Learner Riders

Today I got a call from my mate Phil who lives close by on Oakwood. Did I want to go for a ride out? Half hour later (12:15) we set off for Matlock where we planned to meet up with Colin and some of his young rider. Phil had spent the week with his bike in bits doing his own servicing and he wanted to do a shake down run. I needed no such excuse.

Arriving a little ahead of Colin's expected arrival time we paid a visit to the local car park tea bar (all of 10 feet from our parked bikes) for a sausage cob and cuppa special. There were several bikers/motorcyclists hanging around and it's a friendly place so getting chatting with total strangers soon becomes the norm. One such encounter was a young lady with a white Ducati 848 (called Karen I beleive) who I had a brief chat with. She was on her way for a ride up into the Derbyshire Peak district "just for the sake of a ride-out".

Colin's group turned up, a mixture of seasoned and young riders. It took them several attempts to decide exactly where they were going to park up, but, they eventually made it across the car park to the shack and (following the usual round of greetings, handshakes and introductions) proceeded follow our example and to refuel on cobs and cuppas. All the time bikes were coming and going and I took the opportunity to take a couple of impromptu strolls around, have a gander and a chat. Bumped into Pat & Mrs Cray (both looking in exceedingly rude health) who were there on their Yamaha FJR.

We set off up the Via Gelia towards the Cat & Fiddle, before turning towards Ashboune, then to Carsington Water for a stop off and another "biker chat" before Phil & I cut loose to head back to Derby (at a very "lively" pace) while the others returned to Matlock before heading for home.

I enjoyed the whole afternoon, but, most of all I enjoyed the opportunity to ride with young riders like Karen and these learner riders, to talk with them about riding and about their motorcycling aspirations. That's what motorcycling in the UK needs -- fresh young blood. Youth! And female riders. Prepared to just get out there and ride for the sake of riding -- something that the law makers of this country just don't, and never will, understand.