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This year, as the last several, the event was held in Kingsland, Herefordshire. About 75 people signed on, though a few extras may have put in appearances. Many returning faces and bikes were welcomed back--Elaine is now 19 for 19, an unbroken record, though this time, for the first time, she did not ride with us. A number of bikes and frames made debut appearances: Ted Haines showed up with a recently restored 1961 Plus (only a handful of which have survived)--click here for a full feature. John Barnett, chairman of the National Cycle Collection Trust, recently acquired a late 1930s Brilliant frame; we look forward to featuring it at this web site whenever he gets it restored. David Lovegrove's 1937 Brilliant, acquired as a raw frame last year at this event, returned this year in rideable condition (see below; and click here for a full feature); apart from David Hinds' 1920s Granby, this was the oldest bike actually running at the event. At the opposite end of the scale, Paul Riley brought a spanking new MO track special with Columbus UL tubing--click here for a full feature.
Some new faces came from overseas. Eddie from Dublin rode a 1980s MO. Alan brought a 2004 MO all the way from Vancouver. And Kim from Seattle rode his original-owner 1973 'Alf's Folly' (click here for a full feature). We hope to see you all back again.
The weather had been fine and sunny on Thursday. It was fine and sunny again on Monday. In between, we did have some fine and sunny spells between repeated cloud bursts. The roads stayed wet much of the time, so those without mud guards got a soaking from below if not from above.
We were fortified by teas and cakes along the way, and, back at the hall in Kinglsand, we were treated to piles of food and more cakes.
The high point of the weekend was the Saturday evening entertainment featuring our own Terry Pearce (on double bass) and the Playford Roadies. They played 50s and 60s tunes from 7:30 in the evening until past our bedtimes and kept us roaring with laughter and boogying the whole time.
Sunday looked to be wet from the start, so an impromtu visit to the National Cycle Collection in Llandrindod Wells, Wales, was arranged by/for the weak-hearted. David Higman, the curator, was most kind, explaining the more significant pieces of the collection and letting us have the run of the place.
The Editor would like to thank all who take part in these annual events; they are the single most important source for the fotos and the documentation of surviving bikes which appear at this web site. (You're also pretty amusing company.)
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