December 2011 Report

A quiet month on the bike front as most people are busy at work or getting ready for Christmas. We had a gathering of members and friends down the North Star for a bite to eat, there were 15 of us which was a good turn out. Rather than have the traditional turkey we all helped ourselves to whatever took our fancy from the menu.

For New Year Mick, Charlotte and myself went down to Cornwall to meet up with "H", following his stroke in early 2011 he has made steady progress and can now get about with the aid of a walking stick and is now getting his head around getting himself a trike.

Mick wants to do the Uxbridge Auto Show this year (Sun 15th July) and is looking to put on a display of old and modern Triumphs, if you are interested in displaying your bike from circa 10:00hrs to 15:30hrs then please let Mick know.

Our AGM will be around March this year, I will have a firm date for the next edition, please have a think of what you want from the club and any suggestions for how we can improve it, after all the club is all about the members and what we want from it.

I am also trying to pull together a calendar of events for 2012 so if you are aware of an event that some of us would be interested in attending then once again please drop me a line so I can include it in the list.

Bill
 

November 2011 Report

A very quite month with little activity on the bike front, the attendance for the bi-weekly club meetings have been ok. There has been a few good days where Mick and myself have taken a run up the ACE cafe for a munch and a glug of tea. Over the last few years we have seen the ACE cafe rebuild it's reputation as a meeting location for bikers but more importantly it's a central point for a host of different clubs covering both bike and car events.

This year we are meeting up early on the 21st December ( 19:30 for 20:00hrs) at the North Star for a bit of Christmas tucker, even if you are not a regular you will be more than welcome to drop down and say hello. It will also give us a chance to chat over what we want to do next year for runs, rallies etc.

My goal for next year is to get the T160 on the road, I have been promising myself this for at least eight years, so 2012 will see it happen. Afraid that's all folks for 2011 but from all of us at West Middlesex to the other TOMCC branches and everyone who goes on our web page a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year and hopefully our paths will cross on the highways and byways.

Buenas noches y gracias, Bill
 

 

October 2011 Report

A quiet month with the only real activity being the Special Meeting of the TOMCC held at Meriden on the 23rd Oct 2011. There was four of us from West Middlesex went along, Keith and Mike on their bikes and the wimps Mick and Bill in the car.

I won't go into detail on the meeting as I'm sure that there will be a summary, action points and a plan on the way forward from the National Committee. It won't be an overnight change but over the next couple of years should see positive changes that will ensure the future of the club. At the meeting there were differing views on most things, and changes won't please everyone, even within our club we have mixed views. My personal view is we need to look forward and recognise that the club's survival will be if we can attract today's Hinkley riders to join, which will bring in a younger generation and a larger footprint of motorcyclists. The Meridens still have their place but it's not as everyday transport or continental holidays, but for scratching around the A & B roads on a nice sunny day.

Another benefit from the meeting was that you get the opportunity to talk with people from other clubs, at one discussion we had John and Gillian Everall and Scott Tully from North Stafford sharing their views. I also had the chance to talk with Brian from the Glasgow Branch, his soft Scottish accent was music to my ears compared to the range of harsh English dialects, (please don't take offence its just my sense of humour, I actually quite like most of the regional dialects). The one thing that did stick out was the love of the bikes and the desire to make things work, the National committee do a fantastic job but will need our help to be successful and sometimes even if it's not what we want we do need to give it a try and trust their judgement.

The one thing that West Middlesex is good at is supporting other branches' events, last year we attended the Berkshire, Bristol, West Wales and North Wales weekend Rallies, if all the Branches supported at least 3 or 4 TOMCC events then this would support the clubs and help bond the friendships. I hope the Scottish Branches manage to do a combined camp next year, I will be there.

To finish off a quote from Charles Darwin  (1809 - 1882), “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”  if you replace species with clubs we have a vision.

Bill
 

September 2011 Report

Back from doing 2000miles around Spain and Portugal, where the roads sweep up and down mountains, with panoramic views across the mountains, where the scenery changes from lush grassy slopes to almost tundra conditions. The sun beat relentlessly down for ten days and on the eleventh day it rained. I would recommend it to anyone who loves riding a bike.

On to more serious stuff, the Concorde Rally. The most organised of the TOMCC rallies that I go to, as a serious tea drinker what I do like is that they put on free tea and coffee all weekend. After a night on the Guinness and Baileys all you want is copious amounts of tea to wash the fur off your tongue. If the Bristol Branch can do this then it must be possible at other rallies.

The Concorde rally winds up the year for me and is the last rally that our Branch makes an effort to have a good turnout at. This year was no exception with nine of us making the journey, Mick, Charlotte, Peter, Isobel, Steve, Brian, Bob, Mark and Bill. Over the weekend we adopted Gary from the Yorkshire Rose Branch, he was good company and is a serious drinker. The usual Berkshire boys were there as was Chris, Andy and Dave from North London. On the Saturday we split up with Steve and Brian hitting the town for a look around and a couple of beers. The rest of us headed off to Wookey Hole to see the caves, how the caves were formed over thousands of years was interesting. It’s well worth a visit if you are in the area. The band on Saturday night was quality, playing a good range of rock and blues.

I was talking with Arthur from the Glasgow Branch, they have made a week of it taking a couple of days to come down and doing the same on the way back up to God's country. On the Saturday they went down to Stonehenge, which they really enjoyed, as the roads weaved through the countryside passing pretty thatched cottages echoing a bygone era.

Another thing I like about the Concorde Rally is that nothing was too much trouble to the staff working the bar and the chuck wagon. There was always a warm smile and the bonus they were all very attractive.

Later this month a few of us are attending the extraordinary meeting the National Committee have organised to talk with all Branches on the way forward. This is a good move in my mind as we need to recognise that the “Times they are a changing” and we need to move with the times, the new Nacelle format was the first step.

Christmas is around the corner if any club member has an idea what we do for Christmas, evening meal, ten pin bowling, go-carting, doner kebab wagon etc then please go on the website and make your suggestion on the club forum.

Keith turned up the last club night on his new Thunderbird in a beautiful red colour, it was a limited edition model and is the best looking Thunderbird I have seen. Nice one.

Bill

August Report 2011

Summer rolls on, there's nothing so fine as lying back in the lush green grass of a meadow and listening to the birds singing in the trees, the scent of honeysuckle being carried gently in the warm breeze, the distant roar of a Meriden  twin as it weaves it's way down a country lane, ah bliss! Then you wake up, it’s been raining for days, the grass needs cutting and the bike's stripped down in the garage needing love and attention, and for the young bucks, the kids crying!

August 6th and 7th was the West London Harley owners' annual rally held at the Chiltern Sports Centre, credit to them they always put on a good show with quality bands in the evening. Mick and myself went up for the afternoon, where we met up with Amanda. The weather stayed dry for the afternoon but was always threatening to rain. Had a good conversation with a few friends who I hadn’t seen for a while, Digger in particular is always full of life and optimism which leaves you feeling good at the end of a chat.

John gets out and about on his Harley a lot, and has already chalked up a significant mileage. Credit to John he did a Charity run which was from John ‘O’ Groats to Lands End in a day, however with the run up there and back from Lands End, it’s a journey of epic portions for most people, but a London boy! I have to take my hat off to the man.

Saw Peter at a club gathering down the North Star the other week, Isobel must have let him out to play for the evening. It was good to see you again, hope to see you more often and on the bike.

Sunday the 21st August saw Mick and myself down at Popham aerodrome for a bike show and auto jumble event. Was at this event a few years ago and was pleased to see how much it had grown. As usual the Berkshire boys were there promoting their branch, they even persuaded me to part with hard earned cash for a couple of die cast TOMCC badges, they didn’t offer any discount for bulk purchases, so I still had to pay full whack for my two badges. Another club member was down at Popham but can’t remember if it was Steve or Bob, sorry, I must learn to be a bit more diligent in listening and taking notes.

I’m off to Portugal on the bike next month with five Manchester lads, Steve Marston was a member of the Manchester Branch a long time ago and still has his 750 Tiger. I was up for Steve’s 21st birthday and met up with a lot of the Manchester TOMCC club, after the pub we went up a quarry to carry on drinking and to eat our fish and chips. That was 33 years ago last March, don’t know if any of the current members were there that night?

The next event for our club will be the Concorde Rally which I particularly like, I am hoping to see some of the Welsh contingency there as well as the usual riff raff from Berkshire, North London etc.

Bill
 

July 2011 Report

Summers now well and truly under way, last month was a feast of events and
this month is just as mouth-watering.

Chinnor Bike Show run by Wycombe MAG 1st-3rd July was attended by Mick,
Charlotte and Bill, Nigel's bike was also seen at the show but due to the
sheer volume of people we did not bump into each other. Another good show,
weather was glorious, good bands and food made for a good afternoon's
outing.


Was disappointed to see that the chrome is peeling off the rear wheel on my
bike, checking it out, it's as cheap to buy another wheel than to have the
old one stripped and re-chromed. So have ordered the new wheel and will sort
things out once it arrives. That's what you get for buying a Harley should
have stuck with my Daytona 1200 as it oozed quality and power.


Next on the agenda was the West Wales' Offa's Dyke Rally, this was an "if
the weathers good lets go" last minute Rally. My apologies to Roger, who
expressed an interest in going, but it was all last minute.com. Mick,
Charlotte and Bill set off on the Saturday up the A40 rather than the
motorway as we wanted to savour the run. We stopped at Longhope in
Gloucestershire at a small Inn for a bite to eat and a drink, their
specialities were homemade pies, I had a steak pie with a black peppercorn
sauce and a puff pastry top, mmmmm! It was delicious, in all my years I
have never tasted a pie so tasty, I was in heaven as the meat and pastry
fused to provide a taste sensation beyond comprehension. Bellies full we
headed on and reached the site in the grounds of Baskerville Hall Hotel
near Ross On Wye. We bumped into the Berkshire TOMCC who have been
attending the Rally for the last three years. The whole set up was good,
good camping area, chuck wagon with good food and drinks at reasonable
prices and friendly staff. The setting in the grounds of the hotel made me
feel like Laird of the Manor, with Mick and Charlotte my serfs for the
weekend. Sat night saw a band playing in the lounge area of the hotel, so had
it rained there would be no problems. The end of the evening saw us
gathering back around the chuck wagon for bacon rolls (plural) and mugs of
tea before retiring for the night. The next day we were heading for the
motorway for a quick return but not before going over a pass in the Black
Mountains to catch some scenery.

The back end of July was the Berkshire TOMCC bike show/rally. Not much more
to say on this other than year on year it's grown to become a premier event
in the area. We had a good turnout at the event, even Bob took time out
from another rally to show his face, Steve and Louie stayed for part of the
evening before being whisked away by Sheila as the evening rolled on. The
second band was quality, with good vocals and musical arrangements. The
next morning once we had cleared the fuzz from our heads we sat down to a
hearty breakfast. Going home we took a detour up to Nettlebed then down to
Henley on Thames before heading home.

Next month is the West London Harley Budgie Rally which is always a good
event, not sure what else is on the agenda for August.

Please note we have reverted back to meeting on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday
of the month as once a month was not working for most of us.
 

Bill.

May/June 2011 Report

Back in May Steve and Bob attended the National Rally, they both enjoyed the event although I’m sure I heard them say that the event the year earlier was better. I trust the National bods ask for feedback so they can improve the event year on year.

20-21st May saw Roger, Mark x2, Mick, Bob and myself of to the West Wales Gwaun Valley Rally. An excellent weekend, we attended the first rally in 2010 which saw us bonding with the West Wales club, this year it was more like old friends getting together. Friday night was a short run to the local pub where entertainment was laid on, in addition to good food and a range of ales. On the Saturday we went round to a local B&B who laid on a fantastic breakfast (which was repeated on Sunday) a real belly buster. After breakfast we went on a run around old castles. They talked us through a system of how we all keep together, after a couple of hic ups we got into the hang of things and it worked very well. The tour around castles in West Wales was very interesting with a good focus for a run, however as the miles passed by so the rain came down harder and harder, not a problem for mountain folks like myself, but alas for the Londoners used to city life it was too much, so after about 80 miles we retired to the pub for food, pool etc which was as enjoyable as being out on the bike.

We arrived back at the campsite, dripping wet, Roger, Mark and I went straight to the bar to wet the insides and dry the outsides whilst the boys went to their tents for dry clothes and a sleep. That evening once again entertainment from local musicians, the ale flowed and in between the songs you could hear peals of laughter from the different groups around the room. Then it was all over and after breakfast we split up and went our ways, Roger and Mark 1 went to see relatives whist Bob shot away and Mick, Mark 2 and myself went home via the A40. I’m already looking forward to next year, a smashing bunch of folks.

Mick, Ken (an ex member) and myself went down to see “H” in Cornwall to check on his recovery progress since his stroke. Progress is slow but positive, he is chomping at the bit as he won’t be on a bike this year, but hopefully next year. Travelling back on the Friday it rained from the minute we set of till the moment we got back.

Geoff, who also suffered a stroke late last year, has now been allowed home, we all wish you a quick full recovery.

The Berkshire boys had a BBQ at the end of June, Roger and myself took a run down, a nice evening, beer was cheap and burgers at 50p a bargain. I wish I had a belly like a bear where I could store food for hibernation, I would have had ten burgers for a fiver washed down with a couple of beers for another fiver. Nigel one of West Middlesex members who I had not seen for a while was also down there, must have heard about the 50p burgers! It was good to see him, still as youthful as ever.

Coming up is the West Wycombe Mag bike show at Chinnor, a possible run to West Wales Offers Dyke Rally and finally the Berkshire TOMCC bike show at the end of the month.

Bill

April 2011 Report

The clubs AGM was held on Wed 13th April, attendance was down on previous years with only 8 people attending, our Chairman “Mick” quickly addressed all issues, the main points were that all committee posts stay as is, and that club nights will now be the first Wed of every month in an attempt to get as many people as possible for that night. It was appreciated that some of our members work a shift pattern and that at times this will be difficult. It was also discussed, and is now being implemented where we have a group e-mail so if anyone wants to organise or just to go for a run we can now send one e-mail to the group and work to the response. If you are not on the group list and want to be included then please let myself or Amanda know your details.

The Winter pool and darts competition between ourselves, West London Harley Riders MCC, the Doggs Bollocks MCC and a team from Full Bore Motorcycles in Watford has now finished. This was over three sessions and provided a good time, chance for a good drink and a catch up with the other main local bike clubs in our area. In this instance (and as in previous years) we did not win, we did fight like caged demons but alas it was not enough. Steve however did win the title of best darts player and will be financially rewarded.

This year has not been good from the point of health of our members, we have seen both Geoff and “H” suffer strokes, Geoff’s was the back end of last year and he had to undergo surgery on his spine, during the surgery he had to be brought back to life 5 times, he is still recuperating at a recovery unit down near Hammersmith. “H’s ” stroke was more recent, he is down at a recovery unit near Plymouth and hopefully will be released early May. We all wish you both a full recovery.

Mick had to replace his exhaust header on his Rocket Three, during the works he has also replaced the CAT with a stainless collector box, you can’t see the conversion but removes a lot of weight and it goes some way to sounding like a V Rod (still some way to go, but Mick’s happy!)

Starting to see a few more bikes turn up on meeting nights, I’m always impressed with Rogers’s bike, he clocks up the miles yet it’s always impeccable. Been out on my bike a few times with Mick, last weekend saw us at Newlands Corner a real nice location overlooking the North Downs near Dorking. Mick took us down some real nice wooded lanes with houses from a bygone era sporadically located at the sides of the road, a wonderful afternoon.

It’s still looking good for West Middlesex to have a good turnout at the West Wales TOMCC rally, details should be in next month’s rag. As a club we will not be attending the Uxbridge Auto show however I’m sure a few members will go along for the show as it’s always a good event.

Bill

February 2011 Report

This month has been very quiet, the weather has not been kind with biting cold winds and snow. Some of the club nights have been down to three people, not sure if we're evolving into a hibernating species or whether we just have too much to do.

Mick and I went down to Cornwall for a long weekend to see “H” who has just moved into a small cottage set down a farm track, it’s in a lovely setting overlooking the edge of Bodmin moor. The only trouble I have visiting people is that I eat and drink too much, but he is good company and a good time was had.

Not sure what lies in store for us next year, hopefully we will do a few more rallies and runs, we get out and about a lot but we do seem to be fragmented and do things in small groups. Perhaps the year ahead will see a change.

Bill.