2025 Weekly Blog
Welcome to our weekly blog. Here you can get an insight into what we get up to each week.
Click on the green links for related material and click here to read historic blogs from previous years.
Monday 17th February 2025
Before the predicted higher temperatures of next week, it was another chilly evening this week with temperatures hovering around zero. Although that put off anyone from requesting a group ride, it didn’t put off three riders from coming on their bikes. One of those was Frank – it was great to see him back after being off his bike for so long after a knee operation.
During the week, Norbert, the Chairman generated a poll of members’ favourite pubs. Conveniently, this week’s hosts, the Crown in Stotfold and it’s staff were voted the clear winner and Norbert presented them a certificate:
It was as good a nigh at always at the Crown and the food was even better than usual, if that’s possible. It was a very well attended evening but all too soon it was time to go and the pub had pretty much cleared out by 22:30.
Next week is our Club AGM, at the Cromwell Hotel in Stevenage. All Committee posts are up for election so if you want to be a general Committee member or even one of the “Officers” (Treasurer, Secretary or Chairman), or you want to propose someone, or you would like anything relevant brought up please come along and have your say. It’s also subs time, which remains at £10 for the year (in no small part to keep the website running) but, as our excellent Treasurer, Jackie, has introduced a card machine, so you can pay by cash or electronically. Please come along if you can.
Monday 10th February 2025
With another wintery night, there was no group ride and only one on their bike. Although it was a very well attended evening with most arriving in cars.
It was a good night with just enough food for everyone.
There’s not much else we can say but it’s what we tend to expect on a cold and wet February night.
Next week we are at the the Crown in Stotfold.
But, the week after, on 24th February, is our AGM at the Cromwell Hotel in Stevenage and we have the last Committee meeting of the outgoing team before that so if you’d like anything raised either at the Committee meeting or the AGM, please let us know. All Committee posts are up for election so if you want to be a general Committee member or even one of the “Officers” (Treasurer, Secretary or Chairman), or you want to propose someone, or you would like anything relevant brought up at the meeting, please let Mick Taylor in advance. Email StevenageAndDMCC@gmail.com
Monday 3rd February 2025
Few Club members were out and about this week on their bike, most notably Darren leading a daytime group. But it was yet another dank, drizzly, chilli and generally ‘naff for riding’ Monday evening this week so, understandably, once again, no one asked for a group ride. Although we were grateful to Kelvin for volunteering to lead one if anyone had asked, as Cider Bob had been away for a long weekend and wasn’t sure if he’d be back in time.
The Stag in Stotfold was the venue to this week’s gathering. It’s a little while since we’ve been there but it is a good destination and we are always looked after by the staff. We were greeted with a cheery smile (and there was no knitting Club to look at us in a disapproving manner this time) and the food was lovely – lots of very nice nibbles!
It was quite well attended by the Club too with about half the pub taken up by us. As always, there was lots of cheery and social chatter with everyone getting along nicely. It really is a nice social club as well as a motorcycle club so, as we’ve said before, just because you don’t fancy coming on a bike, don’t let that stop you turning up in a car or on foot for a social chat.
We’ve mentioned the AGM coming up a few times recently. But, for the first time in years, we seem to have several more people happy to be Committee members than there are places. Perhaps it’s time for a mix up or perhaps you prefer to keep it as it is. Either way, come along to the AGM on the 24th February and have your vote, and an input on anything else.
Before that, next week we will be at the Hen & Chickens in Baldock. Much as our regular rider leaders are prepared to get out and lead a group, like many of you, they are less keen in grotty weather and in the dark. Some of them prefer a car in the dark at this time of year and one is more than happy just having himself to look after on the bike rather than a group, but you can still request a group ride, on Whatsapp by 16:00 on Monday, and we will do our utmost to provide a leader.
Monday 27th January 2025
The weather was a tad grim over the weekend and it was still fairly wet on Monday night so no one had been offering up group rides, except Cider Bob who did say he’d do a Monday night ride if anyone was brave/daft enough to ask for one. Non one did so he arrived at the pub as the only one on a bike.
The Cock in Baldock is normally a popular pub with members but this time it was not as well attended as usual. That was convenient as the Landlord had forgotten we were coming so hadn’t sorted out any food. Fortunately, he was able to muster up some excellent nibbles (chicken nuggets and chips etc).
That said, there were still over twenty of us in the pub and there were more than enough nibbles to go round.
Next week we will be at the Stag in Stotfold. Let us know on Whatsapp by 16:00 on Monday if you’d like a group ride from Poplars Sainsburys to the pub or meet us there.
We’ll also take this opportunity to mention once again that our Club AGM is on 24th February at the Cromwell Hotel in Stevenage. All Committee posts are up for election so if you want to be a general Committee member or even one of the “Officers” (Treasurer, Secretary or Chairman), or you want to propose someone, or you would like anything relevant brought up at the meeting, please let Mick Taylor know at least two weeks in advance. Email StevenageAndDMCC@gmail.com
Monday 20 th January 2025
As you’d expect in winter, it was another cold Monday, following a cold and dank weekend so no members were out in groups over the weekend and only Andy showed a vague interest in a Monday group ride. With no-one but Andy and Cider Bob looking to get out on their bikes, Andy decided to call off so Cider went to the pub by himself. After about forty five minutes on the bike, he arrived at the pub to find Paul Thompson had also come on a bike – but they were the only two.
That said, another twenty members were at the pub, having come along for the social side in cars or on foot.
We try to mix up the pubs all year round but we’ve found members don’t like to stray much beyond the far reaches of Baldock in the depths of winter so we are a little limited. This means we do visit our HQ, the Hen & Chickens more often than others and that was our location for this week’s meeting. It can be a little loud but our twenty two members were all that were in the pub this week so it was a nice atmosphere.
Another advantage of Hen & Chickens is the huge amount of really nice food that Denitza serves up. This week we were treated to various sandwiches including egg, tuna mayo, ham, ham & cheese and cheese & pickle. We also had roast potatoes, chips, sausages, chicken nuggets and more. What a spread and, once again, there was loads left over so everyone who wanted to had the chance to take some home (Cider did, of course, take full advantage of this!).
It was another nice night with lots of friendly chat.
Hopefully we might get a spot of nice weather soon. If we do, let us know on Whatsapp by 16:00 on Monday if you’d like a group ride from Poplars Sainsburys to the pub
Monday 13th January 2025
Our destination was the Crown in Stotfold this week. Even though it was a chilli evening, the pub was as popular as ever with members at this time of year.
No one fancied a cold ride together so there was no group ride and Cider Bob was the only one on a bike. But, while no-one counted, there were probably about twenty five or so members crammed in the bar, most arriving by car but some walked.
As always, the Land lord and staff were very friendly and welcoming and there was plenty of food, including the famous Gala Pie.
There was lots of chit chat, which kept most people entertained until beyond 21:30 with some leaving well after 22:00.
A good night all round.
Next week we will be at the Hen & Chickens in Baldock.
Let us know on Whatsapp by 16:00 on Monday if you’d like a group ride from Poplars Sainsburys to the pub.
As already mentioned, our Club AGM is on 24th February at the Cromwell Hotel in Stevenage. All Committee posts are up for election so if you want to be a general Committee member or even one of the “Officers” (Treasurer, Secretary or Chairman), or you want to propose someone, or you would like anything relevant brought up at the meeting, please let Mick Taylor know at least two weeks in advance. Email StevenageAndDMCC@gmail.com
Monday 6th January 2025
The first Monday evening Club meeting of 2025 was at the Plume of Feathers in Little Wymondley.
Although the below zero temperatures put everyone off a group ride, one hardy rider did make his way to the pub via almost an hour’s ride.
At the pub, about twenty five members had braved the weather, in cars or on Shanksy’s pony at what is always a popular venue.
The new Land Lady looked after us just as well as any of our Calendar’s hosts and provided enough food for everyone to have their £2 worth of snacks (remember, the food we put on is only meant to be a snack, not your dinner!).
There’s not a lot to say about the evening other than that it was as sociable as ever and a nice night out.
Next week we will be at the Crown in Stotfold. Let us know on Whatsapp by 16:00 on Monday if you’d like a group ride from Poplars Sainsburys to the pub.
Monday 24th February is our Annual General Meeting. Please come along if you can so you can have your say on how the and who runs the Club and how it is run. Every post on the Committee is up for election so if you’d like to give it a go, put your name forward. If you’d like anything added to the agenda, please let the Club Secretary, Mick know at least two weeks before.