Long Overdue Update...

Since I got a FB account its far too easy to do that and forget Blogger - but here goes.

Been busy since June. Very busy.

Bought a new old bike:-

Went to Kemble Airshow:-

Went skatin in Hamburg:-

Bought a surfboard (so far unused):-

Did Deaner Day:-

Went to the Tour of Dean and Annual Rally:-

Went on holiday to Croyde:-

Went to Holland twice in one week:-

And finally a business trip to Greenville, South Carolina:-

Also saw the Dickies in Bristol, skated MSN, Glastonbury and Dorchester. And Cretesham of course. And other random stuff. Hardly done any Bristol skoots:-(

Don't feel like I've skated much this year. Not used the DoomRamp since June but winter is round the corner. Not been MTBing since last New Year but I have been swimming for the first time since I was 15.

More later...

Lets Be Friends

Time I made friends with the DoomRamp:-

Dropping in from the low roof side was interesting the first time but seems OK. Theres a roof beam a bit close to the platform but I didn't hit it so it must be OK.

I started dropping in and running off, then riding a bit up the transition and running off, then wheels over the coping and hitting the wall with the nose then jumping off and finally a kinda halfhearted turn, then jumping off. So progress of a sort. Felt good though and thats what its supposed to be about.

Adventures in Gearboxes

Made more progress putting the 28 Ariel gearbox together.

Got the front casing fitted as its now repaired. All the gears change now I've assembled it correctly. All studs are present and correct.

Gearbox with the end casing fitted showing the kickstart mechanism and gearchange lever (its a 3 speed handchange Burman Q-box)

I filled the gearbox up with a mixture of moly grease and 50wt oil. You can see one of the gears on the mainshaft and the change mechanism all covered is grease.

Just waiting for some of the painted bits to dry and it should be finished. Next is the engine.

1928 Ariel Gearbox

After riding Welchys 1926 Ariel in Ireland I'm keen to start making progress with my 1928. I've only had it since 1996 so really theres a few more years before it needs to be ready...

So, I made a huge project plan with all the jobs listed. And theres quite a lot to do.

First off - gearbox - the kickstart casing needs repairing and the whole thing needs assembling and sealing up. Its actually a 1929 Burman box (with speedo drive) but I have a sports ratio gear set that will not fit the 28 box so it'll do.

So, there is a broken bit on the kickstart casing - now bodged with a strip of ally and some Araldite - its in a place that can't be seen so should be OK. Note use of not one but two sets of Moleys.

This is the gearbox with the endcover off. Physically quite small.

These pics also make me realise I need to tidy up.

Overlord

More `world of tanks' type events - Overlord was last Saturday down near Portsmouth. Not a bad show, but it could have been warmer. Good old British summer:-(

Matchless G3L and BSA M20 ready for dispatch duties.

The local SchutzStaffel was out in force. LAH re-enactors were well equipped and looked like they won the mock battle (for a change) beating the Americans.

Not quite sure where the humble Trabant featured during D-Day but I thought Gaffer would like this. Ring-a-ding-ding-ding...
The LAH SS encampment also had a PAK. And a fahrrad fahrer complete with two panzerfaust.

Not too sure about the UXB tho - surely smoking would be least of your worries...

How F@?kin Much?

Most expensive bottle of coke in the world?

Euros 3.50 for 0.5l!!! Big hand for Movenpick, Gate 77, Dusseldorf Airport.

Robbing bastards.

Slievenamon 2011

Me, Huw and Welchy went to Kilkenny last weekend for the Slievenamon rally. Welchy kindly lent me his 1926 Ariel for the weekend. The rally is for pre-31 bikes so there was some nice stuff there.

Some pics:-

My steed for the weekend - 1926 Ariel Model B - 557cc sidevalve single

Couple of old uns - veteran Humber and a Revere.

Early 20's AJS Big Port 350cc

Mid 20's Royal Enfield v-twin

Early Scott 2-stroke

Welch prepares to prepare - 1913 Triumph 500

Early 20s Indian Powerplus with sidecar. This bike has shocking brakes despite being very powerful. Failure of said brakes resulted in Paddy Guerin putting it in several ditches on the Saturday and taking a trip over the handlebars. Mrs Guerin, in the sidecar, wasn't amused.

Another shot showing the complex lever arrangement on the tank.

Flat tank Norton sidevalve - Big 4 or 16H - not sure which.

1920's Rudge Multi

Outside the `coffee' stop in Inistioge on Saturday. We visited this village several times during the weekend. The last time, on Sunday morning, we arrived about 11am. The pub was closed. The owner popped his head out and said `will you be wanting a beer lads? We're not open til 12 but if you come round the back door you'll be alright. Just incase any Garda are about...' And he was right. The pub was quite busy.

All in all a cracking weekend.