admin

Villiers Velo Ride

By Tim Evans

It was a perfect day for this gentle pootle with friends, the sky was blue and the sun was hot. Twenty of us gathered at Paul Villiers’ workshop at Pier Approach, Gillingham, Kent. In the case of my TSR Rohloff it was a return to the place of its birth. We stoked up on tea, coffee and delicious home made cakes whilst discussing Moultons and also admiring some of Paul’s handbuilt frames; I could be seduced by that curly Hetchins inspired frame with chrome fork ends and beautiful lug work but I can’t think it would ride as well as my TSR.

Unusually there were no F-frames on this ride. The closest was Arthur Smith’s AS1, which is Moulton MK3 frame with AM front forks and AM rear triangle. Pure Moulton and much admired. Ah! what might have been if, 40 years ago, Raleigh had not known the price of everything and the value of nothing. Arthur’s done Lands End to John O’Groats and many other rides on it. Then there was Grace Elliott’s Bridgestone Moulton and an SP Brompton, which owes much to the Moulton MK3.

Eventually Paul called us to order and we set off to ride along the Medway estuary path which had an amazing number of width restrictors to prevent use by unauthorised vehicles or horses. The smell of the sea was lovely. There was a bit of a reference back to Charles Dickens with hulks sitting rotting in the marshes, but no prisoners. Eventually we joined quiet country lanes and arrived at Upchurch with its beautiful 14th century church with its unusual 'candle-snuffer' steeple. Wikipedia says the distinctive shape is believed to have been chosen to serve as a navigational aid for shipping on the River Thames and that in Roman times the village was the site of a community for ex-soldiers who wanted to settle in England.

Next stop was the Three Tuns Pub in Lower Halstow, built in 1468 and with an ale licence since 1764. They’ve changed the barrels many times since then and the hand-pulled Kent ale was in perfect condition. The food was good too. After a leisurely lunch in the garden we cycled back to Villiers Velos for more cake, squash and tea. The track from George Coulouris’ GPS is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=zdlrwfflzbktckhk. It was a bit of a Garmin ride as well as a Moulton ride with 2 Garmin Edge 605s (both using Open Street Maps free maps) and 2 Edge 800s. George’s pics are here as well http://tinyurl.com/63jssqj. His advice about how to get the best from a Garmin Edge GPS is at http://www.coulouris.net/biking/Garmin605.html.

Stolen Bike Alert

A number of Moulton bicycles have been stolen recently, so all intending buyers should be on the lookout for "bargains" that may not be what they seem. Details of two such thefts below.

Stolen Pylon

Moulton NS Pylon was stolen on the 12th April from outside Islington Town Hall Upper Street London N1 at 6.30-7.30pm.
The theif cut through the rear triangle to release one of the locks leaving the lock, back wheel, and three 1" section of the swingarm.

Moulton New Series Stainless Speed (Pylon)
Reg 004902 (the 4th one made)
See photo
Equipped with campagnolo record gear
Day rack, day bag
Black forks
Note - x2 groves worn on the top front flexitor (from cables)
The front hub is a Hope replacement.
Brookes Swift saddle
swing arm upgraded to the 2006 standard (more lattice work)

Stolen APB
Stolen on 15th April, at approx 1pm in Mill Road, Cambridge.

Unique Moulton APB, burgundy colour, with sidepull brakes.
Threadless fork, no V-brake mounts - this is a factory prototype.
No frame number.
Drop bars with Campagnolo 24 speed Ergopower.
Mudguards.
Thomson in-line seatpost (31.6mm)

This is one of my development bikes and a reward is offered for its safe return.

Any information, please contact me (dan AT moultonbicycles DOT co DOT uk) or
contact Cambridge Police quoting crime no. CF0159450411.

Easy Miles around the Chichester Plain

by Aynsley Brown

On Sunday 27^th March, I attended Arthur Smiths’ Chichester Ride with my AM2.

As advertised, it was an easy ride of 26 miles. Just right for me after a relatively non-cycling winter.

It was a sunny coolish morning. 14 of us gathered at Chichester Station, including Brian Wey, who’d badly broken his wrist at BoA in September last year. This was his first ride after the accident. Good to see him back in the saddle.

We set off on cycle paths and quiet roads out of Chichester, then out through Fishbourne, Bosham Hoe to Bosham.

It was like cycling in the Netherlands. Dead flat. Easy going.

Unfortunately, one of our number at a short stop, discovered that he’d lost his wallet out of an un-zipped pocket. Accompanied by another who knew the route, he cycled back towards our starting point to see if it’d fallen out on the road. A bit further on another of us took a tumble negotiating a not-so-dropped kerb. No great damage done, so we all continued.

Our first stop was at the Bosham Art and Craft Centre for a welcome cuppa. While we were enjoying our teas and coffees, the two who had turned back, rejoined us. The wallet hadn’t fallen out after all; just mis-placed.

On through beautiful countryside via Chidham and Prinsted to Thornham Marina for lunch at Boaters Bar.

The food was good and lots of it! So good, that some of the day’s specials had sold out. I’d blame it on Arthur’s puncture, which delayed us a while. We ate out in glorious sunshine. Not bad for late-March!

After lunch we rode on returning to Chichester via Southbourne and Woodmancote, stopping at the café at Fishbourne’s Roman Palace.

It was a lovely day’s ride, with riders from as far away as Oxfordshire, Surrey and the Isle of Wight.

Arthur’s next Ride in May won’t be as flat – so I’m told. Think I’ll bring the Speedsix!

Aynsley Brown

Disaster in Japan

From Club Chairman Aynsley Brown:

Fellow Moultoneers,
On Monday, March 14th, I sent the following e-mail to each club member in Japan for whom we have an e-mail address.

Dear [Member Name],
I am very sorry to hear about the terrible earthquake and tsunami that has destroyed so much of north-eastern Japan.
The television pictures are very shocking.
On behalf of the members of the UK Moulton Bicycle Club, I send sincere sympathy to those who have suffered any family loss or injury.
I hope that you and your family are safe and well.

Best Wishes,
Aynsley Brown
Chairman, Moulton Bicycle Club

These are some of the responses that I have received so far.
I would like to share them with you.
Several have not responded yet.
I sincerely hope it is nothing more serious than communication difficulties.
Aynsley

***

Thank you so much your e-mail.
We are fine,because we live in KANSAI.
But Our many freinds live in KANTO-TOHOKU.
So we sorry for them as you.
Thank you and please pray to our freinds safty too.

***

Thank you for your e-mail.
We are OK, no damage, no injury here.
I think we can return to normal life fairly soon, at least Tokyo.

***

Eastern Japan was swallowed for a big tsunami.
I am safe.
Time may be necessary to enjoy a bicycle.
A rescue party came from the U.K.
I thank for anxiety of all of you.

***

Thank you so much for your thoughtful email. We in Yokohama are fine - very minor damage in the city and none in homes or school where I teach.
Because of the lack of transportation and the nuclear risk many expats have evacuated. The schools have closed all week due to the sporadic power and transportation situation, then into their Spring holidays.
I am retiring in June and hope to make the September BoA meeting. I look forward to meeting you there.

***

Thank you for your message & kindness,
Our family are safe and well,But north eastern people are very very bad situation now.
All people in Japan is me grief,But people will face reconstruction discouraged it.
Please keep that hope away from the sky.

***

I would like to express my gratitude toward your concern about Japanese citizen
as well as myself.
I am living in Osaka where is far away from the disastrous area. What we are most
concerned about at the current moment is the nuclear plant trouble.
Thank you again for your sympathy.

***

Thank you for your message.
Luckily we have not heard of any human casualty or material/physical
damage amongst the J-MBC members and their immediate family.

***

Pacific North Eastern Japan is, to be frank, devastated.
Tokyo is experiencing a shortage of electricity (we have a premeditated ,
rotating partial blackouts) and resultant less-than-normal public
tranportation or other inconveniences, but still going strong.
Obviously the country is in crisis, but Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and
westward are intact and functioning fairly normally.
Thank you again,

***

Thank you for your message.
We have been ok. We are far from there.
But started seeing indirect influences.

***

Thank you for your kind mail. The eastern half of the country has been severely damaged. We in Tokyo escaped unscathed, except a few flower vases.
My family including four Moultons are fine.
Again thank you very much for your concern, and hope to meet you.

***

It's really shocking to see such an incredible news pictures of this earthquake and tsunami.
But all my family are safe in Osaka. Thank you for your warm sympathy.

***

Thank you for kindness message.
My area is ok now.
but still unclearplant is fear of the explosion.
I never seen terrible diserster.
It encouraged it from a lot of people.
it is likely to be able to recovere.

***

Thank you very much for your e-mail. It was an unexpected surprise and pleasure to receive such a kind message from my fellow Moultoneers in the U.K.
As you must have seen through the media, thousands of people are either dead or missing. Fortunately, I live just north of Tokyo, where the damage has been minor. My family members and I ( and of course my TSR!) are all fine, although since the quakes are still continuing, one must continue to be vigilant for the time being.
I just hope that the devasted areas would recover as soon as possible, and I am thinking of ways to be of help to the affected people. In the mean time, your concern is very much appreciated.

***

Thanks a lot for your heartfelt concern.
I and my family are safe and well.
As always I have been commuting by bicycle and working in a ward office since Monday.
Operations are getting back on a recovery in my town and eastern Tokyo.

Embacher Collection – MOULTON Speed Six

I just received my copy of the Michael Embacher book Cyclepedia: A Tour of Iconic Bicycle Designs. As well as the ONE OFF Titanium Moulton Special, the book also features a lovely Moulton Speedsix.

At the end of the 1960s the 6-speed gear system was an unusual phenomenon, making the Moulton Speedsix twice as exotic. It was ahead of its time in its gear-shift technology, although in its design it was very contemporary. The Moultons from the first years of production were rather unexciting mass-market goods, but with the leap to high-end, small series production in the 1980s their street credentials went up.

The bicycle featured here is one of only 600 or so produced, and is number K65310046.

1965, GBR
Frame: Steel varnished
Bicycle gearing:
Brakes: Rim Side Pull / Rim Side Pull
Tyres: 17“ Wired Tyre / 17“ Wired Tyre
Weight: 29,32 lbs

Also in the collection, but not included in the book are a Mark 3, an AM-16, a New Series.

The book is published by Thames & Hudson and the ISBNs are 0500515581, 9780500515587.

The official launch of Cyclepedia: A Tour of Iconic Bicycle Designs is in London on Wednesday March 16th 2011 AT 18:30 at Look Mum No Hands! 49 Old Street, London ED1V9HX.

Jack Thurston, presenter of The Bike Show will be in conversation with Michael Embacher, looking and talking through their favourite bicycles in the collection. Given that Jack is a Moultoneer himself, you can expect the conversation will cover at least one of the Moultons.

From EMBACHER/COLLECTION - ALEX MOULTON Speed Six.