Category: Meets

May 2022 – Will’s Stag Weekend Ride

We were delighted to accept Will’s kind invitation to help celebrate his wedding with a day ride – BTBM and some more of his normal friends.

Colin kindly offered to put a few of us up at his place so, Terry, John and Paul gratefully accepted, Adrian stayed at a local hotel and Will of course lives in the same village.

  • Had a quick few pints in the local pub on arrival
  • Back to Colin’s for a lovely dinner that he had prepared. Reminisced and put the world to rights with a few bottles as usual.
  • Gathered at Will’s place for a tasty bacon sandwich breakfast and an introduction to his energetic dogs and to meet his friends (1 with Covid!)
  • We rode north through lovely rural undulating countryside to Buckingham and Olney and took rather longer to arrive than planned
  • Arrived at the Iron Horse Biker themed cafe at Market Deeping where Adrian was waiting to join us
  • After a hearty lunch we decided to head back using a more direct route as we had to be back for the main event.
  • Somehow we got separated on the M1 and some were peeled off to their own homes to change.
  • Will’s friend gave us a lift into Dunstable to the Go-Karting venue where we all met up, including Adrian who had ridden back to his hotel
  • An excellent session was enjoyed by all as we continued to act like kids
  • Walked into Dunstable to the Efe’s BBQ Turkish restaurant – very glitzy with good food (if somewhat noisy)
  • We went for a night cap to the Globe Pub which had a good selection of real ales and friendly staff and customers.
  • Colin called an Uber back to his place. Impressed – I’d never seen the app and it’s accuracy before.
  • Colin provided an excellent cooked breakfast before we departed back to our homes
  • Terry went to Adrian’s hotel in South Dunstable as he was stranded because his BMW wouldn’t start.
  • It was a recurrence of a recent problem and the BMW recovery process was less efficient and took rather longer than we would have liked

We all got home safely eventually. Many thanks to Will (and Colin) for a very memorable and enjoyable 2 days

March 2022 – Clippesby Hall, Norfolk

John very kindly made available a lovely cottage on the site for us to use:-Clappo, Terry, Adrian, Paul & Gareth. Including Jaipur on Tap!

  • First stop – the Basecamp complex- reception, bar, restaurant, lounge, games room, leisure wonderland.
  • Supplied with beers on demand by the very helpful (and new) basecamp manager Stephen. Great food too.
  • Eastern Norfolk along the coast on the first day.
    • Used the Reedham chain Ferry.
    • Gareth’s GSA wouldn’t restart and ferryman loaned jump leads to boost from the Ducati
    • Stopped for a coffee on the pier at Southwold and later a beer in Aldeburgh
  • Beers and meals served in Basecamp by our personal batman – Stephen
  • 2nd day – north coast run
    • Lovely route in fine weather
    • At fuel-stop in Cromer, Terry spotted the Ducati rear tyre was down to the canvas!
    • Stopped for afternoon coffee at Sandringham
  • Another enjoyable evening in Basecamp and afterwards at the cottage.
  • Gareth left early as he needed to get home
  • Rode bikes over to Basecamp and had a group cooked breakfast
  • Travelled home independently (T-very gently)
  • Paul had difficulties starting his new KTM – unfamiliar security feature
  • Hope we are invited back.

November 2021 – NEC & Christmas Party

  • Post Covid visit to NEC bike show
  • Overnight stay at the Limes hotel, Solihull
  • Turned out there were 200 mostly young and mostly female teachers in very glamorous dresses. What’s not to like?

  • Adrian met John at the M11 Cambridge services and rode to the NEC
  • Colin & Paul rode, Paul from Devon (Winning the ‘Long distance award’ again)
  • Clappo came in his Ranger and Terry cadged a lift from his son to the NEC
  • As you would expect we wandered round looking at bikes and stuff
  • Had beers in a nearly empty 3rd hall, the exhibitors were fewer, Yamaha only displayed clothing
  • Colin bought a jet helmet and Terry bought MX boots – both good offers
  • Rode and drove to the Limes hotel where we were informed that their inhouse bistro wouldn’t be open and they were hosting Christmas parties at £60/head
  • We shared our displeasure and reserved a table at a nearby pub.
  • The manager called to apologise and to say they could give us a table with dinner, music and dancing (and a closeup view of the other guests) for £15/head
  • This was a good deal and we gratefully accepted on the condition that we could attend in ‘Old biker casual’ dress rather than posh.
  • A very pleasant evening was enjoyed by all.
  • After a good breakfast folks rode away and Clappo kindly took Terry to the Barn.

May 2021 – Cotswolds

  • Terry, Clappo, John & Adrian met at Cambridge services on M11
  • Rode across to meet up with Paul at the Krazy Horse bike shop & cafe nr. Chipping Norton – It was closed
  • Moved into Chipping Norton and found a cafe with an rear outdoor courtyard where we had lunch
  • We chatted for quite a while because we had seen each other for a long time

  • Did a loop of the scenic parts of the Cotswolds including Chipping Campden, Broadway, Bourton in the water
  • Stopped at the Slaughters Country Inn at Lower Slaughter. A beautiful riverside pub with a large garden.
  • More chatting so we ran out of time.
  • Headed home independently

June 2020 – Covid Freedom Ride

1st Meet-up and ride-out of 2020, as soon as the Covid guidelines allowed a level of gathering. Great to see folks again, fantastic effort by everyone getting together, especially considering the circumstances and the distances.

Met up at the closed Super Sausage cafe north nr Milton Keynes, rode on to the closed Jacks Hill cafe. Service station sandwiches for lunch, then a scenic 70mile ride though the lanes around the Buckingham area.

Then, our 1st lockdown pint! Almost miraculously as we pulled in to Aldbury, nr. Tring, we found a pub serving beer through a window.

November 2019 – NEC

Unfortunately few photographs are available for this event

Norton Atlas Prototype - Project now cancelled (10/2022)

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Norton Atlas Prototype - Project now cancelled (10/2022)

  • Paul, John, Clappo & Terry met up at the NEC for the 2019 Bike show
  • We met Adrian and his new fiance Katrina in the hall
    • Motorcycles and accessories were perused
  • We had arranged to stay over after the show
    • The previous year we had nearly frozen to death in 2degC minus the wind-chill factor
    • Terry booked a very cheap and cheerful hotel near Birmingham airport
    • Near – as in – at the end of the runway, just across the road! Actually it was surprisingly quiet.
    • Friendly host, Indian restaurant inside, unsurprisingly the place smelt of curry.
    • Terry’s cousin Martin offered to collect us and take us out to dinner
    • Went to an all-you-can-eat ‘world-wide menu’ place near Solihull, Martin appreciates value.
    • On way home he gave us a guided tour of all the new housing estates that used to be the British motor/motorcycle industry factory sites
    • He then took us to a lovely old black and white pub in Meriden – supposedly the centre-point of the UK – even had a plaque on the floor
      • Amazingly – but this happens most trips – John had been there before.
    • Slept well.
    • Nice non-curry breakfast served
    • Paul went SW, Terry & John went east and parted at the A11/M11.

July 2019 – Peak District 3

As this is being written 3 years after the event, memories have merged with a very similar event a year earlier- so forgive me if I’ve gotten them mixed up – help me to correct any errors or omissions.

  • 7 of us gathered this time – Will, Colin, Paul, Clappo, John, Adrian and Terry
  • Re used the same routes as we had in Jun 2018
  • On Saturday we rode the northern highlights of the Peak District
  • Rode the A57 Snake Pass up to Glossop and back in the opposite direction
    • As usual, waived Colin through to go enjoy the roads at his pace on the small but mighty Speed Triple. Corners like it’s on rails – But My – wasn’t your ass sore when you got home, Eh – Colin?
    • Stopped for coffee and a calming down at the Snake Pass Inn – Blinding road!
  • Up to and along the A628 Woodhead pass and down to Glossop
  • Into Castleton, where we some food in the cafe beside the Tourist Info office.
  • Down the A623 and into the Monsal Dale by the viaduct
  • Back down through Bakewell and Chatsworth and stopped at the Devonshire Arms pub at Beeley, where they sell the nectar that is
    • Thornbridge brewery’s Jaipur IPA 5.9% on draught
  • I presume we went to the Bull’s Head for dinner but I don’t remember
  • Sunday we rode the southern route in the Peaks
  • Adrian went home a day early as he was suffering from gout
  • Headed West towards Buxton and the higher hills
  • Over the Cat and Fiddle road to Macclesfield, doubling back round to the south via Wildboarclough
  • Next we visited the Roaches Tea rooms for a fine lunch and used the narrow gated lanes that circle the Roaches summit
  • Across through Dovedale and into the private Tissington estate
  • We had some refreshments at the very appropriately named Herbert’s Tea rooms
  • We rode through the estate’s lanes and through the ford before joining the lovely B5056 road north
  • Down the glorious Via Gellia curving road into Cromford (Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution),
  • Colin, Clappo & Will departed here, as they had work the next day
  • Terry, John and Paul continued on through Matlock and on to Beeley to the Devonshire Arms – Home of draft Jaipur
  • This time, foolishly we had two pints each of the very strong IPA and the ride up the hill required much more concentration.
  • John & Paul left on the Monday . Irene came up to Join Terry, and the Multistrada was trailered back to Essex.
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June 2018 – Peak District 2 – Re-Run

Re-run of the aborted March meet-up that had to be abandoned due to the ‘Beast from the East’ snowstorm

As this is being written 4 years after the event, memories have merged with a very similar event a year later – so forgive me if I’ve gotten them mixed up – help me to correct any errors or omissions.

  • 5 of us gathered for the re-run – Colin, Paul, Clappo, John and Terry
  • We again pre-ordered supplies from Tesco to be delivered
  • On Saturday we rode the northern highlights of the Peak District
  • Rode the A57 Snake Pass up and over to Glossop and back in the opposite direction
    • As usual, waived Colin through to go enjoy the roads at his pace on the small but mighty Speed Triple. Corners like it’s on rails – But My – wasn’t your ass sore when you got home, Eh – Colin?
    • Stopped for coffee and a calming down at the Snake Pass Inn – Blinding road!
  • Up to and along the A628 Woodhead pass, past the wintertime snow gates and down to Glossop
  • We called in at the car park near the top of Mam Tor and walked the relatively short distance to the top with it’s trig-point and marvelous views
  • Into Castleton, where we had a stroll and lunch in a pub beer garden
  • Down the A623 and into the Monsal Dale by the viaduct
  • Back down through Bakewell and Chatsworth and stopped at the Devonshire Arms pub at Beeley.
  • Here we introduced the group to the nectar that is
    • Thornbridge brewery’s Jaipur IPA 5.9% on draught
  • I think we had a BBQ at the Barn and stayed in.
  • Sunday we rode the more southerly routes in the Peaks
  • Headed West towards Buxton and the higher hills
  • Over the Cat and Fiddle road to Macclesfield, doubling back round to the south via Wildboarclough
  • Next we visited the Roaches Tea rooms for a fine lunch and used the narrow gated lanes that circle the Roaches summit
  • Across through Dovedale and the Tissington private estate and through it’s ford
  • Down the glorious Via Gellia curving road into Cromford (Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution) and into Matlock Bath
  • Sundays are Biker Day in Matlock Bath, often with hundreds on show. We joined them and enjoyed an ice cream in the sunshine.
  • Back to the Barn, where Colin, Will & Clappo departed from, as they had work the next day
  • I presume we went to the Bull’s Head for dinner but I don’t remember
  • Paul & John left on the Monday .
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