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Enjoying the MadMoped Challenge? You can make a donation at www.justgiving.com/Pete-Sykes or www.justgiving.com/Ken-Rawlinson...

Wednesday 30 March 2011

The TR3OC NVT...

With the unfortunate demise of the RealClassic Moped (hopefully you'll be able to get another machine by tonight), the TR3OC NVT is now the sole remaining "British" interest in this run.

If you would like to follow this little bikes amazing adventures day by day , you can do so on by visiting :
http://tr3oc.co.uk/?page_id=526

Tuesday 29 March 2011

Obituary

It is with great sadness that I must inform the great RC Family that our brave little mopeddy suffered a terminal case of a heart attack to its gudgeony area today. Lots of little rollers have infected the internal workings of its gallant little engine and caused terminal damage.

Two and a half days of heavy load and flat out running just proved too much for the poor little thing.....RIP Mopeddy.

Now if anybody can lend us a moped or a stepthrough which could be available say tomorrow night in Shrewsbury we could carry on. This is a plea from the heart after much hard work by the riders over the last couple of days. It would be a shame not to be able to arrive at the finish line. So can anybody lend the RC team a bike. There must be one available out there somewhere. Contact MadMike via the RealClassic.co.uk message board...

Pictures from Pete

The Weedy Bikes

The fuel leak

The pitstop


Day One and Two: From the Saddle

[This just in from Pete]

Days one and two

I was there.

The challenge started for Ken at 5:30 on Saturday as the car left Kent. For the bike it started 4 hrs later as it left Leicester and for me about 2:30 as I was picked up in Edinburgh. Its still 300 miles to JoG and the motorway runs out past Perth. The car arrived in Wick about 8:30 and the van with the bikes a couple of hours later. We had a long ride the next day and an early start so we sat in the bar for an hour or two. The lads from Bristol went out on the town – but as the town was Wick they were back before the clocks changed.

The following morning saw the bikes getting assembled in the car park at JoG. The tardis ( what else can you call it) had 4 running C90s and a spare one in it plus a settee, tents and a small boat. John Morris’s van had our mighty machine two 100 cc scooters and another Cub. Add the NVT Easy Rider and a couple of Honda Zoomers and you have the fleet. A few wheelies round the carpark, photos by the harbour with either Orkney or the derelict JoG hotel in the background followed by some general faffing about later and we were ready for the off. John decreed that the big scooters go first, the Cubs second and the two 50cc weedy bikes last, followed by the van. A couple minute later the weedy bikes zoomed off figuring that setting off first and being overtaken was preferable to waiting in the cold drizzle to be last.


The mighty machine is a JianLing Skywing 50cc moped. Its been modified by Mike with the addition of Hippo hands, a back pack full of tools on the pillion, Norton footrests and Norton badges. We had already removed the back pack so it could travel in the van. It wasn’t just to reduce weight as Ken was sitting on the pillion seat in order to fit his legs on the bike. More bits were taken off a time went by, The bike was made in December 2002 according to the plate on the headstock. It was acquired in Feb 2011 fresh from the crate and Mike said he’d run it in. As we set off I realised that 10% of its mileage had been put on it whizzing round the car park. 10km on the clock as we left. Its has a strange transmission: a centrifugal clutch by the engine drives a gearbox on the back wheel via a rubber band. A lever on the rear hub engages drive (not always reliably) If it has a variator, I never saw it or detected it doing much. Direct lighting means no battery, and no lights either to be honest. The photons kind of limp out the headlight and fall to the floor a few inches in front of the wheel. It really is rather basic.

I reckoned having seen the fleet I’d be slowest but was soon proved wrong as I whizzed past the Easy Rider. I ignored the fuel stop a few miles later as the tank was already full and kept pressing on. Caithness is quite flat, quite bleak really so the bike was willing to get to a heady indicated 50 km/h on the flat. Headwinds knocked that down a bit. The Easy Rider was maxing out at 20 imperial mph but he later found a second gear he didn’t know he had and things improved. At one point a small deep read weasel ran out in front of me, saw the bike, ran alongside me for a few seconds and back into the verge. Yes that’s how fast it was.

About 90 minutes later the bike came to a halt. Started again briefly and stopped within ½ mile. I waited for the van. The rest of the fleet sailed past and I got refuelled. We were a bit worried about that as it’s a 4 litre tank and we were doing under 40 miles to a tank. The locking fuel filler was also a problem as we had no key, but as it didn’t work that wasn’t (yet) a real issue.

Riding position is variable. I experimented with conventional, feet on the pegs. OK but I find I’m sitting on the metal bar between the saddle and pillion seat. Slide forward and rest the back of calves on the pegs. OK but the bike, who’s stability is questionable at the best of times, feels worse. Heels hooked on the pillion pegs by the back axle is 2mph quicker but my head is so far forward I can’t see the mirrors and when the traffic behind is twice your speed that’s important. Stability goes too.

The first coffee stop was at the Bay Owl Inn near Dunbeath. Not only did they organise a photographer but they had also done a bit of fund raising and handed over £650. Amazingly generous.

Onwards to Evanton and the Store House restaurant. Now I may have said Caithness is flat. Well Sutherland isn’t and the coast road has 13% hills and hairpins. The mighty machine slowed to 20 kph uphill. About the same as the Easy Rider’s 13mph.

After lunch, Ken took over for the ride past Beauly to Drumnadrochit and down to Fort Augustus. Plenty of ups and steep downs and from the van we could see he was really wishing he was on a real Norton. In Drumnadrochit we removed the Hippo hands. Ken wasn’t keen on them and I was happier without them so they are in the van too.

Into Fort Augustus and the C90 boys from Bristol loaded up the bikes with tents, wood for a fire, food to cook on it, and small inflatable boat to go fishing with the next morning. They left the settee in the van.

The rest of us went to the pub but managed to spend so long drinking that the pubs had stopped doing food. Never mind, Beer’s quite nutritious isn’t it.

Day two and its gloomy and overcast. John is winding us up about the awesome Glencoe hills (They are awesome, but the road isn’t so bad) Off to Fort William and the bike is getting more lively. Running in or wearing out, your guess is as good as mine. More fund raising in McDonalds in Fort Bill (I would have gone to Nevisport myself but I’m not running this) and off to Glencoe. The NVT guys are just blasting on. No stops apart from rider changes. I’d been with them for the Great Glen but didn’t see them again until the end of the day. The bile climbs outof GlenCoe and heady 40 - 45kph or 25 -27 mph to you. Stops at The Kinghouse and at the Green Welly then Ken took over again. The bike’s now quicker and the road down to Loch Lomond is a good one. The sun is out too. Past Tarbert and its wider busier and faster, so not so much fun on a moped.

We have also worked out that although the tank is 4l. It only takes 2l before the petrol filler spurts so although we are filling up every 60 km, its never more than 2l and usually less ( yes we have bought a jug) We have however broken the locking fuel cap as the dammed thing worked and locked. Nothing a strap wrench can’t open though. The locking bit is now lying by the side of the road and the cap reassembled with the assistance of a small hammer

The last stop was at Luss and that’s where we saw the bike dribbling petrol. The Norton footrests are bolted to the tank mounts and its created a leak where the mount is welded to the tank. Gummed up at present but no doubts things will develop.

I hopped off home on the train earlier this evening leaving Ken to ride tomorrow and Mike, Steve, Steve and Ron to complete the trip. I’ve done 200 miles on a moped in the last two days. My next ride will be a bit quicker.

I hear after Mike has ridden the bike home from Penzance that it'll be shown various places and flogged sometime later. If you can get a go on it, do so. Its fun .... in moderation.


I’ll post some pictures soon. Give me a chance to download the camera.

Meanwhile you know why we are doing this. Click on of the links at the top of the page

Monday 28 March 2011

Refuelling, Somewhere in Scotland

Fuel stop, somewhere in Scotland:

The Mad Moped Challenge Route

 (All timings approximate)
DAY 1 Sunday 27th March 2011

Norsman Hotel Post Code KW1 4NL   7:30AM 

Road: A99

John Groats Tourist information car park  8:30AM

Road: A99

Tescos Super Store WICK KW1 4QS  (Fuel)  9:00AM

Road: A99 & A9

The Bay Owl Inn & Restaurant KW6 6EG (breakfast or tea)  10:00AM  (Tel: 01593 731356)  (Dunbeath)

Road: A9

BORA (fuel & toilet)  12:00AM (Evelix Garage)

Road: A9

EVATON  (fuel & toilet)  1:30pm

Road: A9

The Store House  (lunch)  2pm - 3pm, Folis Ferry, IV16 NUX.  (Tel: 01349 830038)

Road: A9 & A862

DINGWALL

A862

MAYBURGH

B9169

BEAULY  (fuel and toilet)   4PM

A833

DRUMNADROCHIT (fuel toilet)  5pm

A82 (side of Loch Ness)

Stravaigers Lodge PH32 4BG (overnight stop) 


DAY 2  MONDAY 28 MARCH

Stravaigers Lodge PH32 4BG (overnight stop)  9AM

Road:A82

INVERGARRY  (fuel & toilet)

Road:A82

The Commandos War Memorial (photos/ time to reflect) Near SPEAN BRIDGE.

Road:A82

Morrisons Store/ Mc Donalds PH33 6AN (fuel/food/break)  11AM

Road:A82

ONICH (a MUST fuel stop)

We start to hit the hills from here

Road:A82

The Kings Head Hotel  PH49 4HY  (warm up tea/cake)  12:30AM (Tel: 01855 851259)

Hills and peat bogs lower down.

Road:A82

The Green Welly stop FK20 8RY at TYNDRUM (lunch/fuel) a well known bikers stop  1:30pm to 3pm

Road:A82 still

LUSS (full of quaint little shops/ coffee/tea)  4:30pm (on the banks of Loch Lomond)

Road:A82 still

DUMBARTON TRAVELODGE G82 2TZ Over night stop  Around 6pm


DAY 3:  TUESDAY 29 MARCH

Leave 7:30AM

Road:A82

Fuel in 1.3miles

Over the ERSKIN bridge, soon as you cross left onto

Road: A726

AROUND PAISLEY keep on A726 onto B775 to GlenLiffer Braes Country Park

Through Hall Village and then onto A735 to Lugton and Dunlop

Stay on A735 to Stewarton.
Stop for fuel and toilet at Sainsburys in Stewarton (KA3 5LE)

Stay on A735 to Kilmarnock

In centre of Kilmarnock (on 1 way system) go onto B7073 towards Crossroads/Mauchline.

At Crossroads go onto A76 towards Mauchline.

Fuel Stop at Mauchline

In 2 miles – stop at Catrine House Coffee Shop (KA5 5JY)

Road A76

In 26 miles - Fuel at Thames or Sanquahar (toilets on right at Sanquahar if required)

Thornhill (Lunch at Buccleuch Hotel) (Tel: 01848 330215) (DG3 5LU) (Organisers to phone with exact numbers on morning)

A76 towards Dumfries

A76 Dumfries Bypass onto A75 to Gretna

Crossways Inn, Gretna (DG16 5DN) (Tel: 01461 337465) (Tea/food/fuel at 3PM)

Bottom of hill in Gretna – DO NOT TURN ONTO A6071 TO LONGTOWN – go onto unmarked road alongside new M6 to Kingstown onto A7

A7 to Carlisle Centre

West on A595 to Newby Cross through Moorend and Red Dial

Around Bothel turn onto A591 towards Keswick

Pass Bassenthwaite Lake to Keswick YHA

Overnight Stop at Keswick YHA (CA12 5LH)

DAY 4: WEDNESDAY 30 MARCH

Leave YHA Keswick at 8.30 and refuel at Keswick

Road: A591

Through Thirlspot/Grasmere/Waterhead

Bypass Kendal on A591

Below Kendal turn West on A590 towards Ulverston

Within 2 miles turn south onto A6

Through Heversham/Milnthorpe and stop at Beethan

Tea Stop: Beethan Nurseries (LA7 7AP) approx. 11AM (Tel: 01539 563010)

Road: A6

Esso Garage is ½ mile south of Beethan Nurseries – petrol stations are now frequently placed

A6 straight through centre of Lancaster to Catterall

Stay on A6 to centre of Preston

Around Preston 1 way system to Penwortham on A59 (organisers to use sat nav as difficult route)

Road: A59

Past Muchhall at Burscough Bridge turn left down School Lane on Wheat Lane to Ship Inn, Burschough (Postcode: L40 4BX) (Tel: 01704 893117) at 1PM for lunch

Stop at first fuel stop after Ship Inn.

Left onto A5209/Right onto B5240 – under M58 motorway onto A570 towards St Helens.and around Rainford

Onto A580 around St Helens onto B5201 beside Rainhill over M62 motorway onto A557 towards Widnes.

Over Widnes/Runcorn bridge on Runcorrn side, turn right onto A557.

Over M56 turn right on A56 through Fordsham onto B5152 past Kingsley. Turn right onto A49 south to Whitchurch.
Stop at Whitchurch Truck Stop – Lynn’s Raven CafĂ© (SY13 2AF) (Tel: 01948 665691) at 3PM.

South onto A49 to Shrewsbury.

Hotel on Roundabout A49/A53 – Battlefield Travelodge Shrewsbury (SY4 3EQ) (Tel: 0871 9846120)

DAY 5: THURSDAY 31 MARCH

Leave Travelodge Shrewsbury at 8.30PM.  Petrol station at Travelodge – refuel before leaving.

Road: A49/Shrewsbury Bypass

Turn right onto A5 Shrewsbury Bypass. 

Road: A49 South.  Past Church Stretton through Craven Arms.

Stay on A49 around Ludlow and Leominster.

Through centre of Hereford.  Stop at first fuel station on roundabout entering Hereford.

Stay on A49 towards Ross on Wye

Stop at Much Birch – Pilgrim Hotel for bacon sandwiches etc if required (Tel: 01981 540742) (HR2 8HJ) 11AM.

 Road: A49

Stay on Ross on Wye bypass onto A40 towards Gloucester.

Bypass Gloucester onto A417, slip road off onto A4301 onto A430 (to Quedgeley) - this changes into A38.

Road: A38 through Whitminster/Cambridge/Falfield turn right onto B4061 to Thornbury.

In Thornbury Town Centre, stop at Wheatsheaf Inn for lunch (approx.. 1.30PM) (BS35 2BJ) (Tel: 01454 412356)

On departing, stop at Thornbury Tesco’s for fuel. 

Back onto A38 – under M4/under M5. Stay on A38 past Filton Airport – left onto A4174 towards Downend and Mangots Field.   (This is the Bristol Bypass).

Road: A4017 through Kings Wood.
Road: A420.
Road: A4174 past Cadbury Heath.
At  A4174 and A4 Roundabout, turn right towards Brislington.  Second road on left is Riders of Bristol (Harley Davidson Showroom) – tea and toilets.  (BS4 5LR) (Tel: 0117 9588777).

Double back onto A4 to Bath.

At Junction A4/A39, turn right at Globe Inn onto A39 South.

Road: A39 to Wells.  Straight through Wells – stay on A39 to Glastonbury.

Overnight stop at Glastonbury Crown Hotel (BA6 9HD) (Tel: 01458 833353).

DAY 6: FRIDAY 01 APRIL

Leave Glastonbury Crown Hotel at 8.30AM

Road: A39 to Street – stop at first fuel station.

Road: A39 turn left on A361 to Ashcott through Othery and Athelney.

Over M5 onto A38 through centre of Taunton.

Road: A38 to Wellington – go under .  At Waterloo Cross, turn left onto B3181 to Cullompton

Stop at Manor House in High Street (EX15 1JL) (Tel: 01884 32281) (organisers to phone on the morning)

Road: B3181(which keeps winding around M5) to Exeter.

Just before Exeter, on bypass road B3212 – stop for fuel.

Onto A377 and then onto A30 to Okehampton.

Road: A30 – stop at Plusha Truck Stop (Subway) for fuel and lunch  (PL15 7RR) (Tel: 01566 782882).

Road: A30 to Penzance and then onto LANDS END

BACK TO PENZANCE YHA (TR20 8TF) (Tel: 0845 371 9653).

Photos!

"The Beast" in its final form:



Ken Rawlinson (R. K. Ick) tries The Beast for size at John O'Groats. He looks a bit big doesn't he?



The bikes and riders ready for the start at JohnO'Groats.

Route for Friday 1st April

[This just in from Pete Sykes]

The route next friday is:

DAY 6 – FRIDAY 1ST APRIL (WE HAVE ALMOST MADE IT)!

Leave Glastonbury Crown Hotel at 8.30AM
Road: A39 to Street – stop at first fuel station.
Road: A39 turn left on A361 to Ashcott through Othery and Athelney.
Over M5 onto A38 through centre of Taunton.
Road: A38 to Wellington – go under . At Waterloo Cross, turn left onto B3181 to Cullompton
Stop at Manor House in High Street (EX15 1JL) (Tel: 01884 32281) (organisers to phone on the morning)
Road: B3181(which keeps winding around M5) to Exeter.
Just before Exeter, on bypass road B3212 – stop for fuel.
Onto A377 and then onto A30 to Okehampton.
Road: A30 – stop at Plusha Truck Stop (Subway) for fuel and lunch (PL15 7RR) (Tel: 01566 782882).
Road: A30 to Penzance and then onto LANDS END
http://www.justgiving.com/Pete-Sykes and its about time some donations came in :-)

Mad Moped Challenge Day 1

Well after a slow start, small 2 stroke urban moped, steep hills and large riders the "beast" made it to the foirst stopover point in daylight at about 5.30 tonight.

Everybody has survived and apart from the speed, or lack of it, and some initial heavy fuel consumption all appears to be OK.

Report on day 2 will be tomorrow.

MadMoped Challenge Report The One

Bike arrived safely in John O'Groats last night as did Pete and Ken. They met no resistance from the men in skirts.

The run started on time at 0830 this morning. It is reported as very cold with a possibility of some snow flurries today.

Team Real Classic as you know have elected to use a MadMoped.......made in China and a sort of black colour with Norton decals and Commando footrests to help boost its power.

John Youg's (of this message board) team from the TR3OC are using an NVT Easy Rider moped(s). The others all appear to have opted for "modern" scooters or step throughs, at least one of which is brand new! They obviously don't understand the meaning of the word Mad, and are clearly normal people.

Anyway with Pete (of this very message board) riding they are now heading generally southwards and pointing in the direction of Lands End. Other reports will follow and some photos after today. Ken follows in the van at the moment.

Commercial follows: -
Mad Moped Challenge: Raising funds for Help 4 Heroes.
As usual I would ask those who have not made a donation to the Help 4 Heroes Mad Moped Challenge to please do so. Please be generous it is in a good cause. Either use the link that Ken put on here recently or send it to me. My e-mail above if you want more details on how to pay.