Author: RDMCC

Tuesday Ride out 11/03/2025

Hi All,

This weeks ride out will be to The Old Woodyard, Hanslope

Meet at Silver Ball, 09:30 onwards for 10:00 departure.

The lunch stop will be at Bike M’Eats, Hanslope. On the same site is Bike Sanctuary.

A halfway (ish) coffee stop is planned at Sharnbrook Deli Cafe. But as it is a little further than halfway we will stop at a more convenient location if we see one.

Routes as shown on attached map and gpx files. Outbound trip is approx. 65 miles, return approx. 45 miles.

Sharnbrook Deli Cafe small cafe with limited seating inside but a backyard area, with more seating, that is accessed by a narrow passageway. Easy parking directly opposite.

Bike M’Eats café food. Very tasty all day breakfast. Limited seating inside. Our group of 10 riders fully occupied the indoor seating. Outdoor seating available.

Motorcycle showroom next door.

Easy parking.

Tuesday Ride out 04/03/2025

Hi All,

Keith Barrell will be leading this week’s ride.

Meet at Silver Ball, 09:30 onwards for 10:00 departure.

The lunch stop will be The Pilot’s Mess at Sywell Airport. We last visited The Pilots Mess during April 2024.

A halfway coffee stop is planned at Dave’s Snax which is located in a lay-by on the old A421 near Wootton.

Routes as shown on attached map and gpx files. Outbound trip is approx. 60 miles return approx.50 miles.

Biker Down Courses 2025

Each course will run from 08:00hrs to 14:00hrs and will be held at:

The Blackstone Room

Longfield Training Centre

Hitchin Road

Stevenage

Hertfordshire

SG1 4AE

Wheels at The Woodman

Wheels at the Woodman, The Woodman Inn, Nuthampstead SG8 8NB. Saturday 15th March 2025 9am – 12pm.

Alan Evans will lead a ride from Tesco Royston to The Woodman. Meeting at Tesco for 10:00hrs departure.

Tuesday Ride out 25/02/2025

Hi All,

We seem to have left the very cold weather behind so a little longer ride this week.

Meet at Silver Ball, 09:30 onwards for 10:00 departure.

My original thought was to visit Krazy Horse, Bury St Edmunds however the café is not open on Tuesdays.

Instead, we will have lunch at a café we have not previously visited, Folk, Bury St Edmunds

A halfway coffee stop is planned at Café 33, Stradishall.

Route as shown on attached map and gpx file. Outbound trip is approx. 60 miles. There is no planned return trip to Royston but there are two well known return options, approx. 40 minutes via A14 / A505 or 1 hour plus via Horinger / Haverhill.

Presentation by GB Racing

Wednesday 2nd April, 8pm, Whaddon Village Hall.

Presentation: Making the World’s Best Crash Protection.

Presented by Stef Cook and Tim Banks of GB Racing.

They will give a brief insight into GB Racing, what they do and why it works so well.

Also why you do not need to be a racer to benefit from their products.

Tuesday Rideout 18/02/2025

Hi All,

Still in cold weather mode for this weeks ride.

Meet at Silver Ball, 10:15 onwards for 10:45 departure.

A ride around local roads ending at Jordan’s Mill, Broom for lunch.

We recently stopped at Jordan’s Mill when our planned destination, Shuttleworth, was closed but this ride follows a different route and is so exciting that it even offers a glimpse of the famous “Pope Towers”.

There is no planned coffee stop.

Routes as shown on attached map and gpx files. Outbound trip is approx. 45 miles. There is a planned return trip to Royston but there will be better options depending on your destination.

Tuesday Rideout 11/02/2025

Hi All,

Still in cold weather mode for this weeks ride.

Meet at Silver Ball, 10:15 onwards for 10:45 departure.

No planned coffee stop this week but lunch at The Temeraire (Weatherspoons), Saffron Walden.

Routes as shown on attached map and gpx files. (Round trip approx. 60 miles)

There is no parking at The Temeraire but we found a free space for “two” motorcycles at nearby Swan Meadow pay and display car park.

We had six riders. I wonder how many motorcycles we could fit in?

Tuesday Rideout 04/02/2025

Hi All,

Continuing the cold weather theme but a slightly longer ride this week.

This is the same route that was planned for last week and was postponed re bad weather.

Meet at Silver Ball, 10:00 onwards for 10:30 departure.

A coffee stop at Madingley Hall Cafe followed by lunch at The Mad Cat Inn, Pidley.

Routes as shown on attached map and gpx files. (Round trip approx. 70 miles)

12 riders started from the Silver Ball this morning and headed to Madingley Hall for coffee.

We were greeted by Matt’s wife Teri and after a pleasant stay (a big thank you to Teri for coffee) we headed across country to the Mad Cat Inn for lunch. Decent roads and a good ride.

Report & photos by Keith Barrell

An Evening With Lester Harris

The second in a series of talks by Lester to our club members and guests.

At Whaddon Village Hall on Wednesday 5th February at 8pm

To a busy Whaddon Village Hall, Lester spoke about the present day challenges of racing at club and national level compared to the scene 50 years ago.

50 – 60 years ago racing was, for want of better words, run on an amateur basis.  Bikes were basic, suspension crude and electronics virtually non-existent.  Circuit safety, certainly at many tracks, left a lot to be desired.  Racing clubs proliferated.  One set of tyres was deemed sufficient for all weathers and if a rider was lucky, a mate or two might come along to help out on the day.

Everything has changed.  Racing at all levels is far more professional, circuits are safer and bikes are faster, much faster.  But there are downsides.   There are now fewer racing clubs, fewer meetings and consequently less track time which, with the speed and complexity of modern bikes, is essential to ensure optimal setup for good performance. A rider needs a back-up team to interpret the data and fettle the bike.  Also needed are various sets of tyres to cope with the vagaries of the British weather.  

In short, today you need time and money, preferably lots of it!  Talent is, of course, essential.

If you ever get the opportunity to attend one of Lester’s talks they are well recommended.

Again the club extends its thanks to Lester and wish him and his son Cameron all the best for the coming season.

Report by Guy Moody