Category: News

Announcements, news items, Nacelle reports, articles

Nacelle Report – Sept 25

Below is the report published in the September 2025 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in July 2025

Greetings readers, with the mid-summer upon us, mostly fine weather has seen branch ride-outs happening twice weekly.  So if you fancy joining a ride-out, with like minded Triumph owners, but not necessarily riding a Triumph, check out the “Runs WhatsApp” group for details.  If you’re not a member of the group contact Collin Fox to be added.  There’s also a Social Group for non-runs related messages.

The month started off with the annual barbecue on the first Thursday at the BCSA.  As “chef” I was glad that everyone seemed to enjoy the food, but overjoyed that I didn’t actually poison anyone!  Bruce Lee and his superb TR6C took the honours for the Steve Butcher Trophy, well done Bruce.

Now I know why there’s a cue [sic] added to Barbie…
Bruce Lee receives the Steve Butcher trophy from Chairman Nick for Best Branch Members Bike (TR6C)

A MAG protest ride took place 2 days later, in Reading, regarding bus-lane usage and parking restrictions in the town.  Unfortunately, regrettably and embarrassingly my trusty ‘79 export Bonnie broke down when it ran out of sparks mid-route; a dodgy battery proved to be the culprit.

A fortnight after the barbecue saw a new event for the branch in the form of a Summer Bring & Buy.  We were blessed with a fine, dry evening and it was just a case of throwing a sheet on the lawn outside the BCSA and displaying your motorcycle related wares.  Much haggling took place with the buying and selling; I know, I did both.

With the final Saturday of July it was a ride-out to the massive Calne bike meet for many branch members.  Many went from the branch and surely had a great time.

A late call now for the Swallowfield Show taking place over the Bank Holiday weekend.  If you wish to join the Branch Stand and display your bike at the event you’ll need to have registered it through Collin Fox.  If you haven’t registered, please contact him directly with your details.

Saturday 27th September (pray for good weather) we’ll be holding our Autumn bike meet at the BCSA.  Any bike, any make, any age, anyone, all are welcome, the more the merrier.  This is not restricted to members only, so tell as many friends as possible to make this a huge event.  The BCSA bar will be open as usual for refreshments, starts at 11am.

Ride fast and safe

Bibendum

Lunchtime Bike Meet – 27 Sept 2025

We are having a Lunchtime Bike Meet on Saturday 27 September 2025 from 11am to 4pm at the BCSA. It’s a great opportunity to meet other riders, see their bikes and have lunch and a drink . All motorcycles and riders are welcome. 

Hot food and drink will be on sale in the club house and the bar will be open.

A collection will be taken for the NABD (the National Association for Bikers with a Disability), which is a charity which assists disabled people to ride motorcycles, particularly helping to make necessary adaptations to bikes to make this possible. See here for more information about the NABD.

See here for details of the venue.

See here for pictures from last year’s September Lunchtime Bike Meet.

Here is a flyer for the event. Feel free to pass this on to other bikers in the area who might be interested.

British Superbikes – 8 -10 Aug 2025

We will have our Branch stand at the British Superbike Championship at Thruxton race circuit from 8 to 1o August 2025. We will be there for the whole weekend from Friday to Sunday. So if you are planning on going to the Thruxton BSB meeting, why not drop in and visit us at our stand.

Our Branch Stand at British Superbikes in 2024

See here for more pictures and a video of us at BSB in 2024.

See here for details of the BSB event from the organisers.

Riding Portugal’s N2

Steve and his Rocket in Chaves at the start of the N2

The N2 is regarded as Portugal’s “Route 66”.  Starting in the north at Chaves, it finishes in the southern city of Faro. Bibendum, who has been writing the monthly Berkshire Branch reports in the TOMCC magazine Nacelle since early 2024, rode the N2 on his 10 year old Triumph Rocket Roadster as part of a longer ride from southern England to Morocco. In this article, which was published in Nacelle in 2025, he tells the story of that epic ride.

The N2 “passport” showing both start and end stamps

There is a “passport” issued which is stamped at the beginning and end of the ride and various checkpoint in between and gives official recognition of the achievement.

To read the article in full, click the button below.

Read More

Nacelle Report – Aug 25

Below is the report published in the August 2025 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in June 2025

What a busy month June has been.  It seems like it’s been one event after another and with fine weather it’s meant good riding conditions.

A small group of branch members ventured to the Ace Café for Triumph day and we never touched a motorway all the way there.  An event, now a shadow of its former self due to ULEZ.  There must be about 30 years of bikes missing due to the fact that they’re not exempt or compliant and the rider rightly refuses to pay the unjust fee.  I’m a firm believer that all motorcycles should be excluded from ULEZ restrictions.

A motley crew at the Ace for Triumph day

Then a ride-out to The Classic Motor Hub in the Cotswolds, with it’s fantastic range of cars and equivalent fantastic range of prices. The third weekend saw our branch stand at the Thruxton Retro Festival, thanks to all who came to support the event.

The month topped out with our annual show, The Old Bike Gathering.  It was much appreciated by all who attended and congratulations go to those well deserved winners of one of our unique triangular plaques.  

The Old Bike Gathering at the BCSA

Swiftly followed by ride-outs to Crofton pumping station on the Kennet & Avon canal.  “In steam” on the day of the visit, where it was possible to see a beam engine over 200 years old in action.  And finally, Cassington Bike night, and to all who attended, well done, because it was a particularly hot and sweaty one!

Looking forward, the branch will be at Thruxton for the BSB on 8-10 August and we’re looking for bikes specifically registered before the year 2000 to be exhibited on the stand.  If you’re interested in attending please contact a member of the committee regarding your intentions, so as to arrange ticketing.

Ride fast and safe

Bibendum

Triumph Day – Sammy Miller- 3 Aug 2025

The TOMCC is organising another Triumph Day this year at Sammy Miller’s Motorcycle Museum on the 3 August 2025 from 10am to 3pm. This will be the third year and it’s been massive each time. Arrive for 10am and you’ll likely get into the courtyard. Prizes will be given at 12:30 followed by a photo shoot of the winners. The South Hampshire TOMCC Branch and Destination Triumph will have stands on site.

Berkshire Branch members on a ride out to a this event previously

See here for more pictures of a previous ride out by the Berkshire Branch to this event.

See here for more details of this event from Sammy Miller.

Summer BBQ – 3 July 25

We’ll be having a BBQ on Thursday 3 July 2025 for Branch members and their guests instead of the usual weekly club night starting at 7.30pm. It will be held outside at the BCSA where we normally meet. There will be a small charge per head per serving for BBQ food. Drinks will be served and paid for at the bar as usual.

There will be no subs collected on the night.

We will be hold a raffle with some fabulous prizes to be won.

During the evening, we will judge all the members bikes in the car park, and we will present the Steve Butcher Memorial trophy for the Best Branch Members Bike to the owner of the best bike in the car park. So if you want to be in with a chance of winning this prestigious award, come to the BBQ on a bike.

The winner at our 2024 BBQ with the Steve Butcher Trophy and his winning bike

Our Summer BBQ in 2024

Thames Valley MAG Riders Resistance

Thames Valley MAG produced a short article in June 2025 setting out their view of the current position taken by Reading Council and the Government with respect to motorcycles. This was produced as a briefing in advance of the Rider’s Resistance Day of Action called by MAG and the locally organised protest ride planned for the 5 of July. The article sets why the ride is being held and what the issues are. In summary these are:

  • Local and Government policies and intentions, now and in 2030
  • Expensive and unrealistic motorbike parking charges
  • Bus Lane Access for motorbikes

Click on the button below to read the full article.

Read article

The Old Motorcycle Gathering – 2025

The Old Motorcycle Gathering, our show for old bikes, will be held this year on Saturday 28 June 2025  at the Burghfield Community Sports Association (BCSA), James Lane, Burghfield, RG30 3RS. The show will be from 11am to 4pm. This is near junction 11 of the M4 and is where we hold our Thursday club nights. Click here to see the venue on a map.

This show is for all bikes classed as “Historic” vehicles by the DVLA, which currently means bikes manufactured before 1985. The show is open to all marques, but bikes must be ridden to the show. Prizes will be awarded for Best Foreign, Best British and Best Triumph as well as Best in Show.

There is no entry charge.

If you don’t have an old motorcycle, you can still come along on a modern bike. Just leave it in the car park while you look at the old bikes on the lawn.

A wide range of food and drink will be on sale at the bar.

Click here to see pictures from our Old Motorcycle Gathering in 2024 or read this article from Nacelle Magazine about our show.

See the follower flyer about the show that you can download, print and share.

Reading Protest Ride – July 25

Thames Valley MAG is organising a Bike Protest Demo Ride on 5 July 2025 as part of the Motorcycle Action Group’s (MAG) Riders Resistance weekend. The ride will leave at 1pm from Superbikestore, Reading Link Park, Rose Kiln Lane, Reading, RG2 05N.

You can read an article by MAG on the background to this protest here.

For up to date information about the ride and local MAG activities, look on the Thames Valley MAG group on Facebook.

For more information from MAG nationally, see their website here.