Might be an idea to take copies of documents rather than the originals, the law of sod stipulates someone will lose them.

MOT baffle is back in so I'm up for it.

Dunno about the legality of it, but with a couple of minor adjustments we could use it as a weapon against the Welsh Taliban, i.e  fit an extension to the outlet pipe (with a tap of course) so it hangs behind your bike and you go as Tail-ender. Then, if Plod starts chasing us, turn the tap on, flood the road with oil and watch Plod skid off into the hedge!!!    Only kidding of course!!

Fot those interested in the route we'll be taking to the Dragon's Rest Cafe, click this link;

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Willow+Close&daddr=A5102%2FHough+Ln+to:A538%2FPrestbury+Rd+to:B5085%2FBrook+Ln+to:B5085%2FHollow+Ln+to:A537%2FAdams+Hill+to:Unknown+road+to:Northwich+Rd+to:A556%2FChester+Rd+to:A55+to:53.272476,-3.309095&geocode=FfIELgMdprvf_w%3BFaSeLQMdEjje_w%3BFUKcLQMdmAfe_w%3BFcdhLQMdQtrd_w%3BFftTLQMdmuTb_w%3BFYBPLQMdaMvb_w%3BFSZeLQMdtLvb_w%3BFe5PLQMdphXb_w%3BFabzKwMdEA_X_w%3BFTCFKwMdlI7U_w%3B&hl=en&mra=mi&mrcr=9&mrsp=10&sz=16&sll=53.270924,-3.302786&sspn=0.008226,0.019205&ie=UTF8&z=16

And for the route back, click this link;

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Betws-y-Coed,+Swallow+Falls+Hotel+(SW)+(SW-bound)&daddr=A5104+to:Unknown+road+to:A51%2FTarvin+Rd+to:A50%2FToft+Rd+to:B5085%2FBrook+Ln+to:A5102%2FChester+Rd+to:Willow+Close&geocode=FfBGKgMdYlHF_yHiq66c8t6HQw%3BFST_KAMd9P_N_w%3BFY1CKwMdXovS_w%3BFRSyKwMdU6DU_w%3BFVxQLQMdvsrb_w%3BFVJkLQMdsNbd_w%3BFS_2LQMdhhDf_w%3BFfIELgMdprvf_w&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=53.338958,-2.166495&sspn=0.008212,0.019205&ie=UTF8&z=9

I'll also be handing out summaries of the routes on Sunday, along with a leaflet advising you what to do if you're un-necessarily stopped by Plod.

See you then,

Rob D.

Looks like the good weather has taken everyone by surprise and no one in the dive club is up for a dive this weekend.  I can't even get enough people to go for a dive in my boat on Saturday, so i guess I am a definate for the run to save North Wales on Sunday.

David G

I would just like to thank everyone that attends this MCN organised ride out. Obv I won't be going myself, but at least it may reduce the number of Rozzers on the roads that I will be riding on.

What a great day, what a great rideout well lead, fantastic routes thousands of bikers. Thanks Rob

First of all, I’d like to point out that I have never, and will never encourage anyone to try and talk to me or any other ride leader whilst travelling, particularly at 70 mph on a dual carriageway. Not only is nothing is legible at that speed anyway, but this a dangerous and foolish practice!

The only reason why any attempt at communication with me was made is because those riders were concerned that other riders had been left behind, and on each occasion communication was made with the use of gestures indicating that I needed to either stop or slow down, to which I chose the former and did so in a safe location and manner.

The issue of supporting MCN’s campaign was raised on this forum and received backing from several people, but nothing was mentioned about it at the last Club meeting, although several people asked me if I knew if anything had been arranged, and I was again asked while on the ride-out to the Black Sheep Brewery. As I was eager to take part in the campaign myself I then decided to organise and lead a ride, but had less than a week to do so. I’d also like to point out that although this ride-out was not an official PMC ride-out and was also open to non-PMC members, I was prepared to ride to the Ride-Out Guidelines.

However, nowhere in the Ride-Out Guidelines does it state that the leader is not allowed to stop the ride in order to ensure that no ride-out participants have been lost. In fact it does state “With each run, all participants have the responsibility to make sure we don’t lose anyone and, most of all, to enjoy ourselves.”

Marking of junctions is a good way of ensuring all riders have negotiated them successfully, but anything can happen in between the leader and the Back-Marker passing through a junction that could lead to the group becoming spread out, meaning that either the leader slows or stops the ride, or the rest are forced to ride faster in order to catch up, which invariably means riding above the speed limit. Bearing in mind that this ride was meant to be supporting a protest over the treatment bikers receive from the North Wales Police, everything needed to be done by the book, especially riding within the speed limits, which I pride myself of having successfully done. It is also an unwritten rule that the ride-out is ridden to the pace of the slowest rider as not all riders have the confidence to filter through traffic, ride fast, or take bends with one knee down. This point is always stressed when I or any other members have been promoting PMC at venues such as the Poynton Show, and it is to this point that I will always adhere when leading, or just taking part in, a ride-out and I will not make false claims just to promote PMC, or any other thing!

The Ride-Out Guidelines also state that the leader needs to “Make sure everyone has enough fuel and if necessary decide where the first fuel stop will be.”  It should also be remembered that not every bike on the ride-out has a large capacity tank and that there will be a necessity for those people to refuel at some point. The filling station at the Dragon’s Rest Café was an ideal point for people to refuel as the journey to the café was just over 60 miles from the Workies plus the journey to get to the Workies, and the ensuing journey was a further 92 or so miles, with a further 90 miles to get back home.

The guidelines also state that the leader needs to “Recognise that a few of the members need to take a leak on a regular basis - so plan some stops on longer rides!”  Not everyone has a bladder the size of Yorkshire, and it should also be remembered that not only do we have female members of the Club who occasionally join the ride-outs, but some guys like to bring their wife/girlfriend along with them too, so bushes at the side of the road aren’t always appropriate toilet stops.

On top of that, this particular ride went through some of the most spectacular scenery I have seen, and several people have told me since that they would have loved the opportunity to stop and take in the awesome views. I have told them that I would be willing to lead them again over more-or-less the same route in the future, but if I’m going to be subjected to criticism and sarcasm for following the Ride-Out Guidelines and having consideration for others then I distinctly refuse to lead another ride-out again, nor will I promote PMC with the same enthusiasm!

Rob D.

I will report again that I enjoyed the day, the ride out was great the route was fantastic, again WELL Done Rob.

Mentioned in my short thankyou to Rob & All was 2 point on stoppages and discussions while riding. Which I commented upon to invite awareness open discussion and improvements where it was felt it could be achieved.

Any essays, reading the in's and out's of the Rules, setting up the “Gallows”, scratching, biting throwing toys out of the pram and cussing was not the intention of my note. 

Again (he shouts) Well Done Rob, enjoyed it!!!!!

TNT x.

Communicating with the ride out leader whilst on a run has been identified as an obstacle, and one which I've reported back to the committee.

There are ride out rules in place to eliminate the requirement to communicate with the leader whilst on a run, but the system only works if everyone on the run observes the rules. All too frequently, mistakes are made or participants just can't be bothered, and that's when the problem surfaces.

I've made a request to the committee for some radios for next year. No decision has been made as of yet because we're still evaluating kit costs and feasibility.

I'll know more after the new year.

Couldn't agree more Keith, hence my previous post!

Rob D.