People dynamics

[Rockburner]

Never used to be though, think of the days of Riceburner, Tack, m00c0w, fallen angel and Metz, Tazzy, DirtyBill, Ducati Pete, etc etc meetups were common..

Back then we were mostly doing a lot of London drinks and the"core" group would meet for an evening fairly regularly, so those from further afield would be joining an established group on a random evening. Or there was a frequent gathering to join up with.

The parties were similar, Yorick's for example, and the Rideout's were similar, a core group with the free time and energy to do it.

Life for most of us has become different, there isn't always a lot of free time, and there isn't a core group who live or work geographically close enough to meet regularly.

or people just don't care

I'd prefer to imagine that people just have too much Life going on. Certainly feels that way for me. I'm no longer really up for things like camping either, (which I've always hated anyway)

[Count Steer]

I've met up with quite a few around the UK, managed to fit Pembrey in once, met a few abroad when they visited me or I visited them.
It's a forum though, so it's mainly virtual acquaintances.

Never used to be though, think of the days of Riceburner, Tack, m00c0w, fallen angel and Metz, Tazzy, DirtyBill, Ducati Pete, etc etc meetups were common..

Yup. Met loads on the 'Surrey Scrambles' that me and Hairy Ben used to run*. Then there were the Memorial Meets and the 'anyone fancy a ride to Box Hill?' evenings. Flash Tours, trips to France and The Lakes with Spin and several others. Never got to any 'London drinks' though. Abel organised a few rides too.

Happy days. Times change though and most of us got older.

*I say 'run' but basically one of us would work out a route and we'd decide when to do it and let people on the board know. If they came, fine, if not we'd go anyway, they usually did. Some came from waaay across country.

[cheb]

I went to a couple of London drinks, one might have been Dodgy's leaving do, I'm just not down that way as much now that spawn the older isn't at uni in London anymore.

[Count Steer]

I went to a couple of London drinks, one might have been Dodgy's leaving do, I'm just not down that way as much now that spawn the older isn't at uni in London anymore.

Was that Dodgy Geezer? If so I was wondering what happened to him. Went to Oz?

[cheb]

Yes, he went to Oz. One the best posters ever. And a thoroughly nice chap too.

[weeksy]

Yes, he went to Oz. One the best posters ever. And a thoroughly nice chap too.

posted for a while after going, but then like many, seemed to drift away.. he was an entertaining drinking buddy.

Not as entertaining as Angel Biker...

[DefTrap]

I was at school and 6th form with dodgy. He int dead, just dropped out of the bike scene. Hes still on FB, thoroughly enjoying his life in Oz.

I used to go on some of the vd rideout's with abel , davethebunny, dodgy and such. That was a looong time ago now though.

[Horse]

Yes, he went to Oz. One the best posters ever. And a thoroughly nice chap too.

And used to write for Riders Digest?

[Mr. Dazzle]

and most of us got older.

I suspect this is it more than anything

I'm just thinking back trying to remember the last time I met someone from here IRL. I think it was probably Ricey some time in the noughts

Actually no...I also used to play Guitar with a guy who wrote for the riders digest but who's name
- real or online - completely escape me.

[Yorick]

Yes, he went to Oz. One the best posters ever. And a thoroughly nice chap too.

posted for a while after going, but then like many, seemed to drift away.. he was an entertaining drinking buddy.

Not as entertaining as Angel Biker...

He regularly stayed at my house when he was contracting in MK.
Much beer was consumed

[weeksy]

Why does getting older mean that though ? Surely as you get older the kids have then left, you've got more disposable income, more time that's free... You'd think it'd get better rather than worse.

[JackyJoll]

I’ve nearly met most of you, but managed to remain undiscovered, wanking in your garden hedge. So far, anyway.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Why does getting older mean that though ? Surely as you get older the kids have then left, you've got more disposable income, more time that's free... You'd think it'd get better rather than worse.

Well in my case it means kids arrived

I dunno...seems like everyone gets grumpier and generally loner-ier with age

[Noggin]

Why does getting older mean that though ? Surely as you get older the kids have then left, you've got more disposable income, more time that's free... You'd think it'd get better rather than worse.

I've found that people my age are really old!! They don't want to do stuff or are particular about where they go and for why. Its very weird as I am not as old as that!! LOL

The Covid years also got people out of the habit of socialising, so that has probably impacted.

For me it's just finances that stop me doing stuff, so once that's more sorted I'll be a pain in the butt with trying to meet up with people when I'm over!!

But, for me, an awful lot of people around 50 or older are miserable sods that just don't want to be social anymore

[Count Steer]

Yes, he went to Oz. One the best posters ever. And a thoroughly nice chap too.

Had a good avatar too.

[Count Steer]

Why does getting older mean that though ? Surely as you get older the kids have then left, you've got more disposable income, more time that's free... You'd think it'd get better rather than worse.

If you ever work it out, there's a book in it.

I have a theory ("No!?" you all cry ). When I was working and really 'jumping for the jellybeans' as they say, I really needed holidays and other 'not work' activities AND very much 'not work' people. Once the pressures off some of that goes away, added to which, you can always do stuff tomorrow, then tomorrow comes and you can still do it tomorrow etc. I found myself saying 'Actually, no I don't want to do the lighting for the next production, no I don't really fancy trekking up to London and back in an evening etc etc'. Started to do stuff that wasn't evenings or take a couple of days over a trip that might have been an evening. Like, want to see something in the evening in London? Book somewhere and go up for a couple of days. Go boozing? Nah.

Changes in emphasis and priorities I guess.

Edit: the thing that stopped me doing the bike related stuff was physical decrepitude. Sorted (the main bit of) that and, sort of, never got round to getting going again.

[Horse]

I’ve nearly met most of you, but managed to remain undiscovered, wanking in your garden hedge. So far, anyway.

Good grief. I'd assumed it was cuckoo spit.

[Cousin Jack]

I’ve nearly met most of you, but managed to remain undiscovered, wanking in your garden hedge. So far, anyway.

Good grief. I'd assumed it was cuckoo spit.

I have a spray that kills the source of cuckoo spit. Wonder if it works on wankers too.

[Horse]

I’ve nearly met most of you, but managed to remain undiscovered, wanking in your garden hedge. So far, anyway.

Good grief. I'd assumed it was cuckoo spit.

I have a spray that kills the source of cuckoo spit. Wonder if it works on wankers too.

I had the hedge replaced with a fence. No place to hide, plus risk of splinters.

[Felix]

I have organised a few group meets for a self build camper site i help run. Pick a date that you and your admin can make then make an announcement for that date. Probably easier for us as we use camp sites and folk book and pay for themselves, however. Thats the dates if you can make it great and if not might see you at the next met. Its probably the same 20/25 faces but the odd one or two noobs do turn up. Never had a flop weekend yet.