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it particularly interesting. I am sure many years ago Bike tested a Tigcraft road bike against a Hyde Hornet. What happened to these manufacturers? I love these sort of bikes – simple, unfussy and yet very exciting. If four-stroke thumpers were a band they would be the UK Subs.

Ask the audience

As I read the latest issue of Bike magazine and attempt to take in the massive amount of tech featured on the latest bikes it struck me that a reader poll would be interesting. The question: would we swap quick shifters, blippers, cruise control and engine modes for a seat that isn’t torture after an hour, exhaust downpipes that don’t resemble old drainpipes after a year, fuelling that doesn’t lurch at the slightest bump in the road and headlights that illuminate the way ahead?