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.
One Two Three – here we are in midwinter and the riding season is months away. A plan needs to be put in place to get each of my Triumph ready for their particular outing requirements. The Cub to take to some off road trails in Wisconsin; the Bonneville for some local riding and vintage shows; and the Tiger for long stretches of American highways and backwaters.
Dare to be Different- traveling across Rajasthan, avid adventurer Sonia Jain enjoys the versatility of the Triumph Tiger to broaden her travelers horizon. The thinking gals Enfield Bullet!
Peaks & Passes – I love mountains; especially high snowy ones with rugged features. Adventure riding can be had by swooping up switchback highways, punctuated my cafes or teahouses to the frigid cols where some remote monastery shines above strings of flapping prayer flags. Ride a Snow Tiger to the Hills.
Taiga Tiger – snow daubed coniferous forests and a rough road that’s more stream than trail. Wrapped up with the heated grips turned on you’re sure to encounter a grizzly.
Scrambling – in the Sixties the machine that dominated off road racing was the powerful twin engined Triumph. Barreling around rugged landscapes it epitomized the early scrambler Bike.
A Speed Twin called Daisy and her exploits in the Highlands.
“There is no such uncertainty as a sure thing.”
Burns Night – in celebration of The Bard here are some fun photos taken by a Triumph owner back in 2002 as he rode his Amaranth Red hub sprung Triumph through the lochs and glens of Scotland. As they romp through Glencoe they stop at the layby near it’s summit where they ask the piper to pose with Daisy.
The Hill – climbing up from the historic and commercial center of Newcastle is Westgate Road. It literally was the west gate of the medieval town that following the line of the older Hadrians Wall towards the sunset. Its role as a meeting spot for travelers is therefore ingrained. For several decades it has been the popular venue for motorcycle gatherings centered around the numerous bike shops, chippy’s and cafes. I remember as a wee un coming down from North Northumberland twice a year to go to see an ophthalmologist at the General Hospital at the top of the road. My mother and I would take a bus from the City Center to the appointment and I’d look out of the window at the bikes; exciting stuff for a young lad! It’s popularity is waning but there are some stalwarts holding the flame aloft for any roaming bikers needing an excuse to gawp at new models; or enjoy a lunch at a greasy spoon washed doon wi’ a mug o’tea.
Chopper x 2 – Sunday musings with a couple of posters of Triumph pre-unit Choppers. These are the sort of images I’d have blu-tacked to my bedroom wall.
Swiss Miss – Triumph Tiger owner, Maike from Switzerland has a happy face after every single ride on her Tiger 800. She feels it’s her perfect companion when it comes to short rides or long journeys, riding on a highway or off-road.
With a positive attitude such as this can only inspire many more women to take up their passion for riding.
Dapper ‘n’ Dignified- here’s a chap looking quite at home leaning over the ace bars of his cafe’d Triumph. Good looking beard and shaped ‘tasche; which, along with the waistcoat, darkened goggles and slick half helmet, look perfect for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride that this fella was heading to.
Rider is Nigel Peacock
Fifty Foo Fighter – Drummer and front man Dave Grohl celebrates his fiftieth birthday today. As well as heavy garage rock he’s also an ardent biker. His compositions are perfect music for a road trip. Highway soundtrack.
Tom Rowland Photography
All Smiles 🙂 Old Triumphs with enthusiastic owners ready for racin’ & ridin’. The sun is shining and the outlook is rosy.
Resolute – It is typical of the New Year for us to put on the mask of Janus and look back at what we achieved (or not) the previous year and thus look forward to the coming twelve months and make a determination of what we want to achieve. Usually in an effort to better ourselves; and, in a way, make this time we have count. Me? I’m not a big one for ‘resolutions’ but it’s fun to think of things that you would like to try and do. A list you ask? Well, here goes:
“My greatest moments of solitude – my churches – are found in the land, on the road” ~ Brad Pitt (55 today)
