OK, officially these roads rock! Went out on them today with a couple of mates and a new guy who I met through NottinghamBikers.co.uk. While out a guy on a black 05 'Blade tagged on to us. We all thought he wanted to get past but he was just following us for a bit. We pulled up to let everyone catch back up and he rode up to me and said "hope you guys don't mind, this is my first time out this year and just as I was pulling off I saw you guys ride past so I thought I'd tag along". Seemed nice enough and not in that much of a rush so sure, why not.
Anyway, this was heading into Calverton and by the time we'd come out the other side of Southwell he was still riding with us. We continued down the A617 back towards Mansfield and when I looked in my mirrors we had gathered a huge group. Unfortunately, what I couldn't tell was that Rob (who those of you who came to the last Notts meet will remember I'm sure) had dropped off the back. Rather than pull up and phone us he decided to take a route back home. We pulled up when I realised he was gone but he wasn't answering his phone. I rode back to make sure he was OK but no sign.
Well, we continued the ride, albeit cut short now and I went to his house to see if he'd made it back yet. No sign. I fished out my phone again to find a message waiting for me to let me know he'd got back to his local dealers and was sat having a cuppa. I knew he wasn't the type to try too hard to keep up when he couldn't so I was confident he was still alive, and thank God he was. When I found him he got slapped wrists for not just pulling up and phoning or texting me. I was worried sick, but we found him alive and well in the end.
So, the moral of the story? These roads are great and we're doing them again, but next time we make sure that EVERYONE in the party not only has other people's phone numbers, but also that they know to phone or text one of the others if they somehow get dropped. Rob, I'm sorry we did drop you, I feel responsible, even though I was at the front of a large group and you were at the back. Still, I promised we'd take it steady and at your pace and we didn't, so I'm sorry. Hope you're not put off riding with us again!
Anyway, this was heading into Calverton and by the time we'd come out the other side of Southwell he was still riding with us. We continued down the A617 back towards Mansfield and when I looked in my mirrors we had gathered a huge group. Unfortunately, what I couldn't tell was that Rob (who those of you who came to the last Notts meet will remember I'm sure) had dropped off the back. Rather than pull up and phone us he decided to take a route back home. We pulled up when I realised he was gone but he wasn't answering his phone. I rode back to make sure he was OK but no sign.
Well, we continued the ride, albeit cut short now and I went to his house to see if he'd made it back yet. No sign. I fished out my phone again to find a message waiting for me to let me know he'd got back to his local dealers and was sat having a cuppa. I knew he wasn't the type to try too hard to keep up when he couldn't so I was confident he was still alive, and thank God he was. When I found him he got slapped wrists for not just pulling up and phoning or texting me. I was worried sick, but we found him alive and well in the end.
So, the moral of the story? These roads are great and we're doing them again, but next time we make sure that EVERYONE in the party not only has other people's phone numbers, but also that they know to phone or text one of the others if they somehow get dropped. Rob, I'm sorry we did drop you, I feel responsible, even though I was at the front of a large group and you were at the back. Still, I promised we'd take it steady and at your pace and we didn't, so I'm sorry. Hope you're not put off riding with us again!
