A FROSTY RIDE OUT
Well a couple of weeks ago received an early morning phone call from Rod regarding a ride destination unknown. A few more phone calls and half a dozen of us year round riders arrived at Rods place in a temperature of around four degrees. Somehow I found myself leading what was in many ways an Enfield run, with Rod, Martyn, Trevor and me all on Enfield’s, and Mark and Short Legs on their Jap machines.
As usual I kept an eye on those behind as I took them on a merry dance through country lanes including rather muddy ones to boot. I kept noticing I was dropping everyone but heavens know why as I was only doing around 50mph. After around 45miles we arrived at that good old favourite Sweethedges Farm, off the field road from Stockerston, although we came in via Hallaton in order to keep everyone guessing. On arrival I discovered why everyone kept lagging behind Rod thought he was having gearbox trouble which in true Rod fashion we quickly discovered was in fact that his front brake was effectively jammed on!
Tea and bacon sandwiches were consumed whilst everything cooled down and then out came by sock full of spanners – Rod informing everyone that he had in fact cured the sticky brake the previous evening……lucky he is not a doctor! I confess it was a complete pig to reset the twin leading shoe brakes as the top shoe failed to release once operated even when you followed the “special” Enfield set up procedure to the letter. Eventually to hell with the correct way to do it I resorted to my own method and after a few more minutes it was working better than it had ever done…….and indeed better than both Martyn's and my own bike. A more direct route home saw us clocking around 80 miles and the bikes were the filthiest they had been for years!
Matt.
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