The usual gang gathered at Denham ready for the annual jaunt to the Lion’s club of Fleet show. I arrived to be greeted by several members reminding me of my eventful ride of the previous year. Just because I lost half my exhaust and suffered poor running due to a blocked tank vent! Luckily this year’s run turned out to be un-eventful.
I took up my usual position towards the rear with Steve and Ian to keep an eye on me. We take the same route every year so it’s no trouble if you do get detached from the main party. The road works on the short stretch of M3 that we use were a bit tedious but the 50mph average speed suited me fine. We had been advised that the meeting point had been altered for this year but it was sign-posted so we all met up O.K.
Those of us who had pre-entered, signed on and got our entry number, route card and enamel badge. Time for an egg and bacon roll and cup of coffee.
The riders for the run in the country start to depart about 11.30 .The organisers like to stagger the bikes leaving so that we do not form a big mass on the road. The weather was still set fair and the first half run of about 30 miles to the lunch stop was very enjoyable. We soon all met up at the pub for lunch and liquid refreshment. The weather forecast had been for rain from the West at about 4.00 p.m. so I thought it prudent to start back to Fleet a bit earlier than usual.
I had a bit of concern as the sign- posted route deviated from previous years and took us into Hartley Witney. I began to imagine some practical joker had been along and messed around with the signs! Luckily all was O.K. and we got back to the start.
I had a quick check to see how many raffle prizes I had won ( guess) and said farewell to the others explaining I was hoping to dodge the forecast rain.
Un-eventful run back beating the short shower by about half an hour.
Good day out with the gang.
Laurie.
I managed to get couple of hours in checking the T110 over on Saturday afternoon and finished it off late Sunday. Did the Mag points and the plugs. Gave her a nice polish as a result she looked good.
Just remembered the last time I took her out was last September with that in mind on the third kick she started. Still not sure whether to go on her or the sprint. See what the weather is like on Monday morning.
Cloudy and dry dawned so off on the Ton Ten to meet the gang at Denham in the layby. It was nice to see Dave Taylor and Alys on his 750 Bonnie also Roger on his Triton that he had just rebuilt, Vinnie, Sam, Laurie, Steve, George, Pat and Brian.
Set off on time and had a steady run down through Windsor. Steve rode at the back on his Honda, me then Laurie in front, pulled up at the light next to Laurie. He said that the new short twin exhaust pipe was loose and that it was making noise. I could see the pipe flapping and said to Laurie that it should be ok till we get to Fleet but I was wrong.
Few turns later as I came of the roundabout to Ascot saw what looked suspiciously like the pipe coming to a halt in a gateway. Laurie was going like a train as we had dropped back a little in the traffic and had not noticed the extra noise. I had to wind the Ton Ten up to catch him and got alongside and after lots of arm waving he stopped. I asked him if the pipe was still on the bike and so looked down and said it’s gone.
I told him that it was about a mile back in the gateway. I set off back to try and get it and not gone very far when Steve came flying down the road holding it in the air like he had won a prize.
Laurie was pleased to get his undamaged pipe back. He told us to carry on while he would try to fix it or call the AA. Mobile phones are great to have, how did we managed without them? The rest had kept going unaware of our problems.
Pat was flapping when we arrived as she thought we had an accident. Laurie turned up soon after with his bodged up fixing. We were soon riding again to the Lunci pub about 40 miles away. Had left Brian and Pat casually drinking a cup of tea watching the bikes depart. It was a lovely ride through the lanes with the noise of all the different classics. Great to be alive. There is a sudden whoosh and Brian appears and disappears in the distance. It’s like he has pressed a button that enabled him to travel at warp speed through English country lanes. George and I had a paint and a burger. I noticed that the chef put chips in George’s box as George mentioned that he only paid for a burger. The bloke said next and I said same as him and gave him my ticket. I too received chips with my order, lucky me!
We set off to ride back to Fleet and few miles down the road Laurie was in a gateway broken down again. He was not having a lot of luck today, the rocket had gone one cylinder did all the checks and plug changing still. On one cylinder decided to ride back as a single 125cc slow but it got there. George and I following behind. Arrived back to find Roger’s Triton in bits. The clutch cage had come loose which had damaged the chain case, it was like a motorcycle repair depot and Roger was the mechanic. Apparently he too suffered from a breakdown by the side of the lane earlier when his throttle cable broke and someone had soldering iron to solder it back on.
Meanwhile Laurie who was scratching his head trying to diagnose his problem. He checked and double checked everything and still puzzled standing there looking at his bike. I noticed that Laurie had acquired a tank bag recently and wondered if it was the cause.
As it happens the tank bag was blocking the tank vent and after removing it Laurie had a trouble free journey home. Classic Run would not be the same without such problems I guess!
What a day and as usual nobody won any prizes so, we set off home with all the bikes running perfectly. I rode with Laurie to Hemel turn off and then carried on up M1 to Luton. Total distance covered was 154 miles. A very interesting classic bike day out. Still a lovely day!
Ian
