Colin Martin in the Himalayas

Colin Martin, the Moultoneer whose legendary journeys included riding from England to Australia in 1970, has recently completed a cycling tour in the Himalayas.

21 August. Started the day climbing a 18km pass to 14,200 feet, this is the highest pass on my route. A long descent into the next valley, a roller coaster of a ride that was slowed by soft sand, road works and chunks of rock. I had to push my bike through this for over an hour then climb back on and ride 12 km up the other side through more road works, had to walk again, the rocks under the wheels made it impossible to ride. Passing army trucks cover me in dust and dirt. My bike and I are the same, not metal, not flesh, but dirt. Eventually made it to Mulbekh, a small village at 10,839 ft. Leh is now 190 km behind me. I'm now at a home-stay with a traditional Buddhist family. They have no electricity. I'm given a water bucket to wash from, I'm sleeping on the floor with the family's yak in a room next to me. All is well after, what I'd have to say was, one of the biggest days in my life. I'm tired but happy.

For more details read Colin's blog. You can also view some video footage at Colin's Youtube page

Moulton 60

The first production version of the Moulton 60 was unveiled at the club weekend at Bradford on Avon. Limited to 191 bicycles, the stainless steel frames will be silver brazed at the factory in Bradford on Avon.
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovely_bicycle/6157931974/[/flickr]
In standard 'complete bicycle' specification, the Moulton 60 is equipped with the Shimano Alfine 11-speed hub gear, giving a gear range from 25" to 102". Flat-bar and drop-bar models are available.

The standard specification is as follows:
Moulton 'F' frame in stainless-steel, with Columbus XCR seat tube and Reynolds 953 head tube.
Moulton leading-link front fork (all stainless-steel)
Rear fork with Flexitor (rubber) pivot and Hydrolastic fluid-damped rear spring
Campagnolo Record threadless headset (1")
68mm BSC bottom bracket shell
Brake drop for 57mm drop calipers, recessed bolts
Moulton 17" wheels (369mm)
Supplied with stainless-steel daybag carrier

Options include: mudguards, large rear carrier, day, weekend and large touring bags, propstand, Moulton bottle cages.

Pictures by flickr user lovely_bicycle and Ken Butterfield

[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/worksmoulton/6137999012/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/worksmoulton/6137839797/[/flickr]

[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovely_bicycle/6157389077/[/flickr]

[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/moultonbuzz/6175033404[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/moultonbuzz/6174507413/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/moultonbuzz/6174508369/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/moultonbuzz/6175036204[/flickr]

Club Weekend BoA 2011

Below are some photos from the club weekend at Bradford on Avon.

Photos are from flickr users
anglepoise and stevenbrandist

[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/anglepoise/6141888174/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/anglepoise/6141890936/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/anglepoise/6142061954/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/anglepoise/6142063918/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/anglepoise/6141523753/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/anglepoise/6141524157/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/anglepoise/6141570253/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/anglepoise/6141579307/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/anglepoise/6142147390/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/anglepoise/6142181922/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevenbrandist/6140184408/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/anglepoise/6141823502/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/anglepoise/6141287149/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/anglepoise/6141851610/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/anglepoise/6141857182/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/anglepoise/6141880534/[/flickr]
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/anglepoise/6141332481/[/flickr]

Stolen Bike Alert

A number of Moulton bicycles have been stolen recently, so all intending buyers should be on the lookout for "bargains" that may not be what they seem. Details of two such thefts below.


Stolen Pylon

Moulton NS Pylon was stolen on the 12th April from outside Islington Town Hall Upper Street London N1 at 6.30-7.30pm.
The theif cut through the rear triangle to release one of the locks leaving the lock, back wheel, and three 1" section of the swingarm.

Moulton New Series Stainless Speed (Pylon)
Reg 004902 (the 4th one made)
See photo
Equipped with campagnolo record gear
Day rack, day bag
Black forks
Note - x2 groves worn on the top front flexitor (from cables)
The front hub is a Hope replacement.
Brookes Swift saddle
swing arm upgraded to the 2006 standard (more lattice work)

Stolen APB
Stolen on 15th April, at approx 1pm in Mill Road, Cambridge.

Unique Moulton APB, burgundy colour, with sidepull brakes.
Threadless fork, no V-brake mounts - this is a factory prototype.
No frame number.
Drop bars with Campagnolo 24 speed Ergopower.
Mudguards.
Thomson in-line seatpost (31.6mm)

This is one of my development bikes and a reward is offered for its safe return.

Any information, please contact me (dan AT moultonbicycles DOT co DOT uk) or
contact Cambridge Police quoting crime no. CF0159450411.

Disaster in Japan

From Club Chairman Aynsley Brown:

Fellow Moultoneers,
On Monday, March 14th, I sent the following e-mail to each club member in Japan for whom we have an e-mail address.

Dear [Member Name],
I am very sorry to hear about the terrible earthquake and tsunami that has destroyed so much of north-eastern Japan.
The television pictures are very shocking.
On behalf of the members of the UK Moulton Bicycle Club, I send sincere sympathy to those who have suffered any family loss or injury.
I hope that you and your family are safe and well.

Best Wishes,
Aynsley Brown
Chairman, Moulton Bicycle Club

These are some of the responses that I have received so far.
I would like to share them with you.
Several have not responded yet.
I sincerely hope it is nothing more serious than communication difficulties.
Aynsley

***

Thank you so much your e-mail.
We are fine,because we live in KANSAI.
But Our many freinds live in KANTO-TOHOKU.
So we sorry for them as you.
Thank you and please pray to our freinds safty too.

***

Thank you for your e-mail.
We are OK, no damage, no injury here.
I think we can return to normal life fairly soon, at least Tokyo.

***

Eastern Japan was swallowed for a big tsunami.
I am safe.
Time may be necessary to enjoy a bicycle.
A rescue party came from the U.K.
I thank for anxiety of all of you.

***

Thank you so much for your thoughtful email. We in Yokohama are fine - very minor damage in the city and none in homes or school where I teach.
Because of the lack of transportation and the nuclear risk many expats have evacuated. The schools have closed all week due to the sporadic power and transportation situation, then into their Spring holidays.
I am retiring in June and hope to make the September BoA meeting. I look forward to meeting you there.

***

Thank you for your message & kindness,
Our family are safe and well,But north eastern people are very very bad situation now.
All people in Japan is me grief,But people will face reconstruction discouraged it.
Please keep that hope away from the sky.

***

I would like to express my gratitude toward your concern about Japanese citizen
as well as myself.
I am living in Osaka where is far away from the disastrous area. What we are most
concerned about at the current moment is the nuclear plant trouble.
Thank you again for your sympathy.

***

Thank you for your message.
Luckily we have not heard of any human casualty or material/physical
damage amongst the J-MBC members and their immediate family.

***

Pacific North Eastern Japan is, to be frank, devastated.
Tokyo is experiencing a shortage of electricity (we have a premeditated ,
rotating partial blackouts) and resultant less-than-normal public
tranportation or other inconveniences, but still going strong.
Obviously the country is in crisis, but Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and
westward are intact and functioning fairly normally.
Thank you again,

***

Thank you for your message.
We have been ok. We are far from there.
But started seeing indirect influences.

***

Thank you for your kind mail. The eastern half of the country has been severely damaged. We in Tokyo escaped unscathed, except a few flower vases.
My family including four Moultons are fine.
Again thank you very much for your concern, and hope to meet you.

***

It's really shocking to see such an incredible news pictures of this earthquake and tsunami.
But all my family are safe in Osaka. Thank you for your warm sympathy.

***

Thank you for kindness message.
My area is ok now.
but still unclearplant is fear of the explosion.
I never seen terrible diserster.
It encouraged it from a lot of people.
it is likely to be able to recovere.

***

Thank you very much for your e-mail. It was an unexpected surprise and pleasure to receive such a kind message from my fellow Moultoneers in the U.K.
As you must have seen through the media, thousands of people are either dead or missing. Fortunately, I live just north of Tokyo, where the damage has been minor. My family members and I ( and of course my TSR!) are all fine, although since the quakes are still continuing, one must continue to be vigilant for the time being.
I just hope that the devasted areas would recover as soon as possible, and I am thinking of ways to be of help to the affected people. In the mean time, your concern is very much appreciated.

***

Thanks a lot for your heartfelt concern.
I and my family are safe and well.
As always I have been commuting by bicycle and working in a ward office since Monday.
Operations are getting back on a recovery in my town and eastern Tokyo.