Too many choices...

That’s a similar scenario to what I personally go through every month, as I pull together all the elements of the magazine and draw inspiration – and I can honestly say that I have at least considered trying to find myself an example of all the main feature machines this month, from a Brough Superior (improbable, I know) to the C15, and incorporating the Matchless trials bike, the lightweight early vintage New Imp and the ‘Americanised’ Enfield, and spent a few moments daydreaming about what I’d use it for... then I had an Ariel twin spell...

My dad (50 years in the VMCC this year, I reckon...) is fond of saying (a variation of) “I’d be happy with just one old bike, if only I knew what it was...” and I’m well on my way down a similar path. There’s always an element of ‘the grass is greener on the other side’ about that reasoning, of course, but sometimes, well, it does seem that way.

What started me off on this train of thought was the letter by Dick Finnemore in this issue, detailing how he’s owned his Triumph TR5 Trophy since 1952 – that’s 10 years longer than even my dad’s been in the VMCC! So, that just goes to reiterate that there must be something very special about TR5 Trophies if Dick can be satisfied with his for so long – can anyone guess what I want now?

Whether I’d manage a 60 year long association with it is of course doubtful, but now I need to try it and find out – just like when I’m confronted by a wide and varied restaurant menu, I will, eventually, aim to work my way through it/them all, finding some real favourites along the way.

James Robinson
Editor