A Country for Old men and their bikes

A Sunday in England.
Every year in march, there’s a run from Epsom racecourse ( outskirts of London) to Brighton, a ride of about 50 miles, for pre 1914 motorcycles. It’s called the Pioneer run. And usually attracts an entry of about 350 bikes.
And it’s good to see, hear and smell such old motorcycles being used on the road, instead of just looking at them on show in a museum.
The first start off at 8am in the morning, the last leave at approx 9am. I enjoy riding alongside them on the way down, along with hundreds of other bikes. Quiet a few don’t make it, you pass them on the way, pointless trying to offer help, they’re way beyond anything you usually find broken down. There are even a couple of steam driven bikes ! .
I’ll let the pictures do the talking -enjoy. The pictures were taken one handed while riding alongside the bikes, very easy as the top speed on most is 10- 25 mph




















It all slows up when going through the small villages, onlookers and bikes old and new. The old relics don’t like being stationery, so end up being pushed through the hold-ups so they don’t breakdown.





And then it’s back onto the open road.








You’ll like this one - It’s a Harley, and he wasn’t hanging about. Unlike today’s Harleys, this one is fast




That’s enough excitement for one day, back to the old plodders.
















This is the arrival point - Brighton, with a nice traditional pier.


In the distance you can see what remains of the West pier, burnt down a few years ago, then finished off by neglect and storms, so only a section of the frame remains.

And it has the obligatory funfair

Back to the event.
The signing off point. Very appropriate considering the age of some of the riders.

And another old Harley, unrestored.

And the Harley that I passed on the way down.

An Indian, nicely aged.


And what could be an original condition bike.


And then the over restored examples. Nice. But no character what so ever. I want to be able to feel every owner when I look at a bike so old.

.
All types of makes, I’ve never heard of most of them.









Front wheel drive

And a few of the people involved.

By jove, that looks like FUN!!!

Thanks for sharing. I hope you bought back some Brighton rock..

WOW

Very cool, love the gear. Bloody well done!

FlagRS

Fantastic!

Thanks for posting - I really enjoyed that visit.

_jay

Wow, that's fantastic! That can't help but put a smile on your face, eh? Great photographs! I think you have just given me a new life's ambition.

Thank you for sharing!

WOW

WOW

WOW


thank you so much for sharing these photos.
simply AMAZING!

Thank for the pics! very cool!

That is just uber cool!

It reminds me of the report about the guy who rode his 1914 indian from Atlanta to Charlette(sp?).

Thanks for the pics!

Very cool. As hobbies go it beats the hell out of Civil War Reenactment.

Coooolio! Love the vintage gear too!

thanks for posting it up. Great to see so many old bikes still running!

Cool event is it sponsored by a club? And how does one get on there mailing list for these rides

This was COOL, thanks!

THANK YOU for sharing your photos! It's the next best thing to being there.

Awesome pics. Thanks! Anyone know what brand that is in the pic above? (I love the old tricycles with the passenger seat in front--but I have no idea where to even start searching for more information on 'em . . . )

Bam. Added to the ADV Hall of Fame, just like that.

Great post! Loved the pics and story. Just one comment: Your opinion on restored bikes is of course valid for you, but like any old vehicle hobby, there is a place for both restored and unrestored vehicles. I have owned many nice unrestored cars, and have felt the opposite wrath of judges that say "anyone can keep an old car in a garage for 30, {or however many} years"

Like you I feel the unrestored vehicles give a history lesson that can't be created any other way, but then the beautiful restorations give pleasure too, and may result in vehicles being saved that may have been junked.

What hurts is when someone takes a very nice unrestored vehicle and restores it just to get those final few points or trophies.

But as a friend of mine is fond of saying to anyone that criticizes his vehicles (bikes or cars) "My name is on the title, when YOU own it, you can do what you want!". :)

Thanks again for the great post. Nice to see ALL those old bikes.

Nothing more to say but: fabulous!