SoCal Villa | Summer is upon us here in the Midwest, though the cooler days with a foggy fret off the Lake would make you think otherwise. Here’s Steve McQueen maintaining a cool look, as always, in the courtyard of his Beverly Hills home on a Triumph Matisse runabout’. His ’57 Jaguar XKSS which he called The Green Rat is parked in the background. He makes that faded denim shirt and jeans ensemble with Turkish slippers look stylish.
Tigress | On Display at a recent New Delhi Motorcycle show are a pair of Triumph XC 800’s . The model is Prabhjot, a model from Chandigarh, who, at the time, was pursuing a masters degree.
Photograph: Rajesh Karkera
Pillion Who? | We’re not sure who this is as passenger with Mr Steve McQueen… but if he’s racing around the Hollywood Hills like the two-wheeled fanatic he was then this gent had better hold on! Answers on a postcard to BBC TV Wood Lane London W12 8QT
Window Shopping | A few lads gaze longingly at a BSA Rocket Goldstar in some early 60’s motorcycle dealership showroom.
Beret | With her serious demeanor looking directly at the camera and his assuredness wearing the cloth cap beret squarely on his head, this couple look as if they’re itching for adventure on the open road.
Alternate pastime | I’ve been told to take up something ‘safer’. Perhaps knitting. I could take up knitting.
Bin Lid | A replacement helmet was ordered today. A store discount allowed me to pick up this Sedici Dual Sport item for a couple of C-notes. It has a sun visor, great field of vision and an integrated Bluetooth headphone and microphone setup.
Leadville | The prime destination last weekend was the old mining town of Galena. Historical seat of Joe Daviess Country and home of Ulysses S Grant. In the early C19th it rivaled Chicago in population and was the busiest steamboat hub north of St Louis.
Totaled | A sad day in GeordieBiker-ville. The insurance evaluation guy came by today and, after an exhaustive hour looking at the damage, wrote her off. Damages far exceed the value. Simple accounting with far reaching implications. The bike of my dreams was taken away in the back of a van.
Helmet | Job Done! Wearing suitable safety gear is of prime importance when selecting your riding garb. And the bonce is your main body part that needs the best protection. I never skimp on this component. The Bell full face lid I got a couple of years ago took last weekend’s spill in workmanlike form; with scrapes, scratches and no doubt a thumping from the road. It’s retired now, as a helmet should be after a crash, and will be replaced.
Ink’d grandpappy | One of the fellow adventure riders at the weekend was a fella from Montenegro; now a BMW GS owner from Chicago he had some cool ink on his forearm. Inspired from a family photograph of his grandfather who rode Dniepr’s in the Croatian army back in the fifties. Good composition and image.
S’mores | When the tents are pitched, the tea brewed it’s time to build a fire and light it. Luckily there was an ‘honesty box’ wood shed near the weekend’s outing. The Tiger toted fuel for the fire pretty good. Graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows anyone?
It’s not IF it will happen, but WHEN | So this was the reason for shortening the weekend: I had an accident on the bike, the first serious one. At an intersection in deepest Illinois farmland as I was leading the group the route took a left turn at a Stop sign. As I rolled to a stop the bike behind me barreled into the rear of the Tiger. Next thing I knew it was a scattering of me and bikes. The Tiger is beat up superficially and I managed to ride it the 200 miles home last evening – I frankly don’t know how. Today I went to the ER. X-rays found 2 broken ribs, a fractured wrist and a crack at the tip of my ring finger. Splint, pain meds, then healing. Remember kids! All the gear all the time! I could have come off a lot worse! The ride to that point was marvelous!
Tiger Trail | the days riding around north east Illinois was enlightening. A good 150 miles of rural gravel roads crisscrossing Jo Daviess County. I learned to finally use the back brake on the loose surface; and to power through the looser gravel. The new tires performed exceptionally. The day (and weekend) were cut short… but we’ll get into that tomorrow…
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