Travis of the Himalayas

From Anthony Brown who rode on the recent Sideburn x Helmet Stories Himalaya tour...

The riders on the Sideburn Himalaya trip were generous people.

Travis had packed light and we all set about kitting him up with some new riding gear

Newbold Wears:

Kufi Hat - purchased from hippy shop in Daramasala (£1.50)

Tibetian wool scarf - Purchased from a small shop in Killar (£3.00)

Sunglasses - Models Own

Axo original Finnish MX pants - Found on market still in small village close to Pangi Valley (£5.00 we didnt barter too much they were unworn)

Woolie Jumper- Colorado thrift store

Mandels - Models own

Backpack - Brought from outfitters enroute (£2.50)

We blew the £10 budget by 50p but I think the backpack bonds the whole outfit together.

The Mighty Hannibal

I know, I know, it can be so tricky deciding what to wear for the Dirt Quake Ball. Should you rely on the trusty dark denim and American work boots to fit in with the tough lads? Or try to be a little more outré with an alpaca poncho and hand-me-down cheesecloth chemise from your uncle's expedition to Afghanistan and the Hindu Kush, just before the Russians invaded in 1979? Perhaps this is the time to debut the knock-off Ornamental Conifer-style leather jacket with something inspirational painted in One Shot script on the on the back, like, oh I don't know, 'Two Wheels Move The Soul'?

Or what about embracing the moto carnival spirit with something more extravagant? Like the Mighty Hannibal here. The arresting visual cocktail of turban, extreme batwing blouse, capri pants avec kick flare and metallic patent, Cuban heel Chelsea boots are so King's Lynn.

Really, no one gives a monkey's what you wear, just be there. Dirt Quake V is going to be great.

Please note, the jerkin' of dogs is strictly prohibited and if we suspect you of doing it, we'll call the RSPCA.

Thanks to DJ Katy B for sending this link. Hear and see her play a whole trunk of funk on Friday night. G

Bubble Gum Pink is the New Matte Black

Jason McCann's Speed Merchant'd Sportster at Perris. BP

Be Prepared

Insisting that children salute adults is pushing discipline too far in my opinion. Even dressing them up in uniform seems suspect, so it's odd that I seem have nostalgia for Baden Powell, founder of the world-wide scout movement. I'm an ex-soldier of both the Cubs and Scouts. My tree climbing, whittling, map reading, woggle weaving and knot tiring skill I owe to regimented Thursday afternoons. The other day at my Mum's house, I came across my old belt. It's now been put back into service (without the saluting), with 34", extra long girth, blank belt from German eBay - the Germans love dressing up in leather and have specialist traders in all related products. BP

Wardrobe Dilemma

This time tomorrow I will finally be trekking over the Atlas Mountains and into the Sahara! Months of intense training will be challenged - I've put back on the 1kg I lost a week ago through nervous cake eating. My dickie knee that the Dr just drained 24ml of "Oh it looks like Castrol GTX?!" (said the professional, when he was expecting it to be a clear yellow liquid not thick black gunk), is already podgy again. In the next hour (real-time as I write this blog post) I need to overcome my teenage girl club night wardrobe dilemmas and just stuff something into a suitcase. Strappy sandals do seem like the best option for refreshing airiation. السلام عليكم BP

photo Pierre Bourdieu

Day 13

Day 13 of my regime, and no stones, or even single pebble, have been lost. Disappointing, considering that's plodding every day except Sunday and the last two days as Man Flu has grounded me.

Blogging hours traded for jogging miles have not given me healthy enlightenment, although I should feel slightly self righteous. I'm certain that I've gone down a cup size from an E to a double D. My wife says I 'look' slimmer.

Then I thought running to up-tempo music might up my RPM and increase calorie burn. It sort of worked for 20 minutes but made me want to puke, and I don't like going to discos in daylight hours anyway.
Seeing as this is all in aid of a Sahara adventure, it makes sense to better replicate the stifling atmospheric conditions with a fur lined coat and my new Barstow 100% goggles. Combined with the oversize DJ headphones, I look like a weekender bender escapee. Jog on. BP

Trash N Treasure

Sideburn's entertainments officer, Dave Skooter Farm, decides to sell off some of his extensive 'Pop Culture' collection, amassed over the last 40 years, sets up his own
retro market and invites 25 like-minded friends to join the TNT conga line!

Laidback, afternoon velvety sounds from SB house DJ Johnny Alpha and mid-tempo beat ballads and floaters from WIGAN YOUNG SOULS founder, Jordan Wilson. These guys were in the dance sequences in the new NORTHERN SOUL film.

Sun 23rd Nov, 10am until 4.30pm

The Old Courts, Crawford Street, Wigan. WN1 1NG

Mid-century curiosities;  women's vintage fashion; toys, records, furniture; films, men's fashion; retro computer games; 70's memorabilia, board games; hand crafted accessories...

Earn Brownie points and bring the missus on a fab, non-motorcycle-related day out?

TMD Bodywear

From our old mate, Peter G in Hungary.

I just got the info, that Anna, (who is a Hungarian designer, pro gastro journalist and website owner, hobby pole dancer and mad biker) created her newest product in the clothes manufacture, the biker bodywear for womens. From my side it's pretty good. And the opening picture also, of course. 

TMD Bodywear

Next Big Thing

Looking to ditch all this heritage wear, bare metal petrol tanks, air-cooled BMWs and facial hair? We hear you.
Yellow GSX-Rs and shaved-in patterns are a few years off, and it'll be oh so 'carefully curated' but it's coming.
Mark our words...

Old Cotton

Spartan 'waxed' cotton jacket. I guess Barbor or Belstaff didn't make any intellectual property claims on their famous trials jackets in the olden days, so this copies exactly the same pattern with a wonky breast pocket - and being nigh on useless at keeping water out even when it is properly waxed. Mine was as waterproof as a tea bag. Can't remember where I got it from. It already had the Norton and BSA patches on so along with its purple corduroy collar, I deemed it to have pedigree.

The back was painted, and repainted, with various 'freak-the-squares' symbols and then painted out all together as I matured. Funny that the manufacturer bothered to put in three brass mesh breathing vents under the arms. One thing that this jacket was not short of was fresh air.
Road Rocket across the bum was in honour of the magazine rather than the BSA of the same name. I wore this flimsy thing on my first foreign bike trip to Spain in 1989 with my brother, me on a Honda CM250T, he on a C15 BSA. So it brings back a lot of memories.
My first leather jacket came later. A Blake's 7-style burgundy number I bought at the Dock Road sunday market in Liverpool for 80p. It was hideous but functioned. I gave it to my flatmate who lusted after it.

When I moved to London, U-turning black cabbies were a daily threat to life, hence the flipped taxi pin badge.

The DIY 99 patch was a poke at the regressive 59 club. 1999 was still 8 years into the future. It was made from real 59 cloth patch as I was briefly a signed-up member until I realised I was a Mocker not a Rocker. The Nuffield pin badge pre-empted any tea hut jibes about my Moto Guzzi being a tractor. BP

DGR 2014

The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride has exploded. Well, not literally, but there are clearly a load of folk doing it this year. And it all happens this Sunday.

This weekend, there are 255 charity rides (raising money for prostate cancer research) in 57 countries. And Triumph are corporate sponsors of the whole thing.

Baybutt of the Corpses From Hell reminded us he's organised one in Sheffield (UK). You can sponsor him here.

For details on your nearest ride, go to Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. G

Gilet News

From Anthony Co-Built

'It was never out of fashion in my opinion.'

Photo: Anthony at 2013 Noyes Camp, Spain by Dimitri Coste

Edwin Europe Sale

Get some tasty denim (from good people who support Sideburn and the DTRA) at half price... Edwin Europe. G

#59 Nick Ashley

A huge cross-section of people race in the DTRA: different ages, backgrounds, occupations and goals. Farmers race against painters and decorators; engineers battle with tilers. Builders, photographers, car salesmen, carpenters, film set designers, airline pilots, mechanics and, in Nick Ashley, menswear designers are all DTRA members...

I bought some of Nick Ashley clobber when he had his own label more than ten years ago, then got to know him through Sideburn (Ben knew him before that). Now Nick is head of design for an upmarket menswear label called Private White V.C. that is almost unique in making all its products in the UK.

Nick has always raced and ridden. He's competed in desert rallyes and enduros and now, also, competes in the vintage class on a Cheney Triumph.

There's an amusing interview with Nick here. With some of the highlights being...

The factory in Manchester was there at the start of the industry, and when it’s gone, it’s gone. The whole of the Manchester ship canal – from Liverpool to Manchester – was built for the industry, but it’s all gone apart from this. I dream of getting a ship into Manchester, filling it with product and sailing it to China – and selling a whole load of clothes there. Then I can die a happy man. Out of the mill, out of the factory and even take the voyage – smoking Capstan Full Strength and drinking rum all the way!

We had interest from the UK and wrote a few orders. Britain is a small place and, as I say, people spend all their money on houses and education. If you compare it even to Italy, there’s a vast difference. People dress beautifully, eat beautifully and have loads of sex. That’s their priority in life. Their economy is knackered, but they’re having a great time. Let’s all move to Italy!

Photos by Daniel Beres

Whites

No info on the origins of this photo, but his wardrobe is definitely cutting the mustard. BP

Sideburn x A Piece of Chic Silk Scarf

We met Sebastien (pictured) from Lyon-based silk specialists, A Piece of Chic at Wheels and Waves and decided we'd make a limited run of scarves there and then.
The result is a 150cm long scarf with a dirt track tyre print running the length of the 100% silk twill scarf. It is a beautiful thing, perfect for man or woman.

The scarf comes in a very stylish, spot UV varnished presentation box.

Every silk scarf order gets a free Sideburn Racing patch and metal pin badge.

Get yours here. G

Wilder Mann

I love this series of photography by Charles Fréger. They're of European Primitive ceremony costumes dating back to pre-history. I've just ordered the book, Wilder Mann.

The bar has been raised for Dirt Quake 3 outfits... G

Cutting It

Barry Lee ex-speedway rider, who became four-time world-champion stockcar racer. His Ford Escort and studded lapels were an argy-bargy force to be reckoned with. BP

Pegboard Boots

Always on the look-out for another handy gadget for my shed, but these on fleabay aren't exactly what I had in mind. BP

Perv

Perverts welcome over at our special persuations Pinterest board.

It's not all rubber and studs - or tractor motorcycles. BP