February 22, 2018
The Healing Road – I’ve just finished a very good book: Ghost Rider. Written by maestro drummer Neil Peart of Canadian band Rush, it involves the outward experience and personal introspection on a 55,000 mile journey around North America. Carried out in late 1998 and through 1999 is occurs after a double family tragedy. With a world seemingly in tatters he uses the continuous movement on his big BMW GS to keep ahead of his emotional demons. Well written and heartfelt about the experiences of the ‘open road’, his descriptions of the many 500 or mile-a-day travels make me want to get on a big bike and aim for the horizon.
Posted in 90's, BMW, Roads, Travel, Writing |
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January 4, 2018
“Triumph Motorcycle”
International Braille Day -Louis Braille 1809-1852
Posted in History, Writing |
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December 23, 2017
Murder is Easy – Agatha Christie jape with multi-talented actor Benedict Cumberbatch as the lead detective in a 2008 television adaptation. Originally published in 1939 it was the successful mystery writers first step away from Hercule Poirot, though this TV show rolled in Miss Marple as the main protagonist with Benedict’s character Luke Fitzwilliam as a younger less-experienced ‘sidekick’. More to the point: what’s ‘e ridin’? Well a marvelous 1950 or 51 Triumph Speed Twin in glorious amaranth red. When are Triumph bringing that color back? It would look smashing on their new Bobber.
The blue car, tell us about the blue car! Well, that’s in the story too, the love interest, Bridget Conway, drives a powder blue 1960 MGA open top roadster.
Leather driving gloves, silk scarves and cases lashed to the parcel rack… how very English!
Posted in 30's, 50's, Film and TV, Triumph Motorcycle, Writing |
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November 20, 2017
Dublin Mural – some evocative wall art along a tram -railed street. You can see this peeping at the end of a lane across the River Liffey walking down the hill from the Guinness Stotehouse.
Posted in Motorcycle Art, Writing |
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October 30, 2017
English and American: same language different vocabulary. The rear page of a Triumph Haynes manual includes this handy-dandy translation key for motorcycle mechanics.
Posted in Maintenance, Restoration, Writing |
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August 16, 2017
TE Lawrence – born on this day in 1888.
“All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible.”
Posted in Bicycle, Photography, Writing |
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May 25, 2017
Towel Day – like the typical journey on a motorcycle; roving intergalactic travel, or even just getting through day to day life, the trip can meander quite wanderingly with little regard to the one traveling. Sometimes you just need to pack your towel, possess the all knowledgeable Hitchhiker ‘s Guide to the Galaxy, and perhaps slip a Babelfish in your ear, and head out into the wide yonder. You never know where it might take you.. indeed you may be pleasantly surprised! Towel Day is celebrated on 25th May, two weeks after the passing of Douglas Adams in 2001.
Posted in 70's, 80's, Writing |
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April 25, 2017
Zen & Now – one of most seminal books to some out of the seventies Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (1974) by Robert M. Pirsig became the “On The Road”of its Day. Written as an odyssey of the mind and the search for inner balance it uses a real journey with his son on a Honda CB77 Superhawk 305 from Minnesota to San Francisco. Pirsig, who died yesterday aged 88, sought the metaphysics of Quality, and questioned “what is good?” The motorcycle is the ideal forum for this exploration; be it a vintage cycle or newer moto.
Posted in 70's, Graphics, History, Honda, Writing |
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April 9, 2017
Century – A private of the Royal Engineers on his motorcycle. The chevrons on his lower right sleeve show he is in his third year of overseas service… One Hundred years ago today saw the start of a British offensive at Arras which, by its end a little over a month later saw close to 400,000 losses and casualties on both sides. The motorcycle is a wartime stalwart Triumph Model H.
Edward Thomas a notable wartime poet was killed in action this day. His work extolled the virtues of the English countryside and its invigorating open airs. One of my bosses twenty years ago was the godson of Thomas’ nephew, born in May 1918 he was named after his uncle.
“And I rose up, and knew that I was tired, and continued my journey”
Posted in 10's, History, Military, Triumph Motorcycle, Writing |
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March 2, 2017
One Wheel, Two Wheel, yellow wheel, cool wheel:
The cat in that hat arrives on vehicular red,
Quite happily riding this balancing sled.
Confounded kit, she bit my mitt; Gloves bee-like they sweep away grit.
So scarper, on highway, fly-away fast;
Ride like the east wind, chased by the west.
Holding on tight, twisting throttle’s a blast!
Go like the clappers, motorcycles are the best.
After Dr Seuss (May 2 1904)
Posted in Graphics, Motorcycle Art, Writing |
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December 18, 2016
Thought Police – a 1956 film adaptation of George Orwells dystopian novel published just eight years prior had the ThinkPol riding the then futuristic looking Vincent Black Knight.
Posted in 40's, 50's, 80's, Motorcycle Poster, Movie, Vincent, Writing |
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December 17, 2016
True Words – “all vehicles are equal but some vehicles are more equal than others” Napoleon
Posted in 40's, Motorcycle Art, Triumph Bonneville, Writing |
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November 24, 2016
Geordie Babel Fish – a few choice words used by Geordies when explaining things with colloquial passion.
Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted in Writing |
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October 30, 2016
Objects in Mirrors- as the past recedes to a point of perspective; the current moment blurs by. The future? Well the road ahead is filled with only a hint of what awaits. If you keep a good hold of the bars, not too firm mind, lean into the corners, the trip is assured to be a good one.
The Existential Rider
Posted in Photography, Writing |
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