‘If you have a bike you’ll be welcomed with open arms’
R5K members have their first meet up at the H Café and explain why they love it so much
Even the threat of poor weather couldn’t keep scores of #ride5000miles members attending the first Saturday Social at the H Café in Wallingford, Oxfordshire. Bikes of all types packed the car park as members drank tea, ate sausage baps and talked bikes. For many, it was the first time they’d met in person after two years of online chat. With members from all over the UK and Europe, MCN distributed stickers, free copies of the paper and even a selection of prizes. Chris Bradbury, Tony Glenister, Clive Sanders, Kevin Newbery and Shaun Doody all won pairs of tickets to the Assen BSB round. “That’s the perfect excuse for a weekend away,” said a delighted Chris Bradbury.
Bill Traynor won a T-shirt from the H Café and Simon Dickens a mug. But the biggest cheer went to John Jess who rode all the way from Barcelona on a Honda CB500R to attend.
“I left at 4.30pm last night and rode non-stop,” he said. “The rain, hail and thunder kept me awake through the Pyrenees and I’m ready for a beer now before I set off home tomorrow!” The final award went to Alan Walker who, having covered over 9500 miles this year on his Honda Deauville and Indian Roadmaster, has recorded the highest mileage of the attendees,excluding John Jess. He said: “#ride5000miles encouraged me to get out and now
I’m going to become a Blood Biker, all because of the group,” Alan won a tank bag, not that his Roadmaster is lacking luggage capacity.
And for some R5K riders the H Café event was just the start, Mark Bayford and Andy Englefield left and headed to Cornwall for a weekend’s riding. You just can’t stop #ride5000miles members from racking up the miles.