The perfect day!

Got up very early in the morning, put on my IWC - Race across America Jersey,
got my road bike out and drove some 160 km in bright sunshine down the River
Rhine to the Dutch border and back again, to have brunch with my wife. You
can't ask for
more!

Wow, that's a serious ride!

Kind regards,

Clemens

Thats incredible - a pretty formidable distance to cycle !

Might I ask what watch (tracker?) you had on your wrist?

This Friday before Eastern is a free day in Germany :"Karfreitag'.

But even then, Thomas works as usual : very hard, but on the bike.

Moreover, a day to develop new articles or even books about IWC.

It is a pity that few collectors have a subscription on Horological Journal.
From February until June an extensive .27 page article will appear in 4 parts
on the Legendary IWC Mark 11 navigation watch. It is written by him, Greg
Steer (cellar) and an American collector and many new facts and details are
described, following the classic aticle of many years ago : 'Man Is Not Lost'

Regards,

Adrian,

(alwaysiwc).

Firstly for avoidance of doubt: 160 km was the distance back and forth.
Otherwise I wouldnt't have been back for brunch, but for dinner. So not that
dramatic.

To answer your question, Mark: No tracker at all. Just a cheap quartz watch
for about 30 Euros. I don't need Astro to find back home on the bike - so no
Mk. 11 at the wrist and no sextant in the backpack.

Disregarding that watch (I don't care for if it gets damaged in case of an
accident) no chip at and on the bike. I stick to those old school "carbon
free" Italian steel bikes with no odometer, no speedometer, missing everything
except those components vitally to make the bike run. Sorry: The rear mirror
and the bell
are not needed to make the bike run, but they are helpful from time to time.

Thomas

Hi Adrian

a) Neither research nor biking is work, but fun.

b) Of course the update on the article on the Mk. 11 comprises a wealth of new
information: You can't fill 27 pages without any news.

Thomas

Old school...chromed lugs and Italian steel...it don't get any better.

Cinelli Super Corsa and Campagnolo C-Record plus a Brooks leather saddle, yoo
need to break in but then is more comfortable than a four-poster-bed.

I ride this bike for about 25 years.

Thomas

I rode an SC with Nuovo Record from the late 60s for many years.

Delta or Cobalto brakes on yours?

Deltas! The clear design of the Campy delta brakes is as unique and timeless
as the Mk. 11 design (and as the Mk. 11 very sturdy as the mechanism is hidden
under the cover).

Thomas

Wow Thomas - that is a great ride!

Btw, I loved reading "Man is not lost". I only discovered it this year, via a
link from Greg's site. Looking forward to this extensive update!

It looks like a more and more off thread but please allow me to chime in with
my bike-related problem:

I have a wonderful Basso mountain-bike (Colombus SL frame, Campagnolo Kentaur
off-road set) that is about 30 years old. Unfortunately Campa has long ago
stopped producing MTB sets and I cannot find anywhere a thumb-shift set to
replace my Campa "grip-shift" ones. If anyone has a good idea pls don't hide
it from me :)

BTW I never bike wearing my mechanical watches, only a G-Shock...

Best to all, stay safe!

Robert

LOL, love the 'carbon free' statement but, old or new bike, still an
impressive ride to me!

Thanks for sharing and (ADRIAN) announcing the new article!

Kind regards,

Bob

Hi Bob,

About the MK 11 article.

Some collectors have already asked for copies. From Thomas Koenig, I
understood that he will receive electronic copies but only if the 4 parts have
been published. Sofar the first 2 parts have been printed, part 3 and 4 in
April and May , respectively. Then it it is possible to have all parts
electronically. You will understand that it is impossible to receive the text
before it has been published.

Regards,

Adrian,

(alwaysiwc).

Dear Robert (Campy parts) and Adrian/Mk. 11 lovers (Mk. 11 article)!

a) Robert: Regarding your thumb shifters try ebay Article ID 2630 1945 5170.
What you don't find on ebay does not exist!

b) Adrian and Mk. 11 lovers: Yes, two of the four parts of the Mk 11 update
have been published, the other two to follow in May and June. As I have not
subscribed the HJ I have no print copies as subscriber and will get proofs as
author not before June. I have with me only the Word file with the text and
loads of pictures plus for proof reading draft layouts with many mistakes in
it (that's the reason proof reading was invented and I esteem the HJ as
valuable because there proof reading is done, while with many journals no
proof reading is done any more - with desastrous results). I assume it is
possible to order single issues of the HJ from the BHI, but I have no idea if
this assumption is correct (and get no fees in case some odd issues are
ordered by Mk. 11 lovers).

Thomas

Thanks Thomas,

As an author or subscriber it is possible to get extra copies from HJ issues
as a kind of service.

But of course only if all 4 parts have been published, as it is one article.

I am a subscriber and could try to order against cost price and of course if
sufficient copies are available.

I did this once for the 'Homberger' article which was handed over at the
collectors meeting in Schaffhausen a few years ago.

Maybe we can work out this issue together, once the last part has been
published.

Regards,

Adrian.

Thanks Thomas, I've tried the Bay for ages, but yes, why not going on with
that...

Best,

Robert