Mileage Challenge 2026

 - May I be the boat-shover-outer for Phil's excellent column in this 2026 year?
BF completed a return-run to the Carpenters Arms in Miserden, Glos, totalling 21 miles.
NOT by chance, XL and mahout Alex rendezvoused, in time for a refreshing pint of xxxxx.
I'm sure that Alex will post a photo or two of the occasion.
(It was quite a well-supported outing, officially a VINTAGE MCC event: but typically, the ONLY vintage machines present were....you guessed it, BF and XL!)      

Happy New Year to all you ABC people.

So I looks like the mileage challenge for 2026 is a go! Well done to Paul and Alex for kicking thing off for the new year (Alex, we await your report and photos).

Remember this is just a bit fun and the rules are simple. Ride your ABC, record how far you went, take a photo or too, let the community know and above all have fun.

Below is  picture of me on WA from earlier in 2025 just to show you how its done!
 


 

Hi ABCers

Well the gauntlet has been well and truly thrown down! Peter Gillespie and his son, Timothy, have both recently completed the 2026 Swartbrand Run in South Africa and have provided the following report. Over to you Peter.

Good Evening

We have just returned from the Swartbrand run 2026. This year the route was pub to pub from the Victoria lake club in Germiston to the Deneysville Aquatic Club in Deneysville. Timothy, my son, joined me on this trip, riding the Ariel Red Hunter 350 1936.

Friday 2nd Jan 2026 – Shakedown run. Home to Montecasino, Montecasino to Kyalami corner, Kyalami Corner to home. 14.8 km (9.2 miles)

Saturday 3rd Jan 2026 – Home to Victoria lake club. 43 km (26.7 miles). Followed by the Swartbrand Run - Victoria Lake Club to Franks Museum, Franks to Heidelberg Club, Heidelberg to “The Ranch”, “The Ranch” to Gecko pub, Gecko Pub to the Dragstrip, Dragstrip to Deneysville Aquatic Club. 137.1 km (85.2 miles)

Sunday 4th Jan 2026 – Deneysville Acquatic Club to Home. 127.9 km (79.5 miles). We woke up on Sunday morning to overcast weather with light rain, as we got into the Johannesburg Metro area, the police decided to follow for several kilometers. Eventually stopping us, after a long chat, they escorted us off the highway. The officer was initially very stern, later showing a lot of interest in the ABC.

Total Kilometers travelled = 322.8   (201.75 miles)

The ABC ran flawlessly and was quite comfortable going along at 70km/h. I received the award for the Oldest Driver/Motorcycle (174 years) and Timothy received the award for being the youngest driver on the oldest bike.

Regards
Peter

 
 
 
 

Well done Peter and Timothy on both completing the run and your awards. I am sure the policeman only wanted to know more about your machine and would like one himself! Thank you for the report and photos.

Phil 

Hi ABCers

By my reckoning the total numbers of miles covered by ABC in January is 278 miles which is a tremendous start to the year. Most of this total was down to Peter Gillespie an his participation in the Swartbrand Run earlier in the month (personally I only managed 8 miles all month and that was only a short test run in between rain showers).

Only the one picture this month which is of the keen ABCer in his natural habit preparing his machine for the upcoming season.
 

Hi ABCers

A very wet February in the UK has come to an end with only a meager 48 miles being covered by ABC and then only when the rain permitted. If anybody would like to add to this small total then please do feel free to let me know. I made the best of the month by looking at WA's timing as it has always been a bit of a reluctant starter. I am pleased to say that with some help things appear to have been improved and WA is much easier to start now.

First picture this month is of WA's cam wheel which hopefully you will never see out of the bike again!


Secondly, a picture of another ABC undergoing important maintenance ready for the 2026 riding season.


Lastly and exclusively is a picture of an ABC recently returned to the UK. Not to many details here other than to say it does run and has been ridden. I am sure there will be more on this bike in the  months to come.