Topic: Attention all london bikers! listen up!

[Mr Rizla]

placard saying "deliver what you promised"

[pieman]

Quote

I have stopped being one

You don't stop being a biker just because you don't have a bike.

[CaptMoto]

Quote (pieman @ Mar. 09 2009,14:33)

Quote I have stopped being one You don't stop being a biker just because you don't have a bike.

You do when you decide never to buy another one or even borrow one '>, again I could explain but we'd go off topic again.

I don't condone what Linda Willsmore wrote, I don't even intend to encourage her actions in fact I am about to complain to her for asking me to pass on something that contains quite a strong message that is causing a lot of grief. I wish I hadn't bother to pass it on her behalf.

[eezyrida]

Quote (CaptMoto @ Mar. 09 2009,22:49)

contains quite a strong message that is causing a lot of grief..

I think I must be reading the wrong thread as this doesn't accord with my reading of the posts above.

[CaptMoto]

Right.... following message was sent to Linda this morning:

Quote:

Dear Linda

This is Francesco Camardo owner of www.xt660.com, I am in receipt of this notice from you in regards to your "Say No To Bike Parking Fees" demo.

I am all for the cause and I couldn't agree more with the need for a demo in the hope that the governement will drop the charging scheme.

However, I did as you asked at the beginning of your message and I've passed it around as many biking web forums and similar bulletin boards around the London area without reading too much into some of the stuff you wrote, usually I get a lot of messages from you promoting your sponsored rides such as the Gene's one, the Brighton Burn Up, the Battle of Hastings etc etc which I have duly passed on as requested.

With this particular message I am afraid to say that even though I was just being the messenger I received a lot of grief for it, because of the way the text was written, in particular there is a a sentence that people are finding difficult to associate themselves with, and that is the following:

The Arrangements.
We will meet at Ace Cafe London at 3pm for a ride-out at 4:15pm to Trafalgar Square, for the mother of all demonstrations, others will be gathering at the square between 5pm-6:15pm then we will leave the Square for a short and very angry ride to Westminster City Hall by 6.45pm, in what needs to be the largest ride-out ever seen in the capital.

Bikers have a bad enough reputation as it is with the public in general, for being "disruptive" and usually a few bad ones who don't respect the rules of the road are giving us all a bad name, example your very customers doing wheelies and donughts up and down the road immediately outside your Cafe. Modern riders these days, want to shake off that "rebel" image and feel that there is a need to be accepted as peaceful, respectful and as law obiding as any other road users. I am afraid to say, contrary to the Ace Cafe image of an era gone-by, the days of Mods, Rockers & Teddy Boys are long gone. The message asking people to partecipate in a very angry ride is not in step with the times anymore and I am surprised this request actually came from you.

Kind regards

F. Camardo
www.xt660.com
----------------
Unquote

[Mr Rizla]

well done Fran on showing her an alternative take on the situation, as much as i have issues with some of the organisers I will make as much effort as possible to attend the rideout

[Biker Biker]

Don’t kid yourself….Lynda didn't write it, it will be that militant fcukwit warren what’s his name who organises the demonstrations.  

Personally (and it is my personal view) I think they are fighting the wrong point.  I think bikes should pay to park why should bikes be any different to cars.  Anchor man needs to pull his finger out and start lobbying Westminster with a solution and tie up a contract to fit and supply ground anchors.  Or a designer needs to come up with a solution for making motorbike parking safer and more secure……. No instead we allow a militant bunch of keyboard jockey’s to whip everyone up into a frenzy, spread about ill feeling and then get a bunch of bikers to stop progress in London by stopping the streets.  It’s protesting for protests sake.  We already know what other transport users think of bikers… I had it the other day with those old people calling me a hooligan and trying to poke me with a walking stick.  All these protests are not doing us any favours, motorbikes are the minority group and all we are doing is pissing off the car, bus drivers, taxis, couriers and other people who live there and are just trying to collect their children from school..

BTW…… check your insurance documents before attending any kind of protest or demonstration as you may invalidate your cover.  And it is highly likely that you will need insurance as Warren has a habit of not leading the ride smoothly but holding riders in box junctions so that other drivers try to force their way in.

[Weaver]

Good on you Fran for letting them know a more peaceful opinion and well said Tanya too.

[MATTP]

I'm all for going for a morning ride down A roads at post XXX speed. But trying to pi$$ off drivers in central London to say how we should not be paying for parking is not going to make us any new friends. Hell, we had people pi$$ed at us during the Unity Ride for holding them up even with the ride being for Londoners. I know eezyrider has a point with what was promised not being delivered and this is a point I would be behind. Fight for the best result of what will be forced into action while we have the chance. Get emails sent to Westminster and Boris on this issue.
All the best to all that go on this ride and please try your best to help improve our image and not let some F it up for all of us.

[CaptMoto]

Got a reply from Linda Willsmore

quote:

Hi Francis,

Ace Cafe London did not produce the below press release. The organiser wanted it to go out exactly as they produced it so that it portrayed the levity of the situation, so perhaps you may like to pick up with the organisers about this via their website.
 
Thanks for your below advice and have noted your comment in respect of passing on information in future.
 
Kind Regards
 
LINDA WILSMORE
Ace Cafe London
 
Tel: ++44 (0)20 8961 1000
Fax: ++44 (0)20 8965 0161
Website: www.ace-cafe-london.com
 
Ace Cafe London
Ace Corner
North Circular Road
Stonebridge
London
NW10 7UD

Unquote

[Mr Rizla]

now thats a bodyswerve if ever i seen one

[Biker Biker]

Capt.... please don't feel that people are having a go at you for posting the information, I know that you were doing your bit and it is important to support our own if we agree.  However un beknown to you, some of us have already had a run ins with the group on facebook and at the protest rides were we went to support and I think we have had our views changed on seeing what they are actually achieving.

Much love as always