The salt air, bobbing cobles, oily quaysides and the promise of a fresh fish and chip dinner… On top of that all undertaken aboard a Triumph motorcycle. Halcyon Days!
March 15, 2014
Friends, Romans, Countrymen
“Et tu Brute?” In ’53 when The Wild One was upsetting parents about the trouble the disenfranchised post-war youth could get up to Brando played another disgruntled character from literature. It was of course Mark Anthony from Bill Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.
Well it is the Ides if March! As Johnny said: “Whaddya got?”
“…lend me your ears!”
March 13, 2014
Dial ’em up
My handy dandy little dial indicator came today. An older but fully functional item allowing measuring tolerances down to a thou. I’m using it to tweak the final wheel truing. Works a treat!
Also… Watching Quadrophenia whilst doing my taxes. Crackin’!
March 12, 2014
World Domination
I believe that our feline friends are well on the road to taking over the world. They control us to tend to their every need, we cannot interrupt their sleep, their whiskered face with grumbling purr melts our hearts, and, they can unleash sharp ninja like weapons of terror.
I don’t mind; let them Triumph! “Hear me Roar!”
Starting in the Nile plains of Egypt five millennia ago their goddess Bastet is leading them to global rule!
March 11, 2014
Jenny Wren
The Women’s Royal Navy Service was an auxiliary group to support the naval arm during WWII. They took over land based tasks so that all able bodied men could be aboard ship. “Become a Wren – Free up a man for the Fleet!”
One duty was as dispatch riders ensuring secure document communication could be maintained between the Admiralty, its harbored fleet and the Commanding Chiefs if Staff in London.
Here’s one such dicky bird on her Triumph at work with courier satchel. They carried out a crucial role especially during the Battle of Britain when keen motorcycling skills through the bombed streets of the capital were key to the success of the countries defense.
Buckingham Palace acts as a backdrop as this lass kicks over the very capable 3H single cylinder 350. Which were a bargain in 1938…
Here’s one of those enlisting posters…
Very smart they looked in their uniforms too: double breasted suit with tricorne hat.
“Hoist up the Union Jack lads!”
March 10, 2014
Ring, ring, why don’t you give me a call
On this day in 1876 Alexander Graham Bell called his assistant on the ‘phone: “Mr. Watson—Come here—I want to see you”. And so heralded the age of telephone communication … Ongoing promotion includes this fun BSA combination of a large dial and receiver fashioned to tote around the towns and villages of Britain by the GPO, the General Post Office, who were involved in all communication be they letter, telegram, telegraph or telephone.
“The World at your finger tips”
Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images 20th June 1932
March 9, 2014
Andorran Adventure
Taking a nifty small bike to the gravelly mountain trails looks like huge fun. This Sammy Miller Cub special owned by ‘Julie from Leicestershire’ is seen doing just that in the Pyrenees.
Backroads through woods and up alpine valleys is an ideal venue for the 200cc single. The peaks reflecting off the aluminum gas tank adds a touch if visual drama too.
I ordered my trial ‘knobblies’ today. I feel that if I have the wheels built up it’ll give a good impetus for the rest of the project…
…probably not get to the Pyrenees but hopefully some local hill sometime!
March 8, 2014
Fast Ladies
After the delights of the Debenham sisters here’s what the seventies offered gals on their motos! Strap’d high heels and a long summer dress? That won’t get you far on that two-stroke Suzuki crosser.
Its a good job the role models for women riders include the likes of the talented Elena Myers a 21 year old AMA racer going head-to-head with the lads. Recently moved from powerful Suzuki superbikes to the sublime Triumph Daytona.
Ain’t no bugs on this gals smile! As they say “Girl Power!”
March 7, 2014
Beeza Babe
Friday night is bike night! Home from work, leathers on, hair greased, motorbike warmed up and off down the caff for a burn up. The Road Rocket is running good the’night and she’s a crowd pleaser. Ton-up lads ‘n’ lasses ton up!
March 6, 2014
Pup rides along too…
Nancy Debenham, with pet hound Poncho sitting on the tank, wheels along happily in this late twenties photograph. Along with her sister Betty she paved the way for young ladies newly empowered with the equal voting age act with their 1928 book ‘Motorcycling for Women’. Reflecting a golden period when motorcycles outnumbered cars and anyone barely school leaving age could ride a motorcycle, these attractive, adventurous, mechanically minded young ladies who thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of two-wheeled transport the sisters became poster girls for motorcycling on road as well as racetrack. Nancy won a Gold Medal at Brooklands Racetrack in 1926. They were often accompanied on their journeys by their mischievous dog Poncho who would stowaway in the sidecars.
In an article penned for Cars & Motorcycles Magazine in 1927 the opening paragraph states: “Motor-cycling is becoming more and more popular amongst women, but there are still many timid souls who hesitate to take the first step to this freedom which so many of us enjoy. This seems all the more sad when we consider that no girl that we have ever met who has once sampled the joys of motor-cycling willingly has given it up”. Way ahead of their time!
March 5, 2014
Rocker Chick
Period photo of young rocker chick on her ‘Baby Bonnie’ the Triumph Tiger Cub. Its nimble character was ideal for the fairer sex and kept up the good looks of rider and ‘cycle both.
March 4, 2014
Amal
A quick strip of an Amal Monobloc carburetor obtained from eBay reveals a very serviceable item.
A thorough cleaning of parts, new seal kit, needle, springs & jet, and the all important petrol/air mixer will be ready to eventually mount at a later date.
A nice exploded workshop manual illustration will ensure all parts go back where they belong…
Note to self: Amal 376/314, 15/16in choke, 140 main jet, 15 pilot jet, 0.106 needle jet, needle pos’n 3, needle type C, slide 3.5
Amal 375/44 100 main jet, 25 pilot jet, 3.5 cutaway, needle jet 0.11 position 3
March 3, 2014
GB Logo
New identifier for the blog header. Takes its appearance from the triangular patent plate found on the timing side if a Triumph engine.
March 2, 2014
Boxed and ready to go!
Well, it’s coming up nearly a year on first acquiring the Cub project. Most parts for the engine rebuild are together, chassis ready for painting, wheels for shodding, and a few more odds and ends for controls and ignition.
Reassembly should commence soon… … A summer kick-over? Hmm could be a goal!
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