2009 News
Winter 2009 | Spring 2009 | Summer 2009 | Autumn 2009
Winter 2009
Happy New Year – 01 January 2009
May we wish SaltireBlue MCC members, the GLME federation of motorcycle clubs and their members, all our supporters, suppliers and visitors to SaltireBlue.com a happy and productive 2009.
We look forward to motorcycling with friends, old and new, both here in Scotland and in mainland Europe during the course of the next 12 months
Motor Cycle News / DFDS Offer – 08 January
In the 07 January edition of Motorcycle News there is a Travel Offer from DFDS Seaways who are offering 10% off bike and rider fares for MCN Readers. If you're thinking about taking your motorbike to Europe this year then this offer is worth checking out.
Motorcycling the Himalayas – 12 January
If you really are looking for a motorcycling adventure this summer, then why not consider biking in the Himalayas. Pure Bike Tours are running their 15 day High Himalaya tours in June, July, August and September 2009. They also have a 12 day tour exclusively for women. Full details and information can be found on the Pure Bike Tours website.
Scottish Motorcycle Sports Events – 19 January
The Scottish Auto Cycle Union have updated their website to include a comprehensive list of National Motorcycle Sports events taking place in Scotland during 2009. This diary can be found on the SACU website at www.sacu.co.uk.
MCN Scottish Motorcycle Show – 10 February
There is just over a month to go until the MCN Scottish Motorcycle Show takes place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March 2009.
According to the website, visitors to the show are promised 'Top Bikes. Great Brands. Live action'. BMW, Buell, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Triumph and Yamaha are all listed as exhibitors.
Tickets on the day cost £15 for Adults and £7 for Senior Citizens / Concessions. However Adults can save £3 by buying their tickets in advance. This has an added advantage, by-passing the lengthy queues that often appear at the show entrance. The Scottish Motorcycle Show website contains full details.
Spring 2009
MCN Scottish Motorcycle Show – 16 March
After several weeks of snow, ice and freezing temperatures, it was a welcome change to experience relatively dry and mild weather for the Scottish Motorcycle Show.
Four SaltireBlue MCC members managed to meet-up for a short run from Glasgow to the show, where they met other members of the club from Edinburgh.
It was good to see so many Scottish bikers, as well as bikers from the north of England, supporting this event. Holding the show one week later in March seems to have paid dividends for the organisers. But perhaps the major bike manufacturers have started to realise that the MCN Scottish Motorcycle Show is seen by many as the start of the biking season in Scotland, so it deserves their support too.
We Know Where We're Going – 25 March
Pride Scotia, Scotland’s Annual LGBT event, has finally announced a high profile route for the Pride March in Edinburgh on Sat 27th June.
Assembly will take place from Noon outside the City Chambers in the High Street. Sharp on the One O’Clock Gun, the March will move down the Royal Mile to the Scottish Parliament and then head up Abbeymount. It will continue along Royal Terrace past London Road Gardens, up Baxter’s Place and into Leith Street to its destination, Calton Square beside the Omni Centre.
Pride Scotia Chair John Hein said “Although we’ve been trying to confirm a route for over a year, we’ve been frustrated by Edinburgh’s tram works and, at one stage, thought that things might not even happen. But now we know where we are going to and from, we’ll be getting down to organising the rest of the event and working with local pubs and clubs to make Pride Scotia 2009 a day to remember.”
“We’ve applied to be part of Homecoming Scotland as we hope that many Scots will take the opportunity to return to their roots. And there will be a major contingent from the Gay Police Association whose members will be attending from all over the UK.”
“We’d also like to thank Edinburgh Council, Lothian and Borders Police and the Omni Centre who have all played their part in finding a route through the roadworks and making the event possible.”
Pride Scotia will be looking for volunteers on the day – if you can help, please telephone 0131-556 9471 or email: info@pride-scotia.org.
First Cream Tea of 2009 – 07 April
It's no secret that several members of SaltireBlue insist on stopping for afternoon tea when out on a club bike run. As a result we are building-up our knowledge of places in Scotland that offer fantastic home-baking. Our most recent discovery was in the picturesque village of Luss, on the west bank of Loch Lomond.
The Coach House Coffee Shop is a friendly establishment, with welcoming staff and prompt table-service. In addition to an enormous pot of tea, the home-made scones with butter, jam and cream were of epic proportions. No wonder this is a favourite destination with the good folk from Glasgow on high-days and holidays.
Motos Español in Perth – 14 April
Perth motorcycle dealers Bikez 'N' Quadz have been in touch to tell us that they have relocated to new premises in Dunkeld Road. In addition they have also become the official Angus and Tayside dealer for Spanish motorcycle manufacturer Rieju. So if you're in the area why not stop off and have a look at the full range of bikes and quads on offer. More details can be found on the Bikez 'N' Quadz website at www.scottishmotorcycles.co.uk.
Apple-friendly SaltireBlue – 29 April
If you own an Apple iPhone or an Apple iPod Touch, then you may like to know that we've made it easier for you to access SaltireBlue.com.
Use Safari to navigate to www.saltireblue.com and press the plus [+] button at the bottom of the screen. Click the Add to Home Screen button and customise the icon name. When you press the Add button a new icon featuring our club's saltire flag will appear on your Home screen.
Now you can simply press this icon on your Apple iPhone or Apple iPod Touch to go straight to our website.
Out And About! – 13 May
We've recently been enjoying a spell of sunny biker-friendly weather here in Scotland, and with it we've had a flourish of new applications to join SaltireBlue. Currently we have 17 members across Scotland who ride a diverse range of motorcycles from 250cc to 1600cc machines. Some are new bikers having recently past their tests and others have been motorcycling for more years that we care to remember. Members continue to arrange bike runs between themselves via email or text and, in general, there is at least one SaltireBlue event taking place somewhere in Scotland each week. If you're in Edinburgh on Saturday 13 June and would like to chat to members about the club, then come and meet us at 'Out And About!' which takes place between 12 noon and 3pm at the LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing in Howe Street.
Summer 2009
Erskine Week – 01 June
On Sunday 31 May some SaltireBlue members participated in the Bike Cavalcade at Erskine House which heralds the start of Erskine Week. Despite our late arrival, we were told by the event organisers that it had been a complete success and raised over £1000. Erskine provides nursing and medical care for former members of the UK Armed Forces. We understand a Facebook page is being created for next year's event. Let's hope that the organisers can also arrange the same spectacular weather!
Website Update – 16 June
It's hard to believe that almost a year has past since we launched the new look SaltireBlue website. We'd like to say thanks to everyone who has visited us over the past 12 months, especially those of you who have taken time to send us comments via email.
If you're a regular visitor to our site then you'll have noticed some subtle changes. Our website has just had a maintenance update. Our pages have a slightly wider format and we also have a larger Members Area for the rapidly increasing number of Scottish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender bikers who have joined us. Our site is easier to update, so we look forward to adding even more content to SaltireBlue soon.
4TheRide – 03 July
Several SaltireBluers have recently been taking full advantage of the deals being offered by motorcycle retailer Hein Gericke to all their UK '4 The Ride' members. If you would like to receive these offers too simply visit www.4theride.co.uk and sign-up to become a member. You'll be notified when there are new discount vouchers to print-off and take along to their shops in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Their addresses, along with other retailers who specialise in selling motorbike essentials, can be found in our new Biking Accessories section of the website. If we've missed anyone out, please don't forget to email us and let us know.
Ritebitz – 10 July
We were recently contacted by Adrian Slade, Managing Director at Ritebitz. He wanted to let us know that his company is a supplier of branded motorcycle parts and accessories for sportsbike riders. Ritebitz provide a range of products from top brand motorcycle parts, graphics, antimist/antifog, accessories and tyres for most sport bikes out there. More information plus full contact details can be found on their website at www.ritebitz.co.uk.
Ducati Rolls Into Town – 09 August
Western Alfa Romeo at 116 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, plays host to the Ducati Roadshow on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August. With a fleet of 14 demonstrator bikes, there will be plenty of opportunities to take a test ride on the lastest 2009 models. So don't forget to take your complete driving license with you. For more information call Ducati Glasgow on 0141 333 4998 or visit their website at www.ducatiglasgow.co.uk/
@SaltireBlueMCC – 17 August
Members of SaltireBlue MCC are currently preparing to set off to the GLME Summercamp in France. If you want to find out about our progress, or are simply interested to know what is going on at the camp, you can now follow us on Twitter - www.twitter.com/saltirebluemcc - where, as you can see, our name is SaltireBlueMCC. We will be tweeting home as regularly as we can!
Autumn 2009
Braemar and beyond – 30 September
After yet another wet July and August, September at least provided sufficient amounts of dry weather for us to remember what biking in Scotland was like without having to wear waterproofs! However autumn has certainly arrived and there is now a slight chill in the air. Thicker gloves and extra layers of clothing were being worn by several members who met recently in Perth.
This was an inspired starting point. It enabled SaltireBlue members from across the whole of the Scottish central belt to link up before journeying north through Glen Shee to Braemar. It wasn't surprising to see so many other Scottish bikers taking advantage of the unseasonable sunny weather.
After a pit-stop for both bikes and riders, we traveled along Deeside and over the tops of the hills to Gairnshiel Lodge, Cock Bridge and the Lecht. At Tomintoul we paused briefly for one of our legendry afternoon cream teas before hitting the A9 for our return journey to Perth.
Emails and texts were sent by several participants that evening expressing their delight with the roads, the scenery and the company. All in all a perfect way to end what had a been a very motorcycling-orientated month for several of us. Now that evenings are getting darker earlier, bike runs will once again become shorter and more local.
Arai Open Evening – 29 October
News has been filtering across the central belt today of an Open Evening being held on Thursday 12 November from 7pm until 9pm at Hein Gericke Glasgow. Anyone attending will be able to receive 5 star treatment from Arai's Moto GP, World Superbikes and British Superbikes technicians. Free custom fitting is being offered on Arai helmets bought on the night as well as a free helmet servicing and free refreshments. Details can be found on the Hein Gericke 4thride.co.uk website.
Andelle Motor Leathers for cleaning, repairs and alterations – 17 November
We've recently received an email from Michelle. She and her husband Dave have been running a small family business, Andelle Motor Leathers, for over the past 13 years. Their company repairs, alters and cleans motorcycle leathers. No job seems to phase this dynamic due, who are based in Horwich just on the outskirts of Bolton. So if you're looking for a supplier who can provide repairs including alterations, lettering, new zip installation, washing and waxing, resizing and customisation, then Andelle Motor Leathers are certainly worth contacting. You'll find all their information from the links below:
www.andellemotorleathers.co.uk
www.bugsplatbikeleatherscleaned.co.uk