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Resuscitation run

Submitted by david_gibson on Mon, 06/10/2014
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NOC Riders Section

My mate Jeff, Isle of Wight branch, had the brilliant idea over a few pints, to visit every place in England with the word "mouth" in it ie mouth to mouth run. Three of us started the eight day trip, Jeffs 1929 model18, a 1951 Velo Mac and my 1937 Model 50. The model 18 snapped a tappet adjuster first day out and was replaced by a 1955 AJS. We visited 29 'mouths' and our miles covered in the eight days exceeded 1900' each, ...in my case 1949 miles trouble free apart from chain tension adjustment and tappet adjustment. Does this qualify for a long distance ride? We started in Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight and rode clockwise round the country, crossing the border at Tweedmouth.. Highest daily mileage, 311, longest riding day, eleven hours....bit of a problem as the Velo lost it's lights first day out and by September end, nights drawing in. If you fancy a go, I am sure Jeff would give you the route. It was not to be a race, but neither was it at touring speeds.....physically and mentally challenging.

Dave Gibson,Surrey Branch

Submitted by andy_marks on Mon, 06/10/2014

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Interesting idea for a ride and a good distance to do on three old bikes!I'd be interested to see where your route took you Dave?

I did 400 miles over the weekend and thought that was a long ride. Eastbourne to Weston Super-Mare on Saturday, B&B overnight and back on Sunday. Rode through Cheddar Gorge for the first time which was very enjoyable. Other than burning quite a lot of oil my 1951 ES2 didn't miss a beat! Of the 15 bikes that went only one BSA had to be brought back by the breakdown service so very succesful.

Submitted by david_gibson on Tue, 07/10/2014

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Hi Andy

no doubt Jeff or myself will write an article for Roadholder in the near future with full details and pics. My model 50 also completed the Jampot Club Westward ho night trial in a March/ April, starting at midnight , 112 miles from home and riding approx 200 miles through the night, down Cheddar Gorge by coincidence, at 3ish in the morning, just under 600 miles return. Several weeks later, the same machine did just under 600 miles on a vmcc ride, once again through Cheddar, It is a good little bike but a bit sensitive to Surrey potholes up front. I rebuilt a '49 ES2 for the Irish Rally this year and was dismayed to lose half a pint of oil per 150 mile day, not burnt. I am looking at the scavenge capability of the oil pump.

happy riding

Dave

Submitted by andy_marks on Tue, 07/10/2014

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I did the Irish on my 1951 Royal Enfield Model Ga few years ago. Was an excelent week and we are hoping to do it againsoon.

I have done a long weekend in France on the ES2 earlier this year but at the time I was losing so much oil out the rocker box I wasn't suprissed to see how much I was losing. Now I have stopped the oil leaks I know that it is being burnt. I'm taking it to the NEC in November so won't do anything before then, but will have to investigate over the winter. I also need to redo the wipers in my Inter as the cambox leak on that is getting excesive... Always something to do, if we used them less there wouldn't be as much maintenance :P

Submitted by neil_wyatt on Tue, 07/10/2014

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Would be good to have a list of the Mouths - County.

That way there could be another run visiting remaining Mouths!

Just a thought but nice to hear of the old bikes given a good run!

Submitted by david_gibson on Wed, 08/10/2014

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Hi Neil and Andy

there were actually 31 mouths that were actual places on a large scale map. Pil mouth we never found, nobody in the vicinity had ever heard of it. East Learmouth in Northumberland did not appear to have a sign and a local told us that it was probably only a farm address, as West Learmouth was. The most desolate mouth was Creekmouth in London docklands, finding two mouths in Kent put 150 miles on a days riding.....and Cockermoith was great on Saturday night. Incidentally, despite being on the beer every night, I lost half a stone in weight in the eight days. Andy, I have a '35 Inter model 40, which is routinely covered in oil but the tank level does not go down much. Several years ago, I rode it to and from the Irish, 1500 miles but fell off at speed second day out! I have also ridden it to Germany through Holland, Jeff on his Big Port sprinter, no lights between us. Old men having fun on old bikes, plenty time to age gracefully.

Dave

Submitted by neil_wyatt on Thu, 09/10/2014

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Good stuff Dave,

And at least you weren't far from RGM if you needed parts while nearCockermouth.

Reminds me of an Englishman and a Scotsman (Was live on Radio Active about 20 odd years ago) The Englishman said Kilmarnock, etc (Kilmeans church but he rolled off a list of them) then said You are all kill. The Scotsman retaliated and said: Portsmouth Grangemouth, Exmouth ...etc.....You are all Mooth (Mouth)

Oh well, brought back a memory to me. How about a run with a borough and would you include Edinburgh?

Glad you enjoyed the ride. I parked my 16H outside Scripts Garage (Heartbeat) and I think the picture is on RGM's picture gallery. Surprising how well these old bike perform, given the chance.

Submitted by patrick_mullen on Thu, 09/10/2014

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I repeat Neil's remark when he says "good stuff Dave". You have to be fit to do that mileage on an old bike even if it performs perfectly

I occasionally ride down from the ferry at Stranraer to York (but on a modern Japanese 600) and I can't walk when I get off.

Also Neil shows a good knowledge of the Gaelic - around here there are two places called Killyman and Kilmore only a few miles apart. Someone was heard to remark that he was coming from killing a man and he was going to kill more.

Patrick

 


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