First bikes, take two

Sam Hewitt

–

21st February 2020

My first bike, in about 1957, an Ariel 350 (left).

At 17, any bike that was affordable was ardently wished for.

I was told that it had been Hartley-tuned; and living on the doorstep of, and a constant hanger-around at Brands Hatch, that name meant something to me, although I wasn’t sure in what context.

I don’t know whether it was geared for trials or scrambles, but it had a solid rear end.

I was at sea in those days, but in my leaves, while all my mates were at work, I loved trials-style riding it around the many local places available for such pastimes.

A real ‘goer’.