BMW Club Oxford Section Report for May 2018
20thMarch onwards – Venue Change
Our Pub Social is moving home, please make a note of the new address: Tawny Owl, Taw Hill, North Swindon, Swindon SN25 1WR
8thApril – Phil Carter’s Mystery Ride Out by Geoff Clough
About 20 bikes met at the Sun Inn, Coate Water for a mystery ride led commendably by Phil Carter with Daffyd Jones as tail end charlie.
There was a risk of showers, but the roads were generally dry as we set off for the first leg. We had a guest or two with us including one on a Guzzi who managed to shed a pannier, possibility for a new form of skittles perhaps?
We had a scenic ride through the Vale of White Horse, then over the Downs to Wantage for a coffee break. Suitably refreshed, we headed back towards Swindon via Dragon Hill, Woolstone, Longcot, Shrivenham and Highworth.
The drizzle had arrived by this stage and may have contributed to a split in the group at the traffic lights. The back half of the group had a scenic tour of Highworth ably swept up by Daffyd. Once reunited with the rest of the group we arrived at the Tawny Owl for lunch.
If you haven’t visited the Tawney Owl, this is where the Swindon Pub Social is now based where we meet on the third Tuesday in every month.
After lunch and with Phil’s warning of narrow roads, steep hills and twisty roads a smaller group set off towards Malmsbury, Tetbury and Nailsworth. We were using the “buddy system” which came apart within the first few miles.
Another intervention from our excellent sweeper Daffyd, gathered up the lost sheep and we then managed to keep together for the rest of the ride.
The A46 was very scenic (and bendy) dropping into Nailsworth. The steep climb out of Nailsworth towards Minchinhampton involved a series of hairpins which were very testing given the weather had now closed in. We headed back over the Cotswolds towards Cirencester before heading to our final refreshment stop at Chedworth Farm.
This is a highly recommended watering hole that warmly welcomes all sorts of outdoor visitors – walkers, cyclists and motorcyclists in all weathers!
This was the end of the ride out so we all made our way home after tea or coffee and cakes to dry out and relax in a hot bath!!
A big vote of thanks to Phil and Daffyd who had planned an excellent route A very interesting route and much enjoyed by all, I would love to try it again in the dry……
15thApril – Mystery Ride Out by Steve Halliday
The ride out started from Jacks Hill Cafe and the day promised much by way of glorious sunshine and clear blue skies, sadly not to last as it soon became a John Major day (dull and grey) but the rain did hold off which can only be positive.
When I arrived at the cafe I was appalled to learn that this was to be a truck/ lorry meet and some 30/40 Harley Davidson bikers busy was not the word. The bikers soon departed, and our group arrived from the Peartree services ably shepherded by Dave and Rosemary Hicks who also have my grateful thanks as they acted as tail end Charlie for the day. My thanks to the riders who took part as it was their professional riding that made my job easier.
My thanks must also go to my old friend and riding partner Roger Barnaby who introduced me to this route many years ago and we rode it often.
We left promptly at 10.00 and headed out along the back roads towards Banbury, there were seven bikes and eight people. The roads were quiet, and we made “good progress” using the drop of system and nobody got lost.
A quick detour around Banbury and we picked up the road to Stratford, apart from some mud on the road and the potholes nothing untoward happened until at one point I noticed Blue flashing lights ahead. Slowing the group down it was apparent the Police were recovering a Motorist who had managed to roll his car into the ditch, quite how this was achieved was open to speculation.
After 70 mins and 43 miles we pulled into a Garden Centre for a comfort stop and coffee, however the cakes proved too much of a temptation for some!
A brief reminder to the group that part of this route was a blackspot for motorcyclists we resumed our rideout along country roads to be frustrated by our non engined two-wheel cousins who insisted on riding two abreast.
The drop of system worked very well and when we turned onto the A44 I opened up the gap between us, so I could negotiate the Broadway bends at my own pace. Looking behind as you do I could see the temptation proved too much for some as riders had some fun on the bends!
Lunch was provided courtesy of the chip shop in Bourton on the Water and during the debrief it appears everyone enjoyed the route and the pace. After lunch we bid our farewells and made our way home.
Oxford Section Sat Nav Project and Survey
Earlier in the year we announced the start of the Oxford Section Sat Nav Project between the Oxford Section and North Oxford Garage. The aim of the project is to improve our collective knowledge of how to use our Sat Nav’s and to help members get the best from them.
We have produced an electronic newsletter, and now we are working on a booklet supported by a local dealer of top 100 tips. The first of a number of workshops is organised for January addressing some of the issues identified by our members.
Drop me a line if you would like an insight into the results
Future Events: May / August 2018
May 6 Ride out: Hayes Motor Museum Yeovil Somerset BA22 7LH. Meet 9.30 Newbury Wharf RG14 5AS Noel Robertson noelrobertson@btinternet.com
May 13–30 Andalucía (Spanish trip): Steve Moxey / Dave Tomlinson dave.tomlinson@bmwoxford.com
May 27 Ride out: Bike Shed 2018. Meet 8.00 Peartree services, travel for breakfast at the Ace Café then onwards to the exhibition at Tobacco Quay, Wapping Lane, London E1W 2SF. Chris Bond chris.bond@bmwoxford.com
June 1 – 2 Lechlade Camping Weekend Bridge House Camp Site
Lechlade GL7 3AG. http://bridgehousecampsite.co.ukDave Hawkins 01993 850862 or e-mail maddave02@hotmail.co.uk for more details, please book camping direct with the campsite on 01367 242348
June 10 Ride out: Devils Dyke and Beachy Head. Meet Reading M4 Eastbound Services at 8.30 leaving 9.15Carl Flintcerfsky@sky.com
June 25 Cassington Bike Night: John Broad john.broad85@talktalk.net
July 2 Ludgershall Bike Night: Section stand. Dave & Rosemary Hicks rosemaryhicks@hotmail.com
July 7 – 8 ACU Rally: Carterton Checkpoint. Andy Lawson harvest.moon@ntlworld.com
July 7 – 14 Isle of Man: Staying at the Empress Hotel, Douglas. Rosemary Hicks rosemaryhicks@hotmail.com
July 8 Ride out: Chichester (Tim Peak Space Museum). Leave Chieveley Services 10.00. David Liskhondapan@btinternet.com
July 10 John Wheeler Bike Night: Upton Recreation Ground (previously West Hagbourne). Section stand. Graham Chapple gjchapple@googlemail.com
July 22 Ride out: John Hillier 27johnhillier@gmail.com
July 28 Calne Bike Event: Section stand. John Russ john.russ@btopenworld.com
July 29 Ride out: Nuffield Place, Henley on Thames RG9 5RX. Steve Moxeysteve.moxey@bmwoxford.com
August 12Brackley Festival of Motorcycling: Section stand. Dave Shanks dave.shanks@bmwoxford.com
August 16–19 Red Kite Rally: Camping White Mark Farm,82 Hill Road, Watlington OX49 5AF. John Ottaway jwocott@btinternet.com
August 19 Section BBQ: White Mark Farm, 82 Hill Road, Watlington OX49 5AF contact Dave & Rosemary Hicksrosemaryhicks@hotmail.com
August 19 Ride out: Section BBQ Meet 11.00 Tim Bolderstontim.bolderston@bmwoxford.com
Don’t forget to make a note of the dates from the trifold calendar that you wish to attend into your diaries, we will also be updating the website regularly and posting on Facebook.
Here’s to safe riding and some good weather.
Dave Tomlinson
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