HARD AND FAST

Mike Nicks’ article in February’s issue on Vic Willoughby’s 1955 500-mile ride from London to Scotch Corner on a Vincent Black Knight raised an interesting question: were riders ’arder in classic times? Obviously things are relative to times and machines, but I would contend that riders today are just as capable of undertaking similar feats. Particularly as today’s roads present greater challenges in terms of the volume of traffic, along with stricter enforcement of speed limits, which would tend to make cruising at 90-95mph, as Vic did, a little more problematic. An example would be the guys who undertake the annual Land’s End to John O’ Groats run, called the ‘Long Day Down’ (or Up, depending on direction of travel) on bikes costing no more than £300 in under 24 hours and covering 900+ miles, without using motorways. Last year I undertook the ride on my ‘classic’ Honda CX500B, albeit cruising at a mere 60mph. The team’s efforts raised £15,000 on behalf of Cancer Research UK. So my answer to Mike’s question would be that at the end of the day, it is not whether we are ’arder or not, but that we are all bikers sharing the same passion for bikes, which is as true now as it was in Vic Willoughby’s day. My own passion (or madness) means that I will be repeating the ‘Long Day Up’ this June on my Honda, once it is roused from its winter slumber! RICHARD PIPER, MARKET DEEPING, CAMBRIDGESHIRE