1998 Cycle Tour of Flanders with the Khaki Chums
The Khaki Chums portrayal of the Army Cyclist Corps of the First World War. We procured a batch of identical Indian made 'Hero' roadsters, (Raleighs) and proceeded to strip them all down then to rebuild them as close as possible to the MkIV Army Cycle. This was quite a task! But between us we managed to sand them down and repaint paint them. Engineers among us made faithful copies of the Number 10 Lucas front carriers, rifle brackets, rear carriers. Brooks supplied the saddles. Apart from the dual rod brakes, (not the single scissor) rear freewheel instead of the coaster brake, and 'HERO' cranks, they were a very good impression, especially en masse. (The problems of finding the original parts in sufficent numbers for all bikes was too great, and rather than having a hotch potch of original parts we made concessions for uniformity.)
In 1998 a group of us rendezvoused at Dover, then rode on to the ferry to Dunkirk. Over a long weekend we toured the old battlefields. Where possible we practiced the drill of the period, using the Army Cycle Manual of the period. Everything we carried and wore was authentic to the late war period we were portraying, from the D shaped mess tins to the Short Magazine Lee Enfields. Even our underwear was regulation drawers, cellular.
It was an unforgettable trip!
We fitted white Schwalbe tyres after this. The bikes were again used en masse for a VCC ride in Windsor Great Park in 1998, but this was the last time they were seen together.
1998 Cycle Tour of Flanders with the Khaki Chums
The Khaki Chums portrayal of the Army Cyclist Corps of the First World War. We procured a batch of identical Indian made 'Hero' roadsters, (Raleighs) and proceeded to strip them all down then to rebuild them as close as possible to the MkIV Army Cycle. This was quite a task! But between us we managed to sand them down and repaint paint them. Engineers among us made faithful copies of the Number 10 Lucas front carriers, rifle brackets, rear carriers. Brooks supplied the saddles. Apart from the dual rod brakes, (not the single scissor) rear freewheel instead of the coaster brake, and 'HERO' cranks, they were a very good impression, especially en masse. (The problems of finding the original parts in sufficent numbers for all bikes was too great, and rather than having a hotch potch of original parts we made concessions for uniformity.)
In 1998 a group of us rendezvoused at Dover, then rode on to the ferry to Dunkirk. Over a long weekend we toured the old battlefields. Where possible we practiced the drill of the period, using the Army Cycle Manual of the period. Everything we carried and wore was authentic to the late war period we were portraying, from the D shaped mess tins to the Short Magazine Lee Enfields. Even our underwear was regulation drawers, cellular.
It was an unforgettable trip!
We fitted white Schwalbe tyres after this. The bikes were again used en masse for a VCC ride in Windsor Great Park in 1998, but this was the last time they were seen together.