I've just been doing a quick bit of research to see where in the UK is basically central to and put it out there if any members would be up for a meeting or try to organize some sort of rally with a night or weekend away By asking Google for the central point in the UK it comes up with a little village called Donsop Bridge Which is near Clitheroe in Lancashire If any member is fairly local to this area that knows the village and any biker friendly venues in that camping grounds or similar with facilities for cooking showers etc I mean if anyone has any other suggestions for a more suitable area that has hosted the group or similar groups in the past I would be interested I have only given this some thought as I see a lot of our overseas members are always meeting up or touring their countries or neighbouring countries Also I can't find any such meeting mentioned before although I'll admit I didn't look to hard It's just not that long ago before the Internet how would a group of like minded people with not only a love of bikes but more so a specific brand Please reply to this thread if there is any interest who knows it could become a yearly event that once gets established could progress to a venue that has a lot more amenities such as trade stands a beer tent even some live music Yes just like any main stay rally I went to the farmyard in Yorkshire a few years ago and it was a great weekend with plenty of bike riding included which really is what it's all about The area choice was purely a suggestion to try be as central as possible to our Scottish and Cornish members
@Mark TGR9 Just search for GMU (Grand Meet Up). The last one happened in 2019 I believe in Bellingham before the great forum split. It was supposed to be an annual event but when another was suggested in 2022 lets just say too many cooks and all that
I was away from the forum for a while and I hadn't realised thered been a forum split. When did this happen and where is the other forum found now?
Shame that I was in a local club a few years back and that went a similar way to many ideas and no good ones they are still around but the cafe it was named after doesn't as far as I'm aware doesn't hold regular meets
If it happens we can ride over together wherever or whenever it hopefully happens but we'll have to find a comfy bed for you first I suppose
Well that's three maybe four of us the thing to do is get some serious numbers and then get a central point from all interested parties then it's fair and we all get an equally good ride out no good if only me and T want to go because central for us would be Rhyl promenade
As you probably are aware I'm a new member so I wouldn't know anything about a split can't see any references to it but has it made for improvement within the forum maybe having less strong opinions
I managed to make the previous megameets which were great. It started off at a pub called the Royal Oak in the Yorkshire Dales. The 1st megameet, some members no longer with us. Each year the numbers grew and requests for different types of accommodation grew, hotels, bunkhouse camping, The next one was held in Bellingham where there were a few hotels and a bunkhouse and camping within walking distance of each other. Extremely wet if I remember correctly! And yes there is a BMW in there after that was Llanidloes in Wales same again but a bit more spread out. Went back to Bellingham the following year as it was difficult to find all accommodation close by to satisfy the numbers, high 20s, the ride outs were beginning to get a bit hairy due to the numbers too. Then it got too hard to find locations to allow for the numbers, without exclusions and to satisfy all tastes in accommodation. They were great fun and it was good to meet up with members
I'd be interested, camp or b'n'b. I won't bother you with too much input, you've seen what @crispey has written. If it comes off, all l want is a date and location, then it's just a question of if l can make it
Not so much the comfy bed, but that will help. I also need an electric power supply. would that be the Whistlestop? Founder has just passed away. T.
Yes it's the whistle stop and not to be disrespectful to the departed jimmy was not a founding member as me and my brother had gone there from the beginning my membership card was no 9 and my brother was no 10 and Jimmy was not involved at that time when the original founders gave up the chairman and Secretary roles as if I remember rightly one of them was going more into off roading and trials that is where Jimmy took over and the club started to have a different dynamic with traffic police becoming members and always being watchful and checking the bikes for the usual mods shame really but it does annoy me when I've read this and where I decided that this wasn't where I wanted to spend my Thursday evening and at the time I had moved to wrexham and not that practical I'm talking 30 years or so ago so some facts and names have gone from my memory but that Jimmy wasn't there while there when we had started with a dozen or so members in the original cafe that was opposite the position the cafe is now and it was a single unit before Barry took over next door and knocked through
Well there seems to be a bit of a mixed opinion in my suggestion this is why I threw it out there to judge interest it does seem that accommodation is the main concern if any member that was involved in the OG meets and maybe still in touch with the Bellingham hoteliers or camp site could possibly make inquiries and see if these amenities are still available to the group or make an introduction I wouldn't want to step on any toes being a new member but I don't mind working with someone else to bring this idea to actually happen
How it was done previously, a location was agreed on then accommodation was recommended, then it was a free for all to get a bed booked, as the numbers increased some people missed out on their preferred accommodation and either adapted or didn't attend. If there was a bunk house involved then someone would contact them and tentatively try to negotiate a buy out rate but regarding hotels, b&b you booked those yourself
@Scoot65 Yes there was a time when the Forum nearly ended for various reasons. Think the other forum is called the Triumph Motorcycles forum. Not as good but reasonable.
You're not treading on toes Mark. You have as much "right" as anyone else to make a suggestion, and see it to fruition if you're so inclined.
