Saturday, June 11, 2011

AFRICA BIKE WEEK P3 - OF MASS & MOUNTS

The following photos were taken when I went on the occasional walkabout. Call me a snob (like I care!) but I only took shots of bikes that appealed to me, because after all, this is my blog & I don't give a toss what anyone else thinks - huzzah!


I really like the simplicity of this bike. Nice flowing design, topped off by a fat rear end - very tasty :-)

In my opinion, this was one of the nicest bikes I saw in Margate. Nothing fancy, but very classy.
On the road - it ain't easy taking photos over my right shoulder, but I'm getting the hang of it!
On the return into town.
I messed up getting the pics in order, but this was taken at the meeting point of the mass ride - the rooftop parking of a local shopping mall. Along with many other riders, we found the entrance to the gathering point blocked off (OK folks, we've got a heap of bikes & people up here so screw the rest) & ended up having to wind our way through the hordes of Sunday morning shoppers, who just HAD to wait & block traffic because there was a parking space within 20m of a mall entrance.  Sunday morning shoppers are really annoying fuckers. Anyway, we managed to get up to the rooftop parking but were prevented from joining the huge crowd that was already assembled, because the local police force was giving a demonstration of their marching capabilities, bless 'em. A short while later, the local mayor, who looked & dressed like a really well fed maid, warbled her prepared speech & declared that "eh.......eh.......eh........you may rev your bicycles!"  Talk about bloody embarassing! One would have assumed with the amount of gleaming metal & chrome on display, that the rooftop was full of MOTORBIKES & not bicycles - dozy bitch. Having endured a really horrible mass ride last year, thanks to being in the middle of a horribly disorganised pack, we managed this time to sneak in at the very start of the ride & what a difference it made! Apart from one particular mincer riding a kiddy sized (minature) coffee grinder-on-wheels, it was a rather enjoyable ride.

Don'tcha just love the flame themed stand? The owner of this bike has obviously spent alot of time, money & effort in the presentation of his bike. Unfortunately, it still looks camp. Strangely enough, I never saw it being ridden around either. Wonder why that was?

Gotta love Free State riders!

I admit to drooling, but only a little bit.
One of the most classy bikes on show. Simply stunning.


So there y'all have it - my impression of Africa Bike Week 2011. Been there, done that, but didn't opt to buy the teeshirt.

5 comments:

Hubs said...

i wonder why you have more photo's of ABW than the official HOG website?

Wreckless Euroafrican said...

Great pics - I agree with most of the comments, also prefer the more naked look, stuff the mayor, these previously disadvantaged, and currently disabled (mentally retarded), and like you, I thought the T-Shits were over priced, and I'm not too sure i wanted my buds back home to know I attended the Massey Ferguson street market, nor will I go back next year. Come on Eastern Transvaal bends!
Salagatle!

Jimmy said...

Nice photies doll, glad to see you happy at your work.

Unknown said...

Not my cup of tea, but the white one looked smart.

Hubs said...

Wreckless, I agree mate. The word Chopper comes from a "chopped down" bike where everything that isn't necessary is taken off. Otherwise it aint a chop is it......