Test ride to Box Hill

Went for a good test to check all the new bodywork, new chain and othe stuff I've done over the last few weeks. Took it easy at first, (not sure I trusted the new chain link), but soon progressed to full on indecent behaviour. Stopped off at Box Hill. Some nice bikes but it aint what it used to be.


Interesting old BMW flat tracker style

Love these. Always will

Nice BSA

Do they still do the mad mile Bic? Haven't been for a very long time.

Do you know if the late night Chelsea bridge thing still happens??

I think Chelsea is still a thing still but it is full of London posers on Harleys and Ducatis that they don't really ride - just cruise about on wearing cool gear.

There were almost as many police riders at Box Hill today as bikers. And yellow hi-vis safety jackets. (bikers and police) And so many patrol cars cruising all the approach roads. Don't think there is any room for hooliganism anymore. Also the average age of bikers there was about 97. I felt young. Everyone was drinking cocoa and I was the only one smoking.

Since moving down to West Sussex and Surrey I can't say I'm impressed with the roads or the biking atmosphere. Never thought I'd say it but I really miss my old biking roads up in Essex where I used to go hooning with Klinky and Shade a few years ago.

When I got home and posted on Facebook I saw there were a load of old mates up in Lancashire posting about blasts round the Trough of Bowland in Lancashire, up to Devils Bridge and over to Settle on the Yorkshire border. I was well jealous.

The bridge used to be flaming burnouts and open pipe cbx's doing tricks and I remember head on the tank absolutely flat out on a GT250 down the mile towards box hill. Not a high bust vest in sight and no police at all.

I'm lucky though, done great roads round where I live in north oxon.

Chelsea Bridge meets ended in 2009 when Westminster and Wandsworth Councils installed CCTV and 24hr parking restrictions. The councils then changed the T Huts lease so he couldn't open evenings. You'll occasionally find a couple of bikes there, anymore and the police move in spouting section 59 (vehicles used in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance).

The Ace Cafe is going a similar way, with the local council closing nearby roads to motorcycles due to the weekend mayhem.

Nostalgia is often just a heap of rosé tinted bullshit but the bridge really did used to be a full on no limits bikes showing off fest. I once saw a guy on a moped lay his bike down to pour out some fuel on the road, then light it and attempt to do a burnout in the flames. Had a big crowd howling and applauding the smallest bike present. After the bridge the hard core would decamp to Heston services for round two. I bet a modern version of the same still happens and I'm just too old and too far removed to know where.