'Where to this year I pondered' It seemed only fair to hold the next rideout down south as last years was in the Midlands and right in my back yard.

I'm not sure how Box Hill got chosen, it may have come out of an email conversation with Ian Vine. Anyhow, Box Hill got chosen and Ian volunteered to sort out the rideout route. Sorting out the route is a job for a masochist. Favourite roads are a personal thing and you can guarantee that someone will moan about your chosen route. Soon after Ian had his prang and that seemed to be that for a while. I was getting more emails asking for rideout news and this prompted me to write about my route planner going AWOL. As a result Mark Horrdge and Steve Jelly got in contact and offered their services. Thanks Guys. 

Section 1 route

Section 1 Map

Aylesbury Map

Section 2 route

Section 2 Map

Section 3 route

Section 3  Map 

Windsor Map

Section 4 route

Section 4 Map

Section 5 route

Section 5 main Map

Section 5.1 detail Map

Section 5.2 detail Map

Section 5.3 detail Map

These are the guys who put together the biggest and best rideout to date. I know just how much work it takes and therefore appreciate it all the more

The Day

A recap of the day from my own personal perspective and written for the benefit of those that couldn't attend. Those that did attend, feel free to send me your  views and photos.

I set out from Shrewsbury at about 06:55 and met up with Martin Daniels on the M6 at around  07:30, we arrived at Cherwell at 09:00 ish. Mark was already sticking up posters on the outside wall of the services building (such organisation!). Breakfast was had whilst more and more people arrived. We all finally wandered outside topped up with fuel and listened to Marks briefing, which was sensible and amusing. I said a few words about Kevin Jones and we passed around the hat for donations.

We set off and in dry sunny conditions and the pace was brisk but sensible. The train of bikes split into groups and we had to pay attention to ensure that we didn't wander off the chosen route. The 'rideout management team' did a great job of keeping us together. We all made it to RV2 with no mishaps. At this point, it occurred to me to do a quick stocktake. I counted at least 34 SVs and you can see the photos of the lay-by rest below. It was an impressive sight, we took up most of the lay-by! There was lot's of photo taking going on, so I guess I wasn't the only one who was impressed. After a break we set off again.

The next segment didn't go quite according to plan, the train of bikes got a bit more fragmented due to traffic and traffic lights. It was inevitable that some would get lost, and we did. No problem, we had maps and Steve Jelly was in our group, we'd missed a right turn at some previous roundabout. Steve quickly plotted a new route and got us back to the last RV just short of the final destination. The numbers of bikes at the last RV was looking a bit light, it seems that some others had also got lost, whilst some had gone straight to Box Hill. We had a quick break and then set off again with me in the lead panicking and trying to remember Marks directions. I nearly made the important  right turn a bit early but Mark soon put me straight. The train of bikes behind was looking a bit stretched out so I kept the speed down to try and bunch up the train, with limited success. I then spotted the entrance to Rikers Cafe and Pete the cameraman was waiting with the others to film us coming in, we circled around the main car park into the overflow area and parked up with the rest of the SV's. We took up at least half the car park and I think someone counted 40 bikes in total.

Lot's of food and drink were consumed along with endless talking (something I excel at) and then we had a photo shoot. By the time this was done it was the middle of the afternoon, so naturally people started to wander off home. For the return trip, Martin and I were joined by Gavin. Gavin was travelling back to Stockport and Martin to Liverpool. We left at 4pm and travelled via the M40. We stopped at the 3rd set of services for a fuel stop and a break. We parted company as the M40 joined the M42. I went west to the M5 and the other two east to the M6. I finished off my journey by leaving the M5 and cutting across country through Stourbridge, Bridgenorth and onto Shrewsbury. I got home at 8pm.

Highlights of the day, there were many and I'm sure I'll think of more later.

• Pete whizzing past us all on that Hayabusa

• Marks organisiation including the staff passes (see photo).

• Meeting people that I've had lot's of email dialogue with inc Pete Smith, who wrecked his bike a few days beforehand.

• Seeing so many SV's together in one place.

• The tremendous response for donations for Kevs charity. The total came to £190 including a Cheque from Jorge at Renegade. This is on top of what people have already sent me. Many thanks.

• No one had an accident or mishap.

• No one got knicked (I think)

Low lights.

• The guy who came up to me at the end and moaned about getting lost and other stuff. I'm sorry it went a bit sour for you mate, it wasn't deliberate. These things happen on any organised event, and remember it was all done by volunteers who gave their services free, so don't be too hard on us.

• Kevs absence. I'd like to think he was watching us though, and laughing at me when we got lost.

Thanks again to Mark, Steve, Pete, Steve and Matt (and Jelster jnr) for making this day possible and saving me a big headache.  John 26th May 2003

Johns Photos. Every year I take less and less, why?........because I'm too busy talking. These are reduced from the original. If you want a copy of the original, drop me an email.

Click for a bigger image.

Hi John, Sorry I didn't make it to the end. I managed to lose both the lead group and the group behind me. With no map I decided to cut my losses and come home. Anyway, here's my few photos. I've still got the full size ones (2448 x 1632), so if anyone wants them they can email me directly. Alyn.

Hello John, I just wanted to thank you and the rest of the guys for the rideout on Sunday. It was a great moment pulling into Cherwell valley and seeing all those SV's parked up. The route was a good one even though heavy traffic on the last section did reduce us to a slow pace. Riding through the 30 zones in a big convoy almost made up for it though, we got a lot of admiring glances! I'm glad the weather held out for us after all the effort you went to. I look forward to the next one! (may I suggest Shrewsbury-Aberystwth-Devil's bridge? a long way to go but so worth it) Regards Simon Gosling

Better than suggesting it, you can plan it!.....wait come back

I hope these pix aren't too big, I reduced them for the web in my Photoshop software - they're 'medium' resolution. If they're still too big, just let me know and I'll reduce the resolution still further. I am sending them in small batches as my e-mail server rejected the e-mail with all of them attached!   Anyone wanting high-res copies is free to contact me.   It was a great rideout (my first!) and I'd certainly be keen to do another - maybe 'up-country' somewhere. It'll give me a good excuse for a weekend away!   Here's a brief summary of my highs and lows.  

Highs

• Rumbling through sleepy villages with all those nice loud pipes burbling menacingly 
• Meeting more SV owners and checking out the mods to the bikes 
• Having a bit of a 'scratch' with the lead pack in the first section 
• Meeting some of the people who regularly contribute and post on the forum - good people.  
• Meeting you - you do a sterling job for all us 'twin-heads' and we would be a far-less organised and happy bunch without the site. BIG thanks also obviously to Kevin for starting it in the first place - I'm sure he was looking down with a smile. 
• Breakfast! It cost more than my bike but I was sooooo hungry I would've eaten my waterproofs! 
• Watching people's faces as they looked on in disbelief at the seemingly endless stream of SVs 'invading' their town centre - ha! Aren't non-motorcyclists funny.

Lows

• Sorry Pete, you're a nice bloke, but but you rode that damn 'busa too fast and too close when negotiating the pack - uncalled for and dangerous 
• The twit who thought pulling wheelies away from the lights in the middle of Aylesbury would endear us to the locals 
• 'Certain individuals' who were not content with the glorious sound their illegal pipes already had and decided to sit in traffic and redline the damn thing right in front of me ... nice! (not) I'm sure the motorist's opinion of us was enhanced by this also. 
• The traffic after Windsor causing the impressive 'caravan' of SVs to get fragmented and, ultimately for some, lost.

Regards
Howard