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Ride to H Cafe – Dec 24

The weather forecast was for dry and mild weather so we met up on Sunday morning and went for a ride to the H Cafe in Berinsfield. This is a popular meeting place for bikers and has an Infinity motorcycle clothing and accessories shop next door. When we got there the cafe was full, so we sat at the picnic tables outside which are popular in the summer. But the weather was not too bad and in a bike riding gear we weren’t cold. We then browsed around the shop next door and then split in various directions to go home.

Getting together at the start of the ride
Parked up at the H Cafe
Admiring some classic Triumphs
Enjoying refreshments

Review of 2024

Our stand at the British SuperBikes at Thruxton this year

Looking back at 2024 we’ve seen lots of new faces at both our ride-outs and club nights. Its been a busy year for the Branch. We’ve met every Thursday with turnouts of 20 plus in the winter months, and 40 or more on dry summer nights. During the winter months we had presentations on touring in India and record breaking at Bonneville salt flats, a quiz night and bring and buy sale. We also adopted a new badge for the Branch and produced a new line of clothing and regalia with it on. We’ve had more 40 than rides organised this year and gone on visits to Cassington Bike Night, Triumph Day at the Ace Cafe, Triumph Day at Sammy Miller’s Museum and to the National Motorcycle Museum. We’ve also gone on the Easter Egg Run and Christmas Toy Run.

The highlight of the year was attending the TOMCC 75th Anniversary weekend at Shelsley Walsh. Another great weekend was spent with our Branch stand at the British Superbike Championship at Thruxton. At our home base at the BCSA we have hosted two lunchtime bike meets, our Old Motorcycle Gathering and a barbecue evening. We’ve also taken our Branch stand to several other shows including MAG’s Easter Show, Dr B’s, Popham Megameet and the Swallowfield Show.

Our Christmas Club Night

We had more than 60 people at our Christmas buffet on our last Club Night of the year.

See the video below to look back photos of the rides we have gone on this year.

Toy Run photos- Dec 2024

The start of the 2024 Reading Toy Run

This year’s toy run was another great success with over 1300 bikes and a huge number of toys donated to Dr Barnado’s for onward distribution to children. This is not organised by us, but as usual, we participated along with many others clubs and bikers in the area by: acting as marshalls, transporting toys in a van, riding as part of the run and donating toys.

Here are some pictures of the run.

75th Anniversary Picture

At our September Lunchtime Bike Meet we decided to take a picture celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the TOMCC. We moved 8 bikes into position and then got an aerial view by hoisting a remotely operated camera to the top of the flag pole. We submitted it to Nacelle as a possible front cover, but it wasn’t chosen by the editor. It did get printed on the last inside page of the December edition though. Thanks to Steve Yarwood who had the idea and directed operations on the day and Collin Fox who took the picture.

See here for more pictures of the bike meet where this photo was taken

Nacelle Report – Dec 2024

Below is the report published in the December 2024 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in October 2024

Winter feels like it’s well on its way since the clocks went back.  However, it’s not all bad news as the Sunday ride-outs are back to normal with the return of our Runs Leader, Collin, fit again after a few weeks out of the saddle.  If only Collin’s bike was in such rude health.  A recent ride-out saw Collin’s bike refuse to start, but with 10 branch members on hand to offer “helpful” advice, he was soon running again.  All he needed was a jump, I know the feeling…

How many Branch members does it take to start a Tiger with a flat battery?

Looking forward through the coming months we have a few events planned and a couple of others in the pipeline.  Firstly, the Christmas Buffet, which will be held on the 19th December, normal venue/time but with delicious food and fabulous raffle prizes.

Next up there’s the annual Table Top Bring & Buy sale on the 16th January.  This is a great opportunity to unload some of those parts, accessories or items of clothing that you’ve been meaning to ditch, but also to buy even more to take home and surprise the other half with!  I’m sure they’ll agree what a bargain purchase you’d made.  Helpful tip: Get there early.

Finally, we have our Branch AGM on the 13th February.  We need more members on the committee, so why not get involved, you may have some good ideas to improve the branch for the membership.  So please, as they say in the good ole USA, “step up to the plate”.

Bibendum

And on the last page of Nacelle, in the 75th Anniversary Year Nacelle Front Cover Competition section was this photo, taken by Collin Fox at our September bike meet.

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary with bikes

Toy Run – Dec 2024

The annual Reading Toy Run organised by Reading Christian Motorcyclists will be on Sunday 1st December 2024. As usual, we will be supporting this in various ways, with some of our members acting as Marshalls or supporting the event at the High Close School destination while others will be joining in the ride alongside thousands of other bikers in the area. Note that this year the ride will set off at 1pm, with riders congregating at the start point from 11am onwards. There is also a new start point, which is at the Thames Valley Science Park near Shinfield Studios.

Rather than organise a ride in, this year we will be meeting up at the at the start point with everyone else. Remember to bring a toy with you. We look forward to seeing you there on Sunday 1st December

See below for information from the organisers.

See here for more information from the organisers.

Ride to Rowdey Cow Cafe – Nov 24

We went on a recent Sunday ride to the Rowdey Cow Farm Cafe and Ice Cream Parlour. A popular destination in the summer with its outside picnic tables and locally made ice cream, the colder weather meant we were hoping for hot food and inside seating. Unfortunately when we got there, all the inside table were reserved for people having Sunday lunch. So we sat outside with coffee and cake. We still had a good time and a pleasant ride there and back. Here are are a couple of photographs.

Quiz Night Photos – Nov 24

Teams competing in the quiz in the club bar

We had our annual quiz night in November and once again, Bob Cromwell set a mix of motorcycle related and general knowledge questions. Prizes were awarded to the top three teams. There was a tie for third place, so Bob asked a further three questions in an exciting tie break round. There were some great prizes awarded to the three winning teams. See below for some photos of the event, including the three winning teams collecting their prizes.

See below for video summary of our quiz night.

Ride to Thruxton – Nov 24

Branch members at the Thruxton entrance

About a dozen of us rode a scenic route to Thruxton circuit and visited the Jackeroo Cafe there. Thruxton has a special place in motorcycling history and today hosts one of the British Superbikes rounds which we attended early in the year. One of the bikes on the run was a Triumph Thruxton and we had a picture taken at the entrance a couple of years ago, so we gathered at the entrance for a few iconic photos. See below for some pictures.

Ride to TJ’s – Oct 24

Our bikes lined up in TJ’s car park

On a dry, sunny and mild Sunday in late October, twelve of us met up to ride to TJ’s Cafe near South Marston. A flat battery slightly delayed the start, but luckily one member on the ride had a set of jump leads, so the bike was quickly started by a couple of people, with the rest offering advice and support.

Here are some photos of the event.

Inside TJ’s
Inside TJ’s
Jump starting a bike