Cycling North After Winter

[egg]

Years ago I went to the Asbach Brandy visitors centre in the Rhein valley. That would be a warming place to stop off.

[Bucketeer]

I had a right good explore of Cologne today. Some spots were spotted of course.

 

 

 

 

 

On the way to the cathedral I did a double take at the adornment on top of the city museum.

 

 

It's only a gold Mk3 Fiesta with wings.

 

 

 

The cathedral itself was spectacular. And massive.

 

 

 

 

The railway bridge across the river is covered with locks, just like in Paris (and many other cities).

 

 

Apparently the trains have to go extra slowly across it now due to all the extra weight of so many locks.

 

 

A lot of the city was destroyed in the wars but there is still a fair amount of original buildings, often sandwiched between more modern stuff.

 

 

Anyway as Judith Chalmers would say, enough of the tourist shit let's finish off with a few more rubbish cars.

 

 

 

[Bucketeer]

I just found/stole a couple of better pictures of the Fiesta on the internet.

 

 

[davehedgehog31]

Cologne is great, there's a building called the Koln triangle. You can get a 360 view from the roof. It costs 3 euros to enter but worth a look.

 

http://www.koelntrianglepanorama.de/en/visitor_information.php

 

Like you said, the cathedral is amazing. 

 

It also has a 10 storey brothel.

 

[Dave_Q]

That yellow thing is extra spesh, looks like the unwanted offspring of a threesome between a sans permis, a Sinclair C5 and a sidecar.

[skattrd]

IMG_6733.JPG

 

Pic from the roof of said L shaped building:

 

[Bucketeer]

Oh and thanks for the route suggestions. I'm very happy to receive any advice.

Originally I had considered following the Rhein down to Koblenz, then the Mosel to France. The Mosel however looks very wiggly, like the distance to follow it would be double or triple the 'crow flies' distance.

Following the Rhein further down and then the Rhone sounds pretty good also.

Both of these options would mean not visiting Chez Saabnut though, which I would like to do. If I wanted to stop of there I would have to take a route like this.

 

 

Decisions to be made.

[N Dentressangle]

You could always do Le Mans on the way home, coming back up the other side of France.

 

That's assuming you're coming home at some point...

[Bucketeer]

That's assuming you're coming home at some point...

That thought is yet to cross my mind.

[Mally]

I'd plane it back, It's uphill.

[Junkman]

You're getting closer to that London again.

[N Dentressangle]

That thought is yet to cross my mind.

 

Quite correct, mon brave.

 

In which case, with apologies to Col Tim Collins, your business now is South!

[AnthonyG]

I note that the Ford badge on that Fiesta based monument/statue/art statement thing isn’t painted gold like the rest of it, so assume in some way this acknowledges the Ford factory nearby. I’m fascinated by it now, will have to do some googling.

[DodgeRover]

Will you be dropping in on your plot on the outer leg?

[Bucketeer]

Years ago I went to the Asbach Brandy visitors centre in the Rhein valley. That would be a warming place to stop off.

I just checked this place out (online, not in person). It shuts to the public on the 22nd December until March. Do you reckon they'll be chucking out all the unsold brandy on the last day? I could make it down there in three days. I have a folding 5 litre water/brandy container.

[Bucketeer]

And a Camelback. And a water/brandy bottle on the bike.

[Snipes]

The cathedral reminds me of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona.

[Bucketeer]

As promised, photos from Motorworld Cologne yesterday.

 

It was advertised as an events venue with car displays. Much of it was still being built but there were enough things of interest to pass the time.

Upstairs there was a Michael Schumacher exhibition with all his old cars and helmets and trophies and the like. The rest of the hall was cars on display and for sale from a few classic dealers.

It was pretty hard to get good pictures what with all the ropes and pillars and strange lighting and sales staff looking with disdain at a muddy oaf with multicoloured hair.

 

The outside hinted at potential.

 

 

There was quite a bit of interesting looking stuff up in their glass hutches where you couldn't see or get to unfortunately.

 

 

 

 

A few of the cars had price boards which I tried to get in picture.

 

 

 

Mercedes 320 Cabriolet B and 300 S Roadster.

 

 

 

This was a stunning shade of green, which the camera sort of failed to fully capture.

 

 

This 3.5 CSI Floppytop was moved into it's glass house as I was there, and sounded as good as it looks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was badged up as a Maserati Racing. The information board just said the same.

It looked similar to a Ghibli or Shamal at the front end and regular biturbo at the rear. Was a Maserati Racing just a foreign special edition? I'm confused.

 

 

[richardmorris]

Looks like the Maserati is this car.

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C847008

 

https://scuderia-sportiva-colonia.de/en/?utm_source=CarandClassic.co.uk&utm_medium=portal

 

The already since the end of 1981 published Biturbo models, experienced with the 1991 presented Maserati Racing the coronation of this model series. This 2 + 2-seater Sport Stufenheck coupe was offered until 1992 with a quantity of altogether 230 copies, only on the Italian market. From 2-liter displacement, with four overhead camshafts, 2 INI turbochargers, sodium-filled 24 valves and forged pistons, this racing with a world-leading output of 143 hp, made the Italian motorsport enthusiastic community sit up and take notice. Together with Koni an electronic active suspension was developed, Getrag donated a suitable 5-speed transmission. In addition to the slightly modified body, Maserati spoiled his clientele with a very sophisticated interior. It is a special extraordinary Italian sports car, with ultimate sporting genes, but still Maserati typical with a lot of luxury and flair.

 

This Maserati racing was imported from Italy by Scuderia Sportiva Colonia. He convinces with his fantastic condition. Two previous owners have driven and maintained this coupé forward and exemplary. The new vehicle character underlines the remaining protective film in the inside of the door trim. Nothing is worn, no patina, this Maserati Racing presents itself in fantastic shape and charisma. The low mileage performance is especially interesting for ambitious "trident" collectors. He is the perfect wolf in sheep's clothing and his unfiltered values ​​are just as impressive today as they were 25 years ago. On the way to classic cars, this model is a very worthwhile investment. Secure this beautiful sports car whose value added can already be predicted today. With the vehicle we hand out the tool set from Maserati, as well as operating instructions, stamped service booklet and the leather folder. This Maserati Racing currently has Italian registration papers.

 

Additional services such as large 154 pt. Comprehensive inspection, new TÜV, H approval, transport, registration in Germany, appraisals etc. are possible against separate expense allowance. Please inform yourself on our website www.scuderia-sportiva-colonia.com about our additional service. If you liked what you have read and seen so far and you want to visit the car, PLEASE AGREE! Spontaneous visitors are always welcome, but without guarantee detailed inspection possibility of individual vehicles.

 

We constantly have about 100 selected and sporty classics in our manufactory.

[mat_the_cat]

As promised, photos from Motorworld Cologne yesterday.

 

It was advertised as an events venue with car displays.

 

Oh

I was expecting/hoping for something along these lines:

 

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

The 250GTE for me please.

[Snipes]

The museum sounds like the Air Museum in London; everything crammed in making getting decent pictutes impossible.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

So the Maserati has a 2.0 V6 twin turbo making............140bhp?

 

Shows how things have moved on!

 

Sent from my TA-1012 using Tapatalk

[Guest Hooli]

So the Maserati has a 2.0 V6 twin turbo making............140bhp?

 

Shows how things have moved on!

 

Sent from my TA-1012 using Tapatalk

 

It takes Italian design* & flair to get the power output that low!

[Dan_ZTT]

The long text says 140 but the c&c ad says 285, which is more likely to be right?

[Bucketeer]

Yeah it's defo 285.

[oldcars]

And a Camelback. And a water/brandy bottle on the bike.

Fill the bike frame, remove seat and drink 

[panhard65]

My old 2.8 Biturbo was 250bhp and I think the 2.0's did get very highly tuned so certainly way over 140bhp. They were certainly better than the 2.5 carb version.

[dollywobbler]

Oh

I was expecting/hoping for something along these lines:

 

IMG_0401.JPG

 

Perhaps we could have a sight-seeing tour of a German auto parts store?

[TataBobu]

So the Maserati has a 2.0 V6 twin turbo making............140bhp?

 

Shows how things have moved on!

 

Sent from my TA-1012 using Tapatalk

...per litre.