Triumph 3TA

IT HAD BEEN A FRUSTRATING DAY. A 350-MILE ROUND trip had been made to ride a small selection of classics. It had been a decidedly risky plan in any case given the time of year, but the weather forecast had been for a little light rain first thing, with things getting brighter later. However, when we arrived it rained. And rained...

Sometimes in torrents, sometimes in that nasty greasy drizzle that coats the roads with a mixture of water and spilled diesel, making things ultra-slippery. I’d manage to grab a few rides, but it was tough getting the best out of what was on offer.

There was a two-stroke trail bike that produced most of its power at 5000rpm. This was something of a challenge on the slippery road, as was the gearshift on a somewhat primitive old British single.

The skies began to clear a little. A diminutive 1965 Triumph 3TA was wheeled out into the weak sunshine. The roads hadn’t really dried, but a proper ride was what was needed,