BOYISH THINGS

I was very interested to read that Frankw owned a Triumph bicycle. When I was 14 I was given a new Palm Beach Tourist for Christmas. It had 3-speed Sturmeyarcher gears and a speedometer which once showed an optimistic 42mph when riding down a steep hill. The bicycle lost its appeal at 6.30am on the 31st May 1962 when I took to the roads aboard my 2-speed NSU Quickly on my 16th birthday – and have been a confirmed two-stroke enthusiast ever since. My mother only let me have a moped because she thought they ran on clockwork… and I didn’t bother to correct her!

I did return to the Triumph fold with a Tiger Cub, a Twenty One, and various cars. My favourite bike was an Ariel Leader bought for £20 in good running condition, although cosmetically challenged; its only fault being a feeble front brake.

I abandoned the Palm Beach bicycle in a bike shed at St Andrew’s university in 1970. It might still be there. Dr Alastair Ingram, member 13,059

Someone stole mine from Taunton town centre. I was devastated and was compelled to walk home. My parents were very cross. So I looked for my bike every time I saw one: 17989 BE, its frame number is etched on my memory. Frank W

Which decade had the best looking bikes? Forget performance, just appearance. My vote would be the 1960s with special mentions for the ES2, Super Rocket, Bantam Super, CX1000 and more or less any BMW twin. What do you vote for? Ron Cartwright, member

The styling pens of George Brough and Edward Turner seem to hit the apex for me. They were similar personalities in some ways, both very sharp dressers and with a keen taste in beautiful women, cars, bikes and other things. Ugliness to them would have been abhorrent. Dave Barkshire, member

1974 Honda CB175: perfect from any angle. Robert Finan, member

Late 1930s, I think. Frankw, member

‘And there, m’lud, I rest my case.’ Roy Pearson, member