Stafford Show - Friday 25 April

On Friday, I had the day off work and had borrowed the work van for the weekend because Jons New Hudson and my BSA bicycle were being exhibited in the Stafford Show. When we arrived there were only two other people on the BSAOC stand with their bikes and there was nothing we could do as none of the display equipment had arrived yet. We spent most of the afternoon chatting and looking around at the other stands being set up. John from the NACC turned up with his New Hudson which he left with us while he had a look around. When he came back we sat and watched all the bikes being pushed or ridden into the main hall and we felt like kids in a sweet shop - there was virtually nothing that we wouldn't have loved to own!

Eventually, Colin, Arthur and Idris turned up with their vans full of the components of the BSAOC stand and suddenly there was lots to do - laying carpet tiles, erecting the gazebo, setting up the lighting and computer, laying out tables ready for selling raffle tickets and BSA regalia and so on and so on........I was pleased with myself when someone came asking for advice about paint colours and I was able to help him by pointing him in the direction of BSA paint expert Polly Palmer. By the time the main components of the stand were in place it became clear there were too many of us working in a small space so Jon and I took ourselves off to the NACC stand to see if we could help there. There was little to be done but I rolled out some artificial grass matting, wrote out some machine details and attached numbers to Jon and John's New Hudsons. John gave us a boxful of Raleigh Runabout engine and carburetor bits for spares, with the rolling chassis to follow tomorrow. We then returned to the BSAOC stand to find all the bikes now in place but my poor bicycle had been forgotten and left out so we found it a small corner of the stand and cable-tied it to some railings next to the computer.

Colin had bought his BSA C15 trials bike, in the hope that the guys doing the dirt bike demo would ride it and give him their opinion on it. Because he would not have use of his van on Saturday we had arranged that we would take it home on Friday and then bring it back to the show on Saturday. Before we loaded it into our van, Colin insisted I try it out. He started it up for me and I set off cautiously accross the car park. Although it hurt my dodgy toe joint to change gear, by the time I was in 3rd gear I had fallen in love with the bike - lovely and light and sounded gorgeous too. Then it was Jon's turn and he was more adventurous, riding it up and down the steep bank to one side of the car park. He too had clearly fallen for this pretty bike and reluctantly loaded it into the van. We then set off to the Railway Inn where some of the BSAOC were camping. The pub had laid on a barbecue with delicious cheeseburgers or hotdogs so we stopped for a couple of drinks and a chat before setting off home. The main topic of conversation while we drove back was Colin's C15 - Jon was feeling inspired to get his B40 sorted in a similar style while I was making plans for the spare Bantam rolling chassis that has been languishing in the shed for a couple of years. When we reached home we carried on discussing these plans over a few glasses of wine - a very pleasant end to a very enjoyable day!

31 March 2008

Yesterday, we went to the Wistanstow classic show. Jon wanted to ride the New Hudson there so we decided he would drive the Transit van as far as Church Stretton, then unload the New Hudson and ride it along some of the back roads as far as Wistanstow. I was to ride the Tribsa all the way. It was a lovely sunny day when we set off. I was in front and knew where I was going so didn't haven't to worry about anyone else - I could just concentrate on me, the bike and road. This worked really well and gave me the first ride on wet roads, since I fell off on diesel in Belgium a year and a half ago, where I didn't have at least a moment of sheer paranoia that I was going to fall off dramatically and painfully on a slippery corner. I felt as if I had turned a corner and thoroughly enjoyed the ride to Church Stretton. It was a good thing my buff neck tube was covering most of my face as I was smiling a ridiculously smug grin and, at times, even gave in to the impulse to shout "I love you, little bike" while patting its tank affectionately.

The show was, as usual, very interesting and, for a change, the weather was very warm. We had a look around the show and the bikes in the car park. I had to tell BH never to park the New Hudson next to the Tribsa ever again, as it steals baby Tribsa's thunder.....New Hudson was constantly surrounded by nostalgic old blokes. Having said that, baby Tribsa had its/his admirers as one bloke kept dragging his friends away from the delicious array of tea and cakes inside so that they could appreciate the neat way the 3ta engine had been fitted into the Starfire chassis.

I followed BH back to Church Stretton, him on the New Hudson and me on Angus the Tribsa surrounded by a huge cloud of blue smoke! Some of the tighter, rougher roads were more like hard work on the Tribsa than they were for Jon on the autocycle. I could feel the two stroke haze filthying my face. It started hailing while in the Church Stretton car park and Jon offered to load the Tribsa into the van. "Oh no", I said, "This isn't a fair weather bike!"

It had obviously rained a lot over Wenlock Edge while we were enjoying the sunshine in Wistanstow, as there were huge puddles everywhere, somtimes meeting over the middle of the road. We did cross one ford during the day, which was fun, but I wasn't really ready for the depth of some of the puddles and got caught out a couple of times !

Still, most of the trip back was sunny and pleasant and when it started to hail I couldn't help but sing "Raindrops keep falling on my head"

Sunday 23 March 2008

Myles rang today to say his bike was in bits and could we bring back the clutch puller he leant BH some time back. Slight panic ensued as a search of the conservatory began, neither of us having any idea where said item was. As it turned out, it was in a very sensible & safe place so we were able to return it to Myles. He is hoping to have the B40 back together to ride to Red Marley tomorrow but it is now 8.30pm and we have still not received the expected phone call announcing his success. Still, the night is young.......

We changed the gear box oil in the Tribsa today because the old stuff was horribly emulsified. I then dragged the bike into the back garden to see if it would start. After a few kicks to free the clutch (really needs attention soon, I think) I was giving a half-hearted kick, thinking I was still priming it but BH switched the ignition on and baby Tribsa roared into life without any effort at all and ticked over happily too. The new clutch lever, a multi-adjustable pretty thing from Trail & Trial UK (or is it Trial & Trail UK??) via ebay, has vastly improved the feel of the clutch.

It was by now trying to snow so I pushed the Tribsa back inside to dab a bit of black paint on the new bracket BH made for the "new" from the autojumble £5 front mudguard and a bit of red paint on the damaged part of the tank. The front mudguard now also has the bird mascot I bought at Newark autojumble last January.

The forecast for tomorrow is sunshine but with a frosty start so we are looking forward to Red Marley hill climb but quite pleased we decided not to camp there tonight :-)