The Honda Owners Club

Question for Alan or Stritchy.

On the last version of the forum I thought we had a calender where ride outs, rallies and meets etc. could be posted. Is it just me and I'm looking in the wrong place or is it not here anymore? I always found it quite usefull to look up events.

Regards

Chimpy

Chimpy the main website has a normally fully updated calender of such things that have been notifed to us. Then of course there are the sections of the forum dedicated to run outs, rallies and racing. Another calender is surely not really needed.

There is a calendar on the Portal page, but to be honest, I can't get it to do anything!

As Dibble says, if you go to http://www.hoc.org.uk/events it will have the latest runs and events on it.

I look regularly at the 'event' page on the HOC web site. Some I am quite interested in, but I can't be bothered to send an email off to the organiser to get more details. Pity the organisers don't give a little more information, it may entice a few of those hesitating.

Hummm - I hadn't even noticed it had gone. I can't see a quick way to get it back (and I have no idea what the "Mini calender" is that we have apparently got somewhere)

Alan

Barry wrote:I look regularly at the 'event' page on the HOC web site. Some I am quite interested in, but I can't be bothered to send an email off to the organiser to get more details. Pity the organisers don't give a little more information, it may entice a few of those hesitating.

Having been persuaded to be the "run co-ordinator" for the Bristol Branch, with assistance from the Branch Secretary all the Bristol area members were written-to to ask them where they would like to go for branch ride-outs. The response was totally underwhelming. (Two, I think, and one of those politely admitted he wasn't interested anyway). No-one seems to be bothered at all. (We are still trying to drum up business, but if no-one comes along, then there's not even much point in showing the photos!)
I have drawn up a list of monthly rides, but why should the full details be posted? Planning events or ride-outs during the winter for the rest of the year takes time, and getting them listed on the website early enough in the season is usually before they are fully planned. As to you needing more details, if YOU can't be bothered to email them to ask (you only have to click the link and put a small note......and you were online at the time anyway.......) then would you actually join in if you knew more? Years ago, in joining a ride-out, I used to enjoy the surprise at where we were actually going en route,and the ultimate destination.
Don't take this the wrong way, I'm not being personal to you, but this is the feeling I have for the general lack of response locally.

Now, will that elicit a response from the locals?

Red V Four - do understand where you are coming from but don't be too downhearted. I think all branches have gone through ups and downs - have you tried going along to John's farm shop to see if you can pick up any of the bikers going there? Also to any other regular bike meets - with a little note to put on the bikes - we do it at Oxford and have gone one or two newcomers from it

EricaVFR wrote:Red V Four - do understand where you are coming from but don't be too downhearted. I think all branches have gone through ups and downs - have you tried going along to John's farm shop to see if you can pick up any of the bikers going there? Also to any other regular bike meets - with a little note to put on the bikes - we do it at Oxford and have gone one or two newcomers from it

Thanks, Erica. John's been along to our meetings on Tuesdays. We discussed this, but I don't think he has had many bikers meeting there yet, as I don't think he's advertised much yet, if at all. I said to him that he'll need to put a sign outside the place with a picture of a bike (VFR, naturally ) and that might attract them in. As he's a member, perhaps he could do the recruiting bit, as he's there all the time, unlike me!
As to leaflets on bikes at meets, it's fine if they are locals, but as I don't go to local bike meets, the chances of them being interested in our branch are minimal. Most of the meets I have been to are not local, with lads on "crotch rockets" and these are not the sort I want to associate with! They too, probably want to ride with the "Knee-down,sparky-pegs,speed-nutters club" annoying villagers along the way,and not have "pleasant" day-out rides to different places. (Must be getting old.........but then I do ride a VFR!)
We have plenty of members locally, just no interest.

Red V Four wrote:. The response was totally underwhelming.

That is about par for the course!

Planning events or ride-outs during the winter for the rest of the year takes time,

And probaly most of the time wasted. Planning for a whole year is usually a wast of time as there are too many variables - mostly the weather. I found it better to publish rides a month at a time - usually published half way through the proceeding month. Giving full details of start time and place - that was often varied - with a via point and approximate time and a turning point.
I also gave some indication of what type of ride it would be.

'My' rides were invariably along decent roads with a coffee stop and perhaps a lunch stop, visiting perhaps a bike show or bike jumble. Anthing from 100 to 200 miles. No allowance was made for learners or newly qualified riders. Whilst we used the '2nd man system' never more than 10 riders. I used to get a regular 7/8 riders turn up.

Other members of the club organised rather different rides - visiting stately home, museums, railways, etc. The sort of rides where you end up walking about in your riding kit for 2/3 hours.
They would often get 20+ bikes on those rides - and still do. I do no go on those rides.

As to you needing more details, if YOU can't be bothered to email them to ask (you only have to click the link and put a small note......and you were online at the time anyway.......) then would you actually join in if you knew more?

Possibly. Depending upon what sort of ride it was. I ride for my own pleasure, not to be just a member of a group.

Don't take this the wrong way, I'm not being personal to you, but this is the feeling I have for the general lack of response locally.

If the locals are not joining in and do not say what sort of ride they would support, perhaps you should ask them what they do not want in a ride?

[ (Must be getting old.........but then I do ride a VFR!)
Never, never, never - we VFR riders are all young and it is only our birth certificates that are incorrectly dated!

But I do agree about 'lads' - met five on our ride out Sunday (9 bikes off to Submarine Museum down some good twistie roads) and they were total idiots - overtaking on double white lines, junctions, brows of hills - they were lucky this time!

The way I look at it.
If I want to visit somewhere, I'll throw it open to the rest of the Branch and if anyone wants to come.... it's a bonus

These things tend to snowball, the more you do, the more people want it - but it takes time.
Don't be disheartened

But nothing succeeds like success!
If you're talking things down, the event will follow and nobody follows a loser

No allowance was made for learners or newly qualified riders

And they thus get experience of group riding how

Mayhap thats part of the problem, if newbies don't feel welcome on a ride out then they will not join in future ones, as such the number of people who will go on a ride-out starts to dwindle, until such time as you get no-one.

@Red V Four : Maybe its worth making contact with the local training schools, get the bikers when they are "fresh out of nappies" so to speak

EricaVFR wrote:But I do agree about 'lads' - met five on our ride out Sunday (9 bikes off to Submarine Museum down some good twistie roads) and they were total idiots - overtaking on double white lines, junctions, brows of hills - they were lucky this time!

Saw exactly this on Sunday (on my own on the A438 west of Hereford). Following a string of cars at 50-ish, double white lines, two bikes steaming up fast behind, first one overtakes wildly over the double white lines (there for quite obvious reasons) as a 44-tonner was approaching! Second rider follows on like he had a death-wish, on collision course with truck, both just make it in forcing between the cars (which I was following). They obviously ride like that all the time, but sadly get away with it. NOT the sort of riders I want to go around with. (Not that I would want to keep up with them anyway!)
A quarter of a mile later, white van man (Autoglass) does exactly the same thing, overtakes me then nearly wiped out the car in front of me the was overtaking next. Arsehole.

@Red V Four : Maybe its worth making contact with the local training schools, get the bikers when they are "fresh out of nappies" so to speak [/quote]

Excellent idea! Never thought of that. ..........we have had several inexperienced riders and 'cos we operate the drop off system and tail ender, they are never under pressure and are allowed to develop at their own pace.

Red V Four wrote:As to leaflets on bikes at meets, it's fine if they are locals, but as I don't go to local bike meets, ..............................on "crotch rockets" and these are not the sort I want to associate with!
We have plenty of members locally, just no interest.

You do not go to local bike meets. You don't wish to associate with sports bike riders. Plenty of local members but none of them interested

One reason I gave up organising rides or getting involved in organising club events was because I am too old and could no longer contribute to other club members biking enjoyment - we have different needs, standards and outlook. Have you considered your own position vis the members?