Category: Other

1. Vote for your favourite Biker Friendly Cafe in the UK!

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 19th May 2021

   
   Vote for your favourite cafe - Where is your favourite Biker Friendly Cafe in the UK, that you head to for coffee & cake, mugs of tea, posh coffee and bacon butties, along with bike nights, where you are sure to meet like-minded folk, for lots of lovely motorbikes and where Biker banter is ensured?
   
   

   We have seen lots of new Biker Friendly Cafes opening in 2021 and becoming popular with visitors to the website and facebook group members, so we have decided to once again hold this poll.
   The voting and results will be published on the facebook group and also here on THE BIKER GUIDE® website, as previous polls.
   
   

   We hope that this poll will find new places that members of the group have found and liked on their travels, see how much you love Bikers like to visit certain places, along with helping members of the group and visitors of THE BIKER GUIDE® discover Biker Friendly Cafes across the UK!
   
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   This poll and voting takes place on our group as – *Biker Friendly Places UK and Europe - www.thebikerguide.co.uk, as a group is the only place on facebook that has the facility for a poll and a tick count. It is not possible on THE BIKER GUIDE® facebook page.
   
   

   When we started this poll in 2016, we would add all the votes up from comments, which as we are sure you can appreciate, took a long time. By using the 'poll' facility on the group, it is easy for all to see the vote.
   
   

   We did look into running an external poll, however this meant people had to supply emails and register, by using the poll on the facebook group, the only prerequisite is to be a member of the group, with no personal details given.
   
   

   When the winner is announced, we will say "The favourite Biker Friendly Cafe in the UK, as voted for by members of THE BIKER GUIDE® facebook group".
   
   

                                                                 ***

   We are sure many of you will be passionate and loyal to places that you frequent, but please accept that where you ‘may’ think your favourite place is ‘the best’ in the UK, it is the groups combined vote that will count in the final count of votes. We hope that people happily accept this and not want to storm on THE BIKER GUIDE® HQ, when the results are in.

   • As the poll is by THE BIKER GUIDE® and voted for by members of this group, only members of the group* can vote.
   • The poll allows for 100 places to be included.
   • The poll will run for at least 4 weeks. Notice of end date will be given at least a week prior.

   To cast your vote for your favourite cafe, go to the group (join if you are not already a member) then tick or add (and tick) to the poll.
   
   

   We have lots of places popular with Bikers included on THE BIKER GUIDE® website, from the south to the north of Great Britain, into Wales and to the Highlands of Scotland.

    

   Since 2009 we have promoted Biker Friendly cafes, places and meets on THE BIKER GUIDE® website and the list is mainly put together from visitor recommendations, with the owners confirming the details are correct.
   
   

   See THE BIKER GUIDE® website for extensive listings of Biker Friendly places -
   
   

   www.thebikerguide.co.uk/bikerfriendlymeetingplaces.html

    
   To vote, simply go to the facebook group as – Biker Friendly Places UK and Europe

   IF people are already a member of the group, they can just vote for their favourite place.

   IF they are not, they need to request to join, answer the 3 simple questions, we accept you in... Then vote!
   
   

   The poll is pinned to the top of the group and in Announcements.

    

   Voting takes place only on THE BIKER GUIDE group as -

   Biker Friendly Places UK and Europe

   www.facebook.com/groups/bikerfriendly

    

   The poll will until noon on the 1st July. We will take a screen shot of the results at the time.
   
   Voting now closed, as noon 1st July 2021 - See here for results

    

    

    

    

    

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2. Motorcycle touring in Sweden

   Posted on 11:00am Monday 17th May 2021

   Sweden is one of the most picturesque countries in Europe for a motorcycle tour, due to the wide, open roads and stunning scenery. As an adventure motorcyclist, you'll be treated to a range of landscapes, depending on which area you tour. Choose the Dalarna country in central Sweden and you'll be charmed by traditional red cottages surrounded by gorgeous lakes and mountains. Tandövala's ancient pine forest will remind you of a Lord of the Rings novel! If you opt for a trip in the south-west, you can visit the stunning nature reserve Bohuslän — an area famous among locals for its delicious prawns and granite cliffs.  

   Where to eat when you're touring

   There's a meal to suit every taste in Sweden's many eateries. Traditional Swedish meals enter the realm of fusion cuisine where old meets new. Delicious wild meats are cooked in berries, 'ripa', a white fish, is cooked in many creative ways in the Summer. 

   Some beautiful, lesser-known towns in Sweden

   Jokkmokk's a tiny town in Northern Sweden and Lapland. In summer, it's ablaze with the midnight sun and in winter it's a magical, snowy place where you can almost hear the reindeer bells jangling. Grundsund is a charming town on the west coast of Sweden. Here you'll find a traditional fishing village and all the delicious fresh fish you could ask for. Multicoloured houses contrast with the blue sea to create a postcard-esque picture. If you crave a city but don't want the hustle and bustle of the bigger ones, try Västerå. Built on the shores of Lake Mälaren in central Sweden, its medieval charms will wow you.

    

    

    

   article supplied

3. The Best Songs and Riding Playlists for Motorcycle Road Trips

   Posted on 10:00am Thursday 13th May 2021

   Motorcycle road trips are memorable experiences, but any great adventure needs a good soundtrack. You want music that will heighten your sense of adventure, evoke powerful memories and fit seamlessly with life on the road. That’s why we’ve assembled our comprehensive list of the best songs and riding playlists for motorcycle road trips to help you make the most of your experience.

   1. “Motorcycle Mama”

   Neil Young’s laid-back cruising song from the 1978 album, Comes a Time, is perfect for those long highway touring days. Neil Young and Nicolette Larson sing together about love, lust and trouble–all timeless themes for all motorcyclists.

   2. “Smoke on the Water”

   The guitar riff, the angsty lyrics–all of the details of Deep Purple’s 1971 classic tune–evoke the free-wheeling spirit of motorcyclists everywhere.

   3. “Born to Be Wild”

   It’d be impossible not to include this song on a motorcycle road trip list. Steppenwolf delivers the ultimate, rebellious biker song that captures the thrill of the open road.

   4.” Ezy Ryder”

   Another 1971 classic, “Ezy Ryder” by Jimi Hendrix evokes an era of crazy hippies while also creating something altogether timeless. The lyrics say it all:

   “There goes Ezy, Ezy Ryder

   riding down the highway of desire

   he says the free wind takes him higher

   tryin' to find his heaven above”

   As far as motorcycle lyrics go, it doesn’t get much better than that. The Hendrix guitar doesn’t hurt, either.

   5. “Midnight Rider”

   The Allman Brothers are an American treasure. This 1970s song strikes all the right chords. The lyrics evoke freedom, the highway, poverty, evasion and the life of a nomad. The guitar bridges and sweet, haunting high notes of the guitar riffs coupled with the steady beat of the drums conjure up life on the road.
   

   6. “The Ballad of Easy Rider”

   The Byrds’ “The Ballad of Easy Rider” is all about the flow of the ride and following the flow of life. It’s spiritual, it’s earthy and it touches on timeless themes of freedom, desire and the beauty of the natural world. Play this while you’re riding down country roads, and you might just find yourself someplace like heaven.

   7. “Bat Out of Hell”

   With this ten-minute masterpiece, Jim Steinman made the ultimate teenage tragedy anthem. Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman take this song from the end of the road, over the barricade and all the way to the watery depths of the ocean.

   Making Your Playlist

   When it comes to crafting the perfect riding playlist, you obviously need more than seven songs. We’ve provided these incredible songs to get you started and to give you an idea of how to cultivate the atmosphere you need and want while riding. However, there’s much more to it than that.

   Maybe you want to have one massive playlist where you put any and all your songs for riding, but we recommend that you build playlists based on themes. That way, you know exactly what playlist to go to, regardless of mood and landscape.

   Choosing Your Themes

   Choose playlist themes that will work well with the landscapes you’ll be encountering over the course of your different rides. For instance, cruising along a highway out West evokes a very different mood from the back roads of the Northeastern states. Seaside Southern roads are different still and twisting mountain roads have a character all their own.

   Build playlists that reflect the mood you want to cultivate while riding through these different terrains. Choose songs that evoke the hard-driving, amped-up freedom you love, or choose songs that fit seamlessly with laid-back, open-sky tours.

   Ideas for Themes

   Here are some ideas for perfect motorcycle playlist themes that can keep you going on all roads and in all weather.

   * Chilled-out cruising

   For this theme, choose songs with a steady, calm beat, well-crafted melodies and poetic lyrics. Neil Young’s “Motorcycle Mama” or almost anything by The Eagles is an ideal song choice.

   * Rebel freedom

   “Smoke on the Water,” “Bat Out of Hell” and anything punk or metal fit this playlist theme perfectly. Get your adrenaline going and enjoy the rush of life on the road.

   * Country roads

   If you’re in mountain country, why not enjoy a little John Denver, Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks or Emmylou Harris? Ride to the beat of down-home classics and enjoy the nostalgia of country music.

   * ’90s teen spirit

   This list has been ’70s-centric, but who doesn’t love a little bit of ’90s angst? Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Incubus, Nine Inch Nails, Led Zeppelin and Chris Cornell all make excellent additions to a ’90s throwback.

   * Hippie riders

   If you want to get in touch with your inner slow-riding hippie, make a playlist centered on the acoustic classics: Joni Mitchell, Patti Smith, Paul Simon and Joan Baez all bring back some stripped-down hippie blues. 

   Download Your Playlists

   If you need your tunes to keep you going through the backroads where you might lose signal, remember to download your playlists to your listening device. This can help keep you motivated even in the absence of cellular service.

   Add to Your Playlists as You Go

   Part of the beauty of playlists is that you can add to them as you go–add songs that your buddies recommend and create a time capsule of memories. The more you build and ride to your playlists, the more memories you’ll have associated with the songs and the themes you’ve chosen. Some things just get better with time, and the best riding playlists definitely fall into that category.

   The Takeaway

   Whether you enjoy chilled-out cruising tunes or amped-up Rock ‘n’ Roll, there’s something here for every rider.

   Enjoy your ride, make those memories and savor the moments and the friendships along the way. The road is calling, and these songs can help you enjoy the journey.

    

    

    

    

   article supplied

4. Silence helps drive UK electric revolution from West Midlands

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 12th May 2021

   The West Midlands took another leadership step in the electric vehicle revolution today – as leading Spanish electric vehicle brand, Silence, opened its ‘urban ecomobility’ headquarters, training centre and first UK retail store in Solihull.

5. Essex riders take more than 100,000 journeys with Spin e-scooters since trials launched

   Posted on 11:00am Tuesday 11th May 2021

   Spin, the micromobility unit of Ford Motor Company, today announces that its e-scooter riders have taken more than 100,000 rides since the trial launched, underscoring the relevance of the scheme that is part of Essex County Council’s (ECC) Safer Greener Healthier campaign.