Special to The Vintagent by David Lancaster
Great cities are marked by great contrasts. I can’t have been the only one riding between two major events last weekend, picking through hot London traffic, who was struck by how far apart they were. The more famous, and much older, is the Chelsea Flower Show – which every May sees the A-list, B-list and green-fingered descend in blazers and other finery to marvel at the innovation, skill, devotion and colour on show. And just a few miles to the east, a very different crowd descends to the Bike Shed London event to marvel – yes, you’ve guessed – at the innovation, skill, devotion and colour on show. But far as I know, the Chelsea Flower Show is yet to host tattoo parlours, panel bashing or beard trimming on site. Maybe next year. [There’s hope! – pd’o]






Royal Enfield-based special the R10 [Dave Norvinbike]


















Drove my norton 500 88 dominator from Bournemouth to Salisbury with my Rhodesian mate nick on the back, to do a pub crawl one glorious summers day in 1969, downing nothing but gold label barley wine in each pub, when we were well oiled, off to town again,less lids & no breathalysers, yet, we got to fordingbridge, when the left cylinder head blew, curtailing our trip by bike! Got the bus back to town.
Got a new gasket, and thumbed back to the bike which we left pushed into a hedge by the side of the road. With just 2 small spanner’s I removed tank, pipes carb etc, lifted the head, replaced the gasket and reassembled the bike, all in about 2 hours…sold the bike to a mate for £ 40, enough to get me a preunit triumph t100………. those were the days, I had ‘em all; triumph, Norton, bsa, matchless, all great fun, even broke my femur, to add to a great biking life, still going at 76 on my from new in 2000 Harley sportster.
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