Tale of the troublesome Trojan

Not wishing to let an interesting thread pass (see letters last issue), I thought I would share a tale aboutmy father who used his Trojan cycle motor, attached to a green cycle with dynamo hub front wheel believed tobe of Canadian origin, for his daily ride. This was around 1960 but matters not. Cyril was a thrifty sort and not known for leisure riding – he had a bicycle for that.

One Sunday evening, as we waited for our tea, we heard the sound of the little Trojan as dad approached the front gate, but instead of stopping he rode on past. He returned again, only to carry onand pass by again.

We decided hehad forgotten something at church, wherehe sang in the choir. A few moments later he returned again and then again.

By now curiosity got the better of us and the whole family went out into the street just in time to see him pedalling his bike homeward for the third time.

The reason being that the cable which lifted the unit andwith it the drive roller off the back tyre had snapped so he had to reach behind to cut off the petrol, and keep running it upand down the road until the carb emptied.

The Trojan was later discarded in favour of a Mobilete and ended its days being chased around the garden until my sister plunged it through some chickenwire, never to be ridden again. Stuart Wiseman, via email.