Ow Dooo!

This month's Ride-Out will be led by Mr Mike Maloney of Peak Rider fame, and is destined for Lake Vyrnwy (or as the Taffies call it, Llyn Efymwy) in mid-Wales, just over the hill from Bala. 

As usual for a Sunday, the Ride-Out will be leaving from the car park at the rear of the Workies at 10.00. Please be there in good time and with a full tank of fuel.

Unfortunately there is still a problem with the Ride-Out Registration phone number, (which should be rectified very soon), so you will not be able to ring and let us know that you'll be turning up. Therefore it is in your interest to be there before 10.00.

If you want to preview the route the Ride-Out will be taking click the link below;

http://tinyurl.com/6xt78jl

If you want to import the route to your TomTom or Garmin Sat-Nav please e-mail;

rideoutcoordinator@poyntonmotorcycleclub.co.uk 

(or just copy the link and paste it into your address bar), and I'll send it onto you. Should you need instructions on how to import the route to your Sat-Nav, click this link;

http://tinyurl.com/29zgkxf

Unfortunately, on the previous two Club Ride-Outs there appeared to be some confusion over the marking of junctions, resulting in members being separated from the group and left to make their own way home. Not only can this detract from their enjoyment of the day, but leaves them vulnerable if anything untoward, such as a breakdown or puncture occurs, or particularly worse, if they have no sense of direction.

We are a club and ride as a club, so here is an explanation of how the Junction Marking System works;

Before the ride begins the Ride-Out Leader seeks a volunteer to stay at the back of the pack, commonly referred to as “Tail -End Charlie”! Everyone should make themselves familiar with Tail-End Charlie and note what bike they are riding.

As the Ride-Out Leader negotiates a junction or exits a roundabout they point to indicate that the junction/exit requires marking. The person directly behind them stops IN A SAFE, VISIBLE POSITION, AT THEIR OWN DISCRETION, to indicate to the rest of the group which direction/exit to take. 

AT NO POINT DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE TO STOP!

As Tail-End Charlie approaches the junction he acknowledges the junction marker, who can then set off and rejoin the main pack, allowing Tail-End Charlie to resume last position.

At the next awkward junction, the process is repeated all over again.

Even if the Ride-Out Leader hasn’t indicated that a junction needs marking and you deem it to be an awkward junction, whether you are second in line or not, there is nothing to stop you marking that junction, as long as you are aware who Tail End Charlie is.

A basic and simplistic rule of thumb – if you don’t want to mark junctions, don’t turn up for the Ride-Out. 

So! Hopefully everything will run smoothly on Sunday.

I'll see you there and enjoy your ride.

Rob D.

I think the pair of you have valid points, experienced riders should be expected to mark junctions (unless they have a note from their mum).

However if a newbie feels uncertain of doing this then there is no reason they can't be leapfrogged if they get to near to the front. As long as everyone is made aware they don't want to mark junctions at the start of the run.

Something I spotted on the miss the wedding run was that at times junctions weren't brilliantly marked, bit round the corner partly behind a wall type of thing. Trouble is you you don't know what the junctions like until you get to it. If the third or fourth man spots this then pull in a bit before the junction to double mark. (as long as it's safe to do so of course) or would that confuse things further?

Gary.