Book review- la Mobylette Universelle - National Autocycle and ...

Hand Warming Run 21/2/10 John Shaw
You have to start a run in the hills of East Kilmarnock, Ayrshire the mood, so I bummed a nights
lodging from an old friend just out of hospital, have a natter, and allow me to arrive at Craig Lodge
bright and bushy tailed. The initial idea was to shove a trailie Ducati and a beautiful MV into a
wee van and prove that the doors would shut with Nigel inside, preparatory to our travel to Monte
Carlo in May/June. The squeeze was proven by the time I arrived, and everybody kitted out with
multitudinous layers to resemble varying shapes and sizes of Michelin men.
Set off towards Old Rome with Nigel and the Bretta running, but initially feeling the cold, and
refusing to rev. However the fi rst steep hill cleared the crankcase of old oil, and away we went.
Earlston and up the long steep hill to Staffl ar underground reservoir, which nobody noticed, it is
underground. Minor roads to Barnweil monument with texts on the walls to warm a Scots heart -1 st
HW This is the place to get an expansive of central Ayrshire, down the extremely steep and part
ice-covered hill at Underhills, minor roads to join the B730 to Tarbolton, minor road following the
Parkmill burn to join the B744 for just a mile then left at Rattenrow. 2 nd HW- single track roads
with steep hill and into potholes through the Carnell estate, in spring the road is overrun with
fl edgling pheasants, A719 through Galston to George’s house, he wisnae there. 3 rd HW- steep hill
to Moscow(!) then on to Waterside and into Fenwick, a cheeky short cut on a cycle track under the
M77, B751 past Rowallan castle and site of the Ayr Classic annual bike show. Kilmaurs, single track
via Carmel bank, Laigh Milton mill and home. Approx 50 miles, Final HW- Hand Warming session
on cylinder heads, a quick move into the garage, gas fi res and kettle on, slowly off with the layers,
and you should have seen the layers, and where they were wrapped. Shirley had left sponge cake
and was it good. Once warm, we were able to blether and recall the views, general lack of traffi c,
and apart from a certain van driver who shouted and cursed at a stationary and off the road poor
John G before we started, all was happy and cheery. We do not want to know what his wife is like,
but she must be fearsome.
15