Headless Nick – All Hallow’s Eve. Watch out for ghouls, goblins and ghosts.
Northshore Traveller
Fall Roads – another photo from the weekend. Here Dean looking pensive under his balaclava as we sped along Old Green Bay Road through Lake Forest.
A man who knows where his towel is is a fellow to be reckoned with…
Tea Towel – after a brew you need something to dry your washed mug with. Well here it is, classic motorcycles adorn this kitchen necessity. It was a gift to riding buddy Dean from a friends father.
“A towel, [The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy] says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. Partly it has great practical value. You can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble-sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapors; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a miniraft down the slow heavy River Moth; wet it for use in hand-to-hand-combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (such a mind-boggingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can’t see it, it can’t see you); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough.” Douglas Adams 1952-2001
All I wanna do is…
I want to ride my bicycle- So goes the Queen song from their ’78 LP Jazz. Well, about that time riding your bike was the best thing to do! I had a couple of Raleigh’s, a chopper, a racer and friends who had BMX’s and other kinds of two-wheeled fun. Top Left is the king of kid cool: The Chopper, long seat, ape bars, three speed gear changing with central stick. Wobbly to ride by who cares! Top Center: The Grifter, heavy off road looking monster, precursor to the Bicycle Moto X of a later date. It’s rear hub made a distinctive clickety sound. Top Right: The Bomber, another weighty dreadnaught of a bike. It’s lines were driven from the US stumpjumpers being ridden in the Rockies and copied by youth sticking cow horn handlebars on their roadsters. Lower Left: The Arena, a road bike for speed, with true derailleur gearing, narrow seat and drop bars. Lower Center: BMX Burner, a true BMX offering for dirt tracks where knee and elbow padded racers could swoop berms, hit whoop-de-woos, and soar across tabletops. Lower Right The Maverick: an early iteration of the Mountain Bike craze that we’re still in to this day. It’s knobbly tires were good for muddy roads, cantilever brakes to stop on a dime, 15 gears for any adventure laden trail.
Two Wheels Good!
Bonnie leaves
Fall Color – a nice autumnal half century jaunt up north on the owld gal. Both Bonnie’s were riding pretty good albeit the cooler start. Trees are magnificent right now: ruby, gold, amber, scarlet, and all other fiery displays. I must say the Tiger has spoiled me for ease and comfort. Older bikes need more input to keep a smooth progress along the road. But they’re fun in their own right.
Also, the bike will be going up onto the workstand for a winter sort through. For one the rear sets are coming off… getting too cramped for comfort!
Border Fence
Big Lad – a new Triumph is being launched right now: The 1200cc Scrambler. Desert tool, adventure proof, and grin provoking I’m sure!
Couple
Twenty Scored- today we celebrate our 20th year as a happily married couple. Here’s an old photo we reconstructed with us posing like design couple Charles & Ray Eames.
Waddya Got?
The Wild One – Johnny rides into town in this bold painting. Shiny leather wrinkles complementing the scudding cloud horizon. Surly lip curl and blue jeans offer attitude.
Blue Sky Biking
Lakefront Property – the sun glistened nicely off the waters at Lake Geneva as I made a sauntering lap. Rolling Wisconsin roads tinged in a golden autumn. Splendid ride.
Star Gazer
An Eye on the Universe – today’s destination for a Fall ride was the 120 year old Yorkers Observatory, which houses the world’s largest refracting telescope. A 40″ diameter lens that provided important findings in the early years of 20th Century astrophysics. It is located at Williams Bay on Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. As of October 1st is is no longer under the management of the University of Chicago and is not open to the general public.
Up The Elephant and round The Castle
Courier- fag stop for BSA Bantam owner along some street in The Big Smoke. A motorcycle is the best way to get around London. It lets you nip through the traffic making sure you get to your destination with a smile and on time.
Eryri Fenyw
Shorties get to Play too! The Tiger has quite tall legs in stock form and with the saddle set high. But it can also be fettled for those of smaller stature. As is written about in Gail Biddulph’s blog here it doesn’t lose any of the moto’s superlative characteristics. She takes it for a sporty whirl over the Snowdonian passes between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Betws-y-Coed. A familiar stomping ground from my mountaineering youth. Once I went over the Llanberis Pass on top of a mini bus, at night. Now I’d be happy scooting over on a Tiger…
Pounce
Black ‘n’ White – sinew and muscle: the Tigers appearance gives the impression of a cat readying for a leap onto prey.
Jack
Decal – for night time riding safety I added a pair of ultra reflective stickers to the cases. I want to make sure drivers see my rear end as I zoom along the Interstate at speed. There is a Union Flag added to the top case for patriotic dedication.
Farmstead
Red Barn – another early morning photo taken just north of Madison WI. Low yellow-fresh light from the sunrise gives life to an age-worn farm. Hints of frost still highlight the bikes top box.