Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
frank9755
Cyclist
- Location
- West London
Actually the other thing that was different this year was a lot more union jacks, including one guy who was wearing a suit and top hat made out of one. Maybe it goes with there being a bigger crowd or with the poppies, or could it be a Brexit thing? Whatever, most likely the flags will be a feature in future years.
Report from the Anerley Chain Gang. The first breakage of the day. Crawley 9:30:
OK it was a Vet car but I was tailgating the car as the transmission* unrolled dead in front of me. I swerved to the left but the car had lost traction so was stopping fast. Brown shorts moment.
That would have been enough but on the return our rider in front unrolled his chain too. We were scratching our heads when a tramp in the doorway opposite enquired if we needed a chainbreaker. Ahem, yes - and there it was. You really do get a better class of tramp down there. He was well rewarded.
* The driver did admit the chain was 80 years old and "wearing a bit".
OK it was a Vet car but I was tailgating the car as the transmission* unrolled dead in front of me. I swerved to the left but the car had lost traction so was stopping fast. Brown shorts moment.
That would have been enough but on the return our rider in front unrolled his chain too. We were scratching our heads when a tramp in the doorway opposite enquired if we needed a chainbreaker. Ahem, yes - and there it was. You really do get a better class of tramp down there. He was well rewarded.
* The driver did admit the chain was 80 years old and "wearing a bit".
tamiya
Well-Known Member
- Location
- AU, MY, SG
For sure, those old chains last longer than modern ones!! 
frank9755
Cyclist
- Location
- West London
Yes, they didn't have 11-speed then!
What I didn't know when I posted this was that the chain having broken again my friend having pocketed a tenner to catch the train back at 1pm - had turned and said this to another friend:
"I decided to convert the bike to a velocipede - removed the chain; tied up the cranks and lowered the saddle and skied home arriving just before the family were debating about whether they should start ringing the emergency services around 10.30".
That's about 45 miles in 9.5 hours - after a 50 mile ride. Not bad for a 69 year old!
It must have looked something like this (though he had no tri-bars fitted like this bloke):
Salty seadog
Space Cadet...(3rd Class...)
Stuart ,you seem to have a gathering habit of smashing into the back of cars.......
Maldon ride anyone?
Salty seadog
Space Cadet...(3rd Class...)
Great pics, one of my favorite cars is the yellow steam powered one with a bag of wood and a pail of water on the back, was that still running?
