Roughneck Rideout Stavanger 09.06.2011

Todays rideout was the first rideout in Roughnecks history with a Lambretta present! DC imported this 175TV from Stockholm two weeks after I was over to pick up my Rally. And by coincidence, the Lambretta was only minutes away from where I picked up my scooter. I even had the necessary space in my towing trailer to bring the scooter home, but that's another story. 

Target for today: Stavanger Centrum. We started off at the Esso petrol station in Sandnes, and were headed for Stavanger. 3 kms from start, and 1 km from where I live, the Lambretta suddenly dies. 

First error observed: A loose carburator. 

But hey, there's more. No spark. 

 Will running cure the problem? No.

 "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind..."

Defeated scooterist DC; Smiling on the outside: Angry on the inside. The electronic ignition has probably failed big time. No cure but to replace parts. And to park bike. 

OK, what to do? Easiest solution was to bring the scoot back to my house. 

After some unconventional towing-by-boot (Including a dirty look from a passing police car, honest I thought we were going to be fined for the unconvetitional towing) we arrived at my place, where the Lambretta was deposited and my 180SS was taken out as a replacement. The low kick was dismantled as a safety precaution, and we where ready to continue our journey to Stavanger.

Evidence: Vespa 1 - Lambretta 0. 

 Stavanger next, without any trouble. 

Coffee@Cementen. Scooter talk. 

DC on our way home.

No other way than to bring the defect Lambretta back to DC than by towing trailer, and lucky for DC I'm still on paternity leave... 

This however gave me the opportunity to have a closer look at DC's Maico Letta. 

Maico Letta, BMX & Vespa Gran Turismo... 

All in all: The shortest rideout in Roughnecks history. However the first rideout with a Lambretta present.

And also the first rideout which resulted in a total breakdown... 

Vespa World Days 2011 Gjøvik May 18th-22nd.

Roughnecks Scooterclub participated on Vespa World Days 2011 in Gjøvik with record breaking 7 members and equally many scooters! We even managed to get coverage on both local radio as well as Norwegian television.

The tour to Gjøvik was divided into two days: First day we drove in constant rain from Stavanger - Røldal - Haukeli - Notodden where we teamed up with the Rivals, our sisterclub in Kristiansand. Next day we arrived Gjøvik after 6 hours drive.

Approximately 900 scooterists were present in Gjøvik, making it the largest National Vespa event ever!

Tau ferry, Roughnecks lining up

First pitstop at Hjelmeland

First and only breakdown: Coil problems on the smallframe.

Dinner at Haukeliseter.

We arrived wet & cold at Notodden after 12 hours drive, teaming up with The Rivals.

Rivals boys...

Next day: Notodden - Hønefoss - Gjøvik

Roughnecks even brough female members!

Vespa World Days 2011 Camp

Roughnecks.

Rideout to Lillehammer

DC, Roughnecks Propaganda Minister...

Leaking oil from break, I had to change sim-ring to avoid brake collapse. Separate story on rthe Rally is posted in the Rally blog.

Vespa Show from Munich in Gjøvik Centrum. 

Mr President got interviewed by a swedish television

Dynoing...

Tough Roughnecks...

More sim-ring change...

Germans...

Italians...

Sweedish scooters...

and an occasional Lambretta

Driving home Gjøvik-Stavanger  - On my own. Picture taken on Suleskaret.

 More pictures can be viewed on Roughnecks homepage and in Rally blog.

Some ups & some downs

During the weekend I tried to install my first tubeless wheel. I must admit that I was expecting a struggle to get it to fit, but not as difficult as it actually turned out to be. Difficult as in "impossible"; at least with my tools. 

Result: After struggling for a day, going out for more & longer tire-bars and new rim protectors, I successfully destroyed both the bead of the Continental Twist & also the rim edge. (Rim protectors from SIP: Too soft. Rim protectors from Biltema: Much harder, to a point where they have to be pressed onto the rim edge. These were an absolute nightmare to work with on a 10" wheel.)

It started with a scratch, and then another one, and then the tire edge was damaged... and the rim edge. After some time I just gave up both the rim & tire. I figured I might as well use this wheel for practice, and started working without rim protectors. 

Tirebars of different lengths, rim protectors of different qualities, bead-breaker and a semi-mounted tubeless, but destroyed rim/tire. 

Lesson learned: right tools is at least 50% of the job. I need a tire changer, for example this tool to get this job done myself. No-mar tire changers are available on Ebay for a reasonable cost, I might be crazy enough to invest in one... 

Second work done this weekend can be read and viewed in my Rally and 180SS blogs. 

Third. To mark summertime and start of new scooter season, Roughnecks Scooterclub had its first rideout in 2011 today. If you wan't to read or view pictures from this, visit Roughnecks homepage (google translate available) and Roughnecks Facebook page (sorry, Norwegian only).

Roughnecks.no

This is what I've been spending time on lately, planning, designing & programming a new website for Roughnecks Scooterclub Rogaland.

Check it out! It's in Norwegian, but has translation possibilities!

Roughnecks Rideout 01.08.2010 Lifjell - Hommersåk - Bergsagel

For the first time in Roughnecks short history have we gathered 5 scooterist for a rideout! Check out pictures on Roughnecks homepage. I include some teasers here, more pictures can be viewed on the homepage.

Roughnecks Rideout Oltedal - Kverneland 27.06.2010

For some stupid reason I forgot the camera on this rideout. Anyway. I would like to welcome Eirik as a new Roughnecks member!

Update 05.08.2010: Picture...

Roughnecks Rideout Sandnes - Ims - Høle

Life is good! 13 days past due the little princess arrived, and we can now officially call ourself a family. It's been a hectic two weeks, and things are finally settling down, so I actually got time to join a rideout with Roughnecks this Sunday!

Weater was perfect! The trip went from Sandnes - Ims - Høle - return.

Affi & Mr. President...

One happy camper a.k.a. Dad... 

Congratulations to Affi, getting his 8" wheel Vespa back on the road with a rebuilt engine!

A very nice rideout indeed! 

Dad 2 be

Due to other necessary priorities I haven't been very active on the scooterscene here in Stavanger so far this year. We are expecting a little princess any time now, actually we are 4 days past due. Having several home improvement projects going, I need to focus on getting them finished. Really looking forward to being a dad, but not really looking forward to spend the rest of the evening in the basement, sanding plaster walls...

So far, the little time spent in the garage has been to change oil on Regine and to take her out to commute to work. Also, I've finally got some sort of a homepage for Roughnecks Scooterclub up and running, but this will require much more work before I'm satisfied. Hopefully I will get more time to work on Ferdinand this summer, but how far I will progress here is uncertain.

I am still attending this years scooterevent, Classic Scooterrun 2010 Trondheim, looking forward to this!

Desireable things

My girlfriend and I are expecting a little princess medio May, so I've been rather busy lately with all other things than my own scooters... I'm currently spending most of my spare time on home improvement and preparations for the little lady.

The leftover spare time I get for myself is mostly spent in front of the computer... *geek*

Anyway, as the new IT/web responsible for Roughnecks Scooterclub, I've spent a great deal of my geek time sourcing the web for scooter related info. Roughnecks Scooterclub is currently without a homepage, and I have willingly agreed to start design one, along with a club logo. I'll report on this work in the time to come!

It's fascinating what you can find on the web; I leave you with some desireable objects for hard core scooterist's homes:

Starting off with something for my little princess! Doesn't look cheap!

 

Wish I had one of those when I was two...

A new lamp for the office?

Perhaps a new chair as well?!

Believe it or not: This Vespa is all carbon fibre...

*Pure desire*