Rcycle Collection
Ray Kinch is afflicted with what he calls the BS Disease – a rare and often undiagnosed condition peculiar to those who took up riding in the late ‘sixties. At this point in time, there appears to be no cure.
My first Bridgestone was a 1968 100 Sport with ‘Jetlube’. At the time in early 1968, the year after I completed my HSC and having started work as a Laboratory Assistant-in-training on $23 per week, I realised that I needed affordable transport to get to work and Sydney Technical College, and to have some social life. The Bridgestone 100 seemed to fit the bill as it was affordable at $355, and only ever having ridden bicycles it seemed to be agile enough for a learner. I caught the train to Parramatta and with cash in hand did a deal with Brian Collins Bridgestone. Brian threw in a Stadium helmet and free rego, and as I had not yet learnt to ride, delivered the bike to my home in Lidcombe. After some shaky lessons on a nearby vacant block, I was let loose on Sydney roads, albeit with ‘L’ plates. After I did my 5 minute test for a ‘P’ plate licence there was no stopping me. The little 100 took me to and from work and Technical College and got me to friends’ places all over Sydney. I joined a local motorcycle club which held its meetings in the Scout Hall in Tavistock Road Auburn; it was known as the Light Cycle Club of NSW. This club was a great way for me to learn more about bikes and participate in weekend rides to such places as Wombeyan Caves. I also remember travelling as far south as Currarong near Nowra for camping holidays. The 100 Sport was loaded with a tent and other camping gear. As my social life gained pace, I bought a car and the Bridgestone spent more time in the shed. In 1972 I traded my little bike for another little bike, a Hodaka 100B and with the help of my Holden HR ute, I carted the Hodaka to places such as Menai and Colo for weekend trail riding. In 1974 I married my dearest Therese and bikes seemed to disappear from the scene as we bought our first house and went on to raise four children.