View Full Version : AE07 Whinge: Get Involved
Right i have been sitting on this too long.
There are 1135 active members on this site and there seems to be a disticnt case of sloping shoulder syndrome and apathy with regards to helping out and generaly getting involved. It seems to have been left to the usual suspects to help out. Rictus being one of the main players here, but lets just say that most of the team are from the south.
Now you lot, well, most of you lot wanted it 'up norf', or more central, yet no one seems to want to help with routes, planning or general helpfulness (Within the guidelines) and all talk of going off and doing your own thing, loops, routes etc which detracts from previous rideouts of the Annual rideout.
All people seem to do is whinge. Get involved, find out if theres something, even if its small, that you can do to help out. If youa re local to the event, then im sure that there is something you can do, or advise.
These events are what YOU make them, and a little bit of helpfulness and appreciation wouldnt go a miss for the team behind the event.
If you dont get involved, then dont whinge if you dont like something. Put up and shut upm as my mum used to say!!
So for the whinging southerners, get on ya bikes and ride up there and stop all this talk of...its too far. Blimey, if i can ride the 300 mile up there, then anyone can (I hate doing long distance with a passion)
Rant over
Personally, I feel like I don't want to step on anyone's toes.
If there's anything that anyone needs a hand with, and I can help out, I gladly will do. Unfortunately, not being local, and not having any "talents" etc that I reckon would be of any use whatsoever, at the moment, I don't feel there's a lot that I can get involved with.
In the next few weeks I'll be working out my route to the campsite, and that will mainly consist of me sticking my finger in the air & seeing which way the wind blows.
I certainly don't plan on complaining about anything either though :) I suspect that I'm not alone in feeling this way too.
SoulKiss
01-06-07, 11:53 AM
So for the whinging southerners, get on ya bikes and ride up there and stop all this talk of...its too far. Blimey, if i can ride the 300 mile up there, then anyone can (I hate doing long distance with a passion)
300 miles is long distance????
Whinging Southerner :P
Serious for a moment, I think you said something that needed saying, so thanks for that Viney.
I am making the assumption that as I am in near weekly face to face contact with the organisers that know that if they need me to do something, they will ask me, even if it is just "shut the f**k up Dave" :)
Pah! I'll be doing 400 miles, and happy to guide anyone up there with me (oh what a laugh that will be with my sense of direction, Tom Tom me thinks)...
Anyway I'm going to be marking on the ride, so I'll be bringing me reflective jacket. Let me know if there is anything else I can do, though the week before I'm busy with my birthday and spending my holiday putting the other SV back together and hoping it works. As I would like to ride it up there, all will not be complete but she'll be on the road.
Viney,
I hear what you're saying and have a similar journey as you.
However, and in fairness, quite a few members pointed out at the time of the vote that for anyone travelling our sort of distances it makes AR07 into a 3day/2night trip rather than a 2day/1 night or "there and back in a day" affair.
For those with other commitments/families/kids this proves rather prohibitive.
I have to say that I resent the inference that those who are not going are somehow letting the side down. This is particularly galling given the time and effort that some who are not going (this year) have put into organising several rideouts for members during each of the past few years.
/rant
PS: Please don't call me a Southerner ;)
Pah! I'll be doing 400 miles, and happy to guide anyone up there with me (oh what a laugh that will be with my sense of direction, Tom Tom me thinks)...
Anyway I'm going to be marking on the ride,
what, p*ssing up all the lamp posts ..... god its going to take ages ;)
Ill bog off now
I offered to bring up a couple of guitars on a thread at the weekend providing somehow they could be collected, and the thread was shut down. So I will bring a frisbee and a bag of charcoal briquettes and will see you all there. I dont have any talents and dont know the group well enough to start organising people being a newbie, as far as routes are concerned I will be in the nursery group at the back. Im coming up to meet the people I have been 'chatting' with for the past 6 months or so, have a drink, have a laugh and enjoy the company, if guys want to go for a hoon, let em go. See you all there, totally looking forward to it.
Stew.
fizzwheel
01-06-07, 01:20 PM
I offered to bring up a couple of guitars on a thread at the weekend providing somehow they could be collected, and the thread was shut down.
I shut it down, because it got filled up with Drivel posts and anything useful was lost in the midst of it all.
PM Coolgirl with your offer, I'm sure somebody will help out with transport of your axe's
I dont think Viney was having a go at anybody. If you can't make it nobody is going to think less of you.
Gordon B
01-06-07, 01:23 PM
I dont have any talents and dont know the group well enough to start organising people being a newbie, as far as routes are concerned I will be in the nursery group at the back. Im coming up to meet the people I have been 'chatting' with for the past 6 months or so, have a drink, have a laugh and enjoy the company, if guys want to go for a hoon, let em go. See you all there, totally looking forward to it.
Stew.
What he said ^^^^
I'm doing the .org sticker, well trying.....
Youre right fizz, i wasnt haveing a go at anyone specificaly, just what seems the total lack of interest in bringing any help or usefullness to what isnt, easy to organise from the opposite end of the country.
so no one take it perosnaly, its just a general rant.
so no one take it perosnaly, its just a general rant.
When I find out what that is, I'll make sure that I don't ;-)
Think it's time for the Northern lot to stick their heads above the parapet. can't see 1135 people making there, though :D
Think it's time for the Northern lot to stick their heads above the parapet. can't see 1135 people making there, though :D
Last I heard there was around 50 booked in? Could be wrong on that though.
Maybe there's just no-one from the North going, so they don't want to interfere with something they're not involved in.
So c'mon anyone that lives remotely close (and by that I mean 1hour or less away) and will be attending AR07, shout up, make yourselves known. ;)
i live about 2 hours away but dont class myself as local. i have read a few posts and it just seems like its trying to be too organised. not that I have a problem with that its the whole talent thing im not interested in. but if everyone else is then go for it. last years was great. there were groups in the pub, groups round the bbq and other groups round a caravanette thingy. you could pick and chose whether to mingle or stick to your own group and chat. I still dont know if I will be attending due to babysitting issues. but hope to as it should be a laugh.
it is a bit dissapointing that the locals have not come up with a good route.
it is a bit dissapointing that the locals have not come up with a good route.
Who is local though? Kitkat falls outside my critera of a local, but appears to be the nearest thing we have at the moment; and she's not sure if she'll even be there yet!
Who is local though? Kitkat falls outside my critera of a local, but appears to be the nearest thing we have at the moment; and she's not sure if she'll even be there yet!
well i know im not;)
its a good point, acording to the usermap NOBODY but surley the pennine massive have some knowlage of the area?
its 4 weeks today, why dont we all just get the maps out and throw a few ideas round, were doing a rideout not invading poland...thats for AR 08 ...;)
Blue_SV650S
01-06-07, 04:15 PM
Although stated at no one in particular, I can't help but think that this might be slightly directed at me coz of my other post re AR07#2 ... oh and I live ~80 miles further south than you ... that's 160 miles round trip just to get to where you are, let alone the trip itself ...
Who are you to say that ~380 miles (760 round trip + rideout, so say 860 all in) isn't 'too far' for me?
Regardless of time and wear and tear, that is ~£80 in fuel ... (860 miles - most in a straight line will just about kill a rear tyre too).
I have to be pretty sure I want to go before investing say £300 all in and 4 days ... also where I broke my back a few years ago (and it doesn't take much to get nasty pain), the thought of riding long distance is not something to be scoffed at or mocked over!! :smt016
As a final rant back - quite frankly with 'attitude' like I have felt with you and Rictus on the subject, it is hardly endearing me to the idea of spending a few days up there! …
its 4 weeks today, why dont we all just get the maps out and throw a few ideas round, were doing a rideout not invading poland...thats for AR 08 ...;)
Awww, I quite like the idea of invading Poland!!
I was going to fit some big frikkin lasers on the bike too :( 'pose they aint needed now :(
it is a bit dissapointing that the locals have not come up with a good route.
well i know im not;)
its a good point, acording to the usermap NOBODY but surley the pennine massive have some knowlage of the area?
Cloggsy, Amarko and myself offered to help organize one last year, but didn't hear anything back, now I'm the same as others about not treading on other people toes who have put in load of there own time and effort to organize this Historic event... so I'll go to the AR07 with a bottle :drink: and camera. and have a great o'l time.
its 4 weeks today, why dont we all just get the maps out and throw a few ideas round, were doing a rideout not invading poland
We are! Well, Austria, anyway:D
Would have loved to join you all, but we'd already booked our holiday before the date for AR07 was selected.:(
Can I make an early plea for it NOT to be either the last weekend in June or the first weekend in July next year please...............we're always abroad then:D
I tread carefully here because I think this thread has the potential to turn into a mud slinging competition, which was not what Viney meant it to be I'm sure.
Here's an example of how it seems to have gone so far:
A thread for location was put up. Some people voted, some didn't (I for one didn't as I don't care where it is). The thread was closed with the lakes a marginal winner. A large number of people then complained that they couldn't do the lakes. Not everyone who complained had voted. You don't vote, you don't get to gripe.
An open invite for campsites was then put up. They could have been anywhere. 5 campsites were suggested and contacted. People then griped about the location of the campsite, the people that complained appeared not to have suggested a campsite themselves.
It has been awfully quiet on the route front. There will be a contingent from the south to go up, ride a route and come down again with an agreed plan. This is the final chance anyone has to comment on the route, please do so in the next 2 days in the appropriate thread!
You don't suggest a road, don't complain if it isn't in the rideout:rolleyes:
Jambo
fizzwheel
01-06-07, 04:44 PM
I tread carefully here because I think this thread has the potential to turn into a mud slinging competition, which was not what Viney meant it to be I'm sure.
I agree. Its definately not what he meant or wanted so please lets not go down that route its not helpful to anybody.
Blue_SV650S
01-06-07, 06:37 PM
Perhaps it is the ‘tone’ … if the ppl that are organising would like a little help then put up a thread saying ‘a little help please’ … not a ‘why are people whinging and not helping?’.
You could look at it like this … vinny and Rictus et all are being charitable as they are giving up their time to arrange stuff for others (with no financial gain). Amiable stuff. 8)
But as a cari-dy worker, you can’t impose on others (especially the benefactors) with guilt trips trying to get them to be charitable too … either be charitable and enjoy seeing people benefit from your efforts, or butt out in the first place … how would that work if you stood by a African child you had collected for and said ‘oi mate, we built you a well, go and build a well for the next village’??? It just doesn’t work like that ;)
Oh and when you start something like this you have to realise you can’t please everyone!! … what you do get is the smug satisfaction when the event happens and you get to see the fruits of your labour!! 8)
I have actually worked for charity for a short time and after I thought about it, it is actually a very selfish activity … at the end of the day you do it because it gives you an overwhelming sense of wellbeing … i.e. ‘I helped people today, aren’t I great’ … :smt042
Cloggsy
02-06-07, 12:34 PM
Cloggsy, Amarko and myself offered to help organize one last year
Yup... As Richie pointed out, nobody was interested :!: :cry:
Can't organise one now as I'm Bikeless, maybe Rich and Mark might like to though :?:
timwilky
02-06-07, 01:55 PM
OK, it is 4 weeks off.
Before criticising a lack of action, has anyone actually been delegated the task of putting a route together.?
We are to be based at Dalesbridge on the A65 so I would suggest actual start point has to be Devils.
Makes me think that the route of last years S/N would be appropriate as we get in the Ribblehead, Hawes, Shap, Hartside and the Kirkstone.
Or are we indeed doing "The Lakes". Which then means we have to get in Wrynose and Hardknott, Langdale, Coniston etc.
El Saxo
02-06-07, 02:23 PM
I think it was felt that the N/S route from last year was a bit long for the AR.
That doesn't rule out doing at least some of that route though - the roads are ace & right on the doorstep from the campsite.
How about a loop from Devil's Bridge out to Ribblehead, Hawes, then back to Devil's Bridge via Sedbergh? (though that might actually be too short come to think of it, and stopping at the Penny Garth caff might be a nightmare depending how many folks attend the rideout!).
Something including those roads would be perfect though I reckon, none of them are too difficult and there's some amazing scenery for a photo opportunity or two - I'm sure Quiff would agree! :wink:
EDIT - sorry, meant to post this in the AR Route thread... oops. :oops:
.....the A65 so I would suggest actual start point has to be Devils....
Wrynose and Hardknott, Langdale, Coniston etc.
I wont be there but I do know the area a bit, knowing the ride is aimed at everyone on the board, of all riding standards I would strongly advise against those areas.
Devils/A65 is heavily policed and they have a habit of handing out rectification notices etc at the bridge :( A686/Hartside is not really an ideal road for a large group, again its well policed at weekends although they do seem to be a bit friendlier.
Besides the traffic problems going into/round the lakes, Wrynose/Hardknott really aren't ideal for anyone of a nervous disposition though the views are pretty good
Anyways as I said, I wont be there and this is just IMO
I wont be there but I do know the area a bit, knowing the ride is aimed at everyone on the board, of all riding standards I would strongly advise against those areas.
2nd, it's ok to ride in 2's or 3's but a big group no way...
ps, as soon as the southerneer see Hardknott pass I'm sure half would turn round...
even MAC hardly got up on his triumph.... ( the roads were wet and slippy as well If I recall..)
dizzyblonde
03-06-07, 08:05 AM
just got in from the night shift and I sense a large saucer of milk appearing. mieoaw. :cat:
As a general new person, I will be appearing quietly( well as quiet as the exhaust will allow) as I've not been before.
I have offered my services( well im indoors) to another new person who needed someone to travel with.
I am based in Halifax so anyone heading up on Friday via that direction I am more than happy to accompany. I was unsure if I could make it but can confirm I got the weekend off work...I may be on my own as my fella is still waiting...so i may need an escort..we shall see....Can't find my way out of a paper bag without him, but, i've been up there a few times....looking forward to meeting the folks i've been chatting to.
I may be on my own as my fella is still waiting...so i may need an escort..
i was thinking of becoming an male escort;) but decided i was too short
looks like i will be coming from wales on my own at the mo........... as nowbody has commited to say they are a defanate
unless their all planing to go with out me:smt089
dizzyblonde
03-06-07, 08:18 AM
bad hovis!!! not that sort of escort.
Anyway if im indoors wants to be let out of the doghouse he better get the weekend off.
nighty night i've been awake far too long
Hovis & dizzyblone....
Me & Rossi_C (Luckypants was to too, but after recent events I don't know if he's going to the AR at all) will be heading from North Wales across to Manchester. Dizzyblone, that's a little out of your way, but you're welcome to meet us somewhere on the North side of the M60. Hovis, you should probably be passing Manchester anyway. Both are welcome to join us,
and there's probably more folks going via Manchester or even starting off from Manchester.
Jester666
03-06-07, 02:53 PM
I got involved!! :D
I sorted a route up there for the Soho gang but have been met with virtualy the same wall of silence. Even with a shameless bump on the route no-one else has replied! No reply or option = no say on the day!! (IMHO)
I would offer to work out a route up there but I'm not all that familiar with the roads in the area but this;
Austwick,
B6255 North past Ribblehead,
to Hawes,
West along the A684,
North up the B6259 to Nateby,
South East along the B6270 to Thwaite,
South past Hardraw Force Falls to Hawes,
East along the A684 to Aysgarth Falls,
South along the B6160 and B6265 to the A65 near Skipton
and finally West along the A65 back to Austwick.
Could be OK?
Also posted at http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?p=1202891#post1202891
Feelings anyone? :-k
That took a whole 5 mins of looking at a mapbook? Not that difficult is it?
Anyone else going to AR07 that thinks of a better route should pull their fingers out now and post it.
It'll be no good on the day saying "I've got this great route for us.....". These things need to be planned.
EDIT: Mods Cut and Paste or Quote if the route is in the wrong thread!!
I got involved!! :D
I sorted a route up there for the Soho gang but have been met with virtualy the same wall of silence. Even with a shameless bump on the route no-one else has replied! No reply or option = no say on the day!! (IMHO)
I would offer to work out a route up there but I'm not all that familiar with the roads in the area but the;
Austwick,
B6255 North past Ribblehead,
to Hawes,
West along the A684,
North up the B6259 to Nateby,
South East along the B6270 to Thwaite,
South past Hardraw Force Falls to Hawes,
East along the A684 to Aysgarth Falls,
South along the B6160 and B6265 to the A65 near Skipton
and finally West along the A65 back to Austwick could be OK?
Feelings anyone? :-k
That took a whole 5 mins of looking at a mapbook? Not that difficult is it?
Anyone else going to AR07 that thinks of a better route should pull their fingers out now and post it. It'll be no good on the day saying "I've got this great route for us.....". These things need to be planned.
I suppose providing there is enough scope for both experienced and inexperienced riders then I will go along with that.
Jester666
03-06-07, 03:32 PM
I suppose providing there is enough scope for both experienced and inexperienced riders then I will go along with that.
As I said, I don't know the area that well but it looks like a mix of twisties and reasonably fast stuff.
I don't know if we are going to use a 'leader', 'markers' and 'tail-end charlie' for the ride but it may be an idea.
Ideally the route would be suitable for all levels of skill but it's not possible to please everyone. (Usually the fast fekkers!! :D and I'm not one of them, as someone else in a different thread said about themselves, "I'm more of a scenic rider!" :) !!)
The route I suggested was mainly to show how easy it is to start looking at an atlas to get a good route together.
Cheers for liking it though!! :D :riding:
As I said, I don't know the area that well but it looks like a mix of twisties and reasonably fast stuff.
I don't know if we are going to use a 'leader', 'markers' and 'tail-end charlie' for the ride but it may be an idea.
Ideally the route would be suitable for all levels of skill but it's not possible to please everyone. (Usually the fast fekkers!! :D and I'm not one of them, as someone else in a different thread said, "I'm more of a scenic rider!" :) !!)
The route I suggested was mainly to show how easy it is to start looking at an atlas to get a good route together.
Cheers for liking it though!! :D :riding:
I imagine we will have a mix of riders, even though Ive had me license for over 20 yrs I am definitely a born again biker and quite happy to stay at the back and chill, trouble is you cant please all of the people all of the time
dizzyblonde
03-06-07, 03:49 PM
the roads round this part of the world are very twisty. Are some really good fun. I got used to them last year when I was up there. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee I tell yer
Ceri JC
03-06-07, 07:30 PM
Agreed. If you live local to it, and/or asked for it to be where it is, it is YOUR responsibility to sort it.
Actually not that bad a route but....
....to Thwaite,
South past Hardraw Force Falls to Hawes,
East along the A684 to Aysgarth Falls,
I'd miss that bit out as the road is just that, a road, slightly wider than a landrover if I remember :( Better to head from Thwaite to Aysgarth where the Yorkshie Carraige Museum is (may be a suitable lunch stop, dunno?). That route is about 110 miles, should allow an SV to do it in a tank but there is fuel on the A65 and also at the A65/A59/A625 roundabout
Agreed. If you live local to it, and/or asked for it to be where it is, it is YOUR responsibility to sort it.
And what would you class as local ?
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