So, sick and tired of being let down by my so called mates that have slowly dwindled to one other biker that keeps putting golf and other sh1t in front of going out to for rides and I'm seriously lacking motivation now which soon will see me sending my bike back to Honda for lack of use and it just sat in the garage - 1 year old blade with 1400 miles on! Two mates gave bikes up and last one is more interested in having 1hr rides if and when he gets out. Are there any riders in or around Warrington up for me tagging on - I can make most weekends usually all morning into the afternoon and dont need much looking after. Cheers all.
Hi Stu, I'm near Warrington (Newton le Willows), I'm not out as often as I'd like to be at the minute though as I'm cycling Lands End to John O'Groats at the end of this month which is occupying most of my time. Happily meet up one weekend in August or September though? I tend to go A49 to Whitchurch then across to the Horseshoe Pass for a short run or down to Bala and Ffestiniog for a long run. I go to Scotland for 3 nights minimum once a year and have recently caught the track day bug (Oulton Park). @Boothman, @PauloHRC and @Selmer50mark are all in the North West too that might let you tag along. Charlie.
I've had the same struggle mate. Used to be groups of 3 or 4 minimum. Now there's only 3 with road bikes and only 1 with a sports bike. I understand it, priorities change etc but it can be frustrating when you have invested in the bike and insurance etc. I mostly ride solo but its not the same. My blade is going the distance very soon.
I'm 20 minutes down the road mate, in Urmston just near the Trafford Centre. You are definitely welcome to come out with me and the others I meet up with. Devil's Bridge or the Cat and Fiddle /Matlock are firm favourites but I'm looking to broaden horizons also. There is also Monday night bike meet at Barton aerodrome which should be back in business now so can meet up there sometime! @CharlieR85 I'm going to book a track day at Oulton for August or September, you got anything lined up??
I had my eyes on the 25th August with MSV, but when I went to book on Friday I was too late it had sold out apart from the advanced group. I'm half tempted to go for the 13th October but worry about the weather. There's also an open pit lane day at Oulton on Nov 3rd for £70, again very risky with the weather. I'm tied up for trackdays in September with work and holidays unfortunately.
Probably the next ride out for me and @PauloHRC will be up to cat and fiddle and go on from there , I have mentioned it to @Boothman ,and there is a chance that @Marc down the road from me would tag on . @Kevin1 likes to do long ride outs aswell @Manfred ? Not seen you for a bit @Lozzy I owe you a big fritter
Mate your more than welcome to tag along, living in Kent you might find it a stretch, but it’s worth it, I’m pretty friendly and more than happy to stump up for a Mr Whippy or bag of chips or even one of those barm cake things you guys love to cover yer petrol. But on a serious note, understand were your coming from, my group has dropped from 10+ over the years to just me and me bike most of the time, getting anyone else out is like putting pins in yer eyes.
Hi Mark, you're right, I've not been out much at all this year, possibly 3 times and that includes DB yesterday. Hopefully put that right with the rest of summer. I'm thinking of getting to North Wales sometime soon.
Maybe I'm alone here but I dropped my bike mates because I just prefer to ride alone. I was party to the setting up of a bike group many years ago and initially we would have about 4 to 6 riders most weekend. Then it grew and grew with about 15 or so the last time I went with them. I just couldn't be chewed with the constant waiting for people, the bitching (yup guys some proper bitching went on) and the moaning Minnie's. You ride too fast You ride too slow That roads crap This road is better I need petrol My tank is full I need to be home for lunch I cant go far It looks like rain, might just go home Blah blah....honestly it did my head in ! Now I ride when I want, as fast as I want to where I want. I then drop by a number of cafes for a cuppa where I know other bikers will be and there is almost always some one there to have a catch up with. Having visited the same cafes for 20 years plus I see many old faces for a little chin wag then I'm off on my own again riding as I like. I appreciate this isn't for everyone as lots if people are perhaps more social than I, so good luck to you fella but dont give up on the bike
3 or 4 is a good number to ride with, anymore can get a bit frustrating I would agree. Similarly I can ride alone but I'm more motivated if I know I'm meeting up with a buddy or two
So I think I will arrange a non-ride with @Paul Longstaff and @dessp2 as I prefer riding alone too. Still occasionally natter to others at bike stops and very very occasionally ride with others though as I am not quite a complete antisocial barsteward. Yet!
Whereabouts in Kent? I know the county isn't as big as some.. I enjoy the odd ride down to Brighton, Eastborne or Hastings from near Bexley.. Needless to say, I've joined the lonely-bikers club of late too..
My take on this subject is a little different. I simply feel unsafe around other bikes for more than a few minutes. I get target fixation and feel I'm not properly aware of the dangers around me. I've been offered the chance to ride out countless times, and I'm flattered but always decline. For me a litre bike is a crazy dangerous thing to get on in the first place, and I'm grateful every time, having survived again, I put them back in the workshop. I enjoy bumping into others bikers and talking bikes, but for me it's a solitary, clear your head, kind of therapy.
I have only ever been a member of the lonely bikers club... I was the only one of my mates to start biking (started little on dirt bikes) - no one else has the bug. I have one mate who had a street twin until recently - not quite the same type of riding... But other than that only ever ridden either on my own or with one other - usually the old man! I think I'd be pretty uncomfortable with any more than 3 or 4 others just cos I've never ridden in groups. Also I'm nowhere near either - S.London based...
SE London here.... Feels like a small group gathering momentum for a trip down to Hastings!? ...although I'm on a KTM
Used to ride with lots of bikers, but like you say you get some crazy and slow ones, but I always ride on my own. If you are all planning to arrange a meet I don't mind on coming, at least I will have a destination to head for.
