England | The Rider's Digest

Eddie V-Max

Sharp-eyed regular readers, who saw the Chelsea Bridge pictorial we ran in issue 97, will no doubt have recognised the spectacular V-Max on the cover of...

There’s No Such Thing As An Original Triton

I looked up the address for Made in Metal and it said “Elms Business Park”. I thought warehouse; industrial unit; soulless. Imagine my joy when I arrived...

The Ace Cafe Ton-Up Day At Brooklands

1938 was a significant year in many ways. Test cricket was televised for the first time, Lord Snooty and his pals made their debut in a brand new comic...

Ace Fantasy

Standing by the tea hut alongside Chelsea Bridge, cradling a cuppa in my hand and facing west, I found myself creating an old black & white biker movie...

Oval Motorcycle Centre

Doing it yourself is more satisfying and rewarding than having it done for you – surely a statement wide open for a passionate discussion. When applied...

Sparky ladies high heeled shoes on a Yamaha tank

Six and the City

Tuesday Still not on the R6 yet, as it’s languishing in the shed on a trickle charger just waiting to be called back in to action, so daily commuting...

Paddy’s Perspective

A view from the high ground I’ve just been out for a bottle of water and walked calmly through a street that doesn’t appear to have any traffic rules,...

Speedway team standing round and sitting on a bike

On The Slide

When you stand back and take stock of the many different strains of motorcycle sport in existence today, speedway stands out as being among the most unusual,...

The Posh Boys’ Bike Club

I’ve always been pretty crap with names (but spectacularly good with faces) so if anyone had asked me a few years ago if I knew Steve Hallam, I wouldn’t...

Why I Hate – Sorry – Love, London

For several years I worked for one of the very best despatch companies I ever came across. Working out of Slough I enjoyed one of the most lucrative periods...

Paul cornering the Pegram Genesis, wearing a helmet and jeans on a race circuit right hander.

Riders’ Lives – Paul Nicholas Blezard (aka Blez)

1.What was your first motorcycling experience? Aged 13, hiring a 50cc motorcycle and riding it on the streets of Rimini for an hour without mastering...

Six and the City

Thursday Today I was told that I am no longer a biker. “What do you mean!?” I was told that I’m no longer a biker, just a bike rider...

Paddy’s Perspective

Which Way Now? It’s something to ponder: Where’s the Bike Industry going? Chasing a GP dream or embracing environmentalism? Are the marketing men...

The Boy Biker – lessons learned

Lessons Learned It’s been an odd month in my little bubble. After getting my mind focused on finally booking and passing my test, I have been attempting...

I am going to have to disagree with Dave G here. I started proper biking aged 26 in 1979. I bought a Lewis Leathers Double zipper and a set of Belstaff thornproof trousers 2nd hand off an ex-biker mate in the army for £20. Never been seriously wet or cold in the body ever since. Like Dave, before I joined the army I wore a cheap leather that had no waterproof qualities...