
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.

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”.

Girls Gotta Dream | Chicago selected a new Mayor yesterday; Lori Lightfoot – she’s black and gay: a trifecta in historic significance. The choice was achieved in a landslide victory by a population looking for change in the Windy City’s typical politics.. She got my vote and I hope we experience civic unity.

ISDT | Motorcycle Racer extraordinaire Marjorie Cottle was a Force for women riders in the first half of the 20th Century. Here she is flying through a pre-war Austria in 1939 on a Triumph attempting to earn a gold medal in the arduous International Six Day Trials.
History notes:
Despite the worsening political situation in Europe the German organisers went ahead with the event, which saw 61 British competitors make the start. Marjorie Cottle, riding a 250 Triumph, formed part of the Sunbeam ‘A’ club team, the other members being Geoff Godber-Ford (350 Sunbeam) and A A Sanders (350 Triumph). The trial commenced as scheduled on Monday 21st August with a run into recently occupied Czechoslovakia but within a few days the British competitors were becoming increasingly concerned. On Friday 25th the recall telegram arrived from the War Office in London and the remaining British contingent, including Marjorie Cottle, was escorted to neutral Switzerland and safety. Britain and Germany were at war nine days later.

Friday Fun | Happy couple cavorting along under a high summer sun looking for antics and shenanigans. BSA single is the mode.

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

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.

Mothers, daughters, wives, sisters, aunts, nieces, grandmothers | International Women’s Day: March 8th. Celebrate all the incredibly strong women in your life – not just on Women’s Day but every day!

Hero for All | Valentina Tereshkova celebrates her 82nd birthday today. Launched atop Vostok 6 on June 16 1963 she spent 70 hours in space orbiting the Earth 48 times becoming the first woman cosmonaut.

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!

Victory – we made it to the weekend again. Alas here in the Midwest the weather isn’t improving anytime soon. But Spring will be with us soon enough! These gals are enjoying the twisties along some SoCal roadway…

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

Fast Freyja – a new weekend is upon us and a blurring of the week just past recedes behind us. Still winter conditions her in the Midwest so on with a few small bike projects. Tool kit for Tiger being amassed.

No. 1 Corinthian Arch – this year is the 60th birthday of the classic small British car: the Mini. So the blog will periodically dip into the history of the coolest vehicle ever devised. It beats the Beetle, dashes the Deux Chevaux, sinks the Cinquecento. I like this photo for the black and white photojournalist look as well as the Arch at Stowe where my wife live IN for a summer back in the mid-nineties.
Oxblood Docs – whizzing hardtail bobber being piloted by a bandana masked gal who wears jeans under her skirt. Badass! A Wild Cat indeed! Old time Triumph twin motor with a surefooted attitude.