Due to a monumental balls-up over the delivery of a bike I found myself, yesterday, with an hour to kill, 20 miles up the M4 from home. I decided to head home via the motorcycle repair business of former club member Simon Birch.
As I headed off the M4 up to Risca I heard the unmistakable rumble of a Brit twin and to my delight I was passed by an immaculate Vincent. The bloke riding it wasn't hanging about and I tucked in behind and had the joy of watching him heel it into some fast roundabouts. Just bloody marvellous.
It was a good start to an unplanned detour but I had to let the Vinnie go as I arrived at Simon's place of work. It was good to catch up with Simon, although my pleasure was dented by hearing that his lovely German Shepherd ("Honda") had passed away the day before.
Simon has a neat little unit on an estate in Risca, servicing bikes and the like. He rides a Fireblade more than his SZR these days, but he still keeps the thumper flag flying with various mad thumpers tucked away here and there. His last 'Blade was a 100k bike that he had ragged around Europe. However a recent Ebay moment of madness resulted in a 28k bike of the same vintage and he intends going to the 'ring on it in three weeks time. He's only just returned from the French MotoGP. Of course it helps that he has a farmhouse 45 mins ride from Le Mans, as various TCers know, it having paid host to two TC trips.
If anyone wants to get in touch with Simon:
D & S Motorcycle Servicing
Unit 25, Pontymister Industrial Estate, Risca,
Newport, Gwent
NP11 6NP
Tel: 01633 614086
