Are ABR Rallies a thing of the past ?

roberteagle6 · Post by **roberteagle6** » Sat Sep 05, 2015 10:52 pm

Hi, as a relatively new attendee to the rallies I have enjoyed them - friendly people and interesting locations. For me the interest is the ride there (I live in East Sussex) and an organised rideout, led by someone with knowledge of the area/rides be they tarmac or dirt. A pub with good old standards like steak&kidney pie or equivalent prepared to cater for us.
I am retired, so having further activity on the Sunday would appeal, but I have found that once there I have been able to link up with like minded guys and arrange something.
Advice on GPS and basic map reading for off-road would be of interest to me and perhaps to others, but the riding is more important to me.
So from me a big thanks to the guys who do the organising, please keep it up. The weather has been a pain and I am sure has depressed numbers, hope next year will be better, but I still have two more events to attend this year and hope to squeeze in at least one more.
Great forum too.

Mike54 · Post by **Mike54** » Sat Sep 05, 2015 10:56 pm

Bianchi wrote:
Mike54 wrote:What do people tend to want out of them, just out of interest?
More than a meeting point and a campsite, ?

Yeah kind of what I was getting at really. To,ride 200 miles on the motorway then 20 yards on grass and drink for the weekend isn't for me, but if it was all about offroad riding then sure. But...the haggs bank thing, no one did the long day that had been designed . Too long maybe? how about a navigation based event (with gps, not roadbook)

johnnyboxer · Post by **johnnyboxer** » Sat Sep 05, 2015 11:07 pm

picos mestizo wrote:Thank you.
Exit stage left for all ukgser superiorly organised events :dry:

There you go again, shouting your mouth off again

FFS you are a tool, aren't you

I've never helped organise a weekend event before - so it was a pleasant surprise when it went well

Some ukgser events are ok & others don't get such good attendance - all part of a forums ups & downs & very weather dependant in uk

I'm not a camper, so a bunkhouse or pub/hotel is better for socialising or if camping at least a rugby club house or the like

I reckon the abr events sound great and hope to get over to the Yorkshire bunkhouse in a month or so

scoobydidler · Post by **scoobydidler** » Sat Sep 05, 2015 11:21 pm

I dont know if there needs to be a lot going on. Im with minky on the camping but il live with it for now coz im new at this game!
Maybe ive been lucky to meet some likeminded (warped) individuals? As stevied says, its fairly easy to get a small band of guys together, who get on, on a semi regular basis. Never going to be that way with a 50, 60, 100 gathering.

Give it 10 years and perhaps il stick my head outside and decide i dont fancy a damp rally this weekend. For now, the next meet cant come quick enough. Rain, snow/ice (and i mean snow/ice!) count me in.

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Stewie · Post by **Stewie** » Sat Sep 05, 2015 11:34 pm

The people that put the rallies together don't do it for the thanks, it's for the love of it and the thanks is people turning up, I do think the numbers are down to weather and work commitments rather than people not wanting to go.
There's is the point of some people rubbing others up the wrong way on the tinternet and then not wanting to go to a meet.
I do think that it ebbs and flows as with most forum based stuff, but as said before by a few people it's a community and everyone's input counts so you don't have to be an organizer, if you have an idea or would like to see or do something different just shout or post (thumbs)
I've had great fun at rallies and meet some great people and not overly worried if some people don't like me, that just life (thumbs)
I am glad to be an ABC member :laugh: (thumbs)

Homer · Post by **Homer** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 2:29 am

Some interesting points of view from everyone, I agree with Mark N, Bernard, and Stewie.
Wife and I have had some great times at loads of ABR rallies, made some amazing friends and would love to go to a few more. Problem for us is I work two out of four weekends, like now, half three in the morning and I'm driving a desk

Hopefully 2016 will work out better

Homer · Post by **Homer** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 2:35 am

dubber68 wrote:For me over the last couple of years it has been a case of timing. Every rally seems to have been on a weekend I was working. When I can I love to go to them. Out of curiosity would many on here be interested in a mid week rally possibly in the peaks as this would suit my work pattern.

Hi ya Dubber, might well be up for that, I got a new green laner recently and really want to get out on it, still either way look forward to seeing you at some event or other

-Ralph- · Post by **-Ralph-** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 4:19 am

A few of the posts already on here may explain things. I'm on tapa talk, is it page 4 yet? There may be individuals on the forum who people feel they would rather not meet, hence staying away from the rallies.

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picos mestizo · Post by **picos mestizo** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 5:36 am

johnnyboxer wrote:Happens to a lot of forum based events, initial euphoria & then a bit of waning

However I was pleased with the 60-70 odd that turned up to a ukgser event I co- organised this year, even though the forum is in its 14th year

I've been to 11 ABR rallies from Dorset to the Lakes in the UK & Germany, France & Spain in Western Europe & the Organisation has been first class @ & prior to all of them. (thumbs)
The ammount of work that fellow ABR'ers have done to make the events enjoyable in all cases has been exemplary.
Road Rides, Trail Rides, Tidal Crossings, Chuck Waggons, Communal Cuisine & Kitchen, Camp Fires, Charity Auctions, Charity Raffles, Marquees & Awnings, Braziers & that all important Campsite.
Weather in the UK is always going to be a dampner on events under Canvas.
The best rallies I attend are in Green Spain where the weather can be inclement but they are accomodated in Hostal, Hotel or Truck Stop & have got so well attended that there are more of them to facilitate the demand.

For me my great passion is the riding, be it on or off road & because of that I am becoming less enamored with lugging Bed, Kitchen & Living Quarters around with me.

Tramp · Post by **Tramp** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 6:46 am

Its a people thing....no sod can be assed to post a event be it a weekend away hell even a days ride or evening ride either...

Its all down to individuals ....ive done a fair few in past all fun events but sorry no more...ive changed and prefer the smaller meets .

Also.the forum.has changed gone are lits of folks who uswd to post ,sad as i miss them partly due to bitching but thats life...i now enjoy the good stuff alone mostly...with friends ive made on here...

And why should rain stop folks attending....ow they may get wet and bike dirty...

Answer= buy a car instead.