Over a quarter million miles -

-I stopped tallying up my mileage every year when I finally got over a total of a quarter million miles ridden solely on my 1963 Velocette , purchased in England by Bill Snelling's dad Ted Snelling for me in 1979, originally a Viper - that was converted to a Venom spec 500. Original registration ARF25A - - I get asked by customers, how did I get to know Velocette motorcycles so well, and how much do I ride ? - I don't ride as often as I use to. I do miss not riding. - From my 20s through my 50s, I rode all the time. - so much that, if I never get a chance to ride again, I have put on more miles riding on Velos, then most people have, on any motorcycle. - I use to do a quick calculation at the end of every year, and working from home most of the time, I still rode my Velo to visit friends, grocery shopping - etc. Most of the mileage was not on long trips, but just local stuff. Visiting friend in Seattle, 70 miles each way - , Up to visit Bob Strode in Woodinville, about 70 miles each way etc. - I lost track of how many 'annual winter rebuilds' the Velo received but there were many. I had two sets of clothes for my bike, a cafe' set up, with low bars, & rear sets, and the set that I used most, was the standard street touring set with the standard forward footrests, and wider chrome mudguards - photo taken of me in the Red Light District in Amsterdam Holland, by my Dutch cousin Wim Giebels in 1979 - - and a couple photos of me and my riding buddie Geoff Blanthorn, taken by my Mom, - one when leaving our home in Lakebay on our two month trip around the USA, and second one of our arrival back -