1st Flanders Chopper Run

After working on the bike for a couple of weeks everyday, to get it going for the CafeRacerDagen in Achterveld, it popped the clutch on me. So sadly I couldn't go. Then I saw THIS flyer on BUBBLEVISOR. Couldn't wait to join this!
Wasn't sure if a guzzi caferacer would fit the desired "dressing code", but decided that it would perfectly fit in the "custom build" prescription...
Checked the weather forecast twice everyday, but It didn't seem good. All week Sunday was predicted "very cloudy an rainy". Sob... Sunday morning I got out of bed already in a state of mind to let go and do something else. Drank my coffee as usual, and while reading the news and other daily shit on my laptop, I checked the weather forecast again. And although it was very grey outside, it said something of rain only up north.. I checked also "buienradar", and there it was... No cloud to see what so ever!! Dammit, what time is it? 11h! How far is it? 42km..I still can make it! I jumped in my jeans, ran downstairs, took the bike from the garage and left...only a summary road description in my pocket and nothing eaten yet. The bike was all well and took me in a zip to Sint Pauwels. Just as I stopped to check my little directional notes, 3 bikes past me by, and I immediately waved them in a sign "Hey I'm with you!" and they stopped a 100 meters further up the road. I started the bike and of we went..

The arrival was as expected. A lot of bikes and a bunch of guys.. I took some pictures, introduced myself to the guy that made it happen, and a chit and a chat here and there. The bike was prettily welcomed(far from being a chopper or "pre79 harly" :)) Still I was very nervous, because there was this 150km run, and I didn't knew how my little guzzi was going to keep up... Were they going to do highway? I sure hoped not because the guzz isn't so good on the highway(a tiny bit too wobbly). Was 150 km not too long for me and the guzz?? I had never driven it further than 20 km( last week took it on a test drive to lillo) ... I decided to sweat it out and see what would come. No big deal. Shit, I have had nothing to eat yet!!! Asked where the nearest bakery was, ran of, took one "koffiekoek" swallowed it, an drove back. Just in time to start up. Shit again! Do I have enough gas. Ah we'll see...
I must say it's nice to see a bunch of guys starting up there bikes to take of for a ride!!! Nice... And off we went. Didn't know where to. Seemed our first stop was at the gas station! Funny. Didn't took my chances, and filled here up. Put myself aside, and while trying to put here on the side stand, the damn Italian "I click back anytime i want" side stand...clicked back. There I was on my face with a full gas tank. To my surprise immediately a lot of hands where there to get me and the bike back on our feet!!! I told you, I'm NOT used to this. It seems I'm to solitary, it really freaked me out(in a very pleasant way) Anyway we took back off, and there we went. Very impressing and nice to be part of a group ride. A few corners here, a few corners there. And then what was, I think, the first long stretch, POP, I loose my shifter! No more gears! DAMN!!!! I'm in the middle of fucking nowhere, bikes are passing me by, and there I am on the side of the road!!! Bye Bye Flanders chopper run!
While I'm still trying to soak in my problem, (Not the biggest of them all, its not the first time in my life that I'm wandering down the street trying to regain a lost bolt or a piece of wire) this van stops beside me, and this two guys ask what seems to be the trouble? It's a bloody "sweep van"!!! I'm in the "tour de France"!! I could not believe this, I was actually being helped. So much love in the world, I'm not used to this. Makes me real shy and very humble...So they proposed to take me to the next stop and see what'll happen. I took this help with both hands. Thank you guys! After a bit of driving around and a long phone call we joined the rest of the group, and headed of deeper into "Flanders". I had no clue where we were...Had a nice chat with my helpers. Funny

So we arrived at he next stop... "YOU BURN AND CRASH... WE EARN AND CASH" said the sign above the door...Some bloody MC quarter, and I'm far from being a brother from what hood so ever...
So we unloaded the bike and someone pointed me to the owner of the shop, who could probably hand me a locking nut for my shifter. This friendly bearded guy led me into what seemed to be a well equipped garage, and handed me a box full of m6 locking nuts, and while I burned and crashed, he didn't want to earn any cash! Nice dude, thanks! So i could repair my bike. Everybody just let me be, until I started the bike. I mean until i TRIED to start it. Because i wouldn't fire up. Aaargh... bloody hell... So I drew attention once again. Did you chek this, did you check that.. yeees i did, sob, thanks for the help, Mother I hope she didn't brake her spark plug while dropping in the van... The spark plug cap was fowled by it, so it could... Checked everything and just when i was about to despair,... the ignition switch!!! I told you, i have this bike only for a couple of weeks. And i forgot that every time the steering wheel jams to the left it taps the ignition switch off. Tadaa, there she goes!! Welcome back Chopper run!! Still had the time to grab a drink, and a chat.

And off we went for the second part. I decided to run along and see where we ended up, didn't know if it was necessary to ride home yet. From then it was cream... The bike rode nice, although I couldn't hear her with al the cut of and unrestricted baffles and their roaring around me, I felt here sweeping away from gear to gear after every corner we took. She's old, but seemed to be pleased by my treatment the last few weeks, and although she gave some headache and was very stubborn during a few days she seemed to have found her boss and was very willing now. Love you darling, you're sugar! Only she'll need some ointment on her shifting pedal, cause every time i tried to shift down in the corners the shifter got a little stuck, so i had to tap slightly up, before i could shift down. No big thing but very annoying. But hey the old lady took me somewhere, wasn't she!

After a nice not slow,but not too fast ride, we arrived at our last stop. We parked the bikes, and in the meantime a big garage door opened to what seemed to be a real Harley Valhalla! Nice! Can't tell you much about it cause I'm no Harley connoisseur, but It was a nice collection, and featured some nice 70style choppers which a liked a lot. Some nice lady came by with some snacks when I realized i was knackered and had only eaten a single koffiekoek in the morning, and i started to feel being teared inside out. Luckily the for mentioned snacks helped me to regain some energy, together with a nice cup of coffee. Didn't knew a "run" could be so exhausting. Time to go. Asked where i was, got me some directions, found a mate to join me on my way to Antwerp, and we took of.
Was still a bit afraid of doing highway with me misses, but after this run I felt much more confident with her. So i ended up doing about 30km or so(really don't know) on the highway in the nice companion of some big ol Harley.. I know she loved his presence and so did I! Said goodbye after the kennedytunnel and headed int town for a needed and well earned meal!


I had a great day! And a wonderful adventure. For all you guys who should read this,I must tell you, I'm working on bikes since I was 16. But never, ever, I have shared this with anybody. For the simple mathematical fact that no other "gear head" has crossed my path. That's it. Just plain coincidence. I've seen friends come and go in my life but always I was the only one to have greasy hands in my group. Never gave this a thought. No importance whatsoever.
So maybe you can imagine that for me this was a great adventure! The 1st Flanders chopper run was my first run ever. And were you guys think all is natural, the vibe, the "your welcome" feeling, the "how's the bike doing now" questions, "she's doing well huh!" remarks... all that is new to me, and from my solitary point of view very impressive!! So I'd like to thank you all for that! I had a great 1st run!

My special thanks go to Sven from El cheapo custom works for the wonderful organization(and the sweeping van), to Nico and Jan(i believe) for the helping hands, to the guy from the "YOU BURN AND CRASH... WE EARN AND CASH" who's name I don't know for the necessary nut, to the guy from the Harley Valhalla for his hospitality,to Jakke for the companion back home, and to all the rest of you guys just for making me feel welcome!!! Hope to meet you all again!
Jo