By This story starts and ends with the dirt on the ground. This dirt is special. It captures everything that goes on in this soulful place. Get on your knees and smell this dirt, because it smells of a blend of oil, aluminium, steel, iron, welding, fibreglass and maybe a hint
Introducing Bessie
Bessie was born in 1948, in Coventry, UK. She has a 2 litre petrol engine that can also run on TVO (Tractor Vapourising Oil), which is a mix of petrol and paraffin, and she is just one of the many innovations that her Father-designer, Harry Ferguson, came up with during
Tri-Duro; Not just another crap marketing term.
Starting Note: Definition of a trials bike: A specialized, lightweight motorcycle used in slow speed, observed (i.e. somebody is watching for your mistakes) off-road competitions, requiring great machine control, balance and judgement. It is most popular in the UK (nearly always wet and windy) and Spain (nearly always sunny and
Oliver’s Mount – A cure for insomnia. Really?
If you read my previous post about my connection with the Oliver’s Mount race circuit, you’ll know what a special place it is for me. If you haven’t read it, then I suggest you should. In the meantime, let me explain how the place helps me sleep. I do not
Moto relationships
We have different types of relationships with different motorcycles, just like we do with people and animals, and cars, and gardens, and vintage French cast iron cooking pots. OK, so maybe I went too far with the last one, but hey, we’re all into different stuff. Once upon a time,
My Olivers Mount Racing circuit story.
There are places in the world that remain iconic in our minds and souls. It could be the first shop that you bought your first motorcycle from, or record (vinyl to be clear), or fish and chips, or Dr Martins boots. It could be the place on a wild
For HeadBangers only
When you put your helmet on and go out for a ride or your daily commute, do you ever think about the history of the thing that you’ve just wrapped around your head? Probably not. I bought something sometime ago that does regularly make me think about the history and
My most favourite smells in life, which weirdly, includes my Bultaco.
This post was triggered by the smell of a motorcycle, a special motorcycle, and one which then got me thinking about my most favourite smells in life. However, the first words hit the iPad screen whilst I was on an aeroplane and someone sitting in the vicinity of my seat
A Summer Romance in Barcelona
In case my wife is reading this, it isn’t a one-night-stand type of romance with somebody. Honest. This romance reference is different. I walk down the steps of my personal jet and onto the hot tarmac of the Barcelona International airport. When I say ‘my personal jet’, what I actually
The Tour de Bultaco – Part 1, Stage 1……..maybe
How many times have you read motorcycle or other types of adventure books where the writer started with; I needed to escape from etc etc, I needed space to be myself etc etc, I needed to see the world etc etc, I needed to get out of the rat
How to ‘not buy’ an old Moto Guzzi and be pleased about it.
Like a lot of bikers, I’m always on the look out for the next interesting or unusual moto-opportunity to either sell on, or alternatively keep for a while, ride it and then sell it, maybe. Anyway, I had spotted an unusual Moto Guzzi in my local Swiss, free selling e-site
Motorcycling – “You can check out, but you can never leave”
Using a sentence from the brilliant, Eagles ‘Hotel California’ track in the title to this post is both a privilege and an inspiration. So, I’ll keep going with the theme………”On a dark desert highway, Cool wind in my hair”…….I rode a Harley for the first time in my life, and
‘The Streak’ & vintage motos and cars in Switzerland
Yesterday, I heard the 1970s song ‘The Streak’ by Ray Stevens being played from a music cartridge (this is pre-cassette tape thing…) and out of a 1970s car stereo-radio. This stereo-radio was mounted in a Golf GTI (Mk1 to be specific) dashboard, and was for sale on a vintage car
A Musical instrument from part of a motorcycle?
When you’ve got a shed full of ‘stuff’, it is a place where paradigm shifts can take place. Where something meant for one use, which somebody, somewhere, put a lot of thought into, can become part of something else, which is completely unrelated to its original use. Following me so
Project-virgin or Projectaholic?
I must admit to losing my ‘project-virginity’ at a very early age, and have happily developed my capability over the years. I’m clearly not the only one on the planet that has reached this level of attainment either, but I’m damn sure that there are a number of virgins out
Always look on the bright side of life
I’m currently, halfway through listening to Eric Idle’s autobiography in audio book format, and it is read by the man himself. The fact that he is reading it, means he can bring the words to life in a way no other could, particularly when he is doing old Monty Python
The Cafe Racer is dead! Long live the Chip Shop Racer!
I appreciate it is a strong title to a story. You might ask, am I both predicting and inventing the future of motorcycle AND food culture? Probably not, although I have view on it. In addition, I won’t apologise for this being a bit UK-centric, because the term ‘cafe racer’
The ‘Bread-run bikes’ and a great weekly routine
There are certain routines in life that occur fairly frequently, which you really look forward to, that don’t last long, and which you always look back on with fond memories, and I’m not talking about having sex here. I’m talking about bread. ‘Hmm’, I hear you say, what’s so special
The 20th Century hybrid adventure moto, and Built in a Shed!
To set the scene, I need to introduce the shed before the bike. Sheds are generally fascinating places and some would say, the best inventions and creations have emerged from a shed. I absolutely agree with this last statement. The shed in the picture doesn’t look today like it did
BMW R1200GS ESA Suspension and the Change Curve
Cast your mind back to all of the motorcycles that you’ve owned and/or, imagine all of the motorcycles that you wished you had owned, and identify the best ‘all-rounder’. Don’t over-think this question. It is easy really. It is the best ‘all-rounder’. Not the sexiest shape. Not the best sounding