Got an unexpected call on Friday from my mate BJ who wanted to know if I was going down the pub to watch a band. This seemed like a good idea and so in no time at all I was stood at a bar watching a very good rock band. The guitarist was excellent and at times out-hendrixed the Hendrix tracks he was playing.
Saturday saw me back in the garage working on Simon Morgan's sidecar outfit. After lunch I took it out for a long test ride, including its first serious stint on a dual carriageway. Very pleased with the result, it steers easily and tracks well enough to let you ride it one-handed at 70mph (and not every outfit I've ridden can do that
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I reported back to Simon that it was nearly ready for collection and he said he'd be down for it on Sunday morning. In the meantime I still had to finish off fitting the sidecar lights and doing some of the non-crucial jobs that I'd left till last. Because of some visitors to the house on Saturday evening I didn't get back out to the garage until 8.30. I came back in at 2.30am
I was up early on Sunday and potched about taping over the redundant indicators, etc. My brother called over on his pristine CB250RS and he rode the rig and seemed impressed with it. Simon's train got in just before lunch and I collected him from the city centre and we adjourned to my father's cafe for some lunch. After that it was the serious business of introducing Simon to the outfit that he had entrusted to me to build.
Simon's first ride was a tad wayward, but lots better than most sidecar newbies. Soon he was ready to face traffic and I sent him off on a little route that included a big roundabout and some tight bends. With this accomplished we agreed that there was little point in delaying the inevitable and, with two hours of daylight left, it was better if he left for home.
There then followed three of the most stressful hours I can remember (at least since my wife's last period). It's all very well building this stuff for yourself, but when other people are relying on it, it's worrying. Eventually the call came that he had made it home and that, although he had started the trip on the motorway, he had ridden a fair way on A roads. All seems well, phew!
After all that I slumped onto a sofa and watched telly. It was all I was fit for.
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