latest news
Summer 2010
Many Happy Returns… – 17 August
It's hard to believe that SaltireBlue MCC is celebrating it's third birthday today. In addition, we're tantalisingly close to having 30 members. And with a couple more membership applications being recently approved, we don't think it'll be too long before we reach that milestone either. Once again our members have been enjoying a mixture of motorcycling events this year, from one-day bike runs and camping weekends to bike trips to mainland Europe. And the season isn't over yet! We still have bike events planned for the next couple of months before we switch to inside, social gatherings when the Scottish weather gets really dark and cold. So a big thanks to all the members, both past and present, for their commitment and enthusiasm and in helping to make SaltireBlue the laid-back motorcycle club it's become. "Biking without attitude" really does seem to sum us up.
A New Stop for Bikers – 13 August
Andy and Carl sent us an email to tell us that they have opened The Wheatsheaf pub in Kilmaurs, on the A735 at the junction with the B751, and that it's a biker-friendly pub. There's plenty of off-road parking in their private car park, and the pub offers a selection of real ales plus the usual range of beers and lagers. They also host a rock night on Tuesday evenings. If you're motorcycling in Ayrshire and are around the Kilmarnock area, then why not head to Kilmaurs and stop for some refreshment.
Spittal of Glenshee Bikers' Special – 01 August
We've be informed of another fantastic accommodation deal for motorcycle clubs. This time from the Spittal of Glenshee Hotel. Dawn Tweddle tells us that as a special introductory offer "we are offering bike clubs rates from ONLY £9.95 per person per night. A full Scottish breakfast can be added for only £5 per person." If you are interested in touring the heart of Scotland and are looking for accommodation then please telephone Dawn on 01250 885215 for more information about this great offer. As these rates are subject to availability we suggest you call early to avoid disappointment. More information about the hotel can be found on there website at www.spittalofglenshee.co.uk
Grant Arms Hotel Offer – 14 July
Heather Tait has been in touch to let us know that the Grant Arms Hotel in Grantown-on-Spey welcomes motorbikes, and that they really mean that! During July and August they are offering discounted rates to motorcyclists of £40 per person for bed and breakfast or £55 per person for dinner, bed and breakfast. If you want more information telephone the hotel directly on 0800 043 8583 and quote 'bike' or visit their website at www.grantarmshotel.com
DFDS Acquire Norfolkline Ferries – 14 July
Ferry operator DFDS Seaways announced yesterday that they've acquired Norfolkline Ferries, which now makes them bigger and better. This means that direct sailings from Rosyth in Scotland to Zeebrugge in Belgium will become a DFDS route. It will be interesting to see what DFDS do to the timetable and pricing of this route to make it more biker-friendly. Could this be an end to us having to motorcycle to Newcastle in order to get to mainland Europe? More info at http://bit.ly/cC7OYA
Melrose Cream Teas – 27 June
If you follow the online reports from SaltireBlue MCC members of their rideouts and trips around Scotland, then you'll know that we're quite partial to homebaking and the odd cream tea. Word has reached us that the MS Society's Borders Branch have organised a Strawberry Tea event at the Melrose Parish Church Hall on Sunday 11 July from 14.00 - 16.30. So if you're heading to or from the BMF BikeFest in Kelso, then why not drop in for a delicious strawberry meringue or tart with fresh cream, and help this fundraiser for the MS Charity. www.msborders.org.uk
Spring 2010
Numbumrun – 28 May
We recently got an email from Cliff Williams, the founder of NUMBUMRUN in aid of Help for Heroes. He's organising a 5-day motorbike ride from Lands End to John O Groats over the August Bank Holiday 2010 with a small group of friends to raise money for this worthy cause. Not only is Cliff asking for sponsorship, but he's also invited fellow bikers to join them on part of their journey. Full details can be found at www.numbumrun.co.uk.
SaltireBlue MCC Update – 12 May
Late April and early May saw our membership number swell to 24, as new girls and boys joined SaltireBlue MCC – welcome one and all! It was great to see some of you out on a recent run through the Scottish Borders to Lindisfarne and Holy Island in Northumbria. As you can see, although we're a Scottish motorbike club, we don't restrict ourselves to just motorcycling in Scotland. In fact five SaltireBlue members are enjoying a week of motorcycling in mainland Europe. They're currently in Germany en-route for the Gay and Lesbian Motorcyclists in Europe (GLME) Ascension Camp which takes place this weekend. On Saturday 08 May Edinburgh welcomed home the 3 Rifles battlegroup following their tour of Afghanistan. Before the troops marched down the Royal Mile, the parade started with a cavalcade of primarily Harley-Davidson motorcycles. It was good to know that members from SaltireBlue also managed to participate in this event too. And finally we delighted to announce that SaltireBlue MCC now has a Facebook page. You can find us http://bit.ly/sbmccfb when you log in.
Online Membership Application Form – 17 April
If you follow @saltirebluemcc on Twitter, you'll know that we've been having a few problems with our online Membership Application form. We'd like to apologies to potential SaltireBlue MCC members who completed our Membership Application form between the end of last year and April 2010, and who didn't received a response from us. The information we've been given by Easyspace, our internet service provider, was that they had to change their server settings to comply with regulations to reduce spam. The result was emails from hotmail, googlemail, and yahoo! accounts being restricted. Over the past week we have been working with Easyspace's technical support team and are happy to report that our online Membership Application form is working properly again. We can now receive applications from potential members, regardless of what email account you use. For anyone who completed the form and didn't get a response in the past four or five months, can we please ask you to fill the form in again and resubmit it to us. Many thanks.
Discover Wales – 09 April
Motorcyclists who visit Scotland always tell us that we have some of the best biking roads in Europe. However for those of us who live here, we sometimes get to a point when we're desperate for a change of scenery. If a trip to mainland Europe seems too far to go, then why not consider exploring another country in the UK, Wales. We were recently contacted by Bryan Jones from Motorcycle Tours UK who specialises in bike tours of Wales. He has generously offered SaltireBlue members a 10% discount on the website listed prices with a valid promotional code – just ask me for a flyer! Full details of their 2010 tours and prices can be found at www.motorcycletoursuk.co.uk
2010 Carole Nash MCN Scottish Motorcycle Show – 11 March
There is just over a week to go until the Carole Nash MCN Scottish Motorcycle Show at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh on Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st March. This year the show has new organisers - Live Promotions - who arrange other large-scale events including Truckfest Scotland. So we are promised new and enhanced features for 2010. Advanced adult tickets cost £12, or £15.50 if bought on the day. Full details can be found at www.scottishmotorcycleshow.com/
Winter 2010
Forth Gear's February Flip Out! – 26 February
Just received an email from Forth Gear in South Queensferry to tell as about their Febraury Flip Out! They're offering 25%* off everything in store including the new ranges from Halvarssons, Jofama, Held and many more. The offer is only on this weekend – starts 09.00 on Saturday 27 February and finishes at 17.00 on Sunday 28 February. So if you're in the area why not pop in and bag yourself a bargin or see their website at www.forthgear.co.uk
*The offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount and is not applicable on items already discounted or that have to be ordered.
Wall of Death: A Way of Life – 26 January
We recently received an email from the National Theatre of Scotland telling us about Wall of Death: A Way of Life. This is theatre as you have never seen it before. The smell of the Castrol R, the noise, and the death-defying performance... In a once in a lifetime event, visual artist Stephen Skrynka is on a quest to learn to ride the Wall of Death with the world-famous Ken Fox Troupe. Wall of Death: A Way of Life tours Scotland throughout February, stopping at the SECC, Glasgow, The Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre and the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh. Details, performance times and ticket bookings can be made at the following URL www.nationaltheatrescotland.com
Ducati Multistrada 1200 Arrives in Scotland – 21 January
Ducati are currently on a 3 month nationwide tour of the UK taking their brand new Multistrada 1200 to local dealerships. This tour provides bikers with the opportunity to see the touring version of the MultiStrada, which features electronically adjustable suspension, traction control, ABS, panniers, heated hand-grips and centre stand, up-close for the very first time. From Friday 22 until Sunday 24 February 2010 the Multistrada will be at Ducati Glasgow. Tour information is at http://bit.ly/75SeGY.
The Queer Ball – A Valentines Party For Romantics – 15 January
Word has just reached us that The Queer Ball Launch Party will take place on Saturday 20th February. It is the first of a new-look bi-annual event for all Queer & LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) folk & friends. It is a welcome addition to Edinburgh and Scotland’s LGBTI calendar. The Queer Ball will be held at The Assembly Rooms on George Street in Edinburgh and is a fund raiser for The LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing in Edinburgh. More information can be found on the following website www.myspace.com/thequeerball.
Happy New Year – 01 January 2010
SaltireBlue Motorcycle Club would like to take this opportunity to wish all of its members, the Gay and Lesbian Motorcyclists in Europe (GLME) federation of motorcycle clubs and their members, all our supporters, suppliers and visitors to saltireblue.com a happy 2010.
We look forward to motorcycling with friends, both old and new, here in Scotland and the United Kingdom, as well as in the Netherlands and Italy during the course of the next 12 months.