This first netherlands run has to be a contender for the best ever meeting we've held.
Frank did an excellent job in creating a two day event that had something for everyone to enjoy - stately homes, windmills, breathtaking scenery, locks & canals, picnics in the forests, a stork village, a car factory , excellent bike lanes, top hotel and very friendly group of people , a penny farthing rider taking part - and we got a free mug
What more could you ask for
?
Zutphen itself is a real gem, being an incredibly pretty place with lots to see and do .Sitting by the fountain enjoying the cafe culture was a memorable treat in itself. The Hotel was incredible being helpful in storing the c5's and looking after our needs, good food ,nice rooms and amazing facilities - swimming pool, bowling, tennis courts etc etc - and a couple of bars to keep Scott happy.
The runs themselves were completed without any real drama, oddly enough there always seems to be one fault that crops up on every run that then goes on to repeat itself. Sometimes its punctures or wheel bearings - for this trip it was chain tensioner clips ! Three fell off making cable tie bodges the required skill of the day. Despite completing two quite lengthy runs, the c5's coped really well - although a few cases of chain slip and belt slip were evident at the end
16 c5's took part, with only one failure that was recovered home just 1 mile from the finish. Due to an overtight chain the axle was pinching its bearings each end - and actually caused the axle to heat up to a point it melted the motor mount (the metal was too hot to touch !)
So, if you have to make a choice , stick with chain slip rather than overtighten the chain !!
Given that the c5's are now over 26years old they all coped really well.
A massive thank you to Frank for sorting out the logistics and arranging everything and a huge thank you for everyone who took part - it was a superb weekend and one to be repeated again next year.
Some photo's to follow