We had an early start and rode the DGR. We rode down Sandbanks but Harry and Sandra didn’t turn out. Afterwards we rode over to one of the nominated distribution locations, The Churchill Arms, where we met up with our partners DocBike.
We headed out to Plymouth via the fastest possible route rather than the planned ride. The rain was the heaviest I have ever ridden through. If we could have bailed we would but it wasn’t an option.
Today is going to be a little bit hectic its forecast wet weather we have a long ride down to Plymouth and we also have the DGO in between . What a fantastic day yesterday was with loads of really interesting to people and members from mental health motorbike at the T café and Sammy Millers museum, we even met the man himself Mr Sammy Miller and living legend! Great to see so many people. We will try and keep you up-to-date with what happens today but thanks for all your support
As I wheeled the bike out the rain started after what had promised to be a dry but overcast departure.
I made good time and met up with Nick Smallwood at Keele but not before what could have been a complete wipeout. Heading towards Holmes Chapel a thoughtful farmer had turned the road completely brown with mud. Despite me pointing the bike straight it threw a complete wobbler with the rear end fishtailing and front doing a full on tank slapper. I was just a complete passenger and I only thing it pulled through due to the 70/30 tyres. I think if I had road tyres I’d be down.
We met up with Paul Oxborough on time at Cherwell and arrived early at the H Cafe. We met up with some Mental Health Motorbike ambassadors and then got off to Sammy Millers Motorcycle museum where we got to meet the man himself.
The whole team is on the move as we converge on Cherwell Services near Bicester where we will meet for the first time. Managed to dodge the rain down the M1 and even saw some sunshine and felt the heat for 15 minutes. Lovely run and the roads were relatively quiet.
And so we depart.
I awoke to an email advising me that the Bournemouth to Poole ride had been modified due to the weather.
The start point has changed due to the prom being closed. (Apparently, there is 20,000 tonnes of sand to be removed)
This isn’t a problem to us. If we can find the updated starting location we will just be following the procession to Poole and then onto The Churchill Arms, Alderholt for 11:00am. We will be there for a couple of ours if you want to drop by.
Weather wise it looks like we will be starting this trip with the wet weather gear on. We’ve been there before and it certainly won’t dampen the spirits.
See you on the road!
It has been a long time coming and the weather doesn’t look great but this won’t stop us getting the bikes out and going to meet our friends in the South. We have moved the Baton Relay Ride to Recruit to May 2022 but the purpose of this visit is to lay some foundation stones and meet some of our strategic partners.
follow out adventures over the next few days
Just uploaded all the GPX files into the trip planner on my satnav courtesy of Martin. Starting to get organised still lots of things to do but very excited about the coming trip
Riding alongside the original Mental Health Motorbike in the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride will be two further GS Adventures. We wanted to brand them similar to the vinyl livery applied to the lead bike but needed a solution where the branding could be applied and removed as required.
The solution came courtesy of some polyester/spandex material and elastic ribbon. Once a basic template had been drawn up for the panniers and top box we employed a seamstress to bring them together. This gave us the black blank canvass required.
One of the Mental Health Motorbike ambassadors, Iain ‘Fish’ Gudgeon, created the vinyl logos that were applied to the textile sleeves and the look was complete.
