Magazine of the Thames Valley HOG Chapter Magazine of the Thames Valley HOG Chapter
Mar 13, 2016
Magazine of the Thames Valley HOG Chapter Magazine of the Thames Valley HOG Chapter
Sue
2
I was chatting to a member in The Pineapple at the Poker Run and he said he liked last monthrsquos mag - he said hersquod read it all I asked why he didnrsquot read it all every month and he replied that he didnrsquot always find it interested him So I responded by asking him if hersquod ever sent in any articles about bikes that did interest him any pictures news events write-upshellip something that would interest him and others in the club Of course he hadnrsquot ever sent anything hadnrsquot even thought about it My job as Editor is taking responsibility for assembling and organising the copy sent in for this mag I am not a photographer journalist reporter or a magician I canrsquot fill pages without help from YOU A couple of months ago I found myself with 6 empty pages the day before the mag needed to be sent to the printer So come on all of you If you want a mag that interests you send me something yoursquod like to see printed
I hope you ALL sent your mileage in to Don so as a club we can have a go at getting a trophy this year The weather is perfect for clocking up those miles and the calendar is full of rides and events to suit all tastes If you missed the first Poker Run itrsquos not too late to join in - just turn up next time
Inside this issuehellip
Front cover Sue Dodds among others on a ride-out
Page 2 Start your Engines
Page 4 5 Directorrsquos Update
Page 6 7 LoH - Suersquos Scribbles
Page 8 9 Ledbury Union
Page 10 Poker Run
Page 11 First Ride-out
Page 12 13 Meet the Members
Page 14 15 Calendar
Page 16 Blazin Blazers
Page 17 News and Events
Page 18 Pioneer Run
Page 19 Photo Gallery
Page 20 21 News and Events
Page 22 Whose bike
Page 23 Fine Pig
Page 24 -27 Safety First Back cover Meet the committee
AprilMay
Birthdays
Gemma Cotsford 28th Apr
Gopher 30th Apr
Mick Friend 9th Mar
Happy birthday to
you all
Thanks go to this monthrsquos contributors
Don Sue Gopher Paul Nick Toni Pat and Linda
4
Hi all welcome to Aprilrsquos Tales from the Riverbank
Since our last magazine our official riding season has started The first ride of
the season Blow out the Cobwebs up to Jacks Cafe in Towcester has been
arranged for the day The weather is looking a bit unsettled but who knows
The weathermen have been known to get it wrong a few times
Last week the first Poker Run was held at another favourite venue of ours The
Pineapple pub in Dorney The evening was attended by 25 members who
enjoyed a large choice of sandwiches and fries from the menu a great start to
the Poker season
Ledbury Convergence Ride The bookings for Ledbury are going really well with 39 members confirmed
from Thames Valley to attend the convergence weekend There are still plenty
of spaces available either camping or at local hotels
We have a full program booked for the weekend including a
parade through Ledbury town centre and a visit to Westons
Cider Mill If you would like more information or want to
book up for the weekend get in contact with me
Dealership Update Things are moving forward with the site at Reading at
last Outline Planning permission has been granted
and Russ and Mike are now talking to contractors
so we should see a dealership by the end of the year
on the site Great news
SofER 2015 Over the past few weeks I have been busy looking
for locations in our area for the SofER Rally in
2015 I came up with Windsor Race Course
Pat Colin and myself attended a meeting at the
Racecourse to have a look round and discuss our
needs for the Rally The site has a lot to offer
and the surrounding areas are full of great rides and
places to visit
The aerial view of
the site makes it
look very impress-
sive which it is
We are having a
meeting of the
SofER committee
very soon to
discuss all the
options for the
rally next year and
look at all the sites
put forward for
consideration by the other chapters Fingers crossed for the Racecourse
Mileage Chapter Challenge A great response from you all So far 45 members have signed up for this
yearrsquos challenge but we still need many more VIN numbers and mileages
Email the information over to me to be part of the challenge with prizes and
gift vouchers for the highest mileages at Novemberrsquos club night
Miles of Fun cards are available from Nick for a pound1 Remember to carry
them with you on every ride you attend and get them signed by the lead or
tail road crew member on the day We have many prizes to be won at the end
of the season
Rallies amp Rides The Cider Rally is only weeks away now and fancy dress is of a Tropical
theme this year Letrsquos make an extra effort for a large turnout from Thames
Valley in fancy dress The Cider Rally is the first of the season and is always
a great weekend away
April 27th is the Toy Run to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford We are
meeting up with Rolling Hills and Oxford Chapters for a Police escorted
mass ride to the childrenrsquos wards at the hospital As always the dress code
for the day is to wear YELLOW and decorate your bikes with YELLOW
ribbons I will have ribbon at Sportsable for decorating the bikes on the day
Please bring an Easter gift for the sick children - games books colouring
pencils things they can do on their beds A little Chocolate for the nurses
and doctors is always appreciated Letrsquos make this year a big turnout from
Thames Valley for the kiddies
Don 5
6
Sue says
Hello everyone
It was good to see a
good representation
of Thames Valley
members at Oxford for their coffee and cake morning
which was held on a lovely sunny spring Saturday in March
Dave and I escorted six bikes
which included two gents who
were new to ride-outs so a big
welcome Ron and Malcolm
Many others joined us at the
event which I understand
raised over pound230 for the air
ambulance
Just a reminder that the
Saturday Social on 19th April
( this Sat) is at The Shire
Horse along the A4 in
Littlewick Green Please feel
free to join us for a chat and
chomp from 1230
Sun 27th April sees the annual Toy Run to John Radcliffe
Hospital We will be riding to join Oxford Chapter at their deal-
ership where the main ride begins They usually put on a bit of a
do with DJ Rob Paston creating the musical backdrop Please
bring along a new unwrapped toy book or CDDVD suitable for
any age of child (remember fluffy toys food or chocolate are not
suitable) For anyone who hasnrsquot joined this ride before itrsquos in
memory of a young lad called Jake Spicer who loved Harleyrsquos
Jake sadly passed away through his illness two years ago
He always enjoyed the sight of bikers dressed up in bright colours
and to commemorate this we are all invited to wear or decorate
our bikes in yellow Pink was also one of Jakes favourite colours so
I am sure there will be a joyous mix
Itrsquos fantastic that Oxford invite us to their events and make us
feel so welcome too and its great that we are able to support
them but I canrsquot wait for news of when we might be getting our
own toy shop so we can reciprocate
There was a fantastic response for the Bath Christmas Market
with 16 ladies already confirming
their hotel roomshellip Bath doesnrsquot
know what going to hit them
If you would like to come itrsquos
still not too late to book Dates
are 28th -30th November 2014
Please may I collect any out-
standing monies by 1 May
I hope you all have a wonder-
ful Easter enjoy lots of over
indulging on lots of chocolate
and letrsquos hope the sun shines
7
Sue x
Where are you hiding the cake Don
8
This is the answer to what we do on the SofER weekend We arrange a get together in a nice location where we can camp have a few beers some good food a great parade through Ledbury and a ride out to a famous Cider Press What could be better
For those who do not want to camp there are hotels situated very locally and more within a short distance from the site
Ledbury
Program
Friday
Leave Guildford amp Maidenhead to ride up to
Ledbury stopping for lunch on the way
Arrive Friday afternoon and have Chili Fish
lsquonrsquo Chips supper in the club house
Music to be an open mike type event
Saturday
Full English Breakfast
Parade through Ledbury with flags flying and
then off on a ride-out through the Hereford-
shire countryside with a lunch stop and then a
trip around a local Cider Press
Take samples back to campsite for later
Music in function room and BBQ
Sunday
Breakfast
Ride back with a lunch stop
Costs
pound1000 per person
Tents Caravans amp Camper Vans
are pound10 per night to include use
of showerchanging rooms
A great weekend for pound40
for two persons plus food and
whatever you drink
Fish amp Chip supper pound5 per head
English Breakfast pound6 per head
BBQ pound7 per head
Music provided by Daversquos band
from Hogs back
Union 1st-3rd August
9
Hotels in Ledbury
Leadon House Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-631199 wwwleadonhousecom
The Feathers Hotel - pound130 per night
01531-635266 wwwfeathers-ledburycouk
The Talbot Hotel ndash Phone 0203-564-2773
wwwthetalbotinn-ledburycom
The Royal Oak Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-660300 wwwroyal-oakinncom
Premier Inn Ross on Wye - pound69 per night
0871-527-8944 wwwpremierinncom
Drinks
Carlsberg Xtra pound320
Bitter pound290
Becks pound320
Cider pound320
White wine pound350
It is a modern club with
eight changing rooms a function
room that seats 150
and a bar
The area is fenced and gated There is ample parking and room for tents
Why Ledbury Rugby Club
Linda
The first Poker Run was a great success at The Pineapple in Dorney It was well attended with 25 people turning up 6 of whom were on 2 bikes amp 2 trikes The choice of food as usual did not disappoint Huge sandwiches
filled with every conceivable combination of ingredients with chips or salad The evening was filled with laughter and conversation - a really enjoyable start to the Poker season
10
1st
Poker Run
11
Dust-off-the-Cobwebs Ride
By Paul Houghton
The 1st official ride-out of the season After the briefing a vote was taken and it was decided overwhelmingly by a landslide victory of 1 (me) to divert the ride to The Ace Cafe instead of Jacks Hill Cafe The drop off system was a bit tricky as once Id dropped myself I had to engage 1st and start off again real quick Oh and as itrsquos customary for the 1st ride the Road Capt bought everyone breakfast
A photo of all
the bikes lined
up for the first
ride of the
seasonhellip
Oh wait a
minute is that
a drop of rain I
see
Yes well done
Paul Houghton
for being the
only member
to brave the
weather and
turn up for the
ride
Meet the Members
Spotlight on
12
Gopher (aka John Clark)
Are you married Yes wersquove been together for 43 years Do you have any children We have four children Any pets Not any more
How long have you been riding motorbikes 50 years
What was your first bike Francis Barnet
When did you get your first Harley In 1995 I got a Wide Glide
What do you ride now I ride a 1997 Heritage Softail Springer
13
How long have you been a Thames Valley member Day one was on the first ever ride-out to Cheltenham
Any hobbies apart from motorbikes Irsquom an Aston Villa fan
Any special Harley experiences Went to100th anniversary in Milwaukee done Sturgis Myrtle Beach Daytona Las Vegas Bike Week Phoenix Memorial Ride to commemorate 1st anniversary of 911 - 7000 bikers took part Itrsquos been nice getting to know you Gopher thanks for the chat
April
Saturday Social
Sat 19th The Shire Horse
Littlewick Green 1230
Ace Cafeacute
Southend Shakedown
Monday 21st
845 Sportsable
1030 leave Ace Cafeacute
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 24th 600pm
John Radcliff Toy Run
Sunday 27th
900 Sportsable
May
Cider Rally
Friday 2nd
1000am Chieveley
to Mon 5th
Committee Night
Tuesday 6th 800pm
Seaside Fish lsquonrsquo Chips
Sat 17th 900am
Eastbourne amp Shawrsquos HD
114
May cont
Poker Run - 2
Weds 21st May 630
Venue TBA check website
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 29th 600pm
June
Committee Night
Tuesday 3rd 800pm
Picnic on the Green
Froxfield
Pat amp Barry welcome all
Sat 14th 1200 - 500
Club Night
Thursday 19th 730
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 26th 600pm
Chapter Chill-Out Weekend
Fri 27th -Sun 29th
Fri 900 am Sportsable Ride to Tewksbury
Cassington Bike Night
Mon 30th 630 SrsquoAble
Club Nights
May 15th
June 19th
July 17th
August 21st
September 18th
Mag contribution
Deadlines
M ay 8th
June 12th
July 10th
August 14th
September 11th
Dates events ride-outs and activities
Details correct at time of going to print Check the website for updates and amendments wwwthamesvalleyhogorguk
15
Entries for your Diary 2014
Oxford Toy Run
27th April
23rd Cider Rally
2nd - 5th May
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
Deva Legion Circus Maximus
12th - 14th September
Check website for Changes further
details on all events
16
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Sue
2
I was chatting to a member in The Pineapple at the Poker Run and he said he liked last monthrsquos mag - he said hersquod read it all I asked why he didnrsquot read it all every month and he replied that he didnrsquot always find it interested him So I responded by asking him if hersquod ever sent in any articles about bikes that did interest him any pictures news events write-upshellip something that would interest him and others in the club Of course he hadnrsquot ever sent anything hadnrsquot even thought about it My job as Editor is taking responsibility for assembling and organising the copy sent in for this mag I am not a photographer journalist reporter or a magician I canrsquot fill pages without help from YOU A couple of months ago I found myself with 6 empty pages the day before the mag needed to be sent to the printer So come on all of you If you want a mag that interests you send me something yoursquod like to see printed
I hope you ALL sent your mileage in to Don so as a club we can have a go at getting a trophy this year The weather is perfect for clocking up those miles and the calendar is full of rides and events to suit all tastes If you missed the first Poker Run itrsquos not too late to join in - just turn up next time
Inside this issuehellip
Front cover Sue Dodds among others on a ride-out
Page 2 Start your Engines
Page 4 5 Directorrsquos Update
Page 6 7 LoH - Suersquos Scribbles
Page 8 9 Ledbury Union
Page 10 Poker Run
Page 11 First Ride-out
Page 12 13 Meet the Members
Page 14 15 Calendar
Page 16 Blazin Blazers
Page 17 News and Events
Page 18 Pioneer Run
Page 19 Photo Gallery
Page 20 21 News and Events
Page 22 Whose bike
Page 23 Fine Pig
Page 24 -27 Safety First Back cover Meet the committee
AprilMay
Birthdays
Gemma Cotsford 28th Apr
Gopher 30th Apr
Mick Friend 9th Mar
Happy birthday to
you all
Thanks go to this monthrsquos contributors
Don Sue Gopher Paul Nick Toni Pat and Linda
4
Hi all welcome to Aprilrsquos Tales from the Riverbank
Since our last magazine our official riding season has started The first ride of
the season Blow out the Cobwebs up to Jacks Cafe in Towcester has been
arranged for the day The weather is looking a bit unsettled but who knows
The weathermen have been known to get it wrong a few times
Last week the first Poker Run was held at another favourite venue of ours The
Pineapple pub in Dorney The evening was attended by 25 members who
enjoyed a large choice of sandwiches and fries from the menu a great start to
the Poker season
Ledbury Convergence Ride The bookings for Ledbury are going really well with 39 members confirmed
from Thames Valley to attend the convergence weekend There are still plenty
of spaces available either camping or at local hotels
We have a full program booked for the weekend including a
parade through Ledbury town centre and a visit to Westons
Cider Mill If you would like more information or want to
book up for the weekend get in contact with me
Dealership Update Things are moving forward with the site at Reading at
last Outline Planning permission has been granted
and Russ and Mike are now talking to contractors
so we should see a dealership by the end of the year
on the site Great news
SofER 2015 Over the past few weeks I have been busy looking
for locations in our area for the SofER Rally in
2015 I came up with Windsor Race Course
Pat Colin and myself attended a meeting at the
Racecourse to have a look round and discuss our
needs for the Rally The site has a lot to offer
and the surrounding areas are full of great rides and
places to visit
The aerial view of
the site makes it
look very impress-
sive which it is
We are having a
meeting of the
SofER committee
very soon to
discuss all the
options for the
rally next year and
look at all the sites
put forward for
consideration by the other chapters Fingers crossed for the Racecourse
Mileage Chapter Challenge A great response from you all So far 45 members have signed up for this
yearrsquos challenge but we still need many more VIN numbers and mileages
Email the information over to me to be part of the challenge with prizes and
gift vouchers for the highest mileages at Novemberrsquos club night
Miles of Fun cards are available from Nick for a pound1 Remember to carry
them with you on every ride you attend and get them signed by the lead or
tail road crew member on the day We have many prizes to be won at the end
of the season
Rallies amp Rides The Cider Rally is only weeks away now and fancy dress is of a Tropical
theme this year Letrsquos make an extra effort for a large turnout from Thames
Valley in fancy dress The Cider Rally is the first of the season and is always
a great weekend away
April 27th is the Toy Run to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford We are
meeting up with Rolling Hills and Oxford Chapters for a Police escorted
mass ride to the childrenrsquos wards at the hospital As always the dress code
for the day is to wear YELLOW and decorate your bikes with YELLOW
ribbons I will have ribbon at Sportsable for decorating the bikes on the day
Please bring an Easter gift for the sick children - games books colouring
pencils things they can do on their beds A little Chocolate for the nurses
and doctors is always appreciated Letrsquos make this year a big turnout from
Thames Valley for the kiddies
Don 5
6
Sue says
Hello everyone
It was good to see a
good representation
of Thames Valley
members at Oxford for their coffee and cake morning
which was held on a lovely sunny spring Saturday in March
Dave and I escorted six bikes
which included two gents who
were new to ride-outs so a big
welcome Ron and Malcolm
Many others joined us at the
event which I understand
raised over pound230 for the air
ambulance
Just a reminder that the
Saturday Social on 19th April
( this Sat) is at The Shire
Horse along the A4 in
Littlewick Green Please feel
free to join us for a chat and
chomp from 1230
Sun 27th April sees the annual Toy Run to John Radcliffe
Hospital We will be riding to join Oxford Chapter at their deal-
ership where the main ride begins They usually put on a bit of a
do with DJ Rob Paston creating the musical backdrop Please
bring along a new unwrapped toy book or CDDVD suitable for
any age of child (remember fluffy toys food or chocolate are not
suitable) For anyone who hasnrsquot joined this ride before itrsquos in
memory of a young lad called Jake Spicer who loved Harleyrsquos
Jake sadly passed away through his illness two years ago
He always enjoyed the sight of bikers dressed up in bright colours
and to commemorate this we are all invited to wear or decorate
our bikes in yellow Pink was also one of Jakes favourite colours so
I am sure there will be a joyous mix
Itrsquos fantastic that Oxford invite us to their events and make us
feel so welcome too and its great that we are able to support
them but I canrsquot wait for news of when we might be getting our
own toy shop so we can reciprocate
There was a fantastic response for the Bath Christmas Market
with 16 ladies already confirming
their hotel roomshellip Bath doesnrsquot
know what going to hit them
If you would like to come itrsquos
still not too late to book Dates
are 28th -30th November 2014
Please may I collect any out-
standing monies by 1 May
I hope you all have a wonder-
ful Easter enjoy lots of over
indulging on lots of chocolate
and letrsquos hope the sun shines
7
Sue x
Where are you hiding the cake Don
8
This is the answer to what we do on the SofER weekend We arrange a get together in a nice location where we can camp have a few beers some good food a great parade through Ledbury and a ride out to a famous Cider Press What could be better
For those who do not want to camp there are hotels situated very locally and more within a short distance from the site
Ledbury
Program
Friday
Leave Guildford amp Maidenhead to ride up to
Ledbury stopping for lunch on the way
Arrive Friday afternoon and have Chili Fish
lsquonrsquo Chips supper in the club house
Music to be an open mike type event
Saturday
Full English Breakfast
Parade through Ledbury with flags flying and
then off on a ride-out through the Hereford-
shire countryside with a lunch stop and then a
trip around a local Cider Press
Take samples back to campsite for later
Music in function room and BBQ
Sunday
Breakfast
Ride back with a lunch stop
Costs
pound1000 per person
Tents Caravans amp Camper Vans
are pound10 per night to include use
of showerchanging rooms
A great weekend for pound40
for two persons plus food and
whatever you drink
Fish amp Chip supper pound5 per head
English Breakfast pound6 per head
BBQ pound7 per head
Music provided by Daversquos band
from Hogs back
Union 1st-3rd August
9
Hotels in Ledbury
Leadon House Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-631199 wwwleadonhousecom
The Feathers Hotel - pound130 per night
01531-635266 wwwfeathers-ledburycouk
The Talbot Hotel ndash Phone 0203-564-2773
wwwthetalbotinn-ledburycom
The Royal Oak Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-660300 wwwroyal-oakinncom
Premier Inn Ross on Wye - pound69 per night
0871-527-8944 wwwpremierinncom
Drinks
Carlsberg Xtra pound320
Bitter pound290
Becks pound320
Cider pound320
White wine pound350
It is a modern club with
eight changing rooms a function
room that seats 150
and a bar
The area is fenced and gated There is ample parking and room for tents
Why Ledbury Rugby Club
Linda
The first Poker Run was a great success at The Pineapple in Dorney It was well attended with 25 people turning up 6 of whom were on 2 bikes amp 2 trikes The choice of food as usual did not disappoint Huge sandwiches
filled with every conceivable combination of ingredients with chips or salad The evening was filled with laughter and conversation - a really enjoyable start to the Poker season
10
1st
Poker Run
11
Dust-off-the-Cobwebs Ride
By Paul Houghton
The 1st official ride-out of the season After the briefing a vote was taken and it was decided overwhelmingly by a landslide victory of 1 (me) to divert the ride to The Ace Cafe instead of Jacks Hill Cafe The drop off system was a bit tricky as once Id dropped myself I had to engage 1st and start off again real quick Oh and as itrsquos customary for the 1st ride the Road Capt bought everyone breakfast
A photo of all
the bikes lined
up for the first
ride of the
seasonhellip
Oh wait a
minute is that
a drop of rain I
see
Yes well done
Paul Houghton
for being the
only member
to brave the
weather and
turn up for the
ride
Meet the Members
Spotlight on
12
Gopher (aka John Clark)
Are you married Yes wersquove been together for 43 years Do you have any children We have four children Any pets Not any more
How long have you been riding motorbikes 50 years
What was your first bike Francis Barnet
When did you get your first Harley In 1995 I got a Wide Glide
What do you ride now I ride a 1997 Heritage Softail Springer
13
How long have you been a Thames Valley member Day one was on the first ever ride-out to Cheltenham
Any hobbies apart from motorbikes Irsquom an Aston Villa fan
Any special Harley experiences Went to100th anniversary in Milwaukee done Sturgis Myrtle Beach Daytona Las Vegas Bike Week Phoenix Memorial Ride to commemorate 1st anniversary of 911 - 7000 bikers took part Itrsquos been nice getting to know you Gopher thanks for the chat
April
Saturday Social
Sat 19th The Shire Horse
Littlewick Green 1230
Ace Cafeacute
Southend Shakedown
Monday 21st
845 Sportsable
1030 leave Ace Cafeacute
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 24th 600pm
John Radcliff Toy Run
Sunday 27th
900 Sportsable
May
Cider Rally
Friday 2nd
1000am Chieveley
to Mon 5th
Committee Night
Tuesday 6th 800pm
Seaside Fish lsquonrsquo Chips
Sat 17th 900am
Eastbourne amp Shawrsquos HD
114
May cont
Poker Run - 2
Weds 21st May 630
Venue TBA check website
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 29th 600pm
June
Committee Night
Tuesday 3rd 800pm
Picnic on the Green
Froxfield
Pat amp Barry welcome all
Sat 14th 1200 - 500
Club Night
Thursday 19th 730
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 26th 600pm
Chapter Chill-Out Weekend
Fri 27th -Sun 29th
Fri 900 am Sportsable Ride to Tewksbury
Cassington Bike Night
Mon 30th 630 SrsquoAble
Club Nights
May 15th
June 19th
July 17th
August 21st
September 18th
Mag contribution
Deadlines
M ay 8th
June 12th
July 10th
August 14th
September 11th
Dates events ride-outs and activities
Details correct at time of going to print Check the website for updates and amendments wwwthamesvalleyhogorguk
15
Entries for your Diary 2014
Oxford Toy Run
27th April
23rd Cider Rally
2nd - 5th May
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
Deva Legion Circus Maximus
12th - 14th September
Check website for Changes further
details on all events
16
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Inside this issuehellip
Front cover Sue Dodds among others on a ride-out
Page 2 Start your Engines
Page 4 5 Directorrsquos Update
Page 6 7 LoH - Suersquos Scribbles
Page 8 9 Ledbury Union
Page 10 Poker Run
Page 11 First Ride-out
Page 12 13 Meet the Members
Page 14 15 Calendar
Page 16 Blazin Blazers
Page 17 News and Events
Page 18 Pioneer Run
Page 19 Photo Gallery
Page 20 21 News and Events
Page 22 Whose bike
Page 23 Fine Pig
Page 24 -27 Safety First Back cover Meet the committee
AprilMay
Birthdays
Gemma Cotsford 28th Apr
Gopher 30th Apr
Mick Friend 9th Mar
Happy birthday to
you all
Thanks go to this monthrsquos contributors
Don Sue Gopher Paul Nick Toni Pat and Linda
4
Hi all welcome to Aprilrsquos Tales from the Riverbank
Since our last magazine our official riding season has started The first ride of
the season Blow out the Cobwebs up to Jacks Cafe in Towcester has been
arranged for the day The weather is looking a bit unsettled but who knows
The weathermen have been known to get it wrong a few times
Last week the first Poker Run was held at another favourite venue of ours The
Pineapple pub in Dorney The evening was attended by 25 members who
enjoyed a large choice of sandwiches and fries from the menu a great start to
the Poker season
Ledbury Convergence Ride The bookings for Ledbury are going really well with 39 members confirmed
from Thames Valley to attend the convergence weekend There are still plenty
of spaces available either camping or at local hotels
We have a full program booked for the weekend including a
parade through Ledbury town centre and a visit to Westons
Cider Mill If you would like more information or want to
book up for the weekend get in contact with me
Dealership Update Things are moving forward with the site at Reading at
last Outline Planning permission has been granted
and Russ and Mike are now talking to contractors
so we should see a dealership by the end of the year
on the site Great news
SofER 2015 Over the past few weeks I have been busy looking
for locations in our area for the SofER Rally in
2015 I came up with Windsor Race Course
Pat Colin and myself attended a meeting at the
Racecourse to have a look round and discuss our
needs for the Rally The site has a lot to offer
and the surrounding areas are full of great rides and
places to visit
The aerial view of
the site makes it
look very impress-
sive which it is
We are having a
meeting of the
SofER committee
very soon to
discuss all the
options for the
rally next year and
look at all the sites
put forward for
consideration by the other chapters Fingers crossed for the Racecourse
Mileage Chapter Challenge A great response from you all So far 45 members have signed up for this
yearrsquos challenge but we still need many more VIN numbers and mileages
Email the information over to me to be part of the challenge with prizes and
gift vouchers for the highest mileages at Novemberrsquos club night
Miles of Fun cards are available from Nick for a pound1 Remember to carry
them with you on every ride you attend and get them signed by the lead or
tail road crew member on the day We have many prizes to be won at the end
of the season
Rallies amp Rides The Cider Rally is only weeks away now and fancy dress is of a Tropical
theme this year Letrsquos make an extra effort for a large turnout from Thames
Valley in fancy dress The Cider Rally is the first of the season and is always
a great weekend away
April 27th is the Toy Run to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford We are
meeting up with Rolling Hills and Oxford Chapters for a Police escorted
mass ride to the childrenrsquos wards at the hospital As always the dress code
for the day is to wear YELLOW and decorate your bikes with YELLOW
ribbons I will have ribbon at Sportsable for decorating the bikes on the day
Please bring an Easter gift for the sick children - games books colouring
pencils things they can do on their beds A little Chocolate for the nurses
and doctors is always appreciated Letrsquos make this year a big turnout from
Thames Valley for the kiddies
Don 5
6
Sue says
Hello everyone
It was good to see a
good representation
of Thames Valley
members at Oxford for their coffee and cake morning
which was held on a lovely sunny spring Saturday in March
Dave and I escorted six bikes
which included two gents who
were new to ride-outs so a big
welcome Ron and Malcolm
Many others joined us at the
event which I understand
raised over pound230 for the air
ambulance
Just a reminder that the
Saturday Social on 19th April
( this Sat) is at The Shire
Horse along the A4 in
Littlewick Green Please feel
free to join us for a chat and
chomp from 1230
Sun 27th April sees the annual Toy Run to John Radcliffe
Hospital We will be riding to join Oxford Chapter at their deal-
ership where the main ride begins They usually put on a bit of a
do with DJ Rob Paston creating the musical backdrop Please
bring along a new unwrapped toy book or CDDVD suitable for
any age of child (remember fluffy toys food or chocolate are not
suitable) For anyone who hasnrsquot joined this ride before itrsquos in
memory of a young lad called Jake Spicer who loved Harleyrsquos
Jake sadly passed away through his illness two years ago
He always enjoyed the sight of bikers dressed up in bright colours
and to commemorate this we are all invited to wear or decorate
our bikes in yellow Pink was also one of Jakes favourite colours so
I am sure there will be a joyous mix
Itrsquos fantastic that Oxford invite us to their events and make us
feel so welcome too and its great that we are able to support
them but I canrsquot wait for news of when we might be getting our
own toy shop so we can reciprocate
There was a fantastic response for the Bath Christmas Market
with 16 ladies already confirming
their hotel roomshellip Bath doesnrsquot
know what going to hit them
If you would like to come itrsquos
still not too late to book Dates
are 28th -30th November 2014
Please may I collect any out-
standing monies by 1 May
I hope you all have a wonder-
ful Easter enjoy lots of over
indulging on lots of chocolate
and letrsquos hope the sun shines
7
Sue x
Where are you hiding the cake Don
8
This is the answer to what we do on the SofER weekend We arrange a get together in a nice location where we can camp have a few beers some good food a great parade through Ledbury and a ride out to a famous Cider Press What could be better
For those who do not want to camp there are hotels situated very locally and more within a short distance from the site
Ledbury
Program
Friday
Leave Guildford amp Maidenhead to ride up to
Ledbury stopping for lunch on the way
Arrive Friday afternoon and have Chili Fish
lsquonrsquo Chips supper in the club house
Music to be an open mike type event
Saturday
Full English Breakfast
Parade through Ledbury with flags flying and
then off on a ride-out through the Hereford-
shire countryside with a lunch stop and then a
trip around a local Cider Press
Take samples back to campsite for later
Music in function room and BBQ
Sunday
Breakfast
Ride back with a lunch stop
Costs
pound1000 per person
Tents Caravans amp Camper Vans
are pound10 per night to include use
of showerchanging rooms
A great weekend for pound40
for two persons plus food and
whatever you drink
Fish amp Chip supper pound5 per head
English Breakfast pound6 per head
BBQ pound7 per head
Music provided by Daversquos band
from Hogs back
Union 1st-3rd August
9
Hotels in Ledbury
Leadon House Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-631199 wwwleadonhousecom
The Feathers Hotel - pound130 per night
01531-635266 wwwfeathers-ledburycouk
The Talbot Hotel ndash Phone 0203-564-2773
wwwthetalbotinn-ledburycom
The Royal Oak Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-660300 wwwroyal-oakinncom
Premier Inn Ross on Wye - pound69 per night
0871-527-8944 wwwpremierinncom
Drinks
Carlsberg Xtra pound320
Bitter pound290
Becks pound320
Cider pound320
White wine pound350
It is a modern club with
eight changing rooms a function
room that seats 150
and a bar
The area is fenced and gated There is ample parking and room for tents
Why Ledbury Rugby Club
Linda
The first Poker Run was a great success at The Pineapple in Dorney It was well attended with 25 people turning up 6 of whom were on 2 bikes amp 2 trikes The choice of food as usual did not disappoint Huge sandwiches
filled with every conceivable combination of ingredients with chips or salad The evening was filled with laughter and conversation - a really enjoyable start to the Poker season
10
1st
Poker Run
11
Dust-off-the-Cobwebs Ride
By Paul Houghton
The 1st official ride-out of the season After the briefing a vote was taken and it was decided overwhelmingly by a landslide victory of 1 (me) to divert the ride to The Ace Cafe instead of Jacks Hill Cafe The drop off system was a bit tricky as once Id dropped myself I had to engage 1st and start off again real quick Oh and as itrsquos customary for the 1st ride the Road Capt bought everyone breakfast
A photo of all
the bikes lined
up for the first
ride of the
seasonhellip
Oh wait a
minute is that
a drop of rain I
see
Yes well done
Paul Houghton
for being the
only member
to brave the
weather and
turn up for the
ride
Meet the Members
Spotlight on
12
Gopher (aka John Clark)
Are you married Yes wersquove been together for 43 years Do you have any children We have four children Any pets Not any more
How long have you been riding motorbikes 50 years
What was your first bike Francis Barnet
When did you get your first Harley In 1995 I got a Wide Glide
What do you ride now I ride a 1997 Heritage Softail Springer
13
How long have you been a Thames Valley member Day one was on the first ever ride-out to Cheltenham
Any hobbies apart from motorbikes Irsquom an Aston Villa fan
Any special Harley experiences Went to100th anniversary in Milwaukee done Sturgis Myrtle Beach Daytona Las Vegas Bike Week Phoenix Memorial Ride to commemorate 1st anniversary of 911 - 7000 bikers took part Itrsquos been nice getting to know you Gopher thanks for the chat
April
Saturday Social
Sat 19th The Shire Horse
Littlewick Green 1230
Ace Cafeacute
Southend Shakedown
Monday 21st
845 Sportsable
1030 leave Ace Cafeacute
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 24th 600pm
John Radcliff Toy Run
Sunday 27th
900 Sportsable
May
Cider Rally
Friday 2nd
1000am Chieveley
to Mon 5th
Committee Night
Tuesday 6th 800pm
Seaside Fish lsquonrsquo Chips
Sat 17th 900am
Eastbourne amp Shawrsquos HD
114
May cont
Poker Run - 2
Weds 21st May 630
Venue TBA check website
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 29th 600pm
June
Committee Night
Tuesday 3rd 800pm
Picnic on the Green
Froxfield
Pat amp Barry welcome all
Sat 14th 1200 - 500
Club Night
Thursday 19th 730
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 26th 600pm
Chapter Chill-Out Weekend
Fri 27th -Sun 29th
Fri 900 am Sportsable Ride to Tewksbury
Cassington Bike Night
Mon 30th 630 SrsquoAble
Club Nights
May 15th
June 19th
July 17th
August 21st
September 18th
Mag contribution
Deadlines
M ay 8th
June 12th
July 10th
August 14th
September 11th
Dates events ride-outs and activities
Details correct at time of going to print Check the website for updates and amendments wwwthamesvalleyhogorguk
15
Entries for your Diary 2014
Oxford Toy Run
27th April
23rd Cider Rally
2nd - 5th May
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
Deva Legion Circus Maximus
12th - 14th September
Check website for Changes further
details on all events
16
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
4
Hi all welcome to Aprilrsquos Tales from the Riverbank
Since our last magazine our official riding season has started The first ride of
the season Blow out the Cobwebs up to Jacks Cafe in Towcester has been
arranged for the day The weather is looking a bit unsettled but who knows
The weathermen have been known to get it wrong a few times
Last week the first Poker Run was held at another favourite venue of ours The
Pineapple pub in Dorney The evening was attended by 25 members who
enjoyed a large choice of sandwiches and fries from the menu a great start to
the Poker season
Ledbury Convergence Ride The bookings for Ledbury are going really well with 39 members confirmed
from Thames Valley to attend the convergence weekend There are still plenty
of spaces available either camping or at local hotels
We have a full program booked for the weekend including a
parade through Ledbury town centre and a visit to Westons
Cider Mill If you would like more information or want to
book up for the weekend get in contact with me
Dealership Update Things are moving forward with the site at Reading at
last Outline Planning permission has been granted
and Russ and Mike are now talking to contractors
so we should see a dealership by the end of the year
on the site Great news
SofER 2015 Over the past few weeks I have been busy looking
for locations in our area for the SofER Rally in
2015 I came up with Windsor Race Course
Pat Colin and myself attended a meeting at the
Racecourse to have a look round and discuss our
needs for the Rally The site has a lot to offer
and the surrounding areas are full of great rides and
places to visit
The aerial view of
the site makes it
look very impress-
sive which it is
We are having a
meeting of the
SofER committee
very soon to
discuss all the
options for the
rally next year and
look at all the sites
put forward for
consideration by the other chapters Fingers crossed for the Racecourse
Mileage Chapter Challenge A great response from you all So far 45 members have signed up for this
yearrsquos challenge but we still need many more VIN numbers and mileages
Email the information over to me to be part of the challenge with prizes and
gift vouchers for the highest mileages at Novemberrsquos club night
Miles of Fun cards are available from Nick for a pound1 Remember to carry
them with you on every ride you attend and get them signed by the lead or
tail road crew member on the day We have many prizes to be won at the end
of the season
Rallies amp Rides The Cider Rally is only weeks away now and fancy dress is of a Tropical
theme this year Letrsquos make an extra effort for a large turnout from Thames
Valley in fancy dress The Cider Rally is the first of the season and is always
a great weekend away
April 27th is the Toy Run to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford We are
meeting up with Rolling Hills and Oxford Chapters for a Police escorted
mass ride to the childrenrsquos wards at the hospital As always the dress code
for the day is to wear YELLOW and decorate your bikes with YELLOW
ribbons I will have ribbon at Sportsable for decorating the bikes on the day
Please bring an Easter gift for the sick children - games books colouring
pencils things they can do on their beds A little Chocolate for the nurses
and doctors is always appreciated Letrsquos make this year a big turnout from
Thames Valley for the kiddies
Don 5
6
Sue says
Hello everyone
It was good to see a
good representation
of Thames Valley
members at Oxford for their coffee and cake morning
which was held on a lovely sunny spring Saturday in March
Dave and I escorted six bikes
which included two gents who
were new to ride-outs so a big
welcome Ron and Malcolm
Many others joined us at the
event which I understand
raised over pound230 for the air
ambulance
Just a reminder that the
Saturday Social on 19th April
( this Sat) is at The Shire
Horse along the A4 in
Littlewick Green Please feel
free to join us for a chat and
chomp from 1230
Sun 27th April sees the annual Toy Run to John Radcliffe
Hospital We will be riding to join Oxford Chapter at their deal-
ership where the main ride begins They usually put on a bit of a
do with DJ Rob Paston creating the musical backdrop Please
bring along a new unwrapped toy book or CDDVD suitable for
any age of child (remember fluffy toys food or chocolate are not
suitable) For anyone who hasnrsquot joined this ride before itrsquos in
memory of a young lad called Jake Spicer who loved Harleyrsquos
Jake sadly passed away through his illness two years ago
He always enjoyed the sight of bikers dressed up in bright colours
and to commemorate this we are all invited to wear or decorate
our bikes in yellow Pink was also one of Jakes favourite colours so
I am sure there will be a joyous mix
Itrsquos fantastic that Oxford invite us to their events and make us
feel so welcome too and its great that we are able to support
them but I canrsquot wait for news of when we might be getting our
own toy shop so we can reciprocate
There was a fantastic response for the Bath Christmas Market
with 16 ladies already confirming
their hotel roomshellip Bath doesnrsquot
know what going to hit them
If you would like to come itrsquos
still not too late to book Dates
are 28th -30th November 2014
Please may I collect any out-
standing monies by 1 May
I hope you all have a wonder-
ful Easter enjoy lots of over
indulging on lots of chocolate
and letrsquos hope the sun shines
7
Sue x
Where are you hiding the cake Don
8
This is the answer to what we do on the SofER weekend We arrange a get together in a nice location where we can camp have a few beers some good food a great parade through Ledbury and a ride out to a famous Cider Press What could be better
For those who do not want to camp there are hotels situated very locally and more within a short distance from the site
Ledbury
Program
Friday
Leave Guildford amp Maidenhead to ride up to
Ledbury stopping for lunch on the way
Arrive Friday afternoon and have Chili Fish
lsquonrsquo Chips supper in the club house
Music to be an open mike type event
Saturday
Full English Breakfast
Parade through Ledbury with flags flying and
then off on a ride-out through the Hereford-
shire countryside with a lunch stop and then a
trip around a local Cider Press
Take samples back to campsite for later
Music in function room and BBQ
Sunday
Breakfast
Ride back with a lunch stop
Costs
pound1000 per person
Tents Caravans amp Camper Vans
are pound10 per night to include use
of showerchanging rooms
A great weekend for pound40
for two persons plus food and
whatever you drink
Fish amp Chip supper pound5 per head
English Breakfast pound6 per head
BBQ pound7 per head
Music provided by Daversquos band
from Hogs back
Union 1st-3rd August
9
Hotels in Ledbury
Leadon House Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-631199 wwwleadonhousecom
The Feathers Hotel - pound130 per night
01531-635266 wwwfeathers-ledburycouk
The Talbot Hotel ndash Phone 0203-564-2773
wwwthetalbotinn-ledburycom
The Royal Oak Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-660300 wwwroyal-oakinncom
Premier Inn Ross on Wye - pound69 per night
0871-527-8944 wwwpremierinncom
Drinks
Carlsberg Xtra pound320
Bitter pound290
Becks pound320
Cider pound320
White wine pound350
It is a modern club with
eight changing rooms a function
room that seats 150
and a bar
The area is fenced and gated There is ample parking and room for tents
Why Ledbury Rugby Club
Linda
The first Poker Run was a great success at The Pineapple in Dorney It was well attended with 25 people turning up 6 of whom were on 2 bikes amp 2 trikes The choice of food as usual did not disappoint Huge sandwiches
filled with every conceivable combination of ingredients with chips or salad The evening was filled with laughter and conversation - a really enjoyable start to the Poker season
10
1st
Poker Run
11
Dust-off-the-Cobwebs Ride
By Paul Houghton
The 1st official ride-out of the season After the briefing a vote was taken and it was decided overwhelmingly by a landslide victory of 1 (me) to divert the ride to The Ace Cafe instead of Jacks Hill Cafe The drop off system was a bit tricky as once Id dropped myself I had to engage 1st and start off again real quick Oh and as itrsquos customary for the 1st ride the Road Capt bought everyone breakfast
A photo of all
the bikes lined
up for the first
ride of the
seasonhellip
Oh wait a
minute is that
a drop of rain I
see
Yes well done
Paul Houghton
for being the
only member
to brave the
weather and
turn up for the
ride
Meet the Members
Spotlight on
12
Gopher (aka John Clark)
Are you married Yes wersquove been together for 43 years Do you have any children We have four children Any pets Not any more
How long have you been riding motorbikes 50 years
What was your first bike Francis Barnet
When did you get your first Harley In 1995 I got a Wide Glide
What do you ride now I ride a 1997 Heritage Softail Springer
13
How long have you been a Thames Valley member Day one was on the first ever ride-out to Cheltenham
Any hobbies apart from motorbikes Irsquom an Aston Villa fan
Any special Harley experiences Went to100th anniversary in Milwaukee done Sturgis Myrtle Beach Daytona Las Vegas Bike Week Phoenix Memorial Ride to commemorate 1st anniversary of 911 - 7000 bikers took part Itrsquos been nice getting to know you Gopher thanks for the chat
April
Saturday Social
Sat 19th The Shire Horse
Littlewick Green 1230
Ace Cafeacute
Southend Shakedown
Monday 21st
845 Sportsable
1030 leave Ace Cafeacute
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 24th 600pm
John Radcliff Toy Run
Sunday 27th
900 Sportsable
May
Cider Rally
Friday 2nd
1000am Chieveley
to Mon 5th
Committee Night
Tuesday 6th 800pm
Seaside Fish lsquonrsquo Chips
Sat 17th 900am
Eastbourne amp Shawrsquos HD
114
May cont
Poker Run - 2
Weds 21st May 630
Venue TBA check website
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 29th 600pm
June
Committee Night
Tuesday 3rd 800pm
Picnic on the Green
Froxfield
Pat amp Barry welcome all
Sat 14th 1200 - 500
Club Night
Thursday 19th 730
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 26th 600pm
Chapter Chill-Out Weekend
Fri 27th -Sun 29th
Fri 900 am Sportsable Ride to Tewksbury
Cassington Bike Night
Mon 30th 630 SrsquoAble
Club Nights
May 15th
June 19th
July 17th
August 21st
September 18th
Mag contribution
Deadlines
M ay 8th
June 12th
July 10th
August 14th
September 11th
Dates events ride-outs and activities
Details correct at time of going to print Check the website for updates and amendments wwwthamesvalleyhogorguk
15
Entries for your Diary 2014
Oxford Toy Run
27th April
23rd Cider Rally
2nd - 5th May
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
Deva Legion Circus Maximus
12th - 14th September
Check website for Changes further
details on all events
16
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
The aerial view of
the site makes it
look very impress-
sive which it is
We are having a
meeting of the
SofER committee
very soon to
discuss all the
options for the
rally next year and
look at all the sites
put forward for
consideration by the other chapters Fingers crossed for the Racecourse
Mileage Chapter Challenge A great response from you all So far 45 members have signed up for this
yearrsquos challenge but we still need many more VIN numbers and mileages
Email the information over to me to be part of the challenge with prizes and
gift vouchers for the highest mileages at Novemberrsquos club night
Miles of Fun cards are available from Nick for a pound1 Remember to carry
them with you on every ride you attend and get them signed by the lead or
tail road crew member on the day We have many prizes to be won at the end
of the season
Rallies amp Rides The Cider Rally is only weeks away now and fancy dress is of a Tropical
theme this year Letrsquos make an extra effort for a large turnout from Thames
Valley in fancy dress The Cider Rally is the first of the season and is always
a great weekend away
April 27th is the Toy Run to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford We are
meeting up with Rolling Hills and Oxford Chapters for a Police escorted
mass ride to the childrenrsquos wards at the hospital As always the dress code
for the day is to wear YELLOW and decorate your bikes with YELLOW
ribbons I will have ribbon at Sportsable for decorating the bikes on the day
Please bring an Easter gift for the sick children - games books colouring
pencils things they can do on their beds A little Chocolate for the nurses
and doctors is always appreciated Letrsquos make this year a big turnout from
Thames Valley for the kiddies
Don 5
6
Sue says
Hello everyone
It was good to see a
good representation
of Thames Valley
members at Oxford for their coffee and cake morning
which was held on a lovely sunny spring Saturday in March
Dave and I escorted six bikes
which included two gents who
were new to ride-outs so a big
welcome Ron and Malcolm
Many others joined us at the
event which I understand
raised over pound230 for the air
ambulance
Just a reminder that the
Saturday Social on 19th April
( this Sat) is at The Shire
Horse along the A4 in
Littlewick Green Please feel
free to join us for a chat and
chomp from 1230
Sun 27th April sees the annual Toy Run to John Radcliffe
Hospital We will be riding to join Oxford Chapter at their deal-
ership where the main ride begins They usually put on a bit of a
do with DJ Rob Paston creating the musical backdrop Please
bring along a new unwrapped toy book or CDDVD suitable for
any age of child (remember fluffy toys food or chocolate are not
suitable) For anyone who hasnrsquot joined this ride before itrsquos in
memory of a young lad called Jake Spicer who loved Harleyrsquos
Jake sadly passed away through his illness two years ago
He always enjoyed the sight of bikers dressed up in bright colours
and to commemorate this we are all invited to wear or decorate
our bikes in yellow Pink was also one of Jakes favourite colours so
I am sure there will be a joyous mix
Itrsquos fantastic that Oxford invite us to their events and make us
feel so welcome too and its great that we are able to support
them but I canrsquot wait for news of when we might be getting our
own toy shop so we can reciprocate
There was a fantastic response for the Bath Christmas Market
with 16 ladies already confirming
their hotel roomshellip Bath doesnrsquot
know what going to hit them
If you would like to come itrsquos
still not too late to book Dates
are 28th -30th November 2014
Please may I collect any out-
standing monies by 1 May
I hope you all have a wonder-
ful Easter enjoy lots of over
indulging on lots of chocolate
and letrsquos hope the sun shines
7
Sue x
Where are you hiding the cake Don
8
This is the answer to what we do on the SofER weekend We arrange a get together in a nice location where we can camp have a few beers some good food a great parade through Ledbury and a ride out to a famous Cider Press What could be better
For those who do not want to camp there are hotels situated very locally and more within a short distance from the site
Ledbury
Program
Friday
Leave Guildford amp Maidenhead to ride up to
Ledbury stopping for lunch on the way
Arrive Friday afternoon and have Chili Fish
lsquonrsquo Chips supper in the club house
Music to be an open mike type event
Saturday
Full English Breakfast
Parade through Ledbury with flags flying and
then off on a ride-out through the Hereford-
shire countryside with a lunch stop and then a
trip around a local Cider Press
Take samples back to campsite for later
Music in function room and BBQ
Sunday
Breakfast
Ride back with a lunch stop
Costs
pound1000 per person
Tents Caravans amp Camper Vans
are pound10 per night to include use
of showerchanging rooms
A great weekend for pound40
for two persons plus food and
whatever you drink
Fish amp Chip supper pound5 per head
English Breakfast pound6 per head
BBQ pound7 per head
Music provided by Daversquos band
from Hogs back
Union 1st-3rd August
9
Hotels in Ledbury
Leadon House Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-631199 wwwleadonhousecom
The Feathers Hotel - pound130 per night
01531-635266 wwwfeathers-ledburycouk
The Talbot Hotel ndash Phone 0203-564-2773
wwwthetalbotinn-ledburycom
The Royal Oak Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-660300 wwwroyal-oakinncom
Premier Inn Ross on Wye - pound69 per night
0871-527-8944 wwwpremierinncom
Drinks
Carlsberg Xtra pound320
Bitter pound290
Becks pound320
Cider pound320
White wine pound350
It is a modern club with
eight changing rooms a function
room that seats 150
and a bar
The area is fenced and gated There is ample parking and room for tents
Why Ledbury Rugby Club
Linda
The first Poker Run was a great success at The Pineapple in Dorney It was well attended with 25 people turning up 6 of whom were on 2 bikes amp 2 trikes The choice of food as usual did not disappoint Huge sandwiches
filled with every conceivable combination of ingredients with chips or salad The evening was filled with laughter and conversation - a really enjoyable start to the Poker season
10
1st
Poker Run
11
Dust-off-the-Cobwebs Ride
By Paul Houghton
The 1st official ride-out of the season After the briefing a vote was taken and it was decided overwhelmingly by a landslide victory of 1 (me) to divert the ride to The Ace Cafe instead of Jacks Hill Cafe The drop off system was a bit tricky as once Id dropped myself I had to engage 1st and start off again real quick Oh and as itrsquos customary for the 1st ride the Road Capt bought everyone breakfast
A photo of all
the bikes lined
up for the first
ride of the
seasonhellip
Oh wait a
minute is that
a drop of rain I
see
Yes well done
Paul Houghton
for being the
only member
to brave the
weather and
turn up for the
ride
Meet the Members
Spotlight on
12
Gopher (aka John Clark)
Are you married Yes wersquove been together for 43 years Do you have any children We have four children Any pets Not any more
How long have you been riding motorbikes 50 years
What was your first bike Francis Barnet
When did you get your first Harley In 1995 I got a Wide Glide
What do you ride now I ride a 1997 Heritage Softail Springer
13
How long have you been a Thames Valley member Day one was on the first ever ride-out to Cheltenham
Any hobbies apart from motorbikes Irsquom an Aston Villa fan
Any special Harley experiences Went to100th anniversary in Milwaukee done Sturgis Myrtle Beach Daytona Las Vegas Bike Week Phoenix Memorial Ride to commemorate 1st anniversary of 911 - 7000 bikers took part Itrsquos been nice getting to know you Gopher thanks for the chat
April
Saturday Social
Sat 19th The Shire Horse
Littlewick Green 1230
Ace Cafeacute
Southend Shakedown
Monday 21st
845 Sportsable
1030 leave Ace Cafeacute
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 24th 600pm
John Radcliff Toy Run
Sunday 27th
900 Sportsable
May
Cider Rally
Friday 2nd
1000am Chieveley
to Mon 5th
Committee Night
Tuesday 6th 800pm
Seaside Fish lsquonrsquo Chips
Sat 17th 900am
Eastbourne amp Shawrsquos HD
114
May cont
Poker Run - 2
Weds 21st May 630
Venue TBA check website
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 29th 600pm
June
Committee Night
Tuesday 3rd 800pm
Picnic on the Green
Froxfield
Pat amp Barry welcome all
Sat 14th 1200 - 500
Club Night
Thursday 19th 730
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 26th 600pm
Chapter Chill-Out Weekend
Fri 27th -Sun 29th
Fri 900 am Sportsable Ride to Tewksbury
Cassington Bike Night
Mon 30th 630 SrsquoAble
Club Nights
May 15th
June 19th
July 17th
August 21st
September 18th
Mag contribution
Deadlines
M ay 8th
June 12th
July 10th
August 14th
September 11th
Dates events ride-outs and activities
Details correct at time of going to print Check the website for updates and amendments wwwthamesvalleyhogorguk
15
Entries for your Diary 2014
Oxford Toy Run
27th April
23rd Cider Rally
2nd - 5th May
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
Deva Legion Circus Maximus
12th - 14th September
Check website for Changes further
details on all events
16
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
6
Sue says
Hello everyone
It was good to see a
good representation
of Thames Valley
members at Oxford for their coffee and cake morning
which was held on a lovely sunny spring Saturday in March
Dave and I escorted six bikes
which included two gents who
were new to ride-outs so a big
welcome Ron and Malcolm
Many others joined us at the
event which I understand
raised over pound230 for the air
ambulance
Just a reminder that the
Saturday Social on 19th April
( this Sat) is at The Shire
Horse along the A4 in
Littlewick Green Please feel
free to join us for a chat and
chomp from 1230
Sun 27th April sees the annual Toy Run to John Radcliffe
Hospital We will be riding to join Oxford Chapter at their deal-
ership where the main ride begins They usually put on a bit of a
do with DJ Rob Paston creating the musical backdrop Please
bring along a new unwrapped toy book or CDDVD suitable for
any age of child (remember fluffy toys food or chocolate are not
suitable) For anyone who hasnrsquot joined this ride before itrsquos in
memory of a young lad called Jake Spicer who loved Harleyrsquos
Jake sadly passed away through his illness two years ago
He always enjoyed the sight of bikers dressed up in bright colours
and to commemorate this we are all invited to wear or decorate
our bikes in yellow Pink was also one of Jakes favourite colours so
I am sure there will be a joyous mix
Itrsquos fantastic that Oxford invite us to their events and make us
feel so welcome too and its great that we are able to support
them but I canrsquot wait for news of when we might be getting our
own toy shop so we can reciprocate
There was a fantastic response for the Bath Christmas Market
with 16 ladies already confirming
their hotel roomshellip Bath doesnrsquot
know what going to hit them
If you would like to come itrsquos
still not too late to book Dates
are 28th -30th November 2014
Please may I collect any out-
standing monies by 1 May
I hope you all have a wonder-
ful Easter enjoy lots of over
indulging on lots of chocolate
and letrsquos hope the sun shines
7
Sue x
Where are you hiding the cake Don
8
This is the answer to what we do on the SofER weekend We arrange a get together in a nice location where we can camp have a few beers some good food a great parade through Ledbury and a ride out to a famous Cider Press What could be better
For those who do not want to camp there are hotels situated very locally and more within a short distance from the site
Ledbury
Program
Friday
Leave Guildford amp Maidenhead to ride up to
Ledbury stopping for lunch on the way
Arrive Friday afternoon and have Chili Fish
lsquonrsquo Chips supper in the club house
Music to be an open mike type event
Saturday
Full English Breakfast
Parade through Ledbury with flags flying and
then off on a ride-out through the Hereford-
shire countryside with a lunch stop and then a
trip around a local Cider Press
Take samples back to campsite for later
Music in function room and BBQ
Sunday
Breakfast
Ride back with a lunch stop
Costs
pound1000 per person
Tents Caravans amp Camper Vans
are pound10 per night to include use
of showerchanging rooms
A great weekend for pound40
for two persons plus food and
whatever you drink
Fish amp Chip supper pound5 per head
English Breakfast pound6 per head
BBQ pound7 per head
Music provided by Daversquos band
from Hogs back
Union 1st-3rd August
9
Hotels in Ledbury
Leadon House Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-631199 wwwleadonhousecom
The Feathers Hotel - pound130 per night
01531-635266 wwwfeathers-ledburycouk
The Talbot Hotel ndash Phone 0203-564-2773
wwwthetalbotinn-ledburycom
The Royal Oak Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-660300 wwwroyal-oakinncom
Premier Inn Ross on Wye - pound69 per night
0871-527-8944 wwwpremierinncom
Drinks
Carlsberg Xtra pound320
Bitter pound290
Becks pound320
Cider pound320
White wine pound350
It is a modern club with
eight changing rooms a function
room that seats 150
and a bar
The area is fenced and gated There is ample parking and room for tents
Why Ledbury Rugby Club
Linda
The first Poker Run was a great success at The Pineapple in Dorney It was well attended with 25 people turning up 6 of whom were on 2 bikes amp 2 trikes The choice of food as usual did not disappoint Huge sandwiches
filled with every conceivable combination of ingredients with chips or salad The evening was filled with laughter and conversation - a really enjoyable start to the Poker season
10
1st
Poker Run
11
Dust-off-the-Cobwebs Ride
By Paul Houghton
The 1st official ride-out of the season After the briefing a vote was taken and it was decided overwhelmingly by a landslide victory of 1 (me) to divert the ride to The Ace Cafe instead of Jacks Hill Cafe The drop off system was a bit tricky as once Id dropped myself I had to engage 1st and start off again real quick Oh and as itrsquos customary for the 1st ride the Road Capt bought everyone breakfast
A photo of all
the bikes lined
up for the first
ride of the
seasonhellip
Oh wait a
minute is that
a drop of rain I
see
Yes well done
Paul Houghton
for being the
only member
to brave the
weather and
turn up for the
ride
Meet the Members
Spotlight on
12
Gopher (aka John Clark)
Are you married Yes wersquove been together for 43 years Do you have any children We have four children Any pets Not any more
How long have you been riding motorbikes 50 years
What was your first bike Francis Barnet
When did you get your first Harley In 1995 I got a Wide Glide
What do you ride now I ride a 1997 Heritage Softail Springer
13
How long have you been a Thames Valley member Day one was on the first ever ride-out to Cheltenham
Any hobbies apart from motorbikes Irsquom an Aston Villa fan
Any special Harley experiences Went to100th anniversary in Milwaukee done Sturgis Myrtle Beach Daytona Las Vegas Bike Week Phoenix Memorial Ride to commemorate 1st anniversary of 911 - 7000 bikers took part Itrsquos been nice getting to know you Gopher thanks for the chat
April
Saturday Social
Sat 19th The Shire Horse
Littlewick Green 1230
Ace Cafeacute
Southend Shakedown
Monday 21st
845 Sportsable
1030 leave Ace Cafeacute
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 24th 600pm
John Radcliff Toy Run
Sunday 27th
900 Sportsable
May
Cider Rally
Friday 2nd
1000am Chieveley
to Mon 5th
Committee Night
Tuesday 6th 800pm
Seaside Fish lsquonrsquo Chips
Sat 17th 900am
Eastbourne amp Shawrsquos HD
114
May cont
Poker Run - 2
Weds 21st May 630
Venue TBA check website
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 29th 600pm
June
Committee Night
Tuesday 3rd 800pm
Picnic on the Green
Froxfield
Pat amp Barry welcome all
Sat 14th 1200 - 500
Club Night
Thursday 19th 730
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 26th 600pm
Chapter Chill-Out Weekend
Fri 27th -Sun 29th
Fri 900 am Sportsable Ride to Tewksbury
Cassington Bike Night
Mon 30th 630 SrsquoAble
Club Nights
May 15th
June 19th
July 17th
August 21st
September 18th
Mag contribution
Deadlines
M ay 8th
June 12th
July 10th
August 14th
September 11th
Dates events ride-outs and activities
Details correct at time of going to print Check the website for updates and amendments wwwthamesvalleyhogorguk
15
Entries for your Diary 2014
Oxford Toy Run
27th April
23rd Cider Rally
2nd - 5th May
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
Deva Legion Circus Maximus
12th - 14th September
Check website for Changes further
details on all events
16
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Sun 27th April sees the annual Toy Run to John Radcliffe
Hospital We will be riding to join Oxford Chapter at their deal-
ership where the main ride begins They usually put on a bit of a
do with DJ Rob Paston creating the musical backdrop Please
bring along a new unwrapped toy book or CDDVD suitable for
any age of child (remember fluffy toys food or chocolate are not
suitable) For anyone who hasnrsquot joined this ride before itrsquos in
memory of a young lad called Jake Spicer who loved Harleyrsquos
Jake sadly passed away through his illness two years ago
He always enjoyed the sight of bikers dressed up in bright colours
and to commemorate this we are all invited to wear or decorate
our bikes in yellow Pink was also one of Jakes favourite colours so
I am sure there will be a joyous mix
Itrsquos fantastic that Oxford invite us to their events and make us
feel so welcome too and its great that we are able to support
them but I canrsquot wait for news of when we might be getting our
own toy shop so we can reciprocate
There was a fantastic response for the Bath Christmas Market
with 16 ladies already confirming
their hotel roomshellip Bath doesnrsquot
know what going to hit them
If you would like to come itrsquos
still not too late to book Dates
are 28th -30th November 2014
Please may I collect any out-
standing monies by 1 May
I hope you all have a wonder-
ful Easter enjoy lots of over
indulging on lots of chocolate
and letrsquos hope the sun shines
7
Sue x
Where are you hiding the cake Don
8
This is the answer to what we do on the SofER weekend We arrange a get together in a nice location where we can camp have a few beers some good food a great parade through Ledbury and a ride out to a famous Cider Press What could be better
For those who do not want to camp there are hotels situated very locally and more within a short distance from the site
Ledbury
Program
Friday
Leave Guildford amp Maidenhead to ride up to
Ledbury stopping for lunch on the way
Arrive Friday afternoon and have Chili Fish
lsquonrsquo Chips supper in the club house
Music to be an open mike type event
Saturday
Full English Breakfast
Parade through Ledbury with flags flying and
then off on a ride-out through the Hereford-
shire countryside with a lunch stop and then a
trip around a local Cider Press
Take samples back to campsite for later
Music in function room and BBQ
Sunday
Breakfast
Ride back with a lunch stop
Costs
pound1000 per person
Tents Caravans amp Camper Vans
are pound10 per night to include use
of showerchanging rooms
A great weekend for pound40
for two persons plus food and
whatever you drink
Fish amp Chip supper pound5 per head
English Breakfast pound6 per head
BBQ pound7 per head
Music provided by Daversquos band
from Hogs back
Union 1st-3rd August
9
Hotels in Ledbury
Leadon House Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-631199 wwwleadonhousecom
The Feathers Hotel - pound130 per night
01531-635266 wwwfeathers-ledburycouk
The Talbot Hotel ndash Phone 0203-564-2773
wwwthetalbotinn-ledburycom
The Royal Oak Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-660300 wwwroyal-oakinncom
Premier Inn Ross on Wye - pound69 per night
0871-527-8944 wwwpremierinncom
Drinks
Carlsberg Xtra pound320
Bitter pound290
Becks pound320
Cider pound320
White wine pound350
It is a modern club with
eight changing rooms a function
room that seats 150
and a bar
The area is fenced and gated There is ample parking and room for tents
Why Ledbury Rugby Club
Linda
The first Poker Run was a great success at The Pineapple in Dorney It was well attended with 25 people turning up 6 of whom were on 2 bikes amp 2 trikes The choice of food as usual did not disappoint Huge sandwiches
filled with every conceivable combination of ingredients with chips or salad The evening was filled with laughter and conversation - a really enjoyable start to the Poker season
10
1st
Poker Run
11
Dust-off-the-Cobwebs Ride
By Paul Houghton
The 1st official ride-out of the season After the briefing a vote was taken and it was decided overwhelmingly by a landslide victory of 1 (me) to divert the ride to The Ace Cafe instead of Jacks Hill Cafe The drop off system was a bit tricky as once Id dropped myself I had to engage 1st and start off again real quick Oh and as itrsquos customary for the 1st ride the Road Capt bought everyone breakfast
A photo of all
the bikes lined
up for the first
ride of the
seasonhellip
Oh wait a
minute is that
a drop of rain I
see
Yes well done
Paul Houghton
for being the
only member
to brave the
weather and
turn up for the
ride
Meet the Members
Spotlight on
12
Gopher (aka John Clark)
Are you married Yes wersquove been together for 43 years Do you have any children We have four children Any pets Not any more
How long have you been riding motorbikes 50 years
What was your first bike Francis Barnet
When did you get your first Harley In 1995 I got a Wide Glide
What do you ride now I ride a 1997 Heritage Softail Springer
13
How long have you been a Thames Valley member Day one was on the first ever ride-out to Cheltenham
Any hobbies apart from motorbikes Irsquom an Aston Villa fan
Any special Harley experiences Went to100th anniversary in Milwaukee done Sturgis Myrtle Beach Daytona Las Vegas Bike Week Phoenix Memorial Ride to commemorate 1st anniversary of 911 - 7000 bikers took part Itrsquos been nice getting to know you Gopher thanks for the chat
April
Saturday Social
Sat 19th The Shire Horse
Littlewick Green 1230
Ace Cafeacute
Southend Shakedown
Monday 21st
845 Sportsable
1030 leave Ace Cafeacute
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 24th 600pm
John Radcliff Toy Run
Sunday 27th
900 Sportsable
May
Cider Rally
Friday 2nd
1000am Chieveley
to Mon 5th
Committee Night
Tuesday 6th 800pm
Seaside Fish lsquonrsquo Chips
Sat 17th 900am
Eastbourne amp Shawrsquos HD
114
May cont
Poker Run - 2
Weds 21st May 630
Venue TBA check website
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 29th 600pm
June
Committee Night
Tuesday 3rd 800pm
Picnic on the Green
Froxfield
Pat amp Barry welcome all
Sat 14th 1200 - 500
Club Night
Thursday 19th 730
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 26th 600pm
Chapter Chill-Out Weekend
Fri 27th -Sun 29th
Fri 900 am Sportsable Ride to Tewksbury
Cassington Bike Night
Mon 30th 630 SrsquoAble
Club Nights
May 15th
June 19th
July 17th
August 21st
September 18th
Mag contribution
Deadlines
M ay 8th
June 12th
July 10th
August 14th
September 11th
Dates events ride-outs and activities
Details correct at time of going to print Check the website for updates and amendments wwwthamesvalleyhogorguk
15
Entries for your Diary 2014
Oxford Toy Run
27th April
23rd Cider Rally
2nd - 5th May
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
Deva Legion Circus Maximus
12th - 14th September
Check website for Changes further
details on all events
16
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
8
This is the answer to what we do on the SofER weekend We arrange a get together in a nice location where we can camp have a few beers some good food a great parade through Ledbury and a ride out to a famous Cider Press What could be better
For those who do not want to camp there are hotels situated very locally and more within a short distance from the site
Ledbury
Program
Friday
Leave Guildford amp Maidenhead to ride up to
Ledbury stopping for lunch on the way
Arrive Friday afternoon and have Chili Fish
lsquonrsquo Chips supper in the club house
Music to be an open mike type event
Saturday
Full English Breakfast
Parade through Ledbury with flags flying and
then off on a ride-out through the Hereford-
shire countryside with a lunch stop and then a
trip around a local Cider Press
Take samples back to campsite for later
Music in function room and BBQ
Sunday
Breakfast
Ride back with a lunch stop
Costs
pound1000 per person
Tents Caravans amp Camper Vans
are pound10 per night to include use
of showerchanging rooms
A great weekend for pound40
for two persons plus food and
whatever you drink
Fish amp Chip supper pound5 per head
English Breakfast pound6 per head
BBQ pound7 per head
Music provided by Daversquos band
from Hogs back
Union 1st-3rd August
9
Hotels in Ledbury
Leadon House Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-631199 wwwleadonhousecom
The Feathers Hotel - pound130 per night
01531-635266 wwwfeathers-ledburycouk
The Talbot Hotel ndash Phone 0203-564-2773
wwwthetalbotinn-ledburycom
The Royal Oak Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-660300 wwwroyal-oakinncom
Premier Inn Ross on Wye - pound69 per night
0871-527-8944 wwwpremierinncom
Drinks
Carlsberg Xtra pound320
Bitter pound290
Becks pound320
Cider pound320
White wine pound350
It is a modern club with
eight changing rooms a function
room that seats 150
and a bar
The area is fenced and gated There is ample parking and room for tents
Why Ledbury Rugby Club
Linda
The first Poker Run was a great success at The Pineapple in Dorney It was well attended with 25 people turning up 6 of whom were on 2 bikes amp 2 trikes The choice of food as usual did not disappoint Huge sandwiches
filled with every conceivable combination of ingredients with chips or salad The evening was filled with laughter and conversation - a really enjoyable start to the Poker season
10
1st
Poker Run
11
Dust-off-the-Cobwebs Ride
By Paul Houghton
The 1st official ride-out of the season After the briefing a vote was taken and it was decided overwhelmingly by a landslide victory of 1 (me) to divert the ride to The Ace Cafe instead of Jacks Hill Cafe The drop off system was a bit tricky as once Id dropped myself I had to engage 1st and start off again real quick Oh and as itrsquos customary for the 1st ride the Road Capt bought everyone breakfast
A photo of all
the bikes lined
up for the first
ride of the
seasonhellip
Oh wait a
minute is that
a drop of rain I
see
Yes well done
Paul Houghton
for being the
only member
to brave the
weather and
turn up for the
ride
Meet the Members
Spotlight on
12
Gopher (aka John Clark)
Are you married Yes wersquove been together for 43 years Do you have any children We have four children Any pets Not any more
How long have you been riding motorbikes 50 years
What was your first bike Francis Barnet
When did you get your first Harley In 1995 I got a Wide Glide
What do you ride now I ride a 1997 Heritage Softail Springer
13
How long have you been a Thames Valley member Day one was on the first ever ride-out to Cheltenham
Any hobbies apart from motorbikes Irsquom an Aston Villa fan
Any special Harley experiences Went to100th anniversary in Milwaukee done Sturgis Myrtle Beach Daytona Las Vegas Bike Week Phoenix Memorial Ride to commemorate 1st anniversary of 911 - 7000 bikers took part Itrsquos been nice getting to know you Gopher thanks for the chat
April
Saturday Social
Sat 19th The Shire Horse
Littlewick Green 1230
Ace Cafeacute
Southend Shakedown
Monday 21st
845 Sportsable
1030 leave Ace Cafeacute
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 24th 600pm
John Radcliff Toy Run
Sunday 27th
900 Sportsable
May
Cider Rally
Friday 2nd
1000am Chieveley
to Mon 5th
Committee Night
Tuesday 6th 800pm
Seaside Fish lsquonrsquo Chips
Sat 17th 900am
Eastbourne amp Shawrsquos HD
114
May cont
Poker Run - 2
Weds 21st May 630
Venue TBA check website
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 29th 600pm
June
Committee Night
Tuesday 3rd 800pm
Picnic on the Green
Froxfield
Pat amp Barry welcome all
Sat 14th 1200 - 500
Club Night
Thursday 19th 730
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 26th 600pm
Chapter Chill-Out Weekend
Fri 27th -Sun 29th
Fri 900 am Sportsable Ride to Tewksbury
Cassington Bike Night
Mon 30th 630 SrsquoAble
Club Nights
May 15th
June 19th
July 17th
August 21st
September 18th
Mag contribution
Deadlines
M ay 8th
June 12th
July 10th
August 14th
September 11th
Dates events ride-outs and activities
Details correct at time of going to print Check the website for updates and amendments wwwthamesvalleyhogorguk
15
Entries for your Diary 2014
Oxford Toy Run
27th April
23rd Cider Rally
2nd - 5th May
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
Deva Legion Circus Maximus
12th - 14th September
Check website for Changes further
details on all events
16
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
9
Hotels in Ledbury
Leadon House Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-631199 wwwleadonhousecom
The Feathers Hotel - pound130 per night
01531-635266 wwwfeathers-ledburycouk
The Talbot Hotel ndash Phone 0203-564-2773
wwwthetalbotinn-ledburycom
The Royal Oak Hotel - pound95 per night
01531-660300 wwwroyal-oakinncom
Premier Inn Ross on Wye - pound69 per night
0871-527-8944 wwwpremierinncom
Drinks
Carlsberg Xtra pound320
Bitter pound290
Becks pound320
Cider pound320
White wine pound350
It is a modern club with
eight changing rooms a function
room that seats 150
and a bar
The area is fenced and gated There is ample parking and room for tents
Why Ledbury Rugby Club
Linda
The first Poker Run was a great success at The Pineapple in Dorney It was well attended with 25 people turning up 6 of whom were on 2 bikes amp 2 trikes The choice of food as usual did not disappoint Huge sandwiches
filled with every conceivable combination of ingredients with chips or salad The evening was filled with laughter and conversation - a really enjoyable start to the Poker season
10
1st
Poker Run
11
Dust-off-the-Cobwebs Ride
By Paul Houghton
The 1st official ride-out of the season After the briefing a vote was taken and it was decided overwhelmingly by a landslide victory of 1 (me) to divert the ride to The Ace Cafe instead of Jacks Hill Cafe The drop off system was a bit tricky as once Id dropped myself I had to engage 1st and start off again real quick Oh and as itrsquos customary for the 1st ride the Road Capt bought everyone breakfast
A photo of all
the bikes lined
up for the first
ride of the
seasonhellip
Oh wait a
minute is that
a drop of rain I
see
Yes well done
Paul Houghton
for being the
only member
to brave the
weather and
turn up for the
ride
Meet the Members
Spotlight on
12
Gopher (aka John Clark)
Are you married Yes wersquove been together for 43 years Do you have any children We have four children Any pets Not any more
How long have you been riding motorbikes 50 years
What was your first bike Francis Barnet
When did you get your first Harley In 1995 I got a Wide Glide
What do you ride now I ride a 1997 Heritage Softail Springer
13
How long have you been a Thames Valley member Day one was on the first ever ride-out to Cheltenham
Any hobbies apart from motorbikes Irsquom an Aston Villa fan
Any special Harley experiences Went to100th anniversary in Milwaukee done Sturgis Myrtle Beach Daytona Las Vegas Bike Week Phoenix Memorial Ride to commemorate 1st anniversary of 911 - 7000 bikers took part Itrsquos been nice getting to know you Gopher thanks for the chat
April
Saturday Social
Sat 19th The Shire Horse
Littlewick Green 1230
Ace Cafeacute
Southend Shakedown
Monday 21st
845 Sportsable
1030 leave Ace Cafeacute
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 24th 600pm
John Radcliff Toy Run
Sunday 27th
900 Sportsable
May
Cider Rally
Friday 2nd
1000am Chieveley
to Mon 5th
Committee Night
Tuesday 6th 800pm
Seaside Fish lsquonrsquo Chips
Sat 17th 900am
Eastbourne amp Shawrsquos HD
114
May cont
Poker Run - 2
Weds 21st May 630
Venue TBA check website
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 29th 600pm
June
Committee Night
Tuesday 3rd 800pm
Picnic on the Green
Froxfield
Pat amp Barry welcome all
Sat 14th 1200 - 500
Club Night
Thursday 19th 730
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 26th 600pm
Chapter Chill-Out Weekend
Fri 27th -Sun 29th
Fri 900 am Sportsable Ride to Tewksbury
Cassington Bike Night
Mon 30th 630 SrsquoAble
Club Nights
May 15th
June 19th
July 17th
August 21st
September 18th
Mag contribution
Deadlines
M ay 8th
June 12th
July 10th
August 14th
September 11th
Dates events ride-outs and activities
Details correct at time of going to print Check the website for updates and amendments wwwthamesvalleyhogorguk
15
Entries for your Diary 2014
Oxford Toy Run
27th April
23rd Cider Rally
2nd - 5th May
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
Deva Legion Circus Maximus
12th - 14th September
Check website for Changes further
details on all events
16
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Linda
The first Poker Run was a great success at The Pineapple in Dorney It was well attended with 25 people turning up 6 of whom were on 2 bikes amp 2 trikes The choice of food as usual did not disappoint Huge sandwiches
filled with every conceivable combination of ingredients with chips or salad The evening was filled with laughter and conversation - a really enjoyable start to the Poker season
10
1st
Poker Run
11
Dust-off-the-Cobwebs Ride
By Paul Houghton
The 1st official ride-out of the season After the briefing a vote was taken and it was decided overwhelmingly by a landslide victory of 1 (me) to divert the ride to The Ace Cafe instead of Jacks Hill Cafe The drop off system was a bit tricky as once Id dropped myself I had to engage 1st and start off again real quick Oh and as itrsquos customary for the 1st ride the Road Capt bought everyone breakfast
A photo of all
the bikes lined
up for the first
ride of the
seasonhellip
Oh wait a
minute is that
a drop of rain I
see
Yes well done
Paul Houghton
for being the
only member
to brave the
weather and
turn up for the
ride
Meet the Members
Spotlight on
12
Gopher (aka John Clark)
Are you married Yes wersquove been together for 43 years Do you have any children We have four children Any pets Not any more
How long have you been riding motorbikes 50 years
What was your first bike Francis Barnet
When did you get your first Harley In 1995 I got a Wide Glide
What do you ride now I ride a 1997 Heritage Softail Springer
13
How long have you been a Thames Valley member Day one was on the first ever ride-out to Cheltenham
Any hobbies apart from motorbikes Irsquom an Aston Villa fan
Any special Harley experiences Went to100th anniversary in Milwaukee done Sturgis Myrtle Beach Daytona Las Vegas Bike Week Phoenix Memorial Ride to commemorate 1st anniversary of 911 - 7000 bikers took part Itrsquos been nice getting to know you Gopher thanks for the chat
April
Saturday Social
Sat 19th The Shire Horse
Littlewick Green 1230
Ace Cafeacute
Southend Shakedown
Monday 21st
845 Sportsable
1030 leave Ace Cafeacute
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 24th 600pm
John Radcliff Toy Run
Sunday 27th
900 Sportsable
May
Cider Rally
Friday 2nd
1000am Chieveley
to Mon 5th
Committee Night
Tuesday 6th 800pm
Seaside Fish lsquonrsquo Chips
Sat 17th 900am
Eastbourne amp Shawrsquos HD
114
May cont
Poker Run - 2
Weds 21st May 630
Venue TBA check website
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 29th 600pm
June
Committee Night
Tuesday 3rd 800pm
Picnic on the Green
Froxfield
Pat amp Barry welcome all
Sat 14th 1200 - 500
Club Night
Thursday 19th 730
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 26th 600pm
Chapter Chill-Out Weekend
Fri 27th -Sun 29th
Fri 900 am Sportsable Ride to Tewksbury
Cassington Bike Night
Mon 30th 630 SrsquoAble
Club Nights
May 15th
June 19th
July 17th
August 21st
September 18th
Mag contribution
Deadlines
M ay 8th
June 12th
July 10th
August 14th
September 11th
Dates events ride-outs and activities
Details correct at time of going to print Check the website for updates and amendments wwwthamesvalleyhogorguk
15
Entries for your Diary 2014
Oxford Toy Run
27th April
23rd Cider Rally
2nd - 5th May
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
Deva Legion Circus Maximus
12th - 14th September
Check website for Changes further
details on all events
16
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
11
Dust-off-the-Cobwebs Ride
By Paul Houghton
The 1st official ride-out of the season After the briefing a vote was taken and it was decided overwhelmingly by a landslide victory of 1 (me) to divert the ride to The Ace Cafe instead of Jacks Hill Cafe The drop off system was a bit tricky as once Id dropped myself I had to engage 1st and start off again real quick Oh and as itrsquos customary for the 1st ride the Road Capt bought everyone breakfast
A photo of all
the bikes lined
up for the first
ride of the
seasonhellip
Oh wait a
minute is that
a drop of rain I
see
Yes well done
Paul Houghton
for being the
only member
to brave the
weather and
turn up for the
ride
Meet the Members
Spotlight on
12
Gopher (aka John Clark)
Are you married Yes wersquove been together for 43 years Do you have any children We have four children Any pets Not any more
How long have you been riding motorbikes 50 years
What was your first bike Francis Barnet
When did you get your first Harley In 1995 I got a Wide Glide
What do you ride now I ride a 1997 Heritage Softail Springer
13
How long have you been a Thames Valley member Day one was on the first ever ride-out to Cheltenham
Any hobbies apart from motorbikes Irsquom an Aston Villa fan
Any special Harley experiences Went to100th anniversary in Milwaukee done Sturgis Myrtle Beach Daytona Las Vegas Bike Week Phoenix Memorial Ride to commemorate 1st anniversary of 911 - 7000 bikers took part Itrsquos been nice getting to know you Gopher thanks for the chat
April
Saturday Social
Sat 19th The Shire Horse
Littlewick Green 1230
Ace Cafeacute
Southend Shakedown
Monday 21st
845 Sportsable
1030 leave Ace Cafeacute
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 24th 600pm
John Radcliff Toy Run
Sunday 27th
900 Sportsable
May
Cider Rally
Friday 2nd
1000am Chieveley
to Mon 5th
Committee Night
Tuesday 6th 800pm
Seaside Fish lsquonrsquo Chips
Sat 17th 900am
Eastbourne amp Shawrsquos HD
114
May cont
Poker Run - 2
Weds 21st May 630
Venue TBA check website
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 29th 600pm
June
Committee Night
Tuesday 3rd 800pm
Picnic on the Green
Froxfield
Pat amp Barry welcome all
Sat 14th 1200 - 500
Club Night
Thursday 19th 730
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 26th 600pm
Chapter Chill-Out Weekend
Fri 27th -Sun 29th
Fri 900 am Sportsable Ride to Tewksbury
Cassington Bike Night
Mon 30th 630 SrsquoAble
Club Nights
May 15th
June 19th
July 17th
August 21st
September 18th
Mag contribution
Deadlines
M ay 8th
June 12th
July 10th
August 14th
September 11th
Dates events ride-outs and activities
Details correct at time of going to print Check the website for updates and amendments wwwthamesvalleyhogorguk
15
Entries for your Diary 2014
Oxford Toy Run
27th April
23rd Cider Rally
2nd - 5th May
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
Deva Legion Circus Maximus
12th - 14th September
Check website for Changes further
details on all events
16
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Meet the Members
Spotlight on
12
Gopher (aka John Clark)
Are you married Yes wersquove been together for 43 years Do you have any children We have four children Any pets Not any more
How long have you been riding motorbikes 50 years
What was your first bike Francis Barnet
When did you get your first Harley In 1995 I got a Wide Glide
What do you ride now I ride a 1997 Heritage Softail Springer
13
How long have you been a Thames Valley member Day one was on the first ever ride-out to Cheltenham
Any hobbies apart from motorbikes Irsquom an Aston Villa fan
Any special Harley experiences Went to100th anniversary in Milwaukee done Sturgis Myrtle Beach Daytona Las Vegas Bike Week Phoenix Memorial Ride to commemorate 1st anniversary of 911 - 7000 bikers took part Itrsquos been nice getting to know you Gopher thanks for the chat
April
Saturday Social
Sat 19th The Shire Horse
Littlewick Green 1230
Ace Cafeacute
Southend Shakedown
Monday 21st
845 Sportsable
1030 leave Ace Cafeacute
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 24th 600pm
John Radcliff Toy Run
Sunday 27th
900 Sportsable
May
Cider Rally
Friday 2nd
1000am Chieveley
to Mon 5th
Committee Night
Tuesday 6th 800pm
Seaside Fish lsquonrsquo Chips
Sat 17th 900am
Eastbourne amp Shawrsquos HD
114
May cont
Poker Run - 2
Weds 21st May 630
Venue TBA check website
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 29th 600pm
June
Committee Night
Tuesday 3rd 800pm
Picnic on the Green
Froxfield
Pat amp Barry welcome all
Sat 14th 1200 - 500
Club Night
Thursday 19th 730
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 26th 600pm
Chapter Chill-Out Weekend
Fri 27th -Sun 29th
Fri 900 am Sportsable Ride to Tewksbury
Cassington Bike Night
Mon 30th 630 SrsquoAble
Club Nights
May 15th
June 19th
July 17th
August 21st
September 18th
Mag contribution
Deadlines
M ay 8th
June 12th
July 10th
August 14th
September 11th
Dates events ride-outs and activities
Details correct at time of going to print Check the website for updates and amendments wwwthamesvalleyhogorguk
15
Entries for your Diary 2014
Oxford Toy Run
27th April
23rd Cider Rally
2nd - 5th May
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
Deva Legion Circus Maximus
12th - 14th September
Check website for Changes further
details on all events
16
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
13
How long have you been a Thames Valley member Day one was on the first ever ride-out to Cheltenham
Any hobbies apart from motorbikes Irsquom an Aston Villa fan
Any special Harley experiences Went to100th anniversary in Milwaukee done Sturgis Myrtle Beach Daytona Las Vegas Bike Week Phoenix Memorial Ride to commemorate 1st anniversary of 911 - 7000 bikers took part Itrsquos been nice getting to know you Gopher thanks for the chat
April
Saturday Social
Sat 19th The Shire Horse
Littlewick Green 1230
Ace Cafeacute
Southend Shakedown
Monday 21st
845 Sportsable
1030 leave Ace Cafeacute
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 24th 600pm
John Radcliff Toy Run
Sunday 27th
900 Sportsable
May
Cider Rally
Friday 2nd
1000am Chieveley
to Mon 5th
Committee Night
Tuesday 6th 800pm
Seaside Fish lsquonrsquo Chips
Sat 17th 900am
Eastbourne amp Shawrsquos HD
114
May cont
Poker Run - 2
Weds 21st May 630
Venue TBA check website
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 29th 600pm
June
Committee Night
Tuesday 3rd 800pm
Picnic on the Green
Froxfield
Pat amp Barry welcome all
Sat 14th 1200 - 500
Club Night
Thursday 19th 730
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 26th 600pm
Chapter Chill-Out Weekend
Fri 27th -Sun 29th
Fri 900 am Sportsable Ride to Tewksbury
Cassington Bike Night
Mon 30th 630 SrsquoAble
Club Nights
May 15th
June 19th
July 17th
August 21st
September 18th
Mag contribution
Deadlines
M ay 8th
June 12th
July 10th
August 14th
September 11th
Dates events ride-outs and activities
Details correct at time of going to print Check the website for updates and amendments wwwthamesvalleyhogorguk
15
Entries for your Diary 2014
Oxford Toy Run
27th April
23rd Cider Rally
2nd - 5th May
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
Deva Legion Circus Maximus
12th - 14th September
Check website for Changes further
details on all events
16
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
April
Saturday Social
Sat 19th The Shire Horse
Littlewick Green 1230
Ace Cafeacute
Southend Shakedown
Monday 21st
845 Sportsable
1030 leave Ace Cafeacute
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 24th 600pm
John Radcliff Toy Run
Sunday 27th
900 Sportsable
May
Cider Rally
Friday 2nd
1000am Chieveley
to Mon 5th
Committee Night
Tuesday 6th 800pm
Seaside Fish lsquonrsquo Chips
Sat 17th 900am
Eastbourne amp Shawrsquos HD
114
May cont
Poker Run - 2
Weds 21st May 630
Venue TBA check website
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 29th 600pm
June
Committee Night
Tuesday 3rd 800pm
Picnic on the Green
Froxfield
Pat amp Barry welcome all
Sat 14th 1200 - 500
Club Night
Thursday 19th 730
Ace Cafeacute Harley Night
Thursday 26th 600pm
Chapter Chill-Out Weekend
Fri 27th -Sun 29th
Fri 900 am Sportsable Ride to Tewksbury
Cassington Bike Night
Mon 30th 630 SrsquoAble
Club Nights
May 15th
June 19th
July 17th
August 21st
September 18th
Mag contribution
Deadlines
M ay 8th
June 12th
July 10th
August 14th
September 11th
Dates events ride-outs and activities
Details correct at time of going to print Check the website for updates and amendments wwwthamesvalleyhogorguk
15
Entries for your Diary 2014
Oxford Toy Run
27th April
23rd Cider Rally
2nd - 5th May
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
Deva Legion Circus Maximus
12th - 14th September
Check website for Changes further
details on all events
16
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Nights
May 15th
June 19th
July 17th
August 21st
September 18th
Mag contribution
Deadlines
M ay 8th
June 12th
July 10th
August 14th
September 11th
Dates events ride-outs and activities
Details correct at time of going to print Check the website for updates and amendments wwwthamesvalleyhogorguk
15
Entries for your Diary 2014
Oxford Toy Run
27th April
23rd Cider Rally
2nd - 5th May
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
Deva Legion Circus Maximus
12th - 14th September
Check website for Changes further
details on all events
16
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
16
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
17
Get ready to Party at the Fenlanders Chapter
22nd East of England Rally
You know itrsquos going to be a fantastic year when yoursquore still four months away from an event and already have record ticket sales And why is this years Rally selling fast Well its all down to careful planning a magnificent programme and the hard work of the Rally organisers in making this a lsquogo-torsquo event in the calendar every year The now famous Ride-in Street Party Sheringham is again guaranteed to bring the crowds back out as we enter a fantastic seaside town where the Ride-In bike show will again take centre stage Itrsquos a sight to behold when you arrive in a town where the roads have been shut to allow us to ride into the centre and if last year is anything to go by expect about 10000 people to be on the pavements cheer-ing us on In addition we have Yippee Yurts for those wishing to glamp it up as well as the excellent facilities at the Fakenham Racecourse Four Star touring Park and for those not keen on camping there are hotels just a short walk from the Rally site For those not out and about enjoying the great Norfolk countryside the Prince of Wales stand bar is open all day and late into the night there is a variety of cater-ing options including an on-site restaurant serving meals and plenty of traders to visit The music line up this year features our headline band The League of Mentalmen as well as three nights of music in the main marquee and the late night bands in the Prince of Wales bar which start at Midnight and continue into the wee small hours ndash now thatrsquos the way to party And remember we are also a lsquoFlag Eventrsquo as part of the National Chapter Challenge so donrsquot forget to take that all important Chapter photograph alongside the flag by the Prince of Wales stand Visit our website at wwwfenlandershogcom print off the Booking form order your tickets and we look forward to seeing you Neil Billig Director directorfenlandershogcom
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
18
The Club has organised the Pioneer Run since 1930 and it is widely recognised as the premier event for pre-1915 veteran motorcycles The run starts at Tattenham Corner (Epsom) and finishes at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront
75th
Pioneer Run
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
19
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
20
The start of the poker nights has been a great success at the Pineapple in Dor-ney 25 attended 6 of who were on their bikes amp trikes The food and choices did not disappoint The evening was filled with laughter and conversations about up-coming ride outs and events
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
21
Tony is suffering with terminal cancer and
will shortly need to go into a hospice Hes
a lifetime biker and owns a rather nice
looking Triumph America
A few riders from Middilgard RC
Sue and Edd (friends of Nij) and me went
round to surprise him
When we arrived he was still in bed as hersquod been too ill to get up So Julian
(the organiser) popped inside to go and fetch him Hed heard us arrive so
Julian told him that because he wouldnt go to any bike shows hed brought
one to come and visit him
He really seemed to enjoy seeing all the
bikes and would have hung around for ages
but it was getting very cold for him We
stayed for just over an hour and left him
with his family
Going on the comments from Tonys
friends and family seeing all the bikes
really made his day Toni Charles
Ride to visit Tony Lassiter
April 6th
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Whose Bike Our lsquoJammyrsquo photographer Linda has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we werenrsquot 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 therersquos 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 co editorthamesvalleyhogorguk
Februaryrsquos winner Ron Jackson Bike John Colyer
22
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
23
Mystery Man Well as you can see itrsquos a lady this month All our mystery people are very regular members almost always at club nights So look closely who is this beautiful bride Last month Jack Parry with his Indian
Nick Lees for calling HOG to renew his membership but called child-line instead (reported by Lee White) Brian Wilson for parking his Posh Porsche in a disabled parking bay at club night in Feb - Ha Ha you thought you had got away with it then Nick West for admitting that he hadnrsquot had his lsquoshooterrsquo out for 5 years Fred for the lsquodeliberate mistakersquo in his report for committee night
Ditto for Colin our treasurer
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Hi folks lets hope the recent spell of fine weather is a sign of things to come
Some months ago I was asked if I could publish an explanation of the Second Man Drop-Off system in the mag I was reluctant to ldquore-invent the wheelrdquo and so I have taken some information I found on the net and tweaked it a little to suit our riding style
Here at Thames Valley HOG we usually prefer to adopt the second man drop-off system where there are 6 or more riders in the group Such a group will consist of a minimum of a LEAD Road Captain and a TAIL Road Captain The lead road captain andor their pillion will be wearing a YELLOW hi-vis vest and the tail road captain will be wearing an ORANGE hi-vis vest
The second man drop-off system for group riding
The second man drop-off
system of ride management
is designed to allow each
member of a group of
riders to arrive at a given
destination irrespective of
the delays that riders
behind the lead Road
Captain may experience
The system is based on
the principle of leaving a
rider (the second man) at
key points on a route to
direct following riders to
the correct route
I hope that none of our
lady riders will mind my
use of the term man
throughout this article Im
using it just for continuity
with the name second
man drop-off
When will the lead
Road Captain drop
the second man to
mark the route
The Road Captain leading
a ride SHOULD ALWAYS
drop off a rider to mark a
change of direction
when at roundabouts
junctions etc
The lead Road Captain
may not drop a rider
where the route is straight
on and where there is no
doubt about which road is
the straight ahead route
24
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Exceptions to this rule
apply where a lead Road
Captain has identified that
a rider cannot be dropped
to mark a route for legal
reasons (such as marking
a motorway exit) or where
they judge that there is no
safe place at which to
drop the second man to
mark the route In these
exceptional situations the
lead Road Captain should
have clearly identified the
correct route during the
pre-ride briefing
The lead Road Captain
will give clear hand signals
to indicate where heshe
would like the second man
to drop off to mark a route
Initially the lead Road
Captains arm will be bent
with a finger pointing to
the sky This is the sign
that the second man
should be ready to drop
off
When the lead Road
Captain points at the kerb
this indicates the point at
which heshe wants the
second man to stop The
lead Road Captain may
give signals with hisher
left or right hand indicating
on which side of the
carriageway the second
man should stop
The second man must
always be vigilant for
these signals - particularly
when approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
If you find yourself
behind the lead
Road Captain you
are the second man
The second man in a ride
group should maintain a
minimum of 2 seconds
gap between himherself
and the lead Road
Captain in order to have
adequate time to follow
the lead Road Captains
instructions
The second man should
be aware that the lead
Road Captain may wish to
drop a rider off at any time
- sometimes a lead Road
Captain may for instance
wish to drop a rider off on
a long straight stretch of
road
The lead Road Captain
may indicate that the
second man should drop
off to the left or right hand
side of a lane in the road
so the second man needs
to be in a good position to
stop where indicated - for
this reason the second
man should ride in the
middle of the lane
The second man when
stopping must ensure that
heshe stops in a safe
place If heshe is not
satisfied that the stopping
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain is safe then
heshe should look for an
alternative which is safe
and from which heshe
can clearly communicate
the route that following
riders should take
25
Lead Road Captain wears YELOW
Tail Road Captain wears ORANGE
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark a
route heshe must make it
clear which direction the
following riders should
take This may be
achieved purely by their
position on the road where
stopped (as indicated by
the lead Road Captain) or
by pointing out the correct
route to following riders by
appropriate hand signals
When the tail end Road
Captain arrives at the
point at which a dropped
off rider is stationed the
tail end Road Captain will
clearly communicate that
the stationary rider can
now leave their station
and will give the rider an
opportunity to re-join the
ride
As explained in the
second article in this
series riders may have to
wait a significant amount
of time (20 or 30 minutes
is not unusual) before the
tail end Road Captain
arrives at their position
It is crucial that dropped
off riders do not leave their
station until the tail end
Road Captain arrives as
the ride will break down if
they do
Points to note for
riders following the
second man
The rider behind the
second man should retain
hisher place on the road
(ie on the left or right of
the stagger) and should
ensure that heshe is far
enough behind the second
man to allow the second
man to stop safely in the
place indicated by the lead
Road Captain
The two second gap
should be maintained
between the second man
and the next rider
If the second man does
not stop when the lead
Road Captain indicates
that heshe wants to leave
a rider as a route marker
the third rider should drop
off to indicate the correct
route to following riders
Again this should only be
if this rider can find an
appropriate and safe
stopping point
Riders who are close
behind the third rider
should therefore be very
aware that they may need
to drop off if the second
man does not stop
When a rider has been
dropped off to mark the
route the following riders
MUST NOT switch to the
opposite side of the
stagger - this introduces
an unnecessary additional
element of risk
Points to note for
riders who have
been delayed and
are no longer with
the lead group
When approaching
junctionsroundabouts etc
riders who are detached
from the lead group
should be aware of any
particular instructions
given by the lead Road
Captain during the pre-
ride briefing
If the rider is on a motor-
way section of the route
the pre-ride briefing will
include details of which
exit to take from the
motorway
If there is a rider dropped
off to mark the route then
the rider should follow the
direction indicated by the
dropped rider
26
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
If there is no rider marking
the route and no specific
instruction relating to this
junction then riders
should always assume
that the route is straight
ahead
This is a situation in which
it is vital that dropped off
riders on the correct route
maintain their stations to
enable the second (lost)
group to re-join the main
body of riders
Group riding can be great
fun but it does require that
good practice is observed
by everyone to ensure
that all riders arrive at the
same destination in
safety Arriving at the
correct destination is the
responsibility of the lead
Road Captain but thats
another story
Best wishes and ride
Lower Lode Inn Forthampton Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
GL19 4RE Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2014
Tel 01684 293224
Lower Lode Inn is a 15th Century riverside inn offering en-suite accom-modation camping amp touring pitches Set in a stunning location over-looking the River Severn with views of Tewkesbury and its historic Abbey itrsquos a perfect place to spend a few days chilling out with friends Fine locally sourced home cooked fayre and real ales are available in the bar
There are still campingcaravan places available
Contact Barry Adams Tel 01488 683136 or 07771 646263
Camping package to include Breakfast Sat amp Sunday morning and BBQ meal on Sathelliphellippound1750 per person There are 8 Caravan Camper van pitches + electric hook up available pound10 per night Please let us know if you require this option
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Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvallyhogorguk
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster
Sue Knight Editor Email editor
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise
youtubecomuser tvwebmaster1
Pat Adams Assistant Director Email assistantdirector thamesvalleyhogorguk
Colin Wilkins Treasurer Email treasurer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Fred Cotsford Membership Officer Email membership thamesvalleyhogorguk
Barry Adams Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Shirley Churchill Merchandise Email merchandise thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Moyler Secretary Email secretary thamesvalleyhogorguk
Don Wibberley Chapter Director Email director thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nick West Safety Officer amp Historian Email historian thamesvalleyhogorguk
Nij Jones Head Road Captain Email headroadcaptain Thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Email ladiesofharley thamesvalleyhogorguk
Linda Friend Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Lee White Webmaster Email webmaster thamesvalleyhogorguk
Bernie Meason Photographer Email photographer thamesvalleyhogorguk
Club Venue SportsAble Braywick Sports Ground Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Toni Charles Activities Officer Email activities thamesvalleyhogorguk
Sue Knight Editor Email editor thamesvalleyhogorguk
facebookcomgroups thamesvalleyhog