New Ply

Cut a couple of sections of new ply for the SkateGarage ramp today. One will fill in where the horrible steel plates went, the other includes the extended flat bottom.


Hopefully get em screwed on place in the next few days. I remember now why I chose metalwork over woodwork at school.

Shroom

No this isn't DTBs holiday home. Taken near Alixxs gaff on a trip to Unit 1.

Dark Days

Found this picture on my camera - taken at Shepton Mallett autojumble last October

Way ahead of its time but its still awful - the Ariel 3.

If you've got one of these little beauties in your garage - keep it there.

At Holiday

First MTB ride in ages turned into a clag-fest yesterday. Nice up on the Ridgeway though.

More progress on the SkateGarage - battens fitted to the metal ramp bits so I can now cut and fit new ply sections. Garage seems a bit wet at the back tho - maybe got a leaky roof.

And Unit 1 old blokes sesh next Sunday - first skate in 5 weeks or so.

Merry Christmas

Have a good un, one and all.

Ramp Musings

So, 2ft6 extension frame made - here it is insitu:-Looks like the old ply is about 12mm as well so should be OK with the wombled ply. Just need to figure out the best way to fit it, particularly at the joints where the metal frame starts. Prolly screw some battens to the metal frame to screw into.

Measuring the flat bottom it now looks like its going to be about 6 1/2 to 7ft with the extension, so the old ramp dimensions must have been mega short. Duh. It did feel really big, although the platforms are only 2ft6. Not quite as bad as this but you get the point:-

It looks much better with the extension - more clearance overhead too. Actually looks better to skate instead of looking like a one-way trip to A&E waiting (but not very long) to happen.

The planning process has been rigorous using all modern planning techniques:-

Rampy Rethink

So I screwed the metal plates to the skate ramp and they stick out a mile. Not nice. And the ramp is quite short which means one of the platforms is a bit close to a roof joist, and it'll be really fast. And I don't skate that well yet.

So, Plan B - ramp extension time. I reckon I can add 2ft6 to the flat bottom and get rid of the metal plates. Should by a lot easier to learn on and a bit slower with the extra flat bottom.

Frame for the flat bottom extension is made:-

Its 2ft6 by 6ft. I used 25x38mm battens. The ramp flat bottom metal frame is 25mm box section steel and I didn't really want to add anymore height.

I also wombled two sheets of 8ft by 4ft 12mm ply from a skip in Swindon. One sheet is a bit gash but the other is OK. Hopefully I should have enough to fill the gaps where the metal plates would go (flat to the bottom of the transition). And then I think I'll skin it all with 3mm hardboard as the old ply is a bit rough.

Thats the plan anyway - we'll see how it pans out.

How We Laughed....

..when we found that we couldn't even get one of the quarters of my miniramp into PIs van. Not even close. So - Plan B - load it onto my bike trailer. Which worked fine. Sailing down the M4 with half a miniramp sat upright on the back.

So, its all in the garage now, just need to screw it together and find some lighting.

Swindons only indoor skate facility:-

Back To The Future

Set up my old Bob Burnquist deck again. Its more of a popsicle shape that the Flip Lance Mountain. Thought I'd give it another try and see which I prefer.Flip Bob Burnquist deck. Independent 149 Stage 10 trucks, Cortech wheels.

Winter Arrives Early in the `Doom

Lovin This.....

Week Off....

...reclaiming some of the time owed for working at Staythorpe.

Off to Teesside for a couple of days, back midweek then its Motorhead on Friday in Bristol. Then Unit 1 Saturday sesh.

No skating for the last two weeks due to work and rain:-(

Protect and Survive

Saw this in a pub in Newark:-

32% ABV and £35 a bottle.

`And of the rest of the night was just a blur.....'

Progress....

Easton miniramp sesh on Thursday - biggest I've managed to drop in on so far.

Yes Thats Right - Punk Is Dead

Went to see Steve Ignorant on his Last Supper tour in Brissle last Friday. Cracking gig.

Boro Postman Pat

All I Do Is Work....

...well, most of the time. Mostly Staythorpe, the latest deathstar from Air Vay Ay.

Other than that I've been out a'skootin with the chaps - Midsomer Norton, as ably documented by Herr Mullett, and Cretesham a coupla times. I really struggled to get going at MSN. A coupla Red Bulls and a slap or two from Bobster and Habgood helped. Managed to drop the small whippy quarter and got a wee line going. Sometimes it feels like I ain't progressing any but if I can just make small steps and see a small improvement then I'm happy.

Still looking for an indoor berth for the miniramp. Working on it.

Back to Staythorpe this week for more tests. Nearly there...

I found this footage on my works compooter. I'd forgotten all about it. Its a B52 taking off from Fairford around the time of the Gulf War. Proper heavy metal.

Ramp-age

Tempted by EvilBay again. At least it was relatively cheap. 2ft6 by 6ft by 16ft.

Now I need somewhere indoors to set it up. Anything in the Swindon/Chippenham area. If you know of anything leave me a comment.

Lathe Experiments

Thought I'd see how easy urethane can be turned

Not too bad a finish. The urethane comes off a bit powdery but I reckon a quick whizz round a concrete park would have em finished fine.

Now for Flatspot Recovery Service initial trials.

At Holiday

Prince of Darkness

This is a Lucas E3H dynamo. I know this because it says so on the shell.
This little wonder of British technology has lived on my 1938 Ariel as long as I've had it. Its does everything a dynamo should except generate electricity. Sometimes it does, more often it doesn't. I've stripped it, cleaned it, fiddled with it - still the same result - sometimes charging, sometimes not.

Some years ago I bought a spare dynamo, but still stuck with this one. Imagine my amusement when at long last I swapped the dynamos to find that the spare is in perfect working order, knocking out the amps like no-ones business. Of course this will only be the case during daylight.... Joe Lucas - Prince of Darkness.

Reg

Stop The World....

Busy again.

Bit of a skate with Bob at the Deaner followed by `An Introduction to Street Skating' with Jim, Dave and SamJebusSonofGod which basically mean't watching cos I can't skate street.

Coupla rolls at Cretesham, one with Gaffer.

Off to Nothumberland with the Ariel on a trailer for the Gathering - top weekend with some great riding, beer, talking bollocks, beer, eating pies, beer - and I won a trophy - Best Post Vintage. T'was a fluke. Honest.

Sqwelch adjusting mappage (Ariel W/NG):-

1920s AJS 500, Raleigh 500 and a swing arm Ariel SQ4



And the rare and lovely Liver Pie (cunningly designated with a pastry `L' so as not to be confused with chicken pies which look outwardly similar, and are designated with a pastry `C'. Makes after beer pie eating a far less haphazard affair):-


The it was off to Essen once again for a week with the Germans. Managed to watch some football and have a skate at the Essen Kray skatepark, which was excellent. A load of blokes turned up from Dusseldorf - imagine my surprise when I bought a copy of Monster Skateboard Magazine in the airport to find them all in there. They weren't shabby skaters mind.

Their blog:-

http://www.teamintus.blogspot.com/

Monster Skateboard is a bit like a German Sidewalk - not too bad really:-

http://www.skateboardmsm.de/

And the Essen Kray park, now well graffitti'd:-

www.minus-ramps.com/projects/Essen__D.html

Class Prezzie

Got this for Fathers Day

Wander Yonder....

....On Yer Honda.

Got the C70 MOTed today. Just need road tax and we're in business. Last tax disc was 1986 so its been idle for a while. I intend to do something about that. First plan is to ride it from Gloucester to Saundersfoot in September for the VMCC event. No doubt we'll be well received....

Junk Collector

Or at least thats what the missus thinks.

That wonderful institution EBay has yet again tempted me. This time its a Benjyboard White Lightning.

ACS 651 trucks and unknown wheels (anyone hazard a guess?)

All in all its not in bad nick. Certainly better than the last Benjyboard I bought anyway. And all for 36 quid plus postage.

And its got the remains of an original Benjyboard White Lightning sticker on the top as well

Ariel Bits

Started to take a few bits off the 1928 sidevalve engine I got off Evilbay. The plan was to use some of the bits to complete the 1928 ohv engine I've been building since time began. Turns out theres some good stuff on the engine:-

Engine shaft shock absorber

Complete with all the right bits including the spacer on the engine side. The spring looks a bit skanky but it might be OK.

Timing cover including all the bits (oil pump and valve lifter mechanism)

Just needs a good clean bit its better than the one I intended to use. No damage at all and all the bits are there. Even the camshaft is looking good although I've got a proper lumpy cam for the ohv engine.

The barrel needs a bit of work - the exhaust pipe fitting is damaged and theres a small crack on the casting near the exhaust valve guide. The bore looks good though so its useable. No damage or tramlining that I can see. Fins on top of the barrel are a bit thin. The barrel is a blind casting - no detachable cylinder head - its all one piece, just as it should be for 1928.

The bottom end seems to be OK. Theres no play in the big end and the crank rotates OK. Probably split the cases and change the main bearing before using. Its only a tenner to buy a new one. The timing side bearing is a bush.

All in all I'm pleased with it. Not bad for 150 quid.

This Week I have Mostly Been Listening To.....

.....Pop Will Eat Itself






And when they were a grebo band.....



Gimme Big Mac fries to go.

TK Tuh The Maxx Innit

Good haul of swag at the Maxx today:-

Coupla Indy t-shirts

Pair of Indy boardshorts:-

Pair of Emerica BAKU mids:-

And a 125l flight bag complete with wheels. My wheely plank disappears inside it. Its huge. (12 year old not included)

Busy Week....

Daytrip to Montreal followed by a roll at Shoreham Skatepark with Alec and the MASers

The street bit:-

The MAS Massive:-
What you lookin at...

Bowlage

Cretesham

Nice roll at Cretesham this morning with Bobber, Gaffer and Muttley. Blumin hot tho.

Brissle Tonite

Trials Rider (Rtd)

Thats retired, not retarded. Sold my Zoo! Pitbull today.

Reserve Stick

Creature 8.6, Krux, Bones DTF - hitting a skatepark once I get bored with the LM

Me Velo

Been all over on this little chappie - 2s up touring in France, been to Bavaria, Ireland several times, all over the UK. Its caused me a bit of trouble occasionally but its great fun to ride and makes a huge noise.

1954 Velocette MAC:-

Two Bikes I Shouldn't Have Sold

Bultaco Sherpa T Model 92 (325cc) circa 1973/4


1999 Yamaha YZF-R1