Old & Rusty 
It’s called “work in progress” by Steve Roake.
Bikes have always been my freedom. Right from the word go and my 1977 Puch Maxi “S”, they have allowed me to go places and do things. The Puch propelled me to British Aerospace in Weybridge where I did my apprenticeship in aeronautical engineering. Following on with a 1975 “N” reg Honda C90 step through…. Read More ›
A Tale of Two Cylinders – Getting the Moto Guzzi going (Part 1)
Author’s note: Oh dear. Whilst doing a little ‘website housekeeping’ I found this article languishing in the ‘drafts’ folder. And it has been “languishing” for a very very long time… On re-reading it (a few years on from the original draft) I find that it is now significantly ‘out of date’ because I went a… Read More ›
Breitling Navitimer – another dream fulfilled.
Dear old Steve Roake has once again contributed to the Old and Rusty Club with his latest discovery and life changing aquisition. Having checked ebay he could get mugged but whatever he is happy. Next time you see him ask to look under his cuff (o: As I review the things I tend to write… Read More ›
Life in the fast lane – Concorde’s record breaking flight
Quite a few years ago I stood on the eye of the Uffington White Horse on an overcast day with daughter Alice. We heard Concorde a way off, doing her best not to go supersonic before she cleared Cornwall. That sound was unmistakable. The powerful rumble got louder, the clouds parted and that dagger of… Read More ›
Toffs on bikes – The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride
These days I’m not one for going on bike rides for the sake of it, or riding in groups come to that. You need a purpose I reckon, even if you just make it up, to brave the pot-holed roads of Merry England, and I’ve got a dog that gets humpy if she is left… Read More ›
Going to five – The return of the Mighty Dynatron
Been awhile since the Mighty Dynatron stood down to be replaced temporarily by a rather minted Technics system that came in boxes from the Charity Shop. Well, true to say it was quite swish, but didn’t have the soul or warmth of the Queen’s machine and finally, with the approach of Christmas, I figured it… Read More ›
“I’m on a train dear” – Two go there and back
I’m sitting having a cuppa and reading the small print on one of the free Chiltern Rail Weekend tickets we were given as a reward for being on the first Oxford to Marylebone train as reported in ‘Two go by train – Celebrating the new Oxford to London Line’ when the words ‘Expires on’ caught… Read More ›
Restoration – The Disease
Steve Roake is as passionate about his bikes as he is about hopping and what’s more he rides his bikes they aren’t for show or to be trailered to shows. Natural then that his approach to restoration involves practicality. Now the downside of many of the old Jap bikes is corrosion to nuts and bolts… Read More ›
Is it an age thing? – Steve Roake chomps the bit over classic Jap bikes
I don’t know about you, but for me the more I look at Modern Plastic Urban Motorcycles, the more they look generically all the same. I’m sure regulations have had their say in why everything now looks and goes in a similar vein, but for me all the current crop of modern bikes are soulless… Read More ›
HMS Starwort and the U-boat – the sinking of U-660
Monday morning bright and gay and dear old Trev popped round for a coffee. “’Ere boy found this in me dad’s house. Its HMS Starwort, a Flower Class Corvette.” “How do you know that matey?” I asked. “Its on the back. Kettle on?” No change there then. Thing is neither of us had ever heard… Read More ›