Add the VMCC section name - Ride 24 April 2024

Lead Rider Report. Small or slow Run 24 April 2024

After a chilly ride to the Norton Heath Cafe I arrived to find eight riders and a dog. Didn't recognise anyone, my rides are getting popular, I'm famous I thought.

Putting signing on sheets and money bag on table I asked them to to sign on and put a pound in bag. Nobody moved just sat staring at me, what now? I will wait till Mr Secretary to turn up and sort them out. When chatting to one of the riders found out they were from the Royal Enfield club off to Shuttleworth. OPPS!

Seventeen riders and two pillion set off for our ride with speeds to suit the New Hudson and 125 Bantam. Those of you that have been on my rides before know that missing a turning is compulsory, everyone managed a U-turn in a narrow lane and passed my bike control skills test. Continued on pleasant ride to Dunton roundabout and pulled over to re-group. All went well till Stanford-Le-hope level crossing.Gates closed, big queue, made executive decision and diverted to main road dual carriageway, sorry Paul and Steve on your little bikes but you coped. Well done.

Arrived to a welcome at the Ship. Good service, good food and I believe everyone got what they ordered. Hooray. Four hardy riders wanted afternoon tea, off we went on short fifteen minute ride. A big thankyou to tail ender Rex for an excellent job, then he got lost. Star that he is he arrived at cafe twenty minutes later to complete a good day out. No breakdowns and no one left behind.

Old and Slow ride aptly named. We were certainly slow and after a thirty mile ride we were all two hours older.

George

Your Comments

Your comments are welcome. To be add your comments please email georgesmith42@outlook.com

PAM BRADLEY

Well a little chilly today but what a lovely run. Thank you George you took us down roads Sir didn’t know and so close to us. Tea at the cafe before the start was good and the lunch stop at the Ship was brilliant.

RICHARD PARKER

Thanks to George for a good mornings ride.

NICKI ISZARD

Thank you George for organising the ride today and the super venue for lunch.

DAVE ISZARD

The smallest/ slowest I've got that fits two is a 54 Velo. Nicki and myself squeezed on and rode the 20 miles to Norton Heath Café to meet the others, 16 I counted on a wide variety of bikes. So who qualified for small and slow ?

Paul Weston definitely takes the first prize doing the whole 85 miles ( door to door ) on an early fifties 98cc New Hudson. Steve Backs rigid 123 Bantam was equally amazing as was John Ruth's trials cub and Peter Burgess's B25. Led by George on his little Ducati which briefly had a little sulk, there were no breakdowns.

Country roads to start with got a bit busy as we got near our goal, The Ship, East Tilbury. A railway crossing malfunction causing the barriers to stay down required a detour along busy roads. Arriving at The Ship our tables were reserved and the food was good

The Velo started second kick much to my surprise and we made our own ways home. Lets not forget our back marker Rex Croft on his little 125 Honda. A challenging ride. thankyou George.

JOHN RUTH

Good ride out today if a little chilly. But it all ground to a halt on the way home as the trials cub lost all compression followed by a ride of shame on the trailer.

STEPHEN BACK

As with everyone else, thanks for an enjoyable under 200 run. Enjoyed runs to the start & home as well. Good food & beer topped it off. Bantam with its re-built engine was faultless & now hopefully pretty well run in.