EDC Every Day Carry. Here’s my new pocket knife, a strong carbon steel bladed thin profiled locking knife. Made in Solingen Germany. Known as the Mercator Black Cat, a design unchanged for over a century, it arrived wrapped up in waxed brown paper esconsed in a sturdy cardboard box. Nice sharp tool.
April 9, 2016
Schwartz Katze
April 8, 2016
Headstand Trials
Balance- trials champion, stunt rider, motorcycle hall of fame inductee. Debbie Evans rode as she learned to walk has impeccable two-wheel control. As well as the fine technical abilities of a trials competitor she could handle fast bikes as a Hollywood stuntwoman making the movie Moto heroines appear superhuman.
She can defy gravity with ballet-like poise.
Triumph TT tank stand at speed. Control!
Triumph Tiger through fire. Blazing effort!
True ambassador to the sport!
April 7, 2016
Double Bill
There was two biker movies on this evening… This was the second:
IMDB “A Green Beret returns home from the Vietnam war to find that a gang of murderous bikers has killed his fiancee. He calls on several of his Green Beret buddies to come and help him take revenge on the gang.” 5.4/10
April 7, 2016
Thursday nite TV
IMDB: “While in Vietnam, a GI promises his dying buddy that he’ll take care of his motorcycle, “Baby”, when he gets back home. After his discharge, he meets up with his dead friend’s girlfriend, gets the bike, and then runs into trouble from some other bikers who don’t like the idea of his having the motorcycle or the girl.” 5.4/10
The chopper is as long as the Baja peninsula, the gal is as gritty as the Mojave Desert and the tins of Schlitz beer is flowing freely (it must have been used for on screen promotional purposes). A real early 70’s vibe.
April 6, 2016
In your sights
Bowie knife on his hip, a belt full of ammo and a ‘scoped rifle held firmly whilst propped on the bars of his Triumph Thunderbird. Wonder if that sizeable pannier has a few plundered game? Run rabbit run!
April 5, 2016
Getaway
This couples rural picnic has been rudely interrupted by the snorting rampage of a bullish beast. After tickling the carbs and kicking the engine over you’d certainly need a good spanking of acceleration to make a hasty retreat. “Hang on pet, we’ve got a hedgerow to jump yet!”
April 4, 2016
Need a light?
“Over There! The week ahead is just around the corner!” Here’s 20’s light entertainer Leslie Henson pointing the way with wife Madge Saunders acting as driver. Outfit is a late teens Douglas.
April 3, 2016
Torpedo
Manned Torpedo: The Chariot. Controlled by British Commando frogmen these weapons were devised to seek and sink Axis shipping. Riding astride a warhead steering these pigs was for men of stern stuff. Hauling a Triumph Twin along a country road would be easy compared to this!
Bath time on Sunday night growing up I would play with my Britains torpedo, sinking boats and rubber ducks.
April 2, 2016
Lid
The old bounce needs to be looked after so I popped down to Motoworks to try some lids on. The Arai and Shoei were form fitting but darned expensive…$6-700. The Biltwell a bit too plush. But the Bell Vortex in XL was just right. A nice balance of scalp comfort, snugness, clear vision, weight, and a nice look. The white strip has a certain retro look. $200.
April 1, 2016
Milwaukee WI. – It was announced earlier this morning that heralded motorcycle manufacturer Triumph of Hinckley England were going to relocate their headquarters and manufacturing to the Midwest later this year. After a failure to relocate to Germany a few years ago management felt that re-centering their operations to the New World would be a strategy that will see their future sales goals meet the requirement of their shareholders. Owner and CEO John Bloor stated, “We saw an opening for a motorcycle business in the heart of America and felt it would be an opportunity we couldn’t miss; and besides we’ll be able to expand our offerings into the skidoo and jetski markets”. A new company logo was also debuted with a question from the press being answered by the public relations officer, “Harley who?”
March 31, 2016
TBT
Throwback Thursday: this Susuki GS125 is the same model is used for my first day of riding around Crystal Palace back in 1996. It was a handy tool to get my CBT Compulsory Basic Training.
March 30, 2016
Hump Day
North African Caravan. Classic Alex Oxley artwork for the Meriden motorcycle company.
March 29, 2016
Knobblies
Dog walking near the office. This Triumph Bonneville looks like s bit of a mongrel. The short tail pipes must surely bark, thick growling tires paw at asphalt. A wolf for the road.
March 28, 2016
Roll up, roll up, roll up
The bloke’s blokey bloke has just ridden a motorcycle around a 120′ diameter wall of death at var nigh eighty miles an hour establishing a new speed record. Training under the master of vertical riding Ken Fox for a year or so he managed this feat Live on Channel 4.
The g-forces he attained was just over 5G. Similar to an F1 car or WW2 fighter in dive.
March 27, 2016
Is that a real bicycle or a Sears bicycle?
The Rebel Yell! We had a day trip to Milwaukee today, where the Museum of Art has been reorganized with a new layout for their modern collection. I spied this cracking bicycle devised by Wisconsin industrial designer Brook Stevens. A basic trailing arm front suspension, double rear wheel caliper brakes, stick gear shifter, comfy banana seat, and a noodle of a shape to the handlebars.
