Ever forced to push your bike?

[Guth_imp]

metalyguitarded's story and coincidence led me to discovering what I suspect may be the only photo I own of my first bike, a second-hand Honda CB175 bought in 1971. Slightly bashfully—look at the awful riding position—here is that photo.



I was still at school when I bought this bike. My parents were strict and I was required to be home early. Occasionally when I was feeling particularly wicked and I couldn't sleep, I'd wait till the folks were out for the count, get up and push the bike up the slight hill (which is behind me in the photo) behind the house and then a bit further up the next little hill to the road. Sweating in my riding gear and puffing and blowing a bit, I'd then roll it down the hill away from the house and jump start when I was pretty sure they wouldn't hear. So far as I know, they never did and, years later, they were quite surprised when I told them about these little adventures.

I couldn't do it now with the CB1100!

Forgive me going on, but the discovery of the photo has me feeling nostalgic.

I replaced the CB175 with a Suzuki 250 (of which the only photo I have is damaged), a two stroke beast. On night I was riding away for the weekend with a few mates. I had a load of gear on board as well as the girlfriend of one of my mates who didn't have the licence status to carry a pillion. We reached the top of a hill and there was a bang. Turned out the Suzuki had decided to spit one plug straight out of the top of the cylinder.

As I recall the story, it was about midnight when this happened and we were some way from our destination with no change of pushing the bike. So we found a piece of rope, tied the Suzuki to the back of my mate's CB350 and towed it to our destination. I recall it not being the quickest trip, but we got there without mishap.

The next morning, with no chance of getting a helicoil, I found a bloke with a shed full of amazing stuff who fashioned a gasket of asbestos rope that he would round the thread of the plug. There was sufficient friction to hold it in place until I could get home and get a helicoil.

Forgive you?

I commend you.

Great photo, great stories. Thanks for sharing!

I've never had to push a street bike very far...I did once get my Honda Sl70 dirtbike stuck in mud so deep I could not get it out, had to leave it and get my dad to help :-)

I bought a single speed bike (Cyclecross) this spring too, took a while to get the gearing setup ( 42/20) .

That's interesting as 42/20 is where I've ended up as well. For the time being at least, I could see myself going up to a 22 cog in the rear if I'm being honest with myself.

Here are my so-called exercise partners, past 'n present: