Ride out to Thundersprint, Sunday 13th May

Me and Sue arrived at Truck stop 2000 car park at 8:45 to find our Ted waiting with his gleaming black 1800.

After a short while, Jim and Chandra rolled up on their respective blue 1800’s. After a bit of a natter and with no one else having turned up, we set off for Northwich at around 9:30.

Once there we parked our bikes on the grass verge and walked into the event, and took in a few of the side stalls and displays along the way. We all then found a little café in the market hall and had coffees and a bite to eat, before we went on another wander around the event.

On the main street we bumped into Dave and Tonia who had parked their trike up on the car park near to the market hall.
There were all the usual stalls selling bargain priced biker clothing and accessories and a few bike dealers displaying their gleaming new bikes, there was a stand from the newly re-born Norton marque which had a few of their new commando models in various versions, nice.

A good collection of classic bikes of all makes was on display for us all to reminisce over, the Yamaha 50cc ‘Fizzy’s’ corner was of particular interest as most of us can remember the little screaming two strokes from our teen years, many of us probably rode one of these or similar as our first taste of motorcycling.
In the little park area, where me and Sue sat eating our packed lunches, there was a blues singer and guitarist, a country singing trio, some youths performing active dance routines and then some marshal arts displays.

In between these there was a fly past and aerobatic display by a beautiful Spitfire that did several passes and victory rolls over the area before flying off into the blue yonder.
It was a good day, the weather stayed dry throughout, even on the way home. The turnout of just us, Ted and Dave and Tonia from our club was a little disappointing for such a popular event, as it has been much better supported in past years by many more bikes. It was nice to see Jim and Chandra again also.

You can read all about it here, thanks to our resident reporter, Graham C Pinder….

Me and Sue rode down on the Friday, we met up with Bob and Jackie Summers at Truck stop services on the M6 southbound at around 12:30 pm. and tried to get into McDonalds for some lunch but it was chocker, so we went into the Truck stop diner and had a real truckers’ feast instead. We then set off for our Hotel in Mold, The Beaufort Park. On the way there we got peppered with everything that the weather could chuck at us, intense rain, sleet, hail, you name it, we got it thrown in our faces.
We arrived safely, but very wet, around a half hour later and then got sorted with our rooms and stashed our wet bike gear to dry.

That afternoon was spent in the bar area where we had a few drinks and a good natter with some old friends from our club, G.W.N.W. and some friends from other Goldwing Clubs that had begun to arrive. Then it was time to get ready for dinner, which was held in a special room with all the other Gold wingers from various regions.
Saturday morning came and a hearty breakfast was had by all, then it was time to saddle up and ride into Chester City centre. When we got there, we were shown to one of the three locations for the static display of our bikes; we got the spot right in front of the City Hall.

We then all had a good wander round the streets, bumped into lots of other Gold wing Folk from our club and others along the way, checked out all the other bikes on display, some of the girls did a bit of retail therapy, and we had a nice coffee and a sumptuous cake. The weather was a mixture of rain and sunshine throughout the day but this didn’t really spoil it in any big way.

We then all rode back to the hotel for an early dinner and then back into Chester for the Light Parade mustering area.
As we all got ready to line up, it was estimated that there was over a hundred bikes and trikes there, which was quite good considering that it was the first event of this kind to be held in Chester. Jim and Chandra were up there near the front, just after the leading trikes,

Jim had a celebrity pillion passenger, ‘Owen’ the builder from Coronation Street. There was our Ted there as well, with his skeleton head on, Graham Coleman and Jean on their new 2012 model, Jimmy and Daphne, Dave and Tonia , Bill, Nigel and Joanne Mackintosh etc. etc. and many more besides.
The parade started at around 8:15 and we started to depart from the car park, the police motorcycle marshals did a brilliant job of stopping the traffic at all the traffic lights and roundabouts, the public seemed to like what they were seeing along the way and there were waves and cheers as we passed through the more populated areas of the City Centre. We did the circuit twice before the parade was split into those who were entering the best lit bike competition and those who were carrying on back to their accommodation.
We all got back to the hotel nice and dry, as the weather had kept off with the rain for the parade, which pleased everyone. After stowing the bikes under their covers on the hotel car park, it was a quick change and then back to the lounge area for drinkies and chatter with friends once again.
Everyone said that they had enjoyed it and that they would do it all again, so here’s to Southport now and another good parade.
After another hearty breakfast on Sunday morning, some of us rode home while some others linked up with some members from Goldwings North Wales and had a ride to the new J&S Accessories store near to Northwhich to bag a load of greatly reduced Goldwing goodies.

A Guide to touring in France - There are two new rules which come in to force from 1st July 2012 –

• The French require all riders of bikes above 125cc to wear at least 150 square cms (23 square inches) of high visibility reflective material on the back of their jackets. There is a 68 Euro on the spot fine and talk of 2 points on your licence for not adhering to this.
• All riders need to carry a breathalyser kit – 11 Euro fine from November for not having one. The legal drink drive limit in France is 50mg per 100ml of blood (UK is 80mg per 100ml). Single-use breathalyser kits will satisfy the requirement. The kits cost between £1 and £2 and will be available at ferry and tunnel terminals for crossing to France.
Anyone driving in France is already required to carry a warning triangle and a fluorescent safety vest and motorcyclist should carry spare bulbs. UK motorcyclists must display a GB plate.
It is proposed to ban motorcycles and scooters manufactured before 2004 from French city centres – machines could be immobilised and issued with a fine of 65 Euros, payable on the spot – no official date has yet been announced.
There is also the possibility you may get fined if caught using Sat Nav/IPhone, which warn of speed traps/cameras and possible confiscation of the device.
Be warned, travelling through France could damage your wallet!!
VIVE LA FRANCE!!

The Wirral Egg Run is an annual event which raises money for local children, children’s charities and donates Easter eggs to hospitalised children. Get more details of the event here.

Having now worked out how to resize and organise the photos (so they don’t take an age to download), I’m happy for you to send in any photos you might want to add to the Photo pages.

I am due to collect an amazing trike from Barry at Colin Appleyards in April but I do not yet have a garage.

I have been trusting the local council to rent me one, but they are not offering a safe garages, as they are all tucked away in silent places.

I have looked at metal garages to have built on my property, but the car garages are too large and the bike ones do not allow enough door space to allow for a trike.  

Without this I cannot get insurance.  Is there something I havent thought of?  Is there anything else I can do?  

I have waited for the chance to own my own trike for years now.  I cannnot lose it just for a garage?  Can someone help please?

This is urgent now. I have ran out of ideas.  I met many lovely people in Llandudno last year, and I hope someone can help me. 

So, Team, has anyone out there any ideas as to how Pam can get her trike and the insurance she so desperately needs?  Comments here, please or contact me for Pam’s email address (removed to prevent Spammers).

An online petition calling on the department for transport “to ensure that biker related questions are compulsory in the driving theory test” has been created by Bennetts, one of the UK’s leading motorcycle insurers.

“Since inattentiveness by other road users causes the majority of motorcycle accidents, the BMF has consistently called for further initiatives to raise the awareness of all vulnerable road users” says the BMF’s Government Relations Executive Chris Hodder. He continues: “With over 1.3 million motorcycles on Britain’s roads it’s incredible that prospective drivers can currently pass the test without answering a single question relating to motorcyclists. We would encourage all our members to sign this petition”.

Hannah Squirrell, Director of Marketing at Bennetts adds; “The petition has been approved by the government and we need to get at least 100,000 signatures in order to have this raised in the House of Commons. Bikers are an important group of road users and it’s essential they are recognised within the driving test.”

Motorcyclists and drivers alike can sign-up online via the official government link:epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/26272

The more signatures they get, the better chance they have of getting this through, which can only hopefully make life better for those of us on two wheels.

Full details can be found on http://www.goldwings.org.uk/, where you can also find details of our very own Southport event later this year.

Both events promise to be a great time for Wingers, so go and check them out where you’ll find full details of both events.

Please note the stipulation that we cannot use horns or sirens on the parade itself – the Police are ok with our lights, but will take action against anyone making a racket!

Excited discussions and suggestions as to potential events and opportunities soon began to spring up as Members realised the wider scope of things now available to us with this relocation. All I can say is Watch this Space!

You should all have received an email from John on this topic by now, but just in case…..

Take J31 of M6 (North or Southbound) as your starting point, turn EAST towards Blackburn on A59 and continue uphill to the newly constructed, traffic-light controlled roundabout (adjacent to our former meeting venue “The Swallow Hotel”) with A59 Blackburn New Road (A677). Here, go completel6y around the roundabout, effecting a 360 degree turn to head back the way you just came (now heading West to pass the Esso Garage) .  Immediately after the garage take the  left turn into Cuerdale Lane ( not the road running behind the garage!) and find “The Memorial Hall”  in 200 metres on the right (note Way In and Way Out of extensive Car park).

Our next meeting there will be on the 25th March, starting at 11 am. Tea and coffee will be available (just remember to wash your cup up after!)

See you there!