No reason

Why do you always need a reason. Just out for a spin. Thought the bike felt and looked good. Purrs like a kitten, roars like a lion, she's every bit a Tiger and despite loving my Harley I still love my Triumph too. May be not everyone's cup of tea but I get it and that's all the reason I'll ever need.

Asteroid.

I don't care how many times I'm told that the asteroid will probably not hit earth I don't have the most faith in the accuracy of the UK media, especially when people in Russia have actually died from a meteor strike.

I would be annoyed if it did strike and I hadn't got out for a spin before the 100 years of ash filled skies. And why not stop at the Filling Station Cafe for a cuppa and a burger while you're at it. Perfect, even if the asteroid doesn't hit.

The Trip Out road trip

It was a good ride down, stopping overnight with a pal in Sheffield and then on to a diner for a early lunch the next day. Arrived on site suitably early and proceeded to drink. Continued to drink all weekend bar a short spell on saturday when we went for a run out. I stood more chance of winning the digger than the Beardo competition but, alas, didn't win that either.We partied til there was no more party left to be had anywhere on site and a kindly neighbour told us it was 4am. Great weekend.

Gone

Like, real gone daddy-o. Going visiting with friends on the way to the Trip Out. See you in the bar around lunchtime.

All along the watchtower

Stormin the Castle 2012.
It's not a real castle and thankfully it wasn't storming. For us it's always been the big end of season rally and, despite having recently fallen out of love with 'normal' biker parties, I always look forward to it. It's a good excuse to meet up with friends from all over the north of England and drink plenty of ale while watching some amazing bands. This year was plentiful muddy and quite low key compared to previous years but nonetheless it was still a good party. The show had some interesting machines; some very tasty, some not my taste but still interesting from an engineering point of view. I agreed with the judges on their choice of winners.
This year the big finale is the Trip Out- see you there.

Donuts

Had a nice little ride out this morning to a car show at a local stately home. Not much to report beyond that except the donuts were good. A healthy smattering of MGs, minis, Fords and so on and a few stand out vehicles. The one that caught my eye was the Jowet Jupiter; beautiful sporty lines and a lovely wood interior. A few nice vans (none as nice as Guys obviously) and very few bikes. Still, it was a nice day out so no complaints.

Trippy

Looks like the 45 has had her summer and barring local rides is not likely to get far for the rest of the year. Everything from here on in is a Triumph trip- which is lucky cos I love my Triumph. I'm looking forward to the Trip Out now that I've finally got around to buying tickets. I'm going to make a bit of a trip of the trip to the Trip Out.

Love

"Never fall in love with a vehicle" or words to that effect was some sage advice given to me by my dear departed dad. "not likely" was probably my headstrong teenage response as I messed about with a string of Japanese bike wrecks. Those wrecks taught me a lot. I spannered them to get them going, to keep them going and make them go as fast as was possible- not performance tuning, more like getting them to go as fast as they should go. I fell off them and got knocked off them but got back on again, slowly learning mechanics and sense as I went. There was no chance of me falling in love with a machine, I mean, what a ridiculous notion.
Eventually I horse traded my bikes to an impasse and agonised over my next purchase. Was it going to be a long-mile superbike or a london-sensible trailie? I pondered long and hard and then surprised myself by opting to go for a classic bike. I had by then helped my sister learn to ride and she rapidly hung up jap bikes for her beloved BSA so I thought if she could do it then why couldn't I? The choice of bike was a bit of a no-brainer as I'd seen a few late 70s T140s about, notably Conrads street tracker- at the time the bike had an ally sporty-style tank and brown grips and it turned me on something rotten. Sensibly it had disc brakes and a single carb so I saw it as a practical classic if such a thing even exists. Shortly after my dad died I dug one up on Loot (a newspaper version of ebay) I took my helmet on the train and returned with the bike. Let's face it I was always going to buy it. Engine sounded nice, bike looked shit. The original US spec tank and western bars went on, rear-sets off and presto- it was close enough to what I wanted. Steadily I changed a few bits and bobs til it is the bike you see now. Every single part that bike has been through my fingers. I puffed my pipe, rivet-counter style, into the deepest recesses of the engine until finally she returned to life from a mid life malady. I mixed my blood with her oil and together, through frustration and heartache, we bonded. The sort of love you can only understand if it has been tested over thousands upon thousands of miles. The grips fit my hands so perfectly that they feel like they should always be there, the song of the engine vibrates at at long-remembered frequency that sets chemical reactions cascading within my body.
I can exist without her for long periods but going out for a blast on her reminds me how we are inextricably linked. I would hope that my dad would understand my love for this vehicle as this bike reminds me so much of my dad; a man who lives on in me as the man he helped build.

Ace

My sister, Cres, Dixie, Chris, Nick and friend peel out of the Ace after a fun afternoon sat drinking pop watching bikes come and go in the blistering sunshine. What could be better? Well, I could have been on a bike following them to their next stop. You can't have it all. Nice to catch up with Mark as well.

Sunshine

Sunday 11.45pm. I return home a little defeated, a little deflated. As I sat contemplating, my PC threw up this little ray of sunshine on the screen-saver and took me straight back to Linkert Attacks. So many cool bikes. This is one that stood out for me...

... understated but still gorgeous Pre Unit Triumph chop. Is it finished? I sort of hope so. Never found the owner but I got a couple of good shots of the bike. It lifts the heart.

Sunset

The sun slowly sets over summer.

It always feels like summer is over after the Stormin the Castle rally because it's the last big event on my social calendar for the year. It's been a quick summer packed with some of the most awsome events you could hope to go to. There might yet be the prospect of an Indian Summer and some local blasts through the countryside, a local party or two- it might be time to peruse the options for further afield and head to the Smoke for some bigger gigs and other events.

Hayride Cycle Cruise 2 (prologue)

This shot was taken by my lady riding pillion- on the fly and almost by mistake. It was taken just before the last video I posted and it tracks Dave as he goes through the pack; probably just after he's held the traffic for us all at a roundabout or some such malarkey. Great shot.

Hayride Cycle Cruise 2010

At about 2pm on Saturday 31st of July this was where it was at. If you weren't there you can watch this and try to dig the vibe of how cool it really was. Good times are usually followed by a hangover and feeling blue. The best of times leave you feeling high for a good long time. I'm still high as a kite from hanging out with the best people in the world riding the best bikes (and cars) like they were always intended to be ridden. The motors, the music, the clothes and the people make the Hayride an almost holy occasion for me. Hayride 2010 was the best.

Together again

I took a couple of shortcuts so the work took me longer than expected but she's back together again after much cussing and smashing with a hammer. Started her up and she sounds great but the shakedown run is going to have to be the trip to Maryport Blues; not ideal, I'd rather go for a little local spin but I'm sure she'll be fine. Next trip after that will be the Hayride.

Engine

I'd hoped that this work would have waited til the end of the short but busy riding season of the North of England but with a pissy oil leak spreading oil all over my barrel and heads to burn on in an unsightly mess I could stand it no longer and took up the spanners. Engine apart to replace pushrod tube oil seals, check pistons, tappets, etcetera, followed by putting on a shiny new seat and replacing steering head bearings both of which I was sure I'd done not so long ago (read 5+ years, possibly more). All of this goes against my better judgement of fixing bikes just before you plan on heading off on a long run somewhere but the works gotta be done and there's no time like the present. I stoked up a fat stogie and before I knew it had run out of time. Engine back together but pipes and tank still to do and then to finish the seat and head bearings. I think i'll be working into the night later this week.

The End of the Road

I'd been watching far too much TV and I had plenty to get on with, but I also had a very sore head on a very nice day. I had to blast the cobwebs out and get some place, any place... I let the bike take me somewhere- I just shut my brain down and let her ride. The road got narrower and then ran out completeley, turning to the mud left by melted snow. I was cold to the bone with the sun heating up the waxed cotton as I stood still. Five or so paces from the bike I dropped my helmet to the ground, turned and shot from the hip.......