Thames Valley May 2014 " tales from the riverbank"

Magazine of the Thames Valley HOG Chapter

What a great start to the rally season! The Cider Rally was such a fun-filled weekend, full of laughter, good friends and… Smurfs!

If you haven’t seen the photos yet you have a treat in store!

The weather was amazing, Bernie even got burnt! Let’s hope that all the rallies are as good - I can’t wait for the next one.

There was one point this month when I thought there would be no May magazine! My Hotmail account had been hacked into and Microsoft had frozen it. I couldn’t access anything, I couldn’t even open a new account.

I finally thought about using Dave’s email and had to get Lee to change my editor’s email to that. I had to open up the mail on Dave’s computer, copy it to a memory stick and then transfer it to my computer. There were plenty of problems with this but I managed to get almost all that I needed.

The questions they ask to recover you’re a/c are all things that are stored on your email - who was the last person you wrote to and what was it about? (I’d been away for Easter, how was I supposed to remember?) Anyway, make sure you have backup, at least another a/c as they ask for another email address to contact you. And, change your password the minute you think you’ve had a dodgy email!

Sue

Inside this issue…

Front cover:

May / June Birthdays

No club members this month

Page 2

Start your Engines

Page 4, 5

Director’s Update

Page 6, 7

LoH - Sue’s Scribbles

Page 8, 11 Cider Rally, report and photos

Happy 1st birthday, Leo, 29th May

Page 12, 13

Meet the Members

Page 14, 15

Calendar

Page 16, 17

Jake Spicer Toy Run

Page 18

Saturday Social

Page 19

Photo Gallery

Page 20, 21

News

Page 22

Whose bike?

Page 23

Mystery Man

Page 24

Fine Pig

Ian Goldswain 14th June

Page 25

More Fines!

John Cunningham 16

Page 26, 27

Safety First

Back cover:

Meet the committee

Clive Skinner 18th May Jack Parry 1st June Gill Major 3rd June Pat Adams 5th June Sandy Dunworth 5th June Barry Adams 12th June

June

Happy birthday to you all!

A big Thank You to those who have contributed to this month’s magazine: Linda, Sue, Don, FatBoyMalc, Nick, Elaine, Bernie & Pat.

Hi all,

and welcome to our May edition of Tales from the Riverbank.

The 2014 season is well under way with four ride-outs, a Poker Run and The Cider Rally already done, and a full calendar still left to do. Since April’s club night Pat and myself have visited a possible new venue for the SofER Rally in 2015. This was the National Show Jumping Ground at Hickstead in West Sussex near Crawley, and as you can imagine the site is very well looked after and covers a vast piece of ground. So, no problems fitting a rally the size of ours in. The entry roads to & from the site are of concrete construction and in excellent condition - no more water filled pot-holes to negotiate! We have a meeting on the 10th May to discuss the new venue and to start organising what looks like being a great rally in 2015.

More news on the Rally as I receive it.

Club News

As of the May 1st our club membership has risen to 127 Full members & 67 affiliated, a total of 194. Five new members joined us during April.

The new revamped Web Site is now up and running and being used by the membership. If you have any trouble getting access to the site please get in touch with Lee, he is here to help you.

Jake Spicer Toy Run Sadly, not very well attended this year by all the Chapters Involved, main reason the weather was not looking very good the night before and on the morning of the Toy Run, which put a lot of members off attending. Although it was looking a bit grotty it turned out to be a good day with only a small downpour as we left the Hospital early afternoon. A number of children and their parents came down from the wards to greet us and have a look at the bikes. Our Easter gifts were greatly appreciated by the staff and were distributed around the wards by the nurses.

Many thanks to everybody who made the Toy Run and helped cheer up the sick kiddies by visiting the wards.

Well done everybody.

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Cider Rally What a fantastic weekend with such a great chapter!

Around 40+ Thames Valley members attended The Cider Rally this year which helped make it one of the best Cider Rally’s so far. Thanks to Paul and Fred for organising the ride down to Sand Bay with a stop at The Royal Oak for lunch. The weather was extremely kind over the weekend which gave us the opportunity to sit outside the chalets most afternoons with a beer or two and a few nibbles.

The picture, left, is of the Thames Valley Smurfs and below, some of our members dressed ready for a Tropical evening on Saturday.

Linda Friend, one of our Photographers, entered a group photo of our Chapter members in Fancy Dress at the rally, into a competition, and to our surprise Linda won! She was awarded a Trophy & a large bottle of Champagne on Sunday evening for the best photo taken over the weekend.

Well done Linda!! Congratulations from us all.

Ledbury Weekend August 1st.

We still have many places available for the Ledbury weekend, with just over 40 members booked so far. If you would like to join the rest of the Chapter for the weekend, please contact me to put your name down.

Tickets are now available for the weekend in Ledbury and will be on sale from tonight.

Chapter Chill-Out Weekend in Tewkesbury, June 27th Pat & Barry have organised a great weekend away just chilling out by the River Seven in Tewkesbury. They have plenty of space left for camping over the weekend. If you would like to book a place on the Chill-Out Weekend contact Pat or Barry.

And last of all, how many of you are remembering get your Miles of Fun cards signed when you attend chapter ride-outs? We have prizes to be won at the end of the year. Well, that’s it from me this month,

Ride Safe and have Fun 5

Don

Sue says...

Well, Easter has come and gone and so has the first rally of the season. ‌As I am sure many of us will know, having either been at the event or having seen all the Facebook posts over the weekend, that a great time was had by all.

For me, it was the best Cider Rally yet! Not sure if that’s because I feel so at home at the Cider Rally with so many good friends or because I went to bed early and didn’t drink too much!!... The food was great, the company even better and the bands were awesome.

So were Thames Valley - I have never seen so many Chapter members in fancy dress!

As Ladies of Harley rep I was so proud to see so many girls dressed in tropical attire and taking such an active part in the rally; we proved that Thames Valley is well and truly a thriving Chapter.

Well done to Linda for submitting a photo of Thames Valley in the photo competition, we won First prize which resulted in a huge bottle of champagne and a trophy, the first one for our Chapter, apparently!

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The Saturday Social at The Shire Horse was well attended and we had a record number of bikes, too. The next social is on 24th May at The Rose and Crown, Green Road, Thorpe, Egham, Surrey TW20 8QL, from 12.30 everyone welcome Big apologies to Sue, our editor, for not writing my piece for the mag until after the deadline, in fact if this makes it into the mag then she’s worked a minor miracle! Pat, I will fine myself!!...

The mag is such a great read that Leo, who is soon to celebrate his first birthday, thinks so too!

Happy riding,

Sue x

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And so it begins - The 23rd Cider Rally at Sand Bay. After meeting at Chieveley Services, under grey skies, we arrived at the Rally with the rain holding off. After being banded, we picked up our goodie bags for the Tropical Party themed weekend. They contained a t-shirt, rally pin, a pretty lei and a decorative pair of sunglasses.

Dinner was at 7:00 and the restaurant manager was gobsmacked when everyone arrived at once! It took over 2 hours for the queues to end.

Dancing on Friday was to Big Mac Wholly Soul Band, Heroes, and DJ Rob. Saturday began warm and sunny and we got ready for the grand parade into Weston-Super-Mare. The roads were closed and around 300 bikes took part, with people lining the roads and waving us on all the way into town.

Groups then decided to look around the town, go to the Bridgewater dealership, or go back to camp to laze around in the sun.

An early dinner - 5:30, and to say that the next few hours were fun, would be an understatement! The Smurfs hosted pre-party drinks at their ‘Crossbones Motel’ for Thames Valley members, who had all joined in with the tropical theme and dressed up. An amazing club turnout.

The Glam Doctors & Devious supplied the music along with DJ Rob into the small hours, and did anyone from Thames Valley join the 3 o’clock club? I am very pleased to report that ‘Gobby’ John (Colyer) made it!

Sunday dawned to an even sunnier day. Dave Brown was leading a ride to Chew Valley Lake, and back via Cheddar Gorge.

The entertainment was a comedian but most of us sat in the back room where we could all get seats together and chat.

The winner of the photo competition - What does the Cider Rally mean to you? - was announced, and they called out ‘Linda Friend’, WE WON! The last band of the weekend was Skimity Hitchers and then time for bed.

The rally was over and it can only be described as the one of the best Cider rallies ever!

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Linda

9

Chew

e y Rid e l l a V

-out

Meet the Members

Spotlight on...

Malcolm Poulter aka FatBoyMalc Hi Malc, are you married?

Yes, I’ve been married to Sue for 35 years. We have 2 kids, Richard and Sarah, and 3 grandchildren, Ellie-Anne 6, Harrison 3, and Yusef 3, and another due very soon.

Tell us about your motorcycling history...

My first bike was a Greaves 250 sports twin, in1966. After passing my test that year, I progressed upwards to a Triumph 21, BSA Gold Star etc. but I always wanted a Harley. To my surprise, in 2000, for my 50th birthday Sue bought me my first Harley! It was a 1999 Deuce. However, due to my ever increasing weight and my ill health I sold it 18 months later.

Then, in 2007 a little bit fitter I bought a 1994 Road King.

2008 was a big year for me I bought my first Ultra Classic then having been persuaded by Hagrid, I joined Thames Valley. I currently own ’Little Willy’ my 2009 Ultra.

So, I’ve been a member of Thames Valley for 6 years. My wife, Sue, only joined in 2012 as until then she had NEVER been on the pillion (but got fed up sitting indoors, and it proves you’re never too old!)

Any hobbies?

I am into model railways and Sue, who is a florist, loves gardening and crafts.

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Any special Harley experiences?

My very special Harley Experience has to be fulfilling the lifelong dream and being able to spend 3 weeks in June last year doing Route 66 east to west, which I never thought I would be able to do due to my failing health 2 years earlier.

How did you get your moniker?

As for the name, FatBoyMalc, In 2002 I was 26½ stone, diabetic and on insulin. However, in 2010, having been told I was as good as dead, I took control and changed my lifestyle and my diet and lost 9 st 13 lb over the next 18 months.

This enabled me to fulfil that Route 66 dream and of course, as I’m no longer on insulin or blood pressure tabs, I’m able to thoroughly enjoy life!

Great story, Malc, thanks for the chat.

Ellie

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Yusef

Harrison

June cont.

May Seaside Fish ‘n’ Chips Sat 17th, 9:00am Eastbourne & Shaw’s HD

Picnic-on-the-Green Froxfield, Sat 14th, 12:00 - 5:00

Poker Run - 2 Weds 21st May, 6:30pm Cricketers, Littlewick Green

Father’s Day Treat!

Petworth House Sunday 15th,10:00 - 4:00 Meet SportsAble

Saturday Social 24th, Rose & Crown, 12:30 Egham, TW20 8QL

European HOG Rally Croatia Mon 16th

Ace Café Harley Night Thurs 29th, 6:00pm

Club Night Thursday 19th, 7:30

Ireland Bike Fest Fri 30th - Sun 1st

HOGs in the Hayfield Fri 20th - Sun 22nd

June

Solstice Ride Sat 21st, 04:00 - 23:00 Details to follow…

Committee Night Tuesday 3rd, 8:00pm

Swansea HD Sun 22nd, 9:30 - 7:30 Chieveley Services

Primary Officers & agenda notified by Don

Stratford-upon-Avon Ride Sunday 8th, 9:00 - 5:00 Starts from SportsAble

Ace Café Harley Night Thursday 27th 6:00pm

European Rally, Croatia Thurs 12th - Mon 16th

HOG World Ride Mon 21st, details to follow

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Dates, events, ride-outs and activities Details correct at time of going to print.

Check the website for updates and amendments www.thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Club Nights

Entries for your Diary 2014 Big Brum Bash 23rd - 26th May Ireland Bike Fest 30th May - 1st June European Rally Biograd Croatia 2nd - 16th June Wake the Lakes 3rd - 6th July Fenlanders Rally 24th - 27th July Hog n Bog Provience wide 1st - 3rd August Sherwood Rally 15th-17th August Thunder in the Glens 22nd - 25th August European Bike Week Faaker See 2nd - 7th September Deva Legion

June

19th

July

17th

August

21st

September 18th October

16th

Mag contribution Deadlines

Circus Maximus

12th - 14th September

June

12th

July

10th

August

14th

September 11th

Check website for Changes / further details on all events

October

15

9th

Jake Spicer lost his 6 year battle with cancer at the tender age of 15.

He worked tirelessly for charities in spite of his illness.

He loved motorcycles and was made an honorary member of the Oxford Chapter. The annual Toy Run was named after him in 2010.

Heavy and light showers dotted the day, but who and what it was for overtook any thoughts of not being there. Just over 50 bikes left the Oxford dealership heading towards the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Toys, games and books were all stowed ready to be given to the children.

Although damp, some mums and dads brought their children down from the wards to see us and the bikes. And in return we went up to the

wards to meet the children and their families. Linda 16

17

A great day for a social meeting, twenty two people arrived on fifteen bikes.

Good food and great company, as per usual on these occasions.

Who could ask for more?

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19

This picture sums up that question, as interpreted by our photographer, Linda. Friendship, fun and laughter is what it’s all about.

The judges agreed with her as she won FIRST PRIZE! Well done, Linda, we’re all very proud of you!

Thames Valley HOG We are looking for members to fill two committee positions that will soon become vacant:1. MEMBERSHIP Officer 2. SofER TREASURER If you think you would like to know Linda wins a trophy more, or take on one of these and champagne roles, speak to Don or any member in the Cider Rally of the committee.

Photo competition

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OG

mbers to sitions that cant:icer ER to know se mber

Our new website became live on the 1st May! Many, many thanks to our webmaster, Lee White, who put in SO many hours to make this possible - even using his annual leave to work on getting it ready in time.

This website is one of the best across the HOG clubs now, very user-friendly and easy to access information in any club area.

The forums are a great place to chat. Make sure you log-in and have a look around, and leave a comment!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LEE, FOR ALL YOUR WORK! Committee Members’ Profiles:

Photographer Hi Peeps, My name is Bernie, but most of you know me as Bulldog. My role here at Thames Valley H.O.G., and on the committee, is as the official Photographer. For this I take the official Photographs for the club and take care of the Website Galleries. I also receive photos from our other Photographer, Linda, to put up. I’m also very happy for any photos from members if neither of us is there.

I particularly would like photos of you with your bike for our Members section please, (see Website Galleries).

You can send them to me at: photographer@thamesvalleyhog.org.uk Cheers. Bulldog.

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Whose Bike?

Our ‘Jammy’ photographer, Linda, has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we weren’t looking!

Do you recognise your bike, or that of another club member?

If you correctly identify the bike and owner, you will win a bottle of wine, to be presented at club night.

If there’s more than one correct answer, names will be put in a hat and one drawn out - at club night.

Good luck!

If you can identify this bike, send your answer to Linda, c/o: editor@thamesvalleyhog.org.uk March winner: Sue Dodds

Bike: Sue Knight

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Luscious long locks, lacy shirt, proud dad, and FAB taste in wallpaper!

Who is he?

Do you have a photo of your younger self?

Have you changed a lot over the years?

Send your photo to the editor (address on back cover) to be featured on the Mystery Man page.

Every picture tells a story, don’t it?

So, what is it that Gopher is trying to say here?

Email your ‘Caption’ to the editor.

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Thames Valley Fines, and aren’t there some great ones here!!

Sue B for harassing Don over his diet.

Don W for not knowing his Bye’s from his By’s.

Not so Big Malc for thinking that the lantern in the raffle on club night was a biscuit barrel???

Cider Rally Specials – No one is safe - I have my spies!

Paul H for leading the rideout astray – down into a quarry I hear!

Nick West for dancing to Nelly the Elephant – or was that dancing as Nelly the Elephant?

Linda for asking is there were any flashers on the dance floor – I hope you were not disappointed.

Malc for bragging that he has never been fined – you should never do that, Malc.

Malc for playing on the magic roundabout.

Sue D for never answering her mobile. I just wanted to know if she needed anything from Sainsbury’s, like more Bacardi?

Sue D for bringing a bottle of Bacardi instead of Vodka and not noticing until she drank some. Yuk! Baz for having the Sainsbury car washers clean his bike – cleanest its ever been I hear!

Don & Fred as every time we saw them they were either in Sainsbury’s or on the way to Sainsbury’s.

How much beer and JD did you drink?

Sue and Dave K for going back to their chalet after dinner, falling asleep and not waking up until nearly midnight!

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Dave K as he said he didn’t want to wake up as he was dreaming of a nice Blonde – a blonde what - he did not specify.

Lunch Box for complaining that Linda (who was in the dinner queue) was too late bringing him his chicken as he had already eaten his salad.

Baz for having two puddings when he didn’t eat his dinner (yes I was worried for a bit there – that is almost unheard of) Dave K for being grumpy and not wanting to wear his Hawaiian shirt.

CJ for suggesting that the 3 Smurfs should be fine free for a year – silly boy, silly suggestion. No one escapes the Fine Mistress!

Ralph Smurfette 1, for not assuming his position for long enough – what can I say!

Bernie D for almost running out of Fuel and saying that it was Sue’s fault – how does that work??

Bernie D for making out that he had ‘just lost his wife’ to get a free drink.

Sue B for not getting any jokes – just had to be done – the guy was just so funny – yes he was Sue! CJ for making a New Year’s resolution in May – what was it again?

Gobbie Jon for making the 3 o’clock club but only because he had fallen asleep.

CJ for refusing to pay any of his future fines. (he wont get his membership renewed, then) CJ for - guess what? – not renewing his TV membership.

Diane for being a not-so-secret sweetie eater, Ah yes, Ah Yes! Clive & Michelle for not being at the Cider Rally – yes, you thought you were safe – BUT WE MISSED YOU BOTH!

A Happy Pig this month!

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THAMES VALLEY HOG - How We Roll !

Please note that HOG insists that ALL participating riders get a briefing before they ride with an organised group.

If you miss the briefing you may not participate in the ride !

Your full attention is required at the briefing. It is an important part of safety for the whole group. Please try not to interrupt unless you have a genuine question. For some crew members, it is the most daunting part of their responsibility. You will hear much of the same information each time but please support your volunteer road crew by being patient.

Listen carefully to the overview of the route.

Take note of any hazards which may be mentioned.

Make sure you understand the DROP-OFF SYSTEM. If not, ask a member of the Road Crew.

Identify the LAST MAN / TAIL RIDER at, or during, the briefing.

Make sure you know how we operate the staggered file as many Chapters operate this slightly differently. Thames Valley HOG DO NOT change position in the staggered file when a man is dropped off.

Riders MUST stay at their drop off point until the last man (tail man) arrives.

Use an arm signal when dropped off to indicate the direction of the route. (Switch off your indicators- even your hazards can confuse other drivers!)

The drop off will be indicated precisely, but only stop precisely at that location if you are happy to do so. Alternatively, stop as close as you can and consider walking back to mark the route.

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Leave at least 2 seconds between you and the next rider in your line of the formation. In single file, you should always have a 2 second gap between riders.

The LEAD RIDER is NOT a part of the staggered formation. He/she will move to different positions in the road depending on what he needs to do next. Do NOT change your position in the stagger behind the leader.

Close up at stops and junctions, buy DO NOT pull up directly next to another rider unless you are both coming to a complete stop.

No overtaking within the group.

Please leave 7 -10 second gaps on motorways and dual carriageways between groups of 5 riders.

Overtaking other traffic on dual carriageways: Only pass / overtake when you reach the obstruction. Do not pull out to allow the rider in front to pass. (He/she may not be ready to pass and you will hold up other road users unnecessarily).

Every rider MUST fully observe the whole group, NOT just the rider ahead, in order to be alert to changes in speed Use your mirrors frequently.

Be courteous to other road users (even if undeserved!)

Leaving the group:- Pull over and wait for the last man, then signal your intention to leave Missing a drop-off:- In the unlikely event that you miss a dropped marker, or take a wrong road, DON’T PANIC! Continue to a safe point to turn around and go back to pick up the ride at that point.

The rest of the ride should follow you and the ride will get back on track.

Breakdown procedures:- Last man or his/her marshal will stop and assess your needs.

Be aware of other riders joining who are not part of the group.

Do not use unauthorised signals. This can confuse following riders and other road users.

All riders must be aware that...

YOU ARE DEEMED TO BE IN CONTROL OF, AND RESPONSIBLE FOR, YOUR VEHICLE AND YOUR RIDING AT ALL TIMES IRRESPECTIVE OF ANY GUIDANCE OR INSTRUCTION FROM ANY MEMBER OF THE ROAD CREW. YOU MUST, AT ALL TIMES, RIDE WITHIN THE LAW AND OBEY ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS.

Don Don Wibberley Wibberley Chapter Chapter Director Director Email: director Email: director@ director @thamesvallyhog.org.uk thamesvalleyhog.org.uk @thamesvallyhog.org. uk

Pat Adams Pat Adams Assistant Director Assistant Director Email: assistantdirector@ Email: assistantdirector@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Colin Wilkins Colin Wilkins Treasurer Treasurer Email: treasurer@ Email: treasurer@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Sue Moyler Sue Moyler Secretary Secretary Email: secretary@ Email: secretary@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Fred Cotsford Fred Fred Cotsford Cotsford Membership Officer Membership Officer Membership Officer Email: membership@ Email: Email: membership@ membership@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Nij Jones Nij Jones Head Road Captain Head Road Captain Email: headroadcaptain@ Email: headroadcaptain@ Thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Nick West Nick West Safety Officer & Safety Officer & historian Historian Email: Historian @thamesvalleyhog.org.uk Email: historian@

Barry Adams Barry Adams Activities Officer Activities Officer Email: activities@ Email: activities@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Lee White Lee White Webmaster Webmaster Email: webmaster@ Email: webmaster@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Sue Knight Sue Knight Editor Editor Email: editor@ Email: editor@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Bernie Meason Bernie Meason Photographer Photographer Email: photographer@ Email: photographer@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Sue Brown Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Ladies Harley Email: of ladiesofharley@ Email: ladiesofharley@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

facebook.com/groups/facebook.com/groups thamesvalleyhog thamesvalleyhog

youtube.com/user/ tvwebmaster1 Linda Friend Friend Linda Photographer Photographer Email: photographer@ photographer@ Email: thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Shirley Shirley Churchill Churchill Merchandise Merchandise Email: Email: merchandise@ merchandise@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

youtube.com/user/ tvwebmaster1

Toni Charles Club Venue: Club Venue: Activities Officer SportsAble, SportsAble, Braywick Sports Ground, Email: activities@SL6 1BN Braywick Sports Ground, Maidenhead, thamesvalleyhog.org.uk Maidenhead, SL6 1BN