'Aas a right rumm'un, huh?'
(Norfolkdialect meaning:This is a somewhat strange time, isn't it?)
G00D DAY! IF YOU'RE READING THIS, then your love for old bikes must still be burning - or your passion is golf and this was the only magazine left in the shop ... either way, thank you!
Yes, we all know it's a funny old time, so I hope you've been able to get things done. Here at CBGtowers we had a look for all those jobs we had the bits, or tools, to do. So the garden, so often a reserve bike park, hasn't known what's hit it and looks ... like a garden! My wonderful lady, Maria, spent weeks painting the fence, then made a barbeque from scrap iron and gave her bike a right good sorting. I've been trying to get the floor welded up on my fourwheeled love, my Opel Kadett, building a Ford sidevalve engine for Father and getting the Norton bottom end together with mixed results - see page 80...
Meanwhile, Neville has managed to make a new creation in lockdown, a Tigerengined, BSA-framed flat tracker. It just goes to show what you can do if you have enough parts, lots of imagination, skill and a shed. But more on that next month!
It's been great to talk to the many old bike spares suppliers who have moved heaven and earth to stay open with all the troubles. It has been easier to get 1950s ES2 and 70s Kadett parts than it was flour! I know many of our advertisers and suppliers are smaller companies, but that has its good and bad points, so well done for adapting and a massive thank you!
Thank you also to those readers who have emailed or written in with stories, comments, photos and observations. With time, which many have, comes a chance to do things you don't normally. If I haven't replied, I will and they've been most interesting - again, thank you!
As this is written and as this old git here understands it (Inever was that good at listening to authority), as of tomorrow (May 13) we can ride. So tyre pressures, chains, oil levels are going to be checked, and if it's been a while, then take a minute to blow the cobwebs away - I'm bad enough when I've been riding every day.. And remember, it isn't just us - car drivers are bad enough normally; many of them haven't been out for weeks so, as they say here in Norfolk: 'Go you earful, bor!'
The British bike guide starts this month on page 64 - but we've only managed to get through the latter W so far! I really enjoy putting this together, with the help of Frank Westworth, who is still busy down in the West Country putting RealClassic magazine together (real-classic.co.uk) and Oli. It's amazing how many models there were, and we've missed a few out too. As always, any comments, stories or chit-chat, let us know.
Also, let us know if you're finding trouble getting a copy of Classic Bike Guide, as we have some easy ways to subscribe no more worries in the shops! We'll keep bringing you everything to do with old bikes, you keep enjoying it and together we will see through all this.
Be good!