CLASSIC WELLNESS

Digesting another sumptuous issue of CB got me pondering on the therapeutic side of motorcycling – and classics in particular. As most readers will share the joy of having got back to riding, post-lockdown, I guess we all share the obvious joys of two wheels and the open road. What I wanted to ponder is the human benefit that many of us might unconsciously derive from our stewardship of machines that we also choose, or need to repair and maintain.

What is always so wonderful about strolling through CB is the range of people and projects. You have looked at youth previously and proved that there is a continuum of commitment there. But in terms of the ‘oldies’, it is always refreshing to see characters who still draw great pleasure from their involvement with classic machines. Guys like Scott mega-mechanic Roger Moss and collector David Boarer are of a certain age, but still brimming with the enthusiasm of teenagers about their bikes and their part in keeping them rolling. Sammy Miller’s continued expansion of his most excellent museum is also a joy to see.

If Lockdown has shone a light on anything, it is onto the split between those that can or can’t find useful things to do in a void. I’m no expert, but I would hazard a guess that engaging our minds, bodies and a certain amount of soul into keeping our machines going is a very wise investment – not only in the machine itself, but also in one’s own wellbeing. Anyone can devour a boxset, but I’d wager that an afternoon spent solving that jigsaw puzzle of parts on the bench will do you far more good than you may consciously appreciate... well, until it still doesn’t bloody start in the morning! But that’s the name of the game.

Hopefully you won’t plan a ‘healthy living’ issue of CB on the back of this, but your continued focus on amazing people (of all ages) and their stories should inspire us to keep fettling and perhaps subconsciously benefit from our toils in mind, body and spirit for many years to come.