New blood, us & them

[saphena]

Unable to do the overnight socialising thing today I left home an hour before dawn with temp showing 4c, rode 200 mostly motorway miles north in order to spend the day in the company of similar lunatics. I left to return home an hour after sunset (9c): 200 mostly motorway miles, including 70 miles of rain. Good times.

I know several riders outside of IBAUK and it would not have occurred to any of them to do what I've just described. 200 miles is a full day's riding, on holiday, in France or Spain, in summer. It's not what anyone would do on an English motorway, twice in one day, in November.

If we want to attract new members we need to be talking to those people, not looking for people like us.

Rather than scare such people with tales of riding HOW FAR??? in a day, I think we need to present a much gentler "pitch" and it occurred to me on the way home tonight what that pitch might be. We are all motorcycling experts:

• I was warm and dry when I got home tonight. I'm sure I'm not the only one of us to have spent money on kit that didn't achieve that before learning what does and does not work.
• I've had to learn how to keep my bike, my mind and my body going over long distances and in all kinds of weather. That knowledge didn't come easily.
• Many (most?) of us are qualified advanced riders. We're all certainly competent and experienced.
• Some at least have mastered the art of puncture and other roadside repairs.
• We know about vehicle documentation, insurance, breakdown services.

Perhaps that should be our pitch to "ordinary" motorcyclists - come and meet a bunch of friendly experts.

Tied in with genuinely local ride-to-eats.

 

[FazerPhil]

Agreed Bob. Very well said.
Next year we will make sure our Rides to eat are spread around the UK.
So if you have an interest in ride longer distances safely come and meet the experts.
Details will always be published on here so keep a look out for next year Ride to eat when it comes to you.

 

[GarminDave]

As usual Bob very insightful and I think a very good way forward.

Perhaps on these R2E's aimed at capturing new blood we could theme them and make an AV presentation; nothing heavy just 20 minutes presentation with Q&A a bit like I did off the cuff at the weekend. I thought the discussion on the real life video of my mates off was the right sort of thing and appeared to garner a bit of interest.

Love, light and kindness,

Dave

 

[stig of the dump]

Anybody ever considered a mid week ride to eat? my weekends are rather hectic

 

[~Martin~]

As 'new blood' I got a lot out of meeting you all at the weekend and certainly took away a few pointers. An AV presentation or simply a theme, say a discussion on wet weather gear at a RTE would certainly be of interest if feasible.

 

[saphena]

I suspect that AV presentations in pubs & cafes might be difficult to arrange. NB "difficult", not impossible. But themes ought to be both doable, and sellable via social media.

"Wet weather gear" is an obvious candidate, especially at a winter RTE.

Other possibilities might be:- nighttime riding, puncture repair, riding eastern European roads aka semi-offroading, route planning, hydration + trail food.

Who'd like to volunteer to call the first themed RTE? We're aiming to attract riders who are not already numbered among the insane so accessible venue, interesting topic. Anybody?

 

[GarminDave]

I use a 40" pop up screen that fits on my bike and have an AV projector so it would be possible to use any presentation program and run it on a table for as few as four people. I'd be happy to bring it along and mid week is also OK for me. I use my iPhone.

I suspect we are talking new year now and I'd be happy to put on my Advanced Rider presentation for the start of the so called riding season. Squires in March anybody?

Love, light and kindness,

Dave

 

[Ahamay]

The one problem is how much money are people prepared to spend on bike farkling/clothing
Most of us are at that time of life the mortgage is paid, kids have flown the nest, we are fortunate to have an understanding wife or single
so we have spare cash floating around.
Now we are going to have a problem attracting younger mortgaged still feeding the kids working folks who are don't have the wherewithal
to throw at it they might have a go at the RBLR 1000 or a saddle sore ride once just once but because of not having appropriate riding gear or a bike not suited to distance work plus there is no one to get advice from so they have a bad experience.
Most bike owners use them at weekends the occasional tour and do 2/3000 miles a year or less I know one guy who's mileage is to the MOT centre and back every year.

 

[stig of the dump]

having just returned from the bike show, I can report there has been a marked improvement on the part of the traders I talked to maybe I was just lucky on who I spoke to this year but a few years back I struggled with the inexperience and lack of knowledge of the people manning the stands. So there is hope out there. The idea of passing on experience / knowledge is great. between us we have a vast amount of both but saying that I did have a debate just recently with some on looking for waterproof underwear because his leathers leaked well it was an inventive solution to a problem but not my favourite option.
Just like everything what works for one may not work for the other sometimes there is no other way than just trying stuff. You never know you may have the solution no one else has thought of !!. I say this to myself every time I am the only one with or without that bit of kit or heading of by myself.

 

[Ahamay]

Can't be arsed with the NEC over priced and I can see the same bikes and gear at Excel in February
and I can get there on me twirly card

 

[stig of the dump]

what suits one may not suit another. I think everything is pricey nec included but it suits for me

 

[FJRPilot]

I've been to both shows in the same few month period and the NEC is by far the best value comparing entry fee with amount inside. The Excel show is overpriced for what's inside, but then again it's a few months before many start their riding season so is a handy place to visit.

 

[saphena]

So, in a thread about recruiting riders, did any of you exhibition visitors manage to recruit any?

 

[stig of the dump]

recruit is not the way I look at it, perhaps make people aware we exist getting out there and talking bikes and how we enjoy them. looking from a distance can be quite different than talking to someone. and as many motorcyclist are moving away from race reps they may well be looking for a different way to enjoy their motorcycling. had a long talk with a guy from a race school I am not going to do that and he wont do what we do but he may pass that information on to someone else.