Featured Bike - Cyclemaster

Last Sunday I went to a classic vehicle show in Ladybank, Fife with my friend Malcolm. He has a Cyclemaster which he is trying to get working so took interest in one on display.

The Cyclemaster was a power rear wheel that was fitted to a bicycle to provide (very) basic transport. It was a Dutch/German design that was manufactured in the UK by EMI, the music & entertainment company. Produced 1950-58.

 

Period advert

This is taking things way too far!

 

                                               This video makes it all look quite fun

Run to Galloway

We are enduring a spell of unsettled weather but it brightened up today allowing me to go for a run to the Rhins of Galloway - a peninsular in the south west corner of the country.  

Fluffy clouds over the sea (Loch Ryan) at Stranraer

A new road for me - along the west coast

Port Logan

I met a couple of guys on matching BSA A65s

Kirkmaiden Old Church (1638)

A family plot…..

….with a good view

Another old church, Kilmadrine

It contains something interesting and very old. The Kilmadrine Stones date from the 5th or 6th century to the 12th century. The Latin inscriptions are quite clear.

Old gravestone. The compass and square (bottom) is a masonic symbol.

Glen Trool on the way home

Kielder Forest Drive

I've been thinking about this one for a while and today I took a ride along the Kielder Forest Drive.

It's a 12 mile long gravel road. The surface isn't bad, I felt comfortable at about 20 mph. 

The start of the drive

I met Simon on his NC750 - there was very little other traffic

It's a toll road but paying seems optional

I'd had an adventure and enjoyed myself so £3 seemed fair

.

A Very Small Library

On a run today I came across this old phone box re-purposed as a book exchange in Ballquhidder.   

 

On my way to the village. Loch Doine with Loch Voil in the distance.

.

Rider on the Storm

Or, I can't say I wasn't warned.  

Weather warning for thunderstorms yesterday.

Ayr seafront. A deserted beach and a rain washed promenade - welcome to Scotland in high summer. This is why people holiday in Spain.

I'm wearing my Lidl rainsuit. £20, I think. The weather wasn't that bad. Some dry roads but only one downpour of biblical proportions. The suit kept me (mostly) dry.

In the News - Whaley Bridge Evacuation

Last week the town of Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire was evacuated because of fears of a nearby reservoir collapsing. Residents had a short time to leave with their most valued possessions. In this guy's case a couple of mopeds. 

from Daily Mirror

Classics at Comrie

There was an interesting range of classic bikes of various vintages on show at the VMCC meeting at Comrie. This was a S&T event (not sure what that stands for) but you have to cover a set course at a given average speed.

Please note I'm no expert on Brit bikes so I'm guessing the models - you may well know better.  

Ariel Arrow two stroke twin

A rare Silk 700s. Maybe an early model going by the drum brake? The engine was based on……

….the Scott.

Another Ariel, a Square Four

I liked the huge tank badge on this Matchless, I'd never seen this before. A 650cc G12 CSR I think.

A Brough Superior SS80

A really old BSA

There were some tiddlers like this Puch Moped

A BSA M21 and trade sidecar

There were a few Japanese bike like this (early?) Z1

As a Suzuki GT500 owner in times long past I liked this example of its predecessor, the T500. About 1970 so getting on for 50 years old.

The rev counter has the running-in revs marked - could this be annoying long term?

Keith waiting to set off - while being serenaded by a piper.