Run Reports

www.barnsleybikersclub.co.uk

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Sunday 16th October 2011 Derbyshire with Carl.

The weather was fine and dry as thirteen bikers set off from The Keel at 9.30am on a cool October morning. This was billed as a steady run and folk had turned out on all sorts of bikes from CBR125s to CBR1100s. We made good progress by back roads towards Penistone. As we climbed towards Woodhead the weather closed in and a misty drizzle began. It cleared a little as we rode to Glossop and over the hills. Nigel was doing well to keep the revs up on the hills riding Barbaras 125 Varadero. Barbara was on her new GSR600. Connor was on his second run on the 125 Honda. Anyway, as we got deeper into Derbyshire the weather cleared up and the sun came out. We stopped at a cafe and it was very busy. There was another biker group in before us. Ivy ordered a toasted cheese sandwich which turned into a toasted tea cake when it arrived (oh no, not teacake trouble again!) Anyway, my sausage sarnie was smashing.

We set off again and continued East into the sunshine. I stopped at a garage but no one needed petrol (breakdown of communications there). John headed off south for home. We set off back by the usual route. Everyone marked the junctions well and we made good progress. We caught up with another large biker group going through Ladybower so I hung back a bit so as not to get mixed up with them. We had a sunny run back to Barnsley and arrived bang on 1pm.

We did about 90 miles. I managed to take it steady all the way and we didn’t lose anyone. Sorry about the precipitation over Woodhead, did I mention it always rains when I take a run to Derbyshire?

Thanks to everyone who turned out. I hope we can do it again sometime.

Who went:- Carl, Ivy, Lance, John, Keith, Nigel, Barbara, Pop, Christine, Connor, Paul, new member on sportsbike & lady on Gladius (sorry, I’m rubbish with names)

Cheers

Picture by Ivy

Sunday 30th October 2011 Donna Nook with Lance

Over the past few years the run to Donna Nook Seal Sanctuary has become a favourite outing. Todays run was no exception and 8.30am saw 10 bikers congregate at The Keel ready for the run Eastwards. The weather was warmer than expected and a good day was in the offing. We followed Lance and Lynn to Elmsall and over the A1 towards Campsall. I was just getting worried as we were rapidly approaching the bend where Lance went off-roading a couple of weeks ago. But Lance turned off just before we got there and went by a different route. We meandered across to Scunthorpe and Brigg and down to Donna Nook. Once parked up we got straight into the teas and sausage sarnies. Then we wandered along the coast path to the seals. There were lots of full grown seals hauled up on the beach and a few pups about. Photographs were taken and we ambled back to the bikes.

Lance set off and headed towards Louth then Market Rasen for a fuel stop. Taking to the back roads which were great apart from the odd pile donated by Farmer Giles. we headed for Gainsborough and Doncaster. After a good bit of solid biking we got back to Barnsley at 3pm and did 210 miles.

We’ve been to the coast ! Good day out Lance !

Who went:- Lance, Lynn, Carl, Ivy, Keith, Andre, Bob B, Andy, Carol, Andrew.

Cheers

Pictures by Ivy

Sunday 6th November 2011 Craven Collection with Carl.

The weather was unexpectedly warm and sunny as 12 bikes assembled at The Keel for the later than usual time of 11am. Off we went by the usual route to Sherburn and then by dry back roads across country. We had a good steady run. The sun was still shining when we arrived at the Craven Collection about 12.30. Cheap cups of tea all round and then we sat around talking. We went for an interesting walk round the museum and looked at loads of old bikes.

Then we set off back. The sun was very low and straight in our eyes which didn’t help. We had a steady cross country run back to Sherburn by-pass where a few peeled off and headed for Squires. The rest of us made our way back to Barnsley still in the sunshine. We got back just before 3pm and did 100 miles.

I worked out the fuel consumption of the DL and it came to exactly 50 mpg.

Thanks to those who turned out, hope you enjoyed it.

Who went :- Carl, Ivy, Lance, Keith, Nigel, Barbara, Pop, Bob B, Pete, Carol, Paul, New bloke.

Cheers

Carl.

Sunday 13th November 2011 Bridlington with Lance

Seven bikers turned up at The Keel for a typical November ride out. Typical because, despite the nice weather forecast, it turned out damp, foggy, cold and drizzly. So off we went at 9am into the drizzle and headed North East following Lance. We had a steady run because Farmer Giles had been busy spreading muck on the roads. We passed by Sherburn and rode into York and out again, didn’t see much of it in the fog. As we climbed up into the hills the fog got very thick and we finally arrived at Fridaythorpe Cafe.

We stopped for refreshments, I had a really nice Cornish Pasty . We warmed our hands on cups of tea. Lances fingers had gone blue from the cold. Connor was testing out the gear El Prez had sold him and the gloves were proving waterproof so far.

When we left the cafe the fog was still around so we decided to head south and make our way back via Pocklington. We had a good run until we got to Sutton where the road was closed for a parade or something so Lance had to find an alternate route and we ended up going through Howden. Connor needed a fuel stop on the outskirts of Goole then we carried on back through Rawcliffe and home by the usual route.

We got back to Barnsley about 1.30pm and did about 140 slightly soggy miles.

Thanks Lance.

Who went:- Lance, Bob B, Pop, Ivy, Connor, Andy, Carl.

Cheers

Photo by Ivy

Sunday 20th November 2011 Scarborough with John.

Well, apparently seven bikers turned out for this run to the coast. I can’t verify that because it was so foggy I could only see two other riders, the one in front and the one behind!

We set off at 9am and headed South East in the swirling mist. After a ‘Magic Roundabout’ moment in Wath we headed for Swinton. It was a constant struggle to keep your visor clear of fog and water, someone should invent some windscreen wipers for the outside of visors!

We progressed steadily to Bramley and Blyth......Blyth??? Which Scarborough are we going to, the one in Australia? Ah, but John had a cunning plan, after a stop for visor wiping we set off again this time heading North. As huge fourtraks without lights bore down on us from the fog we passed a motorbike copper parked up at the roadside with his mobile speed camera set up. Bl**dy Hell, he would have been better employed chasing the SUV morons driving in thick fog with no lights. The fog showed no signs of lifting as we traversed Lincolnshire from south to north. Going through Goole we caught up with Lance at the next junction but John had disappeared into the murk. We headed to the cafe and John appeared from behind – ‘that’s magic’. We went into the cafe and got warm. I had a nice pasty. Ivy did some Christmas shopping in the garden centre.

After a discussion we decided to head for home rather than soldier on through the thick fog and the highly dangerous conditions. John opted for the Motorway route home but the rest of us kept to the backroads in true Barnsley Bikers style. Lance led as we had been this way last week, which was handy. We had a good blast along the minor roads and headed back to Barnsley.

We arrived home at 1pm and notched up 105 miles. The beautiful countryside vistas had been noticeable by their absence, in fact, you couldn’t see your hand in front of your visor.

Nice try John, maybe it will be clearer next time!

No pictures were taken due to limited visibility.

Who were the Foggy bunch:- John, Lance, Carl, Ivy, Bob B, Bob, Peter.

Cheers

Carl.

Sunday 27th November 2011 Sand Racing with Carl

The weather was bright and sunny if a little bit windy as we assembled outside the Keel for a trip to the Sand racing at Mablethorpe. We had a good steady run and stopped at the usual place for teas.

On arrival in Mablethorpe we parked up and watched the racing in bright sunshine. It was just like summer.

We went for snap. After a long wait in The Bitch Cafe while they caught a pig for the sausages, Ivy and I ‘enjoyed’ a sausage sarnie. Note to self – never, ever, go in The Bitch Cafe at Mablethorpe again. The sand racers went through the complete race card while we waited for our meal. Do you want hairs with that?

Then we set off for a bit of fun on the back roads. The sun shone down and we had a great time. We followed the coast for a while then turned inland. After a few miles on a main road we found our way blocked by trucks, bollards and a “Road Closed” sign. There was a track off to the left so I set off on unknown back roads, across country, in deepest Lincolnshire. I had never been down these roads before and of course had no SatNav on my winter bike. I navigated by the sun and dead reckoning for 30 miles on great B roads and magically we came out where we should have done without the road block! Who needs SatNav Emily?

Back to the plan and we headed West by our favourite roads. The only downside was the bright sunshine straight in our eyes, but mustn’t moan it could have been foggy like last week.

Back through Gainsborough and home by the usual routes.

We got back to Barnsley about 3.15pm and did 190 miles.

So after two runs of not getting to our destination Barnsley Bikers finally made it to the east coast in bright sunshine! Third time lucky.

A very good run in the best weather you’ll get at this time of year. Great roads, great company and a fun day out. Didn’t even get the bike mucky!

Who went :- Carl, Ivy, Lance, Chloe (R6) & Andy (R1).

Thanks to those bikers who turned out.

Carl

Sunday 11th December 2011 Derbyshire with Carl.

After a fortnights lay off due to our enjoying ourselves it was time to get back to motorcycling.

4 hardened bikers turned up at The Keel for this jaunt into Derbyshire. The weather was dry as we set off at 9.30am. No ice or snow and quite mild. We went by backroads up to Penistone and then as the rain drops started we headed over the Woodhead Pass which had been closed until yesterday. As we climbed up the rain got worse and snow appeared at the side of the road. The wind got up and blew us about and we were beginning to feel a bit miserable as we rode through the wind and rain and started our descent. On the other side of the road, coming uphill towards us, were two mad cyclists! They looked soaked and frozen but it made us feel better, we weren’t the only nutters on two wheels today!

The rain continued and when we got to Glossop I decided to stop at the cafe. We sat around dripping and drinking tea.

We set off again and I decided to go via the Snake Pass. I hoped it would be open because it had also been closed yesterday. We climbed up out of Glossop into the snow and as we came down the other side back into the tree line there was a Christmas tree forest either side of the road and the tops were all snow covered. The mountains in the background were all snow covered, it looked just like a Christmas card! (nothing like this stock shot).

As we made our way back by the usual route the rain eased off a bit. Paul said goodbye at Tankersley and we head back to soggy Barnsley.

We got back at noon and did about 75 miles, most of them underwater.

I found out that my new ‘Australian Biker Gear’ waterproof trousers weren’t. Ivy found out her new waterproof gloves weren’t. Lance found out that when assembling a bike it’s best to check that the handlebars face the same direction as the front wheel!

Thanks to those who turned out.

They were:- Carl, Ivy, Lance, Paul.

Cheers

Carl.