session with some fettling, and I'm glad it did. Peter overtook me on the last lap of the last session, warm summer evening, blue skies, otherwise quiet track, right before the mountain. And there he went, just sailed on out there into the air. I was beaming after that, what a way to end. 

 

[rob m]

18 minutes ago, smallfrowne said:

I errr, went to Cadwell but detoured slightly off the beaten path. And the wheel took hold of some sods. Rammed tight into the bead of the tyre. Bike is a bit of a state but it hung on til the last session with some fettling, and I'm glad it did. Peter overtook me on the last lap of the last session, warm summer evening, blue skies, otherwise quiet track, right before the mountain. And there he went, just sailed on out there into the air. I was beaming after that, what a way to end. 

 

Sterling work fella. Is that his autograph? 

[rob m]

Rode it on foreign soil for the first time in ages. I’m on my own as my mate is not physically up to riding, so decided yesterday that I fancied a few days in the Eifel. Tunnel booked and Deliveroo box fitted last night. It’s handy but looks so wrong on this bike. 
 

Train was quiet today, about 6 bikes in total. Landed at Calais at 1.30pm and rode through some monumental showers through Belgium. Currently in an Ibis outside of Liege. Weather looks good for a couple of days in the Eifel then unsettled but hey you gotta take the rough with the smooth. 
 

 

 

 

[Simon Davey]

@smallfrowne

That's just freakin' awesome! 

[smallfrowne]

27 minutes ago, rob m said:

Sterling work fella. Is that his autograph? 

Thanks. Yes it is. He's a gentleman on and off the track, really is. Offered him an apple pie and he graciously turned it down. 

Edited July 23, 2024 by smallfrowne
Spg

[bonio]

Hi @rob m. Have a great time! The weather is a bit mixed this year, so you've done well to get a some dry days. 

[Simon Davey]

10 hours ago, smallfrowne said:

Thanks. Yes it is. He's a gentleman on and off the track, really is. Offered him an apple pie and he graciously turned it down. 

 

Ah right, apple pies are why you got grass on your tyres. You can't expect to eat pies and change gear at the same time,  

[bonio]

11 hours ago, smallfrowne said:

I errr, went to Cadwell but detoured slightly off the beaten path. And the wheel took hold of some sods. Rammed tight into the bead of the tyre. Bike is a bit of a state but it hung on til the last session with some fettling, and I'm glad it did. Peter overtook me on the last lap of the last session, warm summer evening, blue skies, otherwise quiet track, right before the mountain. And there he went, just sailed on out there into the air. I was beaming after that, what a way to end. 

Classic smallfrowne that. 

The Hickman thing would have had me beaming too.  

What's up with the fork? Looks like it's got a hole in it. I wouldn't worry about the thatched rims. Bound to be next year's look.