Surely all those guys are just doing the ABR meetings now...

I'll have to put an extra sentence in the advert.

"All stupid questions will be ignored".

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

In the event of a total eclipse of the sun. And the chicken's go to roost early, will that be one egg or can I get two for breakfast?


John933

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To buy petrol in Europe. Pull up at station. Wait. Get out a 20 Euro note, then ask someone to fill up the bike. Give person money. Ride away. Simple.

I once filled in a BMF risk assesment for an event. It concluded that motorcycling, using camping stoves and having alchoholic drinks served made it too dangerous

I trust the BMF have now either come up with a form they didn't just copy off the internet, or they'll be informing their membership that they will now be wrapping them in cotton wool (Oh, sorry, that's a choke hazard).

Andy

I prefer the older meets myself but that’s progress and you cant “ungrow” something.

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have fun with your helmet!

You can compare the meetings to watching football.

The mini-meets are like going to watch your local pub team on a Saturday. Everyone gets to know each other. It's all a lot of fun. It's not taken very seriously at all. You end up in the pub chatting about the times you used to play and make lots of new friends.

The big meetings are like going to watch a Premier league game. You're just another face in a large crowd. Watching primadonnas ponce around acting like they're saving the world. Then you pay £10 for a pie and a pint whilst getting blasted in both ears by advertising and vendors.

You still enjoyed your day out. But they make you appreciate what you're missing out on. Then you promise yourself to start supporting your local clubs and vow to go and watch some games in a wet field on a cold November morning.

But you never do.


Then you put on Match of the Day and renew your season ticket.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

When I was organising the HU meeting in France up to last year, I had a deliberate policy of trying to keep the meeting quite small in terms of numbers, but packed full of top quality stuff. This worked very well. The first meeting we had (2012) was 18 people and it pissed with rain, but we all had a great time and came back for more. The meeting now hosts around 100 people which IMO is big enough. More than this and you get ''cliques'' of attendees who womble around in groups and don't mix or share experiences. If there are too many people it becomes more of an exhibition. Nothing wrong with exhibitions, they're just impersonal (IMHO). In France also we sit down together to eat and pass the evening as a group- it's a great feast and everyone moves around the tables and loves it.( It gets very lively after a nice bottle - maybe 2...3... of wine with new friends!).

Countries like France are huge, it can take two days to get from one side to the other in the summer time ( at a sensible speed!), and one big meeting does have a disadvantage in that it only attracts those with the time and the means to attend. Localised regional mini meets anywhere are a good idea, as it keeps the spirit alive for those who aren't able to travel to the big meet for whatever reason ( we're by no means all permanent travellers, and our enthusiasm has to be paid for). It's all under the same umbrella, and we all have very similar motivations.

The only downside to mini meets is that it is the bigger meetings which generate the necessary to keep the website what it is. Mini meets just about hold their own in terms of costs. The major meetings must therefore continue and probably expand, but perhaps the mini meets could make a contribution also.

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-''It is better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction''. ( Herman Siu)
-'' Live life then give life '' (www.lltgl.org.uk)

Myself and Touring Ted have been looking for years for a venue to host a mini meet. However in this gorgoeus neck of the woods there are no camping sites and the football, rugby and cricket grounds I have approached have all backed off as soon as you mention a few motorbikes. It's as if they fear SAMCRO is moving in and they have to lock up their daughters and get the local militia out.

Private gardens are great for a couple of tents but neighbours complaining about noise and a lack of secure parking spaces also limits me and others I am sure. Trying to organise events miles from home mean they are not local and others are probably better placed to to do this.

On top of this, as others have said, trying to cater for veggies, real ale lovers who only want hand pumped in a local pub with a roaring fire complete with a food menu that looks like a shipping list. Alongside all of which are, those who only want to go all out for a day blasting up mountains on wet grass, loose gravel and ice and those who just want to sit around a fire and talk bolloxs all night is challenging to say the least.

Add in safety regs and insurance and it is clear that what used to be a group of people meeting up for a chat is now expected to be more of Thompsons weekend getaway. I am saddened but not surprised the mini meets are dying out or have become private invites only.

I do however live in hope.

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www.frothandflames.com
2012 Kawasaki W800
1997 NX 650 Dominator

It should not be this difficult if i was to do a mini meet i would find a motorbike
friendly campsite like

Disserth Caravan & Camping Park
Howey, Powys
Wales, UK, LD1 6NL
Tel: 01597 860277

in a good location and see who turns up
and just go with the flow

There are plenty of venues for a mini-meeting in great riding areas of the UK.

I've done more than my bit in the past. So have others who don't even visit this HUBB forum anymore. Who wants to take over the baton?

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Brighty's website: TheBrightStuffDotCom

CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

Are 'none HU' mini meets even allowed to be posted on the hubb anymore ?

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Still not a mini meet up north I see, Like they say if you want something done do it yourself - I'm away quite a bit over the next months but if there was some interest I might see about a weekend at the Green Dragon or a similar located pub in the Dales early in March - if anyone would be interested - I won't be organising anything else just a meet up and camp site - if you want to go trail riding then sort it yourself replies on this forum please and i will see how much interest there is. Jake.

Subject to a few other bits and bobs - i've just made enquiries with a pub in the Borders of Northumberland - so lovely area for runs out I have looked at 9 / 10 March with limited numbers up to 20 people on motorbikes not for the 4 wheel crowd thanks, bikes only. Pubs nice, good reasonable priced bar food, camping area. rural location. if the publican gives the go ahead the first ones to put there name down get to go on the meet. Anyone interested camping prices £10 night I think but i will try to negotiate this down a bit. Jake.

Put me down for that Jake. It would be good to see you it has been a few years lol If I wait much longer the next time I see you, I will be on a mobility scooter God alone knows what the insurance risk assessment on that would be let alone the problem of charging points along the way!!

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www.frothandflames.com
2012 Kawasaki W800
1997 NX 650 Dominator

Sign me up...

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

I shall be talking to Danny up at Haggs Bank at the March Moto Madness event about a weekend event I organise annually for the UK TDM group.
Everyone is more than welcome to come and join us.
Late June more than likely.