stuartyboy

Just back from a weekend in Northumberland and I have to how disappointed I was by some of the bikers there. It started in Tescos car park in Hexham when I got verbals by some bikers shouting "engerlund" and some finger pointing. Couldn't figure out why or how they new I was Scottish. Next went along to the local petrol station and a guy on a red bmw pulls in wearing the St.Georges cross arai...gave him a biker nod and got the dirtiest look back. His pillon passenger was none to friendly either. Just thought oh well - must be having a bad day.

So...ride out the petrol station and head out of town. After about a mile two ducatis and a blade start flanking up beside me and have a good old look at me. The ducs overtake me on the inside and the blade on the outside then I see them making some kind gesture towards each other. I'm thinking have I got a sign on my back or something.

So...head on up to keilder but stop off in Wark as my phone's buzzing for a txt. There's a few bikers there an I give a nod - no response. There's a guy on a black fazer accross the car park looking my direction. I give a nod and get no response back. So again I'm thinking WTF? I checked round the bike, nothing there. The reg is Scottish but that's about it. So...think folk must just be grumpy or unfriendly so I set off up the twisties towards keilder and I just decide not to bother nodding/waving etc.

I'm riding along at a decent pace but not too fast as I dont really know the roads when next thing I get buzzed on a right hander by the guy on the black fazer. Absolutely **** myself. So I let him get in front but still keep him in my sights with the intention of having a quiet word with him when he stops. However he heads up some wee B class road so I decide not to bother.

I get to Keilder and the duc/blade guys are there staring at me as I come into the car park. There's quite a few other bikers there but no nods or hellos. So I park up and a guy on a Daytona parks next to me. I say hello and get chatting to him (he's welsh). I tell him I've never felt so unwlecome and he tells me my St.Andrews cross knee sliders stick out like a sore thumb and the area is known to be a bit redneck. I never even noticed them TBH. Sure enough the three bikers who were unfriendly towards me had combinations of Arai St.Georges, St.Georges on the leathers and sliders etc. So...I go for a toilet brake, take off the sliders and hop on the bike and ride round keilder. I stop off to go for an ice cream. Park up and no sooner was I parked than I get the friendly nod and hellos etc etc. I get my ice cream, come out the shop and the 3 guys from earlier are there - sure as fate I get a friendly nod - obviously never recognised me with the lid off.

I thought bikers were bikers no matter where you are. I've never heard of anyone getting the evils in Scotland because of St.George helmet and any time I've ever been out in groups or solo I'll always be friendly to other bikers.

What really disappoints me is that I lived and worked in Newcastle/Northumberland for 3 years and I can say hand on heart that the people are the nicest friendliest people I have come accross. Such a shame that some people judge people because what they wear.