It’s always fantastic when a new bike night opens up locally. Better still if this happens to be held at a delightful rural venue, situated on sinuous road that weaves its way across some stunning and quintessentially English countryside, so typical of the Worcestershire/Shropshire borders.
The A442, otherwise known as (by me!) as the ‘Cafe Corridor’ makes its way from Kidderminster and Bridgnorth. About six miles out of Kidderminster heading north sits Poolehall Fisheries. Like many such venues, it boasts an onsite cafe that originally was set up to feed the fisherman trying to land ‘Moby-Dick’ in one of the many onsite lakes.
Not Just for Fishermen
More recently a few bikers have picked up on how good this cafe is. Many have been stopping off for a brew and a butty while out out on their bikes. When the much missed Foodstop Cafe up the road at Quatford closed its doors last year, this process quickly accelerated.
The natural progression of all this been the creation of the Poolehall Bike Night. The Inaugural event took place on Tuesday April 1st, but this is no April Fool, as it started at 5pm.
Personal Milestone
For me it was a particularly important evening as this event was the first bike event I have been to since undergoing major surgery last year. This has meant no riding for months for me during the recovery phase. On the upside it also meant that I was still alive, so overall a positive!
Anyway, back to the bikes: One the implications of the operation is that I can’t handle big, heavy bike for a good while. So I did the thing any biker would, I went out and bought myself a small, light manageable one! In my case a Mash Seventy 125. Yes it is a confusing name!
My little Mash 125…’The Comeback Kid’
I have been happily bopping around on this locally and it is joy a joy to be back on two wheels again. Simple pleasures and all that! The Mash is by no means a distance bike, so when this new meet fired up, just six miles from home, I was delighted and could not believe my luck.
I sped (ahem) along the A442 on this sunny April evening, humming happily to myself. When you have been forced off them for months a bike, any bike is a glorious thing. I pulled on to the long drive of the cafe to be greeted by beautifully smooth fresh tarmac. This and the main parking area have been treated to this. The original surface was a tad on the bumpy side, so this is a major upgrade. Perfect and fair play to Poolehall for making the investment
The Fun Had Already Started
There was already a good selection of bikes lining up alongside both the cafe and one of the lakes. Quickly I grabbed a myself a mug of tea and a rather tasty cheeseburger (it’s the law) and went for a wonder around. Don’t worry about going to this meet on your own, I was soon chatting to a lad who had rocked up on a Yamaha MT10 and another who was on a delightful BSA Thunderbolt. The later hailing from the same year as my good self…1965
Yamaha MT10…stonking bike!
BSA, beautiful. Everything from 1965 is fantastic.
Electric Zero, the future or a blind alley?
Great Atmosphere
Bikes were coming and going and the vibe, in the gentle early summer sunshine, was chilled and friendly. Great variety of machines too. From a pair of electric Zeroes to a glorious 1973 Kawasaki KH500 Mach II. So smitten was I with this two-stroke masterpiece I forgot to get a picture. Hopefully it will turn up to another meeting as the summer progresses.
The modern stuff was ace too. The imposing Kawasaki H2R and a Ducati Diavel next to each other. Like rolling thunder as a massive storm approaches. As always at bike meets around here a smattering of trikes rocked up too, including an intriguing Honda Silverwing ‘Super-Scooter” based example painted pink!
Big, brash, unnecessary and fabulous
Harley Davidson, enjoying the freshly resurfaced facilities
Gorgeous Panigale, but I have just noticed the L Plate in the background!
Rolling Thunder…Diavel and H2R
Pretty in Pink…who sang that now?
Put the dates in your diary
Anyway all in all this new bike meeting is a really excellent, and most welcome addition to the biking scene in the midlands. They take place every Tuesday and Saturday from 5-7pm. Hopefully I’ll see you at one soon!
Words: Tony Donnelly
Pictures: Sean Wilkes