FEBRUARY 2014Update

January was another wet and windy and not the sort of weather to do any riding. We did however continue to do some work in the warmth of the workshop, but most of the month was spent in the National Archives working on the Warbike project.

Rhony'x Project

This is currently at a standstill although we did have a good look at the parts to understand the exact nature of the work that needs to be done.

The frame is actually good although it will need one new fork end. The mudguards could perhaps be rescued, but they do also look similar to a much later mobilette pattern which could work as a replacement. The wheels are rusted away, but will be used as patterns whilst the handlebars are a bit bent but could be rescued. Looking at the control leavers these will need to be replaced which leaves the engine.

The engine or what is left of it is in good nick, just wish there was more of it in place. We may even have to temporarily substitute it for a small villiers motor as the Stainless engines appear to be quite rare.

Warbike Project

THE CANADIAN ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR© IWM (Q 53568)

A lot of time during February was spent glued to fascinating documents in the National Archives. It is interesting to note that the military plans had been in place since 1907 meaning that by August 1914 every last detail seemed to be in place, even down to where motorcycles and their riders would be placed on trains. The next job will be to look at some individual dispatch rider’s diaries, with a visit to the London Motorcycle Museum in early February to see what military motorcycle they have.

Trondhjemsridtet 2014

On 7-10 June 2014 The Norwegian Veteran Motorcycle Club (NVMC) will be re-running an ambitious rally for vintage motorcycles. The entry list is now closed, but we will be reporting on it as it happens. It the meantime this is how it all began.

 

Typical Roads used for the Rally

In 1916 Seven motorcyclists gathered at the Park Cafe in Olso, Norway. These were the founder members of the Norsk Motorcycle Klub (Norwegen Motorcycle Club) Who went on to arrange road events in a country which at the time consited of muddy cart tracks. Members of the club carried out a run to Krokkleiva which is near Sundvollen in the west of the country. This was at the time an epic run and gained lots of publicity. Petrol rationing precluded more events until 1919 when the club ran what was effectivly a reliability trial from Oslo to Trondhimiem.

The Trondhjemsridtet was the first long distance rally for motorcycles in Norway It started in Oslo and followed narrow gravel roads through valleys and across mountain passes to Trondheim and back over 2 days – a distance of about 1150 kilometers or 715 miles. The rally was run a further six times until 1924.

In 2012 The Norwegian Veteran Motorcycle Club (NVMC) organized a “replica” event to commemorate the Trondhjemsridtet (TheTrondhjem Ride). It was run as a test rally to find out whether a similar event could be run on veteran vintage and classic bikes 88 years later.

The 2012 Rally “Trondhjemsridtet 1919” was a great success. The route followed, where possible, the original narrow roads – many of them with gravel surface, through beautiful Norwegian rural landscape.

2012 there were 32 participants – 16 from Norway and 16 from abroad (England, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Holland) In the 2014 the Rally will aim for ca. 60 participants with bikes built before 1955. Veteran and vintage motorcycles have been given preference although the organizers say that the he event will not be suitable for the oldest single-speed bikes with belt transmission. Although there maybe a few pioneers turning in their graves who think different!

See a Trondhjemsridtet 2012 video below:

Old Timer