Now that the dust has settled and we are all getting on with life after the MadMopeddy, (is there really life after the Challenge?) I would like to thank all of those who have made donations via Pete's and Ken's links on the blog, to those who took the trouble to visit us on the journey and make donations, to the people who have sent donations directly to me and/or the others, and to those who still have collecting tins in place. I am uncertain of the final totals yet as we are keeping the "tins open" for a few weeks yet.
However having said that the known number of contributors from RC land and from this board is still very small. If everybody posting on here sent £5 it would greatly increase the size of the fund. If every non-posting visitor, watcher or lurker were to contribute £5 then we would be able to contribute thousands of pounds to H4H.
The Mad Moped Challenge was intended as a fund raising event, and it gave pleasure and entertainment to everybody I believe, so can I ask you all to dig deep and show your appreciation of the effort of Team RC, and all of the other teams. Please be as generous as you can, and more generous than normal.
Tuesday 5 April 2011
Monday 4 April 2011
TeamSteve H4Htrip in Words
This just in from Steve:
TeamSteve left Derby on Tuesday morning and journyed Northwestward in what can only be described as "ordinary" weather. We passed a large military vehicle on the M6, and a tea stop at the motorway services saw it join us. SteveB was in the pasenger seat like a rat up a drainpipe, interviewing the driver as best he could through the Liverpool accent he found himself confronted with.
Moving along, we decided to lunch in Morcambe as this was the nearest we would be to the sea on this trip. We saw a lot of beach, but not much sea, then rolled along the route that we hoped to ride the next day but in reverse direction.
Arriving in Keswick, we booked into the YHA not long before the mopedders began to arrive. We had heard snippets of the problems with our Chinese mount, and now had a chance to join in the stripdown. The more pieces that were removed, the more it became obvious that the engine was not turning over.
Having removed the cylinder head, we could see evidence of something impacting the head, and then noticed that the "something" was a needle roller nestling at the end of the bore. Craig, our volunteer mechanic for the week, had a little difficulty removing the cylinder. The reason soon became obvious. There was a broken off chunk of piston ring sticking out. The little end had imploded, and we only found 3 rollers, so the verdict had to be that our moped was beyond any help without spare parts being obtained. TeamSteve was now in limbo, and relying on the interweb to come up with help.
We could either worry about it or go to the pub.... no contest. R K Ick joined us, and we explained the meaning of our RealClassic monikers to each other (I admitted that I'd never read his properly, he thought I was a country bumpkin). A fine meal and some fine beer, including Jenning's Sneck Lifter ( a good half hour was wasted discussing the meaning of this peculiar name) later, we welcomed a couple of the other riders to our table.
At some stage one of the guys, Tristan, casualy mentioned that he had a spare moped that we might wish to ride the next day. I seized the moment and grilled him further before shaking hands on the deal. And so we retired for the night leaving Ken in the safe hands of the C90 stunt team and some dodgy photos of their escapades.
Wendesday morning dawned grey and damp, so SteveB nominated me to ride the early stint. After breakfasting in style at the YHA restaurant, we fitted our Hippo Hands to the Honda Zoomer we were to ride, and I test rode it up the street and back. What a super little machine! Shortly after, I set off 3rd in line of our party of 5. The weather had closed in, so it was disappointimg to be in such a beautiful part of our country with no view to speak of. However, the elation of actualy being able to fulfill my part of the charity ride more than made up for it.
Before long, we arrived at the garden centre for our tea stop, there to be joined by Malcolm (Pathfinder) on his Enfield. The staff had reserved us two big tables in the middle of the cafe, and it seemed that most of us had a big sticky cake to help sustain us.
Malcolm helped us get through Lancaster, then we battled our way through the outskirts of Preston. An interesting interlude was provide by a female driver of a VW Beetle who took exception to Fiona's headlights on the red Zoomer. So excited was she, that she reverted to Anglo Saxon to converse with John, our esteemed leader. She seemeed to think that he was overweight and of doubtful parentage (with a few choice F words added) How she could deuce that from driving alongside him I don't know. Maybe she has a sister called Sarah who works in Morcambe.
A planned lunch stop at a good looking canalside pub went awry. The pub had closed for refurbishment 4 weeks previously. Backtracking to the main road, we were welcomed to the pub where we turned off to the other pub. Although they could only provide sandwiches, it was all very pleasant. Being around halfway on our trip, it was time for SteveB to ride the Zoomer and me to drive his van.
This gave me chance to leapfrog whenever possible, and get some action photos along the way. The final stop for the 'pedders was another traffic calming exercise (dropping in to a layby to allow the following convoy to pass). So I nipped on ahead to the Travelodge at Shrewsbury where I knew MadMike was waiting. The NVT was already there and being mollycoddled, which was nice to see. Ten minutes later, and the gang rolled in and introductions were made.
MadMike proceded to remove any valuable items from the Dead-Ped.. valve caps, plastic number plate screws etc etc, whilst Craig flashed his spanners at the Peugeot. This needed a new shock absorber, an item collected by Craig and our Ken earlier in the day. The Mighty Gusset and Hazel dropped by, then all too soon TeamSteve had to depart.
I really enjoyed my couple of days, made some new friends, put faces to internet names, and hopefully did some good.
Thanks go to everyone involved with the organisation of this ride and, hugely, to John Tristan and Fiona for trusting us with their baby.
In case you've not seen the photo's, they're here:
http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn104/mrrealtreat/H4H%202011/?albumview=slideshow
TeamSteve left Derby on Tuesday morning and journyed Northwestward in what can only be described as "ordinary" weather. We passed a large military vehicle on the M6, and a tea stop at the motorway services saw it join us. SteveB was in the pasenger seat like a rat up a drainpipe, interviewing the driver as best he could through the Liverpool accent he found himself confronted with.
Moving along, we decided to lunch in Morcambe as this was the nearest we would be to the sea on this trip. We saw a lot of beach, but not much sea, then rolled along the route that we hoped to ride the next day but in reverse direction.
Arriving in Keswick, we booked into the YHA not long before the mopedders began to arrive. We had heard snippets of the problems with our Chinese mount, and now had a chance to join in the stripdown. The more pieces that were removed, the more it became obvious that the engine was not turning over.
Having removed the cylinder head, we could see evidence of something impacting the head, and then noticed that the "something" was a needle roller nestling at the end of the bore. Craig, our volunteer mechanic for the week, had a little difficulty removing the cylinder. The reason soon became obvious. There was a broken off chunk of piston ring sticking out. The little end had imploded, and we only found 3 rollers, so the verdict had to be that our moped was beyond any help without spare parts being obtained. TeamSteve was now in limbo, and relying on the interweb to come up with help.
We could either worry about it or go to the pub.... no contest. R K Ick joined us, and we explained the meaning of our RealClassic monikers to each other (I admitted that I'd never read his properly, he thought I was a country bumpkin). A fine meal and some fine beer, including Jenning's Sneck Lifter ( a good half hour was wasted discussing the meaning of this peculiar name) later, we welcomed a couple of the other riders to our table.
At some stage one of the guys, Tristan, casualy mentioned that he had a spare moped that we might wish to ride the next day. I seized the moment and grilled him further before shaking hands on the deal. And so we retired for the night leaving Ken in the safe hands of the C90 stunt team and some dodgy photos of their escapades.
Wendesday morning dawned grey and damp, so SteveB nominated me to ride the early stint. After breakfasting in style at the YHA restaurant, we fitted our Hippo Hands to the Honda Zoomer we were to ride, and I test rode it up the street and back. What a super little machine! Shortly after, I set off 3rd in line of our party of 5. The weather had closed in, so it was disappointimg to be in such a beautiful part of our country with no view to speak of. However, the elation of actualy being able to fulfill my part of the charity ride more than made up for it.
Before long, we arrived at the garden centre for our tea stop, there to be joined by Malcolm (Pathfinder) on his Enfield. The staff had reserved us two big tables in the middle of the cafe, and it seemed that most of us had a big sticky cake to help sustain us.
Malcolm helped us get through Lancaster, then we battled our way through the outskirts of Preston. An interesting interlude was provide by a female driver of a VW Beetle who took exception to Fiona's headlights on the red Zoomer. So excited was she, that she reverted to Anglo Saxon to converse with John, our esteemed leader. She seemeed to think that he was overweight and of doubtful parentage (with a few choice F words added) How she could deuce that from driving alongside him I don't know. Maybe she has a sister called Sarah who works in Morcambe.
A planned lunch stop at a good looking canalside pub went awry. The pub had closed for refurbishment 4 weeks previously. Backtracking to the main road, we were welcomed to the pub where we turned off to the other pub. Although they could only provide sandwiches, it was all very pleasant. Being around halfway on our trip, it was time for SteveB to ride the Zoomer and me to drive his van.
This gave me chance to leapfrog whenever possible, and get some action photos along the way. The final stop for the 'pedders was another traffic calming exercise (dropping in to a layby to allow the following convoy to pass). So I nipped on ahead to the Travelodge at Shrewsbury where I knew MadMike was waiting. The NVT was already there and being mollycoddled, which was nice to see. Ten minutes later, and the gang rolled in and introductions were made.
MadMike proceded to remove any valuable items from the Dead-Ped.. valve caps, plastic number plate screws etc etc, whilst Craig flashed his spanners at the Peugeot. This needed a new shock absorber, an item collected by Craig and our Ken earlier in the day. The Mighty Gusset and Hazel dropped by, then all too soon TeamSteve had to depart.
I really enjoyed my couple of days, made some new friends, put faces to internet names, and hopefully did some good.
Thanks go to everyone involved with the organisation of this ride and, hugely, to John Tristan and Fiona for trusting us with their baby.
In case you've not seen the photo's, they're here:
http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn104/mrrealtreat/H4H%202011/?albumview=slideshow
H4H. Home at last
This just in from MadMike:
Well the ride finished yesterday at Lands End as you all know.
Our brave little Mopeedything died but its spirit lives on.
Thanks to the kindness and generosity of the Zoomer team I was able to ride on Thursday as planned. I rode from Shrewsbury to to Bristol where we met the NVT Easy Rider with the Real Norman Hyde as rider.
Ken the rode from Bristol to Glastonbury on the same Honda Zoomer thing.
Yesterday they rode Zoomers and so we travelled in the support vehicle.
There were a number of "stars" on the ride. The NVT was the real star. The Bristol Boys for their sheer excitement and energy, they went fishing on Loch Lomond in the nude, rode through drainage gulleys in grass verges, and one even rode into Lands End naked.....well apart from a toilet roll middle and some gaffer tape to protect the parts that all beers eventually reach, and Glen a young chap who rode the whole distance on his Cub and who really impressed everybody with his determination. Sa, John the organisers son, who only has a CBT and rode with L plates and dayglo pink hair and says he never wants to hear another ringy dingy ding two stroke again. Then there was Craig, a young man who started up a motorcycle repair and spares business about a year ago, who contributed a whole week of his time to be a travelling mechanic and van driver. He was very kind and generous to us all and if anybody in the North East wants bike repairs done he is your man.
I haven't forgotten our own team members incidentally so here goes: -
Pete Sykes who rode 2 days through the Highlands of Scotland. Ken Rawlinson who rode in Scotland and was unfortunate enough to be the rider who was on board when the brave little mopeddy had its termional heart attack. Steve Burton (SteveB) and Steve Adcock (Dohboy) who had their own adventures as you have seen on the way to Keswick. Both were faced with no riding after the "break down" but the generosity of the Honda Zoomer team, John, Tristran and Fiona, in loaning their second bike allowed them, me and Ken to ensure that our team rode every day except the very last one. Ken for all his help to everybody and especially for putting up with my leg pulling for "murdering" the mopeddy. I was only joking Ken........honest I was. Also Ken for his passion about the event and the sheer hard work that he has put into fund raising.......Thank you Ken.
Thanks also to Will, DaveC, Pathfinder and NVNL for coming to visit us during our adventure. Board members The Nighty Gusset (sorry that should be Mighty.......man fingers/keyboards etc etc) and Hazel. They not only came to visit us at Shrewsbury but kindly offered to take the mopeddy to their place in Telford to try and repair/ sell for charity/raffle or otherwise dispose of the remains. Gus can you take off some parts like piston etc so that I can send souvenirs to the team, please. He was proposing to sell raffle tickets for £1 each with the mopeddy as the first and only prize, with all proceeds to go to the H4H collection. So please order your raffle tickets.
Special thanks also must go to John and Cindy Morris who proposed the ride, reconnoitered the entire route, booked accommodation and navigated and rode the journey with us.
John Young also deserves our thanks for keeping us up to date with events......I was in the pub you see.
This was a truly Mad Challenge, which was accepted and undertaken by whole bunch of brave and adventurous people. Please, if you haven't donated, please do so. The people who rose to the Challenge deserve your thanks and that can best be given by making those donations.
It has been a real privilege to have taken part in this event and to have met such a wonderful, kind and generous bunch of people.
One last thing Ken has a limited number of Mad Moped Challenge lapel badges. They are £2 each please buy them from him in aid of H4H. John Young has bought 30 (he actually ordered 25 but I think he needs more......don't you John?)
Here endeth todays lesson as they say. I shall post more over the next day or so. Now it is time for curry and then just for a change I shall go to the pub.
Well the ride finished yesterday at Lands End as you all know.
Our brave little Mopeedything died but its spirit lives on.
Thanks to the kindness and generosity of the Zoomer team I was able to ride on Thursday as planned. I rode from Shrewsbury to to Bristol where we met the NVT Easy Rider with the Real Norman Hyde as rider.
Ken the rode from Bristol to Glastonbury on the same Honda Zoomer thing.
Yesterday they rode Zoomers and so we travelled in the support vehicle.
There were a number of "stars" on the ride. The NVT was the real star. The Bristol Boys for their sheer excitement and energy, they went fishing on Loch Lomond in the nude, rode through drainage gulleys in grass verges, and one even rode into Lands End naked.....well apart from a toilet roll middle and some gaffer tape to protect the parts that all beers eventually reach, and Glen a young chap who rode the whole distance on his Cub and who really impressed everybody with his determination. Sa, John the organisers son, who only has a CBT and rode with L plates and dayglo pink hair and says he never wants to hear another ringy dingy ding two stroke again. Then there was Craig, a young man who started up a motorcycle repair and spares business about a year ago, who contributed a whole week of his time to be a travelling mechanic and van driver. He was very kind and generous to us all and if anybody in the North East wants bike repairs done he is your man.
I haven't forgotten our own team members incidentally so here goes: -
Pete Sykes who rode 2 days through the Highlands of Scotland. Ken Rawlinson who rode in Scotland and was unfortunate enough to be the rider who was on board when the brave little mopeddy had its termional heart attack. Steve Burton (SteveB) and Steve Adcock (Dohboy) who had their own adventures as you have seen on the way to Keswick. Both were faced with no riding after the "break down" but the generosity of the Honda Zoomer team, John, Tristran and Fiona, in loaning their second bike allowed them, me and Ken to ensure that our team rode every day except the very last one. Ken for all his help to everybody and especially for putting up with my leg pulling for "murdering" the mopeddy. I was only joking Ken........honest I was. Also Ken for his passion about the event and the sheer hard work that he has put into fund raising.......Thank you Ken.
Thanks also to Will, DaveC, Pathfinder and NVNL for coming to visit us during our adventure. Board members The Nighty Gusset (sorry that should be Mighty.......man fingers/keyboards etc etc) and Hazel. They not only came to visit us at Shrewsbury but kindly offered to take the mopeddy to their place in Telford to try and repair/ sell for charity/raffle or otherwise dispose of the remains. Gus can you take off some parts like piston etc so that I can send souvenirs to the team, please. He was proposing to sell raffle tickets for £1 each with the mopeddy as the first and only prize, with all proceeds to go to the H4H collection. So please order your raffle tickets.
Special thanks also must go to John and Cindy Morris who proposed the ride, reconnoitered the entire route, booked accommodation and navigated and rode the journey with us.
John Young also deserves our thanks for keeping us up to date with events......I was in the pub you see.
This was a truly Mad Challenge, which was accepted and undertaken by whole bunch of brave and adventurous people. Please, if you haven't donated, please do so. The people who rose to the Challenge deserve your thanks and that can best be given by making those donations.
It has been a real privilege to have taken part in this event and to have met such a wonderful, kind and generous bunch of people.
One last thing Ken has a limited number of Mad Moped Challenge lapel badges. They are £2 each please buy them from him in aid of H4H. John Young has bought 30 (he actually ordered 25 but I think he needs more......don't you John?)
Here endeth todays lesson as they say. I shall post more over the next day or so. Now it is time for curry and then just for a change I shall go to the pub.
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