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[Noel (ogri)]

In fact does anyone want to sweeten the missis by taking her half a dozen of the best eggs she will ever have £1.50 a box

[John]

Hi Keith. Paul's timing sounds accurate, and we should be arriving about 11.30 at the Bridge inn which has plenty of parking space. Could be about 10 bikes running. See you there.

[Noel (ogri)]

Now then. What a day !. We lost two riders within a mile of the start so when we realised this being the only one other than the leader who knew the route and destination I went back to the venue to see if they could be repatriated . No luck cruised the area but no sign . So after another baccy and knowing the main group were at least 30 mins in front I took to the more direct route to meet them .Great ride mainly a and b roads plenty of hills and a good twisty over blubberhouses and I landed at Pateley Bridge only to find the two miscreants lounging in the car park in the centre.We lounged about for 30 mins or so then migrated to the Bridge pub and partook of their wares.After at least 30 mins there we decided that the main group must have met a group of virgins in the terminal stages of nymphomania and as we were leaving the car park up the road they trundled . After a chat John Moulton Paul from Bury and myself took our leave and beat a rather hasty path over the hills back to gods county before the weather turned nasty . Two electras and an efi averaged speeds of 55 to 65 indicated up hill and down dale and had a pleasurable but unremarkable return trip without major traumas and not missing a beatin a round trip of about 130 miles. Time now for the main group to tell their tales

[grunda 12]

it certainly was eventful,i feel that i must say that directing a ride out, from the side car was a mistake,losing people in the first few minutes of the ride shows that the leaders mirrors were not being used,this is constructive criticism not a slur aimed at john,apart from my fuel selenoid packing up with a break of 30 mins to rectify the problem ,thanks to ian martin and his 24mm spanner all was well apart from the constant confusion on signal directions ,i feel that a little more knowledge of the routes to be taken would be a step in the right direction for future rideouts ,look at this as a learning curve and as they say things can only get better,i feel that the south lancs group could do with a dedicated rideout co ordinator who researches his routes before a ride out and remember leaders check your mirrors especially through built up areas where you can lose people easily. enough said thanks to everybody who participated yesterday all the best paul ,p.s hope to see keith again on his bullet.

[John]

The routes I printed for all riders (at my own expense) were a waste of time as none of the riders carried a means of using them. Had only a tail ender carried one, then no one would have got left behind. Even using the drop off method would not work without carrying a route. Keeping an eye on all 8 riders from the front is not easy when they are all spread out, and blaming the leader is hardly fair. All riders should carry routes, and a holder, which clips to the handle bars is not expensive, but pretty useful, particularly when I brought enough to go round. I suggest that all members of a ride-out share the task of looking out for the rider behind. This is a new group, and as yet we hardly know each other. Once we do, then we shall have an chance for better organizing. We must not lay blame on one poor guy, particularly when it's me! This was obviously a fraught day. My bike broke down before I set off, we lost two riders, a rider suffered a break down, and one rider ran into the back of Barry's side car carrying me in it. Just put last Sunday down as one of those days and get over it. West Yorkshire V South Lancs in the war of the roses with bullets?

[grunda 12]

hi john ,i,m sure you,ll have more sucess net time although printed routes do,nt work,we go out riding with up to 7 riders at a time and we all watch out for each other so that no one gets lost ,if we notice we,ve lost someone we stop wait for them,it is always best to make sure everyone knows where they are going, riding a bike on the road these days is hard enough without looking at maps while riding ,anyway as i say good luck with your next ride ,paul.

[John]

Routes and route holders do work, which is why they are widely used and if you are not familiar with them, that is hardly a reason to condemn their use out of hand . I seem to remember that it was the West Riding contingent immediately in front of the two lost riders. It was also a WR rider who broke down en route forcing a half hour delay, and a WR rider who ran into the back of me. I repeat, it was an unfortunate day, so we should get over it and relations are not helped when one branch coordinator make such a public criticism against another branch coordinator, particularly when the whole of the members of the South Lancs Branch were so hospitable to you all. Perhaps it would be better if the subject was dropped as it was an unfortunate one to post in the first instance.

[grunda 12]

well done john youve managed to blame everybody apart from yourself (it was all the west ridings fault) well it won,t happen again,over the last 2 years we have done scores of ride outs without any incident the rear ending of the chair was unfortunate but why stop dead on the middle of a hump back bridge totally the west ridings fault that one!! the break down unfortunate fuel selonoid,losing members of the group in the first 2 mile your fault i,m affraid ,any way don,t take any blame it was all the west ridings fault ,we came to support your fledgling group maybe if we had known that we would get the blame for all the shortcomings we would not have bothered,have a good think before you slag anybody else off i certainly don,t want to hear anymore about this ,you do what you do and i hope your sucessful paul.