Sideburn's Yorkshire Sunshine Saturday

Thoroughly enjoyed the weekend's 90-mile Tour De Yorkshire with Sideburn Magazine made all the better by the friendly folk from HebTroCo, the New Delight Pub (and it was a delight) and the most amazing gathering of two-wheel transport including this tasty Pan (which looked great even tho' it was clearly a bitch to kick start).

Big thanks to Sideburn for laying on such great food at the start and end of the ride out - and to The Bean Rover for the welcome coffee in the middle of the moors half way around.

Winners in The Valley

Back Street Heroes was my first venture into bike porn. Along with 100% Biker, it became my monthly dose of two-wheel custom inspiration. Nowadays I'm into the hard stuff - DiCE, GKM and more recently Show Class. I've moved on from pirate outfits and tassels but still enjoy the booze-filled mayhem and camaraderie of mainstream rally events and the wide variety of bikes and bikers they attract - plus they support bikers' rights outfit the Motorcycle Action Group.

Into The Valley, along with The Farmyard, has become an annual pilgrimage - and this year, I entered the bike show for the first time.

Sponsored by BSH (bless em) this year's MAG comp attracted every size and shape of bike - from fat ass street fighters to vintage iron and accessorised to the max old MoCo to 'trust in rust' (with a little clear coat topping) shed builds.

I was more than pleased to end up among the class winners - with a free invite to July's Rock and Bike Fest custom show as reward.

Check out some of the the other winners below:

Waiting for the sun to come

So the new paint job is on hold 'til next year - but everything else is ready. 

Dirty Bobbers in Lyon

                        

This is The Royal Racer - a supercool moto-freaker boutique in downtown Lyon, South(isn) of France.

A short-city break gave me the chance to fully check out the town where son Joe lodged with his French mate last year. In between retail therapy with the other half, I was able to peruse some of the more biker-related landmarks.

I had my eye on an original WWII US flying jacket, complete with 'nose art', in one of the vintage shops in the old town but the truly eye-watering price tag and the Gallic shoulder-shrug customer service of the proprietor meant it was a no sale.

I then discovered this place - full to the brim with the wannabe 'kool' brands and the first time I'd seen some of the French & Italian high-end open face lids in the flesh. The place was totally tapped in to the new wave of quality biker chic seen at the like of Wheels and Waves and increasingly (Red Wings, Deus Ex, Ruby, Iron & Resin) UK rider attire.

Prices weren't as high as the genuine vintage stuff seen earlier - but still beyond my pocket. Having made the trip, however, I wanted to come away with something.

Then I spied them. Lurking on a rack behind the cash desk were just two copies of a familiar mag - Dirty Bobbers. Written by some of the stalwarts of the builder scene a few years back and still found contributing their wisdom, I understand, on Facebook and Instagram. I searched out with the print version of Dirty Bobbers after finding out Trip Out logo designer Scarlett Rickard was an editor. It was a great, if short-lived, little mag covering shed-built and vintage bikes, things like the origins of skateboarding and other DIY and collector projects from a vast range of interesting and off-beat people with their own take on life.

With the two editions back in Blighty, I now have the complete set from launch through to the final edition of what turned out to be a short, but sparkling, run of prose stretching only a few issues.

So merci Royal Racer. You made my jour.

                 

East Village - New York sidewalk surfs to Leeds

Deep down in Brudenell, something stirs. East Village describes itself as a "Dive Bar". Set up within spitting distance of the legendary Brudenell Social Club, the venue owes its existence to the vision of owner Olly. 

He previously ran a bar in New York and when he spotted a vacant comer Shisha bar in the backstreets of Leeds' student land he took the plunge and has re-created and updated a New York punk heyday vibe in the heart of Yorkshire.

I was introduced the the Village by son Joe who picked the venue with pals for the premier of a new skate video he's been filming with mates all over the North over the summer. Taking a few hints from DiCE, Joe turned the premier into an opportunity to mix skate and art with a small show of artworks from current and ex-Leeds art school, tattoo and skater pals. Olly pitched in - providing old skateboards as a canvas for exhibition signs.

With so many ex (and current) shredders among the current bike scene I was taken by what a perfect venue East Village would be for a custom biker get together - top cocktails and beers, a little out of he way and a wide street frontage for parking. 

The video premier went down well and the tight camaraderie of the young skaters was reminiscent of some of the best biker events I've been to. The music and decor at East Village adding to the sense of best-of-times deja vu with original Ramones and Patti Smith posters and sounds setting the scene.

I was taken right back to Barbarellas, the Rum Runner and a crazy night searching out the SPOTs (Sex Pistols on Tour) in Newport back in the day.

The kids loved the music and the vibe - and so did I.

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The Trip Out 2016

Just in time for Santa! Trip Out 2016 tickets already on sale. Getcha some...

New pipes are on!

Big thanks to Paul for these shots of the new pipes now in place. Hoping to pop down to the shop Saturday to see them in person. Looking good and now just waiting on the cover polishing.

Week or so and the Freaker will be ready to come home!

Really inspired and now hankering after all those finishing touches. It's taken nearly five years to get to this stage. As they say, a biker's work is never done .