Tales form the River Bank - November 2019

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mileage challenge thunder in the glens www.thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

November 2019

Ed Quarters This morning I was all dressed up to visit the dealership, when I went out for a couple of chores in the garage and found it too cold to ride out and decided to work on the magazine instead!

Shame for not riding but I am sure you will appreciate the magazine which you will be able to get hold of at our club night, which I will miss as would be holidaying in the Seychelles visiting my family!

During the last couple of weeks, we saw the build-up to ROR, which turned out to be a great event, but I was unable to participate as I was visiting my daughter in Stockholm! I had thought that it would be cold but the temperatures were similar to home and I even went on a scooter ride!

Scandinavia is an amazing place to ride a motorcycle with the famous route up in the Arctic Circle! I lived in Norway for 14 years where my daughter was born and want to go back there on my Harley one day.

Sadly, the ferry from New Castle to Bergen has stopped now, so the only way is via continental Europe! Talking of which Bre… is delayed again and so we need not worry about the Green Card for insurance for another few months for those of us who are keen to ride to Europe during Christmas – anyone?

This issue has turned out to be an interesting issue with regular articles and a lot of photos from Halloween events – perhaps we should dedicate this issue to Halloween! With winter setting in and shorter daylight hours we have very few ride outs planned now. By the time you would be reading this issue we would have done the Remembrance ride! Windsor Toy run and our Reading Toy run are the only rides left before the Christmas. The Road Captains are planning exciting rides for to: ons rg.uk i s next year and are looking for ideas from members so mis g.o uk sub lleyho mag. r u g a please do contact one of the road crews to share o v o y s h nd ame w.tv Se h your thoughts! ww @t o t r ad at i d e o l Enjoy reading and Ride safe! up Or Mohit

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Inside this issue Front cover - ROR

Look out for our Facebook and instagram tweets

Page 2 Ed Quarters Page 4-7 Westie Writes Page 8 Saturday Social Page 9 Jersey Rally Page 10-15 Dealer's Diary Page 16 TV Times Page 17 The Committee Page 18-19 Softail Scriblings Page 20-21 Club Nite Page 22-23 TITG Page 24-27 Club Mileage Challenge

Huge thanks to all who have sent copy in for this month's magazine: Nick, David, John, Linda F, Nick E, Gary, Mac, Elaine Your contributions are appreciated.

Page 28 Reading Chronicle Page 29 Christmas Party Page 30 Harleyween Night Page 31 Classified Adverts Back cover - Valley Rally

Youtube Channel We have launched a new Youtube channel - thanks to Robin or setting it up!

There are a few videos uploaded there andI would like members to please check them out and provide us with feedback on what they want to see, so that we can make it better !

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Hi All. I hope that many of you have been able to join in with the last month of Chapter activity. Ride to the Wall this year was as good as always. A fantastic tribute with mixed emotions and overwhelming support from bikers from all over Europe.

The Chapter took some 20+ people there in a number of small groups, all supporting a great cause and remembering those lost in conflicts of the past.

In a similar vein, the Chapter supported the PC Harper Ride of Respect. PC Harper I was honoured to lead a group of 60+ bikes from Reading HD to the designated start location at RAF Benson.

Hogsback Chapter joined us for this part of the ride as did a large contingent of staff from the dealership.The weather was extremely kind to riders on the day, offering clear blue skies all day. Probably the best day of the month and just at the right time. A number of our members offered to help with marshalling for which the organisers were extremely grateful, many of you will have seen that the deployment of a private traffic management was recommended by the authorities and so our services were not required on the day. As always, your generosity is recognised both within the chapter and by those outside of our group too.

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Our Chapter mileage registration day was great fun again this year with the dealership decorated for halloween, members and staff showed up in spooky fancy dress, cakes were donated and bought and the HOG miles of those in attendance was updated. At the time of writing, I do not have the total amount raised for Alexander Devine Hospice but if we are able, we will have this logged somewhere else in this mag and/or at the November clubnight. If you were unable to make it in to the Dealership to have your mileage verified, you can still submit your odometer reading by taking your ride to the dealership and having the mileage recorded. The reading will be used to update your HOG Miles online but will now be too late to count in the TVHOG challenge.You can now update your National HOG miles total at any time by having it verified and logged by any UK dealership.

If you were able to get along to the Harleyween event on Thursday 31st October you will have witnessed a spook-tacular (sorry, couldn’t resist ‌) display of ghoolish goings-on, including a fashion show of the very latest in fashion wear available at the store, skilfully modelled by Chapter Members. The Bottle Kids provided live rock for visitors and a man from the area brought in snakes, spiders, creepy crawlies and a dragon for visitors to handle.

As in previous years, we will be holding our December Clubnight at 5

Reading Harley Davidson where we will be announcing the winners of the chapter mileage challenge and the results of the 2019 Poker Run. We will be continuing our programme of Saturday Socials through the winter months but there will be a change to our usual format in December as the programmed date for the social is the same date as for the Christmas Party. Meeting for a drink at the hotel will be a great way to catch up and will give party goers a chance to get started on the festive fun. Normal service will resume again in the New Year.

The Reading Toy Run features high on the list of upcoming events (Sunday 8th December) and I would urge members to come along and join in. Especially if you have not participated before, get along on the day. If you can help marshal at the Showcase Roundabout please let me know. It’s a great place to watch the spectacle from and as the ride finishes passing by, we join the parade and enjoy the street lined accolade. We are always looking for help on this ride, so don’t be shy, email me at director@thamesvalleyhog.org.uk and let me know you can help.

Committee nominations will close on November Clubnight but we are continually recruiting interested parties to help with roadcrew. If you would like to become a Road Captain at the Chapter please speak to any of the Primary Officers or our Safety Officer. You do not have to become a road captain to participate and help our roadcrew, we need marshals too. To qualify, you just need to be a regular participant in Chapter ride outs, be willing to help on those rides and be happy to help others. Becoming a Road Captain will take a little more commitment and a couple of days training at HOG headquarters in Oxford. So now you know what to do … In Feb / March next year, I will call all of our roadcrew prospects together for 6

a briefing and we’ll start your training program, Don’t forget to make full use of our new “postbox” on the wall between the toilet doors at the Dealership. This has been provided to capture any and all of your communications. You can post feedback, membership forms, nominations and any other communications that are appropriate for the Chapter.

Our Ladies of Harley are planning a Post-Christmas Dinner in the New Year. The date for your diary is Saturday 11th Jan (7pm) and the location is Stafferton Lodge in Maidenhead. Fellas, escorting their ladies to dinner are invited to join me for a bevvy in a nearby hostelry. Full details TBA. New Owners Orientation days will continue to be arranged at Reading Harley Davidson on the First Saturday of each month in the New Year. Rides will be weather dependent so please keep an eye on the newsfeeds for updates.

One major date for your new 2020 Calendar is June 26th to 28th for our very own Thames Valley Rally ! Tickets are available now at the discounted price of £30 per ticket for Chapter Members only. After Christmas, all tickets will be the same price for all at the published price of £35 each. Get them at a discount while you can !

Please don’t forget that our next Clubnight, in line with tradition, will be held at Reading Harley Davidson on the usual, scheduled date of Wed 18th Dec from 6:30pm. Please don’t go to Burnham Cricket Club, it will likely be closed and you will get cold and lonely ;-) If you have any questions about any of the items covered here or elsewhere in the mag please let me know !

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November Saturday Social Thames Valley kicked off the first Saturday Social at The George on the Green, Holyport despite the beastly weather. Christine and I arrived just in time as we had been watching the rugby final. We were all seated pretty much together at two tables where we chatted over a lovely lunch. I had beer battered cod, chips with a sprinkle of salt and vinegar with a pint of Guinness but gave the mushy peas a miss. I think this it a great event and warrant’s your support. Put the next Saturday Social in your diaries.

MAC

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Dealer's Diary Hello All What a great first 3 months I have had at the dealership, thank you for making me feel very welcome. I hope I can continue to put a few changes and tweaks in to make it more exciting for you. As always, feel free to get in touch at David.kennedy@lind.co.uk if you have any comments or specific items you would like me to cover. Here is a little update!

Review September was a very busy month for us, we broke our trading records with bike sales and heavily overachieved Harley targets.

Thanks to everyone who supported the dealership, and had a great deal during the month, really made a difference for us. Early deliveries of 2020 clothing also proved popular helping the merchandise team do well. The September bike night was a wet one, but the wheelie machine proved very popular and gave everyone the opportunity of the ‘feel on one wheel’.

We have had the last bike night, 31st October - Harleyween. I hope you had chance to make it – the response has been fantastic, and we will definitely do it again. If not, you missed creepy crawlies, fashion show, Zoe Cano - adventure photo-journalist and a real party atmosphere. Thanks to Jo, Hayley, Louise, Maria, Nick, LJ and of course Alan for some fabulous modelling. Everyone enjoyed it and I have already pencilled you in for the next one!

Two new members of the team joined us in October – Alan in Sales and Andy as our valetor / driver. Say hi to both when you see them.

Finally, Richard Tegg has now been appointed Aftersales Manager.

Please congratulate him on his promotion. He will still be able to 10

assist with parts requests, but in the first instance speak with Gareth and Jason who will be your first point of call.

2020 Low Rider S The new Low Rider is now with us and has had a real excitable welcome. Great handling, effortless power and classic Harley styling have made it very popular.

Book a test ride when you can – limited supply of this cracker!

2020 CVO Ultra Limited We are lucky enough to have one of a tiny handful of the new 2020 CVO Ultra’s in-store. First in line will buy this amazing bike. The air is rare where the CVO™ Ultra Limited rides, propelled by its monumental Twin-Cooled™ Milwaukee-Eight® 117 engine. With custom wheels, heated grips, exclusive blaze-red rocker boxes, Kahuna™ Collection shifter pegs and a premium BOOM!™ Box GTS infotainment system with BOOM!™ Audio 30K Bluetooth® headset, this bike brings an unparalleled level of class to the Grand American Touring tradition. A night-cutting Daymaker® Adaptive LED headlamp, H-D™ Connect and electronic Reflex™ Defensive Rider Systems make for safe travels at any hour your soul calls out for a ride, and a spacious Tour-Pak® carrier atop roomy saddlebags lets you take what you need to stay out as long as you need. Great Harley words aren’t they….

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New offers Harley have some great offers on new Harley-Davidson bikes to see out 2019: • Passport to Freedom (all model years) – Street, Sportster & 107ci Softail models up to £1000 claim value on a riding test once passed.

Now extended to include riders that completed their motorcycle test since 1 January 2018! If you know anyone recently passed their test – best time to buy a new Harley.

• Street – all models - (MY19 or older) – £800 off all models. These give some very affordable finance options if you need a more affordable commuter bike.

• Iron 883 (MY19 or older) – £800 saving on list price.

• Sportster 1200 – all models - (MY19 or older) – saving of £800 on list price.

• FXDR (MY19 only) –MY19 price adjustment offer continues to bring the price in line with MY20 and an additional £1500 H-D contribution.

Great deal on a unique and head turning machine.

These offers expire on the 31st December and not interchangeable.

Used bikes We have also done very well on pre-owned bike sales, so now quite short on stock. If you are considering changing your bike, now is the time as we are paying a little more for them.

Intermediate Health Check. Remember to ask about this when you are in-store! As our bikes sometimes take a while to go the 5000 miles required between servicing, we am offering a free intermediate 2500 mile check to qualifying bikes. This is open to any Harley owner and will incorporate an extensive multi-point check and of course, give you the flexibility to upgrade to an oil and filter change if you choose. Call the team to book yours in now!

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Customisation It is the time of year, many Harley owners decide on customising their bike with paint, parts or even dramatic style alterations. Whichever way you go, speak with Richard and the team and they will assist in building you dream ride!

You may have seen the new painted tanks in the dealership recently. These have been carried out by the Harleyapproved, (and our new bodyshop of choice), Image Designs. I will ask them to attend one of the Chapter nights and talk about themselves and what they can do – very interesting.

Tech Tips – few tips that you might find useful!

TRANSPORT MODE SETTING FOR CAN BUS FOB SYSTEMS VERSIONS WITH TRIP SWITCH ON L/H CONTROL With an assigned fob within range, turn the ignition switch to ignition, then turn the ignition switch to OFF before the security system lamp goes out. Within three seconds, simultaneously press both the left and the right turn signal switches. After the turn signals flash 3 times and chirps twice, the system enters the transport mode.

FOR NON CAN BUS FOB SYSTEMS With the assigned FOB in range, turn on the ignition system. Turn the ignition to accessories press both turn signal switches simultaneously, the ignition off. After the turn signals flash 3 times and chirps twice, the system enters the transport mode.

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FOR PUSH BUTTON FOBS With the assigned FOB in hand, press FOB twice then turn ignition on, then press and hold the button. The indicators will flash 3 times, release button. Turn ignition off, press and hold FOB button, the indicators will flash 3 times and chirp twice. The system is now in transport mode.

TIME SETTING Press the function switch until the time (hour and minutes) is displayed. Press and hold the function switch for five seconds or until the 12HR beings to blink in the speedometer display window.

Release the button.

STARTING BIKE WITHOUT FOB Turn the IGN key to IGNITION and immediately hold both turn signal switches until 5 dashes appear in the odometer window.

Enter the first digit of your PIN (a) by pressing the left turn signal switch (a) times.

Press the right turn signal switch 1 time to move to the next digit.

Enter the second digit of your PIN (b) by pressing the left turn signal switch (b) times.

Press the right turn signal switch 1 time to move to the next digit.

-Enter the third digit of your PIN (c) by pressing the left turn signal switch (c) times.

Press the right turn signal switch 1 time to move to the next digit.

Enter the forth digit of your PIN (d) by pressing the left turn signal

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switch (d) times.

Press the right turn signal switch 1 time to move to the next digit.

Enter the fifth digit of your PIN (e) by pressing the left turn signal switch (e) times.

Press the right turn signal switch 1 time to move to the next digit.

Press the right turn signal switch one time and the security system alarm is turned off.

I look forward to seeing you on the road or catching up at one of the events we have coming up.

Safe Riding!

David Dealer Principal

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RIDE OUTS

CLUB NIGHTS

Sunday, 24 November Windsor Toy Run

November 20th December 18th January 15th February 19th March 18th April 15th

Saturday, 7 December New Owner Rides - Reading HD Sunday, 8 December Reading Toy Run

MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTION DEADLINES

Saturday, 4 January New Owner Rides - Reading HD

Nov 7th Dec 5th Jan 2nd

Please check the website for the latest on all rides.

New rides planned spring next year, however, please note that the committee is looking for ideas on rides as well as Road Captaians and Marshals

Feb 6th Mar 5th Apr 2nd

Saturday, 7 December 2019 Christmas Party Friday 26 - Sunday 28 June 2020 Valley Rally

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2019 Officers & Committee https://www.facebook.com/ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

PRIMARY OFFICERS

Nick West Director

Andy Tunley Lesley Lederer Secretary & Ass.Director Treasurer

John Green Assistant Director

COMMITTEE & SUPPORTING OFFICERS

Mohit Khanna Editor

Mike Connolly Membership

Robin Sasson Webmaster

David Kennedy Dealer Principal

Mike Connolly Safety Officer

Jamie McLaughlin Rally Manager

Gary Watts Activities

Nick Ekendahl Activities

Hayley West Social Media & Charities Officer

Linda Friend Photographer

Alex MacDonald Photographer

Payal Khanna Photographer

CLUB VENUE Burnham Cricket Club Memorial Ground, Taplow Common Road, Burnham, Slough, Berks, SL1 8LP Third Wednesday of every month 7:00pm

Email any committee member at (position held)@thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Softail Scriblings Hi All, The weather is a bit grim as I write this and I’m hoping it clears up for this weekend as we have the dealership new owners morning on Saturday and then the Memorial Ride with Hogsback on Sunday.

We were lucky to have a lovely dry day for Ride To The Wall and again more recently for the Ride of Respect in honour of PC Andrew Harper. It was a very emotional day with thousands of bikes and very well organised apart from one roundabout in Abingdon where a large number of bikes went down the southbound A34 following someone on their way home …. There are lots of photos on Facebook showing the start at RAF Benson – it took some people over 45 mins to find their bikes after a coffee stop.

Last weekend was the HOG LOH National Conference at the Oxford HQ and in the absence of a LOH Officer this year, as LOH Liaison for the Chapter I co-opted Hayley in to the role to attend and represent Thames Valley.

By all accounts it was a very successful event and when Ray and I got back after taking the accompanying men out for the day there were still some cakes left ;) Coming up, we have this year’s Christmas Dinner 18

– there are a few tickets left if you are quick. Please contact our activities team if you’re interested.

The 2020 model launch was held on Sat 26th October at the dealership and we were also recording your mileages for our Chapter mileage competition. Linda led the cake sale which was a great success. It was great to see all of you, thanks for supporting us.

Nomination forms are still available for committee positions for next year and we are still looking for nominations for Treasurer, Activities / Social Media, Safety Officer and Historian. If you think you’d like to get involved, then please have a chat to find out more and get those forms in.

Finally, Valley Rally tickets are now available and can be purchased at a reduced rate by Chapter members only up to the end of November so don’t put it off, buy now and save a few quid.

Cheers, John Green

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October Club Night

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Thunder in the Glens

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Chapter Mileage Challenge

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Members of the Thames Valley Harley Owners Group sold their homemade baked goods at Reading's Harley Davidson dealership on Wokingham Road, Earley, on Saturday (October 26).

The group was raising money for the Alexander Devine Children's Hospice based in Maidenhead which supports children with life limiting illnesses. Fundraisers dressed up as witches including Jo Green from Woodcote who explained the Thames Valley Harley Owners Group has been supporting the hospice for three years.She said the group of riders like to give back to the community whilst enjoying their hobby.She also thanked the dealer principle at Reading's Harley-Davidson for letting them use his facilities to sell their cakes.

The total funds raised from the bake sale have not yet been totalled as the fundraising buckets will be used this Thursday October 31 for a Harleyween event being held at the Reading dealership.

Harley-Davidson is releasing a new line of clothing and will be showcasing these during a fashion show.There will also be creepy crawleys such as spiders and snakes at the event for people to see.

Hayley West, charity officer for the Thames Valley Harley Owners Group, revealed the group has raised ÂŁ15,280 for the hospice to date.

This includes donations from a skydive she took part in, pub quizzes and monthly raffles amongst other events.

Community fundraiser for Alexander Devine Children's Hospice, Julia Philipson, said: "For us it is so wonderful to have that ongoing support.

"We are just so incredibly grateful to them."

Copyright Reading Chronicle 28

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Harleyween Night

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Classified Ads

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