Soixante Quinze | More Gendarmerie Nationale Motorcycle police from the fifties. The uniform is very formal from the shin high leather riding boots, jodhpurs, tunic jacket, white Sam Browne holster belt, shoulder aiguillettes, and white gauntlet gloves. Quite the appearance. White wall tyre’d Triumph Thunderbird complete the look.
Je t’aime | French musician Serge Gainsbourg (L) gives a cheeky smile to his muse Jane Birkin who sits astride a high piped Tiger on some Rue de Paris. She’s sporting white thigh high go-go boots which puts the photo late sixties. – Moi non plus…
Comfy Chair | a respectable couple take their pet pup for a ride in the countryside. I’m sure there’s a picnic tucked away in there somewhere.
Mercurial Mademoiselle | silver tank’d Bonnie and its brunette rider get us to weeks-end. Celebrating Frīġedæġ, meaning the “day of Frige”.
Badge | The story goes that when Eric Clapton was putting the finishing touches to a George Harrison written piece he thought the middle bridge was labeled ‘Badge’ hence the Cream song got its name. George played backing guitar under the name “L’Angelo Misterioso”. This bikers vest is covered in Triumph embroidered patch badges.
‘Ump Day | It can be a tricky maneuver to maintain momentum one gains from the first half of the week to establish a decent and stable toehold into the latter half. Given a positive attitude, and topography like a hump-back bridge, one can achieve this translation with assured aplomb. Take this cove on his rigid framed Triumph; he certainly has a serious head on his shoulders, along with an appropriate cool appearance to maintain the professional air about his seemed flawless leap. He’s even smart enough to take on Ballaugh Bridge, the notorious Isle of Man TT circuit to sustain a level of grace and composure for this Wednesday transition.
Royal Flying Corps | A despatch rider in the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF) enjoying a tea break while seated on her Phelon & Moore 500cc single cylinder motorcycle circa 1918. On 1 April of that year the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service were amalgamated to become a new service: The Royal Air Force (RAF). Image from the archives of the Imperial War Museum
Rocker Drumroll | Quiff’d and leather jacketed; this young leather boy curls his lip up at the camera ready to rumble the streets of inner cities and country A-roads alike.
L-Plates | The perfect little motorcycle to learn on: a lightweight and easy to control Triumph Cub 200cc. 1950’s swing dress on a bonnie lady under an English sun. The large windshield should keep the skirt fabric under some control.
Jon and Dorothea – Mr & Mrs Bongiovi lookin’ like a happy couple riding a Harley softail across the desert of Moab where he was filming the video for their chart topping hit from Young Guns II “Blaze of Glory”. Jon Bon Jovi is 57 today. Cowboy boots ‘n’ all!
If the Cap Fits – I found this Norton hat in my bikes top box at the weekend. It’s Deans sun visor he bought last year for strolling around a hot sunny bike show. I’d better get it back to him!
Jolie Jeune Femme a Vendredi – don’t let the glasses and smile deceive you! I bet this classic Triumph riding lass would stamp on yer toes; knee you in the nuts; and leave you in the dust if you much as treated her any less than a woman fully deserves to be. And I’d support her for it! #strongwomen
Cooler King – slim chinos, cut down sweatshirt, cigarette and Persol shades: he epitomizes Cool. A Triumph TR-6 dresses up to look German hits the mark too.
Spindrift Shadows – low arctic sun, hazy frozen sky and wisps of ice particles wash across some upper latitude highway. Make sure you’re wrapped up and heated devices and garnets are switched to ‘Sahara’. This looks cool – literally and figuratively.
