Mardlin with Matt
WELCOME TO YOUR MONTHLY EXCUSE for a little sit down, a read, and cuppa, while getting a little fix from the world of old bikes we know and love.
I am writing this the day after we learned that The Queen, Elizabeth II, had passed. By the time you read this, time will have done what it does best for most of us and moved the world on to the next items in the agenda of our lives. But at this moment, it is, for many, an unshakable, somewhat curious feeling of loss and sadness. I am sure most have unfortunately suffered loss or tragedy in life, but few have had to endure such feelings under the world’s constant gaze, so may we join to send our best wishes to The Queen’s family to cope, to remain strong, and to know that many are thinking of them.
The summer has come, baked everything to a crisp, and is now withering to the sounds, smell and temperature of autumn. I don’t mind the thermometer dropping... it makes it easier on the engines and less sweaty on us riders! It’s not quite time yet to think about thinner oil, and there’s still plenty of autojumbles, shows, ride-outs and meets to go to, but the evenings are drawing in and I have popped a jumper and a couple of emergency bicycle lights in my bag on the last couple of outings, just in case.
We’ve been trying to squeeze too much in as always, from bike nights, family days to the coast and even a weekend riding in the Peak District before the children go back to school. In between, there’s been bikes to see, owners to interview, and photographs to shoot for coming months, as well as riding. I have to say the Peak District was terrific – we were blessed with great riding weather, met wonderful people, found great roads emersed in beautiful scenery and even enduring a front puncture didn’t dampen our fun.
On our way back to the motherland (don’t tell ‘them up the city’ we escaped) with time to think, I made a note to not get so het up on working on our bikes. Riding them is the best feeling. They don’t need to be perfect – they hardly ever were originally, and getting them out is what they are all about. More riding, less tinkering!
Having said that, the workshop has been alive with the sound of the BSA once again (and swearing), thankfully. Neville popped the magneto off and found the shaft moving around – bearings knackered? He kindly took it to a good friend who pulled it apart to find a healthy and new armature, but the bearings needed attention. So, with a caring hand putting it back together again and a revitalised, fearsome spark, Neville helped me put the mag back on and time it up.
Well, it must have been the last hot day boiling our brains, but that timing took several attempts to get right! I was confusing matters with constant questions, but in the end we were happy and it started up after a few kicks. It’ll take time to get used to the new settings, but that just sounds like a great excuse to ride it more.
It’s been quite a month, but I’ve always found popping a lid on and heading out a great way to find calm. I hope you all do, too. Enjoy.
P.S. Mardlin is a Norfolk word for chatting about, well, nothing really.