Although it has been on the chilly side in recent days (and getting colder) yesterday's pale sunlight beckoned. I felt encouraged to wheel Vixen out from her garage 'lair' into the sun. Check the tire pressures and add 5psi to the rear. Drive chain adjustment is still spot on. I have no idea what the 'choke' does on the Amal concentric, because all it ever needs is a good old 'tickle' till the petrol drips from the carb, and a firm kick thumps her back into life.
The threat of a backfire and an ankle snapping moment adds to the excitement! Once the motor is warm, it settles down to its usual slow heartbeat rhythm. Where to? I have recently acquired a neat 'image merging' utility called PTGui - good for panoramas and that sort of thing. So, Lumix in my pocket, a trip to Box Hill - famous for its panoramic vistas - seemed a sensible choice.
Approaching Chessington I toyed with some sportsbikes, catching and re-catching them in the traffic, as their relative inexperience (threading past cars) gave me a momentary advantage. Once on the open road though it was 'game over' - they were off in a blur! But were they enjoying the dappled sunlight? Maybe.
But once on the back roads, just South of the M25 that circles London, Vixen was in her element. Her modest bhp offset by her torque, allowing us to power up hills, and awaken sleepy villages.
I stopped for a quick stream side photo shoot -
HEREBeing a Saturday, the car park was fairly empty - though I spotted one other biker - a Triumph. Probably doing what I was. I then took that crazy Zig Zag Road up to the look out at the top of Box Hill. l must have passed a dozen pedal cyclists doing the same thing. Hard men, wearing lycra
On the way up, I pulled over for a
bike and hill shot - never easy - I should have used a flash.
The view from the top was hazy, and into the low sun, so not ideal for picture taking. An infra red filter would have transformed the view as it cuts through haze like a knife through butter.
But I managed a few shots, including that
panorama shot Riding back with the low winter sun behind us, our shadow raced along the road's undulations, stretching way out ahead of us - I wish I could have captured that moment too, but it was awkward, and my hands were cold.
Back home in one piece, Vixen cleaned and back in her lair, I am pleased to be in the warmth, but even more pleased to have cleared away all those Christmas cobwebs!
Cheers chaps - I hope you have all enjoyed some Christmas rides as well!
Topic: Ride to 'Box Hill' on Vixen (Read 2182 times)