I have owned, at different times, a Triumph Tiger Cub, a BSA A10 (650cc with side car), a Suzuki 125GT and a Kawasaki 250.

My husband has owned more powerful bikes, which I have ridden as pillion - I just don't have enough leg length to reach the ground on a big bike.

I would never ride a solo machine with any flesh bared - I have seen the results of hitting tarmac enough times to wish to avoid it. I always wore leather, boots, trousers, jacket and gloves, and a full face fibre glass helmet.

A sidecar outfit, now that is a different animal. I drove my combo wearing everything from hot pants to ankle length skirts, and when a helmet was not required by law I never bothered to wear one, though I used to put on a hat, cap or scarf so as to keep my hair in order or too keep the sun or rain out of my eyes. I travelled a long way on that machine. I did fly the sidecar a few times but I found it a very stable vehicle, even in icy or muddy conditions it showed little inclination to slide. I think the flexible ball joint connection between bike and car is the reason it resisted going sideways.

When wearing a wide skirt I used to secure it with a scarf so it could not drop down or blow back and get itelf into bother with the moving parts or interfere with the cooling of the engine.

When I went out to clubs I was always able to park close by and the doormen kept an eye on the combo for me - and I never had to queue up or pay to get in.

I supose it was quite eye catching, but in those days, so was I. (sigh)