Wednesday, October 16, 2013

A Tale of Two Sunday Ride Outs in October

There is no explict reference in the Urban Dictionary to "ride out", although "sunday driver" receives quite some attention:

A motorist who engages in any number of dilatory driving techniques that recklessly slow down traffic, including but not limited to: driving below the speed limit, slowing down more than once on a city block while looking for a parking spot, waiting for a pedestrian to finish traversing the entire walkway before turning, or remaining stopped after a light turns green. Sunday drivers often claim to be driving defensively but in fact their driving is offensive and aggitates normal commuters.



Sunday Ride Out1 organised by a local BMW Motorrad dealer masquerading as a Harley franchise promised to be a scenic 149 mile ride along autumn-leaved byways in the Derbyshire Dales.  In practice over 38 motorcycles departed Chester aka Ellesmere Port  and were lead around the scenic vistas of Frodsham for an hour before picking ap another12 souls at a place bearly 7 miles from my home.  The enhanced pack started off  and such was the lack of  safe riding etiquette in its midst I peeled off at Jodrell Bank for home.



According to the write up subsequently posted the group less one had a magnificent time visiting the Manifold Valley, the Yonderman Inn and some of them got home a week later.
 Sunday Ride Out 2 was much better thank you very much. In fact is was on a Saturday.

Here we are in Yorkshire, starting at Ripon
A much smaller group of executive club bikers lead by a Harley Davidson and tail end charlied by a Honda Gold wing, departed the croquet centric Ripon spa hotel for a tour on Dorian's favourite roads.

Croquet practice starts early.
Biking starts a little later after an Ulster fry
The leader's reserve machine - the road king (?) caught fire last month due to a heated seat malfunction
Unsuitable road signs sprouting up everywhere on the Yorkshire moors
Despite the designation Free House one still pays (like Public schools)
A Yorkshire Pudding par excellence
Tail end charly gold wing
Steering tiller
A rather nice sight at the tea stop
Here we are back at the hotel for our Murder Mystery dinner
Still at it on the croquet lawn.

8 comments:

  1. Nikos:

    My eyes suddenly stopped at the "Morgan". . . I used to have MGB's and a couple of Alfas (which had MG wiper motors)

    Doesn't Yorkshire pudding always come with Roast Beef ?

    Twas a nice day for a ride-out

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast

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    Replies
    1. The Morgan belonged to a member of our group apparently. Unfortunately I am physically unable to sit in this Malvern wooden wonder.

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  2. Nikos,
    Just about every group ride I ever went on scared the crap out of me with poor roadcraft which is why I normally ride with people I know and trust! Greetings from upside-down land!

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    1. Greetings Geoff and thanks for giving me the opportunity to wish you well as I am no longer able to comment on your blog!

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  3. We too have left group rides because of riding habits. It is prudent to know when to call it a day and err on the side of safety. Glad the next ride was better.

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    Replies
    1. I make the "mistake" of treating others as I wish to be treated e.g. I don't sit 3 ft behind the guy in front of me - the twat from the spares counter at dealership saw this as an opportunity to overtake me in the most dangerous of fashions...

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  4. ".....driving below the speed limit....looking for a parking spot.... waiting for a pedestrian to finish traversing the entire walkway" - the vermin! Blimey, it seems everything these days is written by Clarkson.

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  5. Albeit Clarkson dislikes motorcyclist too?

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