Pony express, small 'bike, durham to West Yorkshire? (French tat purchase)

[barrett]

Hi!

 

Hot topic of conversation in the office the last few months has been cyclemotors, how much fun you can have for a very minimal outlay, and how the people involved are generally 'good eggs' in the same way cyclecar people generally are - a certain degree of pragmatism is necessary for enthusiastic ownership of rubbish vehicles.

The rediscovery of a fabulous period advertisement featuring a French gent in full tweeds and woolen tie, followed by a cursory ebay search, has resulted in an accidental purchase of a circa early 1960s VéloVap moped, which is clearly the last thing anybody needs, but it goes well with the 404 and the Panhard and all the other French crap cluttering up the sheds. It's not a cyclemotor, but it's a good start, and should provide fun paddock transport at various events during the summer, and for last-minute lunch runs to the village when we run out of pies in the office.

 

(picture for illustration only, our one is much scruffier)

 

Only problem is that it's in bloody Durham, which is more North than I am prepared to travel. We have business in Bately, West Yorkshire, but it's another 200 mile round trip from there to pick this bloody thing up, so I wonder if anybody from here might be doing the journey at any point soon and would have room to pick this up - it's only the size of a bicycle - and store it until we can come and get it next week. My first thought is Scaryoldcortina but I've been 'off-forum' for so long I have lost any contact details I might have had for him.

 

The other option is to ride it the 350-odd miles back to the South coast but I reckon even I'm not stupid enough to attempt that (sans helmet, tax or license and fortified with a bottle or two of vin du table in true provincial French chap style, naturellement).

[wuvvum]

I know the one you mean - I saw it on the Bay and was sorely tempted myself, but the distance put me off.  Glad it's going to a good home.

[seth]

Barrett, Ozzy Mandeus has been made aware of this thread but you will probably have to use a different forum to communicate with him.

[Volksy]

I can possibly store it in Leeds, I have the space if someone can get it here.

 

On another note, as it's basically a bicycle, can you not put it on the train to get it back down south?

[Guest Lord Sward]

I live on the boarder of County Durham, but since I've taken an office job this year, my weekly trip to Leeds has stopped.  No use to you, but I just thought I'd let you know......

 

Where in Durham is it?

[dugong]

DUGONG COLLECTION SERVICE IS A POSSIBILITY

[DVee8]

Im in Durham also but i'm not heading south at any point.But could collect and store until convenient if it helps.

[barrett]

Thanks chaps, looks like this is sorted now. Will hopefully be picking up next Wednesday.

Anybody know how you ride these things? I'm assuming it's a hand throttle rather than a twist-grip, but how does one engage drive? All good questions which no doubt I will be learning the answer to THE HARD WAY

[charlie2555]

There's one of these featuring in the film 'Mr Bean's Holiday'!