Magazineof ofthe the Thames Thames Valley HOG Chapter Magazine Valley HOG Chapter
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JANUARY 2015
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope the year has started well for everyone, and hope those that had illness or ops towards the end of 2014 are on their way to a full recovery. The good news is, the days are getting longer and the riding season will be here before we know it! The bad news is, whilst the riding season is not here, there is little copy for the mag. That means I am forced to nag you all to send me something. Even my husband, Dave, is not immune from my nagging. He was nagged until he put a few words together about some of his bikes (page 20). So, get writing or, if you don’t like writing, talk to me. I will make notes and write it for you! As I’ve asked for in previous mags, just a few words and a photo or two of your favourite ride/rally of 2014. A few pictures of the bikes you’ve had. A picture of you when you were young. Ask me for a questionnaire for our Meet the Members page. There are so many ways you can contribute. Please don’t think I’m talking to someone else, I’m talking to YOU! Thank you for listening to my first nag of the year
Sue
Inside this issue… Front cover:
Jan/ February Birthdays
Thames Valley Massive
Page 2
Editor’s thoughts
Page 4, 6
Director’s Update
Page 7
SofER - Hotel Transport
Page 8, 9
LoH - Sue’s Scribbles
Page 10, 11
Reading Update - Mike Wilson
Page 12, 13
Saturday Social
Page 14, 15
Calendar
Colin Wilkins
Page 16
Chapter Challenge - Results
Sue Knight
Page 17
Miles of Fun! Winners
Bernie Dodds
24th Jan
Page 18, 19
News
Ron Jackson
29th Jan
Page 20
My First Harley - Dave Knight
Louise White
3rd Feb
Page 21
Harley recall news
Adrian Lightfoot
7th Feb
Page 22, 23
Christmas Club Night
Page 24, 25
Photo Gallery
Page 26, 27
Safety First
Back cover:
Farewell, 2014 Committee!
Chris Smith
15th Jan 18th Jan
11th Feb
Happy birthday to you all!
Thank You to all who have sent copy for this month magazine: Don, Sue B, Mike, Nick, Dave, CJ & Linda
Hi Everybody , Welcome to the first edition of Tales from the Riverbank for 2015. First thing is to wish all of you a Happy New Year and hope you had a great Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Looking back over 2014 it’s been another very busy year for the Chapter with so many ride outs and rallies attended on just about every weekend during the riding season. Looking back at the rallies, we have attended the Cider Rally back in early May which was the first, with around 40+ members making the run down to Sand Bay. Just about all our members dressed in fancy dress for a themed ‘Tropical’ evening on the Saturday night. Mike Connolly and friends dressed up as the Smurfs. A great weekend, Thames Valley Style!!! In June was the Chapter Chillout weekend at the Lower Load Inn in Tewkesbury, followed by the boys weekend in July at Wake the Lakes in Cumbria, where it rained just about all weekend. With no SofER rally in August, we were invited to join Hogsback for a long weekend at a Rugby Club in Ledbury, another weekend of rain which meant more time in the bar at the club house. For me, the most memorable ride out last year was the World Ride to Swansea Dealership in July, and a return ride through Merthyr Tidfil, the Forest of Dean and the Cotswolds. What a way to finish a perfect day. Around 400 miles were ridden that day towards the World Ride total. 4
The second day ride for the World Ride weekend was a chapter Picnic-in-the-Park, in Bournemouth. A beautiful day out in glorious sunshine on our Harleys. Thunder in the Glens & Blazin’ Blazers were the last 2 rallies of 2014. Thunder in the Glens, we had a large number of members join the ride up to Aviemore, and staying in a lodge & Hotels on site. For the first time ever Thames Valley had two club nights that month one at Sportsable and the second in a Highland Lodge at the Mc Donald complex in Aviemore. A great Rally with great friends. To end 2014 our ladies had their weekend away in Bath, Christmas shopping. Then followed the Christmas party at The Calcot Hotel with 42 of us attending. This had a great party atmosphere and carried on late into the night. Tonight, at our club night, I will be introducing our committee for 2015. We have had some members stand down this year who have been on the committee for many years and have done a great job for the chapter. 2015 is going to be a fantastic year for the chapter with our dealership being opened in the spring and Mike Wilson and the Lind Group supporting us. 5
The work on the dealership is still moving on at a great pace and the last pictures put on the website by Mike show the old part of the building gone, windows bricked up and trenches for the services excavated, the site looks ready for the new building to be erected. Tickets for the Winter Bash are still available at club night or via the website. We have tickets at a reduced rate if you would like to come later and skip the buffet. Please contact Pat & Barry for your tickets. SofER tickets are now available from me at club nights and at any of our social events that I attend. Events for 2015 Our road crew are meeting this weekend to put the ride out calendar together for the year. We have the Cider Rally, The ChillOut weekend, Fenlanders Rally for the boys’ weekend, SofER and The Blazin’ 20s weekend. If you have any ideas or rides you would like the road crew to organise, we need that information ASAP so we can add them to the calendar. Contact the activities team to give them your ideas. Hazel & I are off to Edinburgh tomorrow morning for the Directors’ meeting over the weekend. I’m looking forward to another year of rides and events with great friends at Thames Valley, and a new Dealership.
Don
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BOOKED SofER HOTEL? PLEASE READ...
We plan to run a shuttle bus service to and from a limited number of local hotels. Obviously, we can only choose which hotels, on the basis of how many rallygoers are staying at a particular venue. So, when you have registered and booked hotel room(s), or if you have already done so, drop us an email at:hotels@sofer.uk with the following information: • • • • • 7
Your name HOG No. The name of the hotel you have booked into Names of guests in your party Ticket number(s) and/or booking reference(s)
Sue’s ‘last bit’ Well, after four years as your Ladies of Harley representative, the time has come for me to write my l last official article for the mag. I first offered to write some words for Tales from the Riverbank back in Jan 2012 when the editor at that time was searching for a few newsworthy articles. I don’t think my words were ever particularly newsworthy but I hope that one of two of you, especially the ladies, have thought my offerings worth a read. And if you didn’t then you will suffer no longer! I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the events we have been on together and am finding it hard to choose my favourite. I am sure many of you will have fond memories, whether it be riding in Thomas the Tank Engine on Weston beach, or dancing the night away on the Butlin’s 60s weekend. I really think that one of the main strengths of the Thames Valley Chapter is our ladies. Whether you ride or are a pillion, or if you support your man as a Chapter member, everyone has the same respect for each other. This is reflected by the number of ladies who are now involved in the Miles of Fun programme, the results of which were announced last club night. Eight of our lady riders joined the mileage programme last year and they clocked up a massive 35,953 miles. That's an average of 4,494. That’s in contrast to forty men who clocked up 166,396 between them, that's an average 4,160. So well done ladies, you achieved a higher average than the men! You may also remember I have been having my own fun challenge with our Director. and this year Don beat me by 288 miles 8
Don’t forget the LoH New Year dinner at Stafferton Lodge 19.30 on Saturday evening (17th), it will be a great time to say goodbye to me and welcome in your new LoH representative. I would like to thank you all most sincerely for supporting me over the last four years. I truly believe that Thames Valley has the best Ladies of Harley group in the land, and that’s all down to you I still aim to be an active member of the club and will continue to offer my support to your new Ladies of Harley representative as I know you all will. Looking forward to riding with you in 2015
Sue x
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Reading Harley-Davidson Update If you happened to pass by the Reading site in the last few weeks, you will no doubt have noticed that plenty has changed. The old Showroom has finally gone to a better place, leaving just a concrete slab ready to receive the new structure. It was fantastic watching a Nine Ton JCB make light work of the original building whilst eating a Fish Finger Butty and a small Coke (ahem) from the warmth of the George Inn.
Although I would have been far more enthusiastic were I driving it, I would probably have ended up in the river! On reflection I discovered they have to recycle everything; so after each section is demolished they have to pick through it all by hand, I wouldn’t have the patience.
10
The Internal walls are going up inside the Workshop Building, which splits the Showroom and Customer areas, and the stairway has been turned ninety degrees to allow us to retain Parts access upstairs. The guys are working hard to get all the footings and drains and utilities in place prior to Christmas and I have high hopes for an enthusiastic start to the New Year.
Whilst I have been visiting the site I have met quite a few of the local residents, and it is great to report that they all seem very keen for the Dealership to open, and the majority want to visit even though they have no bike experience.
11
After a year we finally moved back down South and my wife and I are really looking forwards to meeting up with everyone at Thames Valley HOG at your Club Nights, and will hopefully join you on some ride outs as well. Please can we pre-book the good weather? I have great expectations of creating, with your help, a totally Interactive and Inclusive Dealership, and wish to involve the Chapter in our planning and events to make this happen. Please keep contacting me with any questions or feedback that you feel may help in this as it is great to receive your opinions. It has been fantastic getting pictures through from riders who have visited the new site and we really can’t wait until we can take you all through the doors for the very first time on a special guided tour. Until then, we hope you have a truly ‘Happy Christmas’ and a very ’Merry New Year’. Ride safe and don’t forget to wash off the salt! Mike
The car park was full, the pub was full, with amongst others - 33 members of the Thames Valley Chapter. A fabulous turnout for the 1st Saturday Social of 2015. Young and old all having a great Saturday lunch together. Linda
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HAS MARK JOINED HOGSBACK?
13
January
Feb.
Road Captains’ Meeting Saturday 17th 9:00 am Stafferton Lodge
Cont.
Ace Café Thurs 26th Harley Night 6:00 pm
Ladies of Harley New Year Meal Saturday17th, 6:00 pm Stafferton Lodge
March
Ace Café Thurs 29th Harley Night 6:00 pm
Committee Night Tues 3rd, 8:00
February
Saturday Social Sat. 14th, 7:30 pm S’Able
Committee Night Tues 3rd, 8:00
Club Night Thurs, 19th 7:30
Winter Bash Sat. 14th, 7:30 pm S’Able Club Night Thurs, 19th 7:30
SEE WEBSITE FOR NEW EVENTS AND CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS
Saturday Social 21st, 12:30 Venue TBC
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Dates, events, ride-outs and activities Details correct at time of going to print. Check the website for updates and amendments www.thamesvalleyhog.org.uk
Club Nights
Entries for your Diary 2015 2015 Cider Rally - 1st -4th May (Club event) Harley-Davidson Euro Festival Grimaud, St-Tropez 7th - 10th May Chill-Out Weekend 22nd - 25th May
February
19th
March
19th
April
16th
May
21st
June
18th
Mag contribution Deadlines
Ireland Bike Fest 29th May - 1st June Blazin’ Twenties New Forest Rally 25th - 28th Sept
February
12th
March
12th
April
Check website for Changes / further details on all events 15
9th
May
14th
June
11th
Men’s total Ladies’ total
166,396 .35,935
Total Miles :
202,331
Congratulations to Paul Major and Toni Charles and the whole Chapter for a great Mileage achievement!
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and 6 others...
Paul, receiving his award. Toni, unfortunately, was working away.
Date
Miles
24/11/13 08/12/2013 13/4/2014 27/4/2014 2/5/2014 17/5/2014 1/6/2014 8/6/2014 22/6/2014 23/6/2014 28/6/2014 3/7/2014 6/7/2014 13/7/2014 27/7/2014 1/8/2014 17/8/13 21/8/2014 24/8/2014 31/8/2014 7/9/2014 14/9/2014 26/9/2014 27/9/2014 4/10/2014 19/10/2014 2/11/2014 9/11/2014
Total miles
WINNER:
.
Pillion winner:
Broom Farm Toy Run Reading Toy Run Pioneer Run John Radcliffe Toy Run Cider Rally Eastbourne - Fish & Chips Warrs Anniversary Ride Stratford Upon Avon Swansea Dealership Bournemouth Chill Out Wake the Lakes Ashridge Beaulieu Blenheim Palace Ledbury Brackley Thunder In The Glens American Museum, Bath Wiltshire Circuit National Motorcycle Museum Brighton Burn Blazin’ Blazers Black Bear H-D Ride to the Wall Hoggin’ the Bridge Goodwood Breakfast Club Ashridge Remembrance Day Ride
3,099
Rides: 28
Don Wibberley - Miles: 2,372 21 rides
Ladies winner: .
12 23 92 48 108 94 34 90 328 89 103 245 92 86 56 107 66 520 88 92 103 94 102 89 90 99 61 57
Ride Info
Sue Knight - Miles: 1,459 .
9 rides
Pat Jackson - Miles: 2,267 19 rides
See website for complete finishing position list
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Mystery Man Usually, I think it’s easy to tell who our mystery person is, some features never change. But this month I think it’s a really hard one. This very regular member of our club is playing drums in his mother’s kitchen - who is he? Playing drums, music… That’s the only clue you’ve got.
Reading Toy Run All you World Record holders, (that is, if you took part in this toy run,) the organisers are still waiting for news of the certificates. Will keep you informed. Great to see the event covered in the papers!
ery Man
nickwest@chilternelectrical.com
MY FIRST HARLEY... by
Dave Knight
Like most people I know, I started my ‘Harley days’ with a Sportster. It was a gold, 1977 1,000cc model with electric start, quite novel in those days. It was a year old when I bought it from a friend and I kept it for 3 years. In 1979 (when the wife told me she was expecting twins! Well, I didn’t know when I’d be able to spoil myself again...) I bought a brand new Electra Glide 80 cu. In. from Fred Warr’s. Fred delivered it personally, and I still have the original screen.
I’ve had a lot of Harleys over the years but one of my favourites was this 1960 1,200cc Pan Head. This is one bike I wish I had kept.
WLC 1942
This is another WLC 1942. I took it to bits about 25 years ago intending to rebuild it. Recently, I found someone to do the job for me! It’s nice to have it running again.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON RECALL NEWS Harley-Davidson recalling 19k motorcycles over brake bolt corrosion. Yes, 19Thousand! Harley Davidson just announced an issue it discovered with corrosion of the brake line banjo bolt in the front brake master cylinder. "If the thread corrodes”, reads the statement issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "a sudden loss of brake fluid could result, causing a loss of the front brakes, and increasing the risk of a crash." The issue affects a limited number of 2012 full-size cruisers whose model names start with the letters FL and FX – so nothing from the Sportster or V-Rod lines – manufactured between August 22, 2011 and February 24, 2012. Press Release info: RECALL Subject : Brake Master Cylinder Banjo Bolt Thread Corrosion Report Receipt Date: DEC 16, 2014 NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V794000 Component(s): SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC Potential Number of Units Affected: 19,015 SUMMARY: Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain model year 2012 FXST103, FLSTC, FLSTC103, FLSTF, FLSTF103, FXDL, FXDWG, FXDWG103, FXDC, FXDB, FLSTN, FLSTN103, FLSTC103Shrine, FLSTFB, FLSTFB103, FXS, FXS103, FLS, FLS103, FLD, FLD103, FXDF, and FXDF103 Dyna and Softail motorcycles manufactured August 22, 2011, through February 24, 2012. In the affected motorcycles, the threads for the brake line banjo bolt in the front brake master cylinder may corrode. CONSEQUENCE: If the threads corrode, a sudden loss of brake fluid could result, causing a loss of the front brakes, and increasing the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will flush and inspect the front brake master cylinder and, if necessary, replace the master cylinder, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on January 14, 2015.
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Christmas Club Night was great fun with a lot of members wearing their Christmas jumpers . Don announced the Chapter Challenge results (page 16) and Nick announced the winners of Miles of Fun (page 17) Hot mince pies were served and the Ladies of Harley sung their version of well known Christmas songs. (There is a video of this on Facebook if you missed It and feel you must see it‌) There were many super raffle prizes and the Hamper was won by Lee and Lou. We celebrated a great year of riding and rallies and looked forward to more of the same in 2015!
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A few reminders of some of the Ladies events that Sue Brown arranged over the 4 years of her term as Ladies of Harley rep for Thames Valley. Thank you very much, Sue, you did a GREAT job! xx
reminders of some of the ents that Sue Brown arranged 4 years of her term as Ladies ey rep for Thames Valley. u very much, Sue, you did a GREAT job! xx
25
It has been a long cold winter and most of you will know by now that the condition of many of our roads can be shocking! Pot holes are causing damage to motor vehicles across the country and we all need to be prepared to take evasive action when out riding. Here are a few tips to help avoid becoming a statistic... Leave a slightly larger gap between you and the vehicle in front. This will buy you a second or two to manoeuvre clear of any last minute hole or obstacle. Watch the vehicle in front, often a bump will be visible via its effect on the vehicle in front. If riding in a group, make sure you leave enough room between yourself and the bike in front (especially when the ride slows down) to allow him/her and you to ride around any pot hole. When riding in a group you can signal to the rider behind that there is a dangerous pot hole or object by pointing at the hazard (to the left with your hand or to the right with your foot). If someone in front of you does this, you know there is a hazard and you should move to avoid it and pass the signal back if it is safe for you to do so.
Another hazard which has a particularly high impact on motorcyclists is diesel on the road. Often riders can SMELL the fuel on the road before they see it so learn to trust your nose. Spilled diesel can be as slippery on dry roads as it is on wet roads so use all your senses to try to detect it early. Spills are often due to larger vehicles, like Lorries, who overfill their tank. This means that fuel will spill out when they take a corner, at roundabouts and particularly near to filling stations.
Finally, a brief reminder to check fluid levels before a ride. You need to check oil and brake fluid levels as well as fuel. Make sure your tyre pressures are correct and at least every month check the tread on your tyres around the entire length of the tyre. A great time to check this is when you are cleaning the rims. Have a look at the brake linings while you are cleaning to ensure you have sufficient pad to the journeys you have planned. Ride safe ‌ Nick West (Safety Officer)
Don Don Wibberley Wibberley Chapter Chapter Director Director Email: director Email: director@ director @thamesvallyhog.org.uk thamesvalleyhog.org.uk @thamesvallyhog.org. uk
Pat Adams Pat Adams Assistant Director Assistant Director Email: assistantdirector@ Email: assistantdirector@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk
Colin Wilkins Colin Wilkins Treasurer Treasurer Email: treasurer@ Email: treasurer@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk
Sue Moyler Sue Moyler Secretary Secretary Email: secretary@ Email: secretary@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk
Fred Cotsford Fred Fred Cotsford Cotsford Membership Officer Membership Officer Membership Officer Email: membership@ Email: Email: membership@ membership@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk
Nij Jones Nij Jones Head Road Captain Head Road Captain Email: headroadcaptain@ Email: headroadcaptain@ Thamesvalleyhog.org.uk
Nick West Nick West Safety Officer & Safety Officer & historian Historian Email: Historian @thamesvalleyhog.org.uk Email: historian@
Barry Adams Barry Adams Activities Officer Activities Officer Email: activities@ Email: activities@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk
Lee White Lee White Webmaster Webmaster Email: webmaster@ Email: webmaster@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk
Sue Knight Sue Knight Editor Editor Email: editor@ Email: editor@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk
Bernie Meason Bernie Meason Photographer Photographer Email: photographer@ Email: photographer@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk
Sue Brown Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Ladies Harley Email: of ladiesofharley@ Email: ladiesofharley@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk
facebook.com/groups/facebook.com/groups thamesvalleyhog thamesvalleyhog
youtube.com/user/ tvwebmaster1 Linda Friend Friend Linda Photographer Photographer Email: photographer@ photographer@ Email: thamesvalleyhog.org.uk
Shirley Shirley Churchill Churchill Merchandise Merchandise Email: Email: merchandise@ merchandise@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk
youtube.com/user/ tvwebmaster1
Toni Charles Club Venue: Club Venue: Activities Officer SportsAble, SportsAble, Braywick Sports Ground, Email: activities@SL6 1BN Braywick Sports Ground, Maidenhead, thamesvalleyhog.org.uk Maidenhead, SL6 1BN