THE FIRST TIME AROUND

A TRILOGY


We all have fond memories of our first bike - or do we? I cannot work out why seemingly sane grown men restore and cosset Dl Bantams;
Wico-Pacy electrics and monkey metal switches and levers make modern Italian gear absolutely state of the art.
My first mount plunger framed of about 1951 vintage was to put it mildly a little self willed. Sometimes it would and sometimes it would not start, no matter what antics or come to that language was used to encourage it. On winter mornings the starting procedure was even more complicated by having to pour a kettle of boiling water over the clutch to free everything off. This only compounded the problem of course, because by next morning the water had frozen again, so repeat the procedure, ad infinitum....

Tyre wear at least was not a problem with this bike; it only equated boot wear from the alternative power source. Twist and go is not necessarily a term only applied to modern automatics Bantams only seemed to have two throttle positions, closed, and twisted right round.

I might disparage my first bike but it did lead to the first motorcycle adventure!!

That magic day, the first test, a 25 mile ride to Dorchester, the longest trip to date but I had to go there because country boys did not very often go to the traffic strewn streets of Bournemouth far too complicated and worrying. Find the test centre, answer the questions and start the practical. Some of you will remember the bit about When I step into the road and hold my hand up you will do your emergency stop!! Well my mud-filled country brakes were not really up to it and I ran into his leg! The examiner was not best pleased about this and when the bike dug its heels in and refused to restart he terminated the test, muttering things about roadworthiness. Mean minded that man roadworthy, of course it was, the bike had got there hadn’t it? Three months later everything in the garden was lovely and the precious pink slip obtained, bye bye
L plates, watch out world I am the best biker you have ever seen! Ah the confidence of youth.

At that time I worked on a farm about three miles away, returning home for lunch about midday, which entailed passing through the village of Holt twice. The villagers became aware of my habit and very kindly used to call in all small children, dogs, cats, chickens and all creatures that creepeth upon the earth. In six months I demolished an old chap’s hedge three times (he was quite understanding really, only a little concerned about his spuds), made the first solo flight across the village green at an average height of six feet, and then the piece de resistance of this I was very proud passing underneath the United Dairies churn lorry as it was backing across the road into a farm entrance.
Thank god these lorries were built with high ground clearance for farm tracks.
I was quite good at dropping the bike by this time, as ifs said, practice makes perfect!
After this, the villagers were starting to complain quite loudly about my antics on the green machine
SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE.

to be continued..


Country Correspondent