London Superdukers... Winter drinks meet?

I'm in.

fook going to Clapham, that involves crossing the river and heading into south London and that simply isn't done by civilised folk.
What about doing it on a weekend and going for a bit of grub prior to beers?

Agreed, I NEVER go to South London. EVER

Have to say I'm with the guys on this one. South London is just plain wrong! People smell funny down there.

Without looking at a map I wouldn't know which areas were south and which were north and it all looks dirty when you're bouncing out of a club at 6am

LOL. I suggest drinks and banter, and you guys wanna go see drunk Aussies in wet t-shirt and puking competitions, along side male and female strippers!!! Last time I went to the Church I nearly got in two fights and came home covered in beer and sick (not mine). I thought I was a crazy mother...

I had imagined something a little more social - without dancing or bouncers on the door...
...I do like my strip clubs and even the odd fetish club night, but those kinda nights are not always a good way to meet and make mates. ?

I'm also cool with a weekend meet, but I have my kids every other weekend, so it 's harder to arrange. After work is usually easier, and I only suggested a weekday to avoid the crowds. Sunday might be good though, with pub grub and stuff... The Old Queens Head in Islington is a funky pub with good Sunday food and a sexy crowd for all you "young clubbers" on the forum. http://www.theoldqueenshead.com/

Im in guys!

Anywhere within easy(ish) reach of Tower Hill suits me so Islington is kind of OK.

I wont know for sure if I can make it until that actual day (in case I get called out to work oop north or sommat) but if we plan it well enough then I will try and make sure I am already in London that day.

I'm kinda with Dutch on this one too....if it's a school night then you wont be seeing me going to clubs and doing Vodka luges/strippers/dancing etc.

works for me! Even closer to home

Shoreditch or Islington very good for me. These meetings always take so long to 'organically' materialise with an agreed venue. So that's me casting my vote in!

I'm sorry, the forum change has trumatised me too much to leave home.

I may have adjusted to the new layout by then!

I'm bringing my camera.

Right...

Time to set a date and venue, but before I do, can I have a final show of hands and any preferences for days and venues.

I'm still thinking we should keep it to a weekday first time around, maybe a Thursday, and have it in a quality, central pub, with good food and a choice of more than just beer and crisps. I think the Old Queens head in Islington could be good and is easy to get to (near Angel) but just as happy to be more Central in Westminster or Camden. (There are some good rock n roll pubs in Camden).

So final thoughts in, and then we can set date and place, maybe for next week or the week after?

days of the week are a little unpredictable for me but Tuesdays are out, Thurs is usually good.

Location: Camden = bad. Anywhere near Shoreditch, east, Tower hill or west end, along district or circle lines works well for me. COvent Garden is good. Some pricey places round there but some good ones too!

I'm very unlikely to be able to make a mid week date, but there's no saying I'd make a w/e either.
I've just got back from the airport after a job in the canary Islands and while I was waiting for half of my luggage to show the phone went and I'm off to Italy this weekend.

Have a good time lads, if I can make whatever you settle on I will.

Oh, and take some pics of the Dutchess, even if she shows up in full lezzer pattern dungerees!

Hi dudes...

Sorry not to have set a date and venue yet. I've been waiting on word about new work, which I hope will be resolved early next week.

I suggest Thursdsay 27th next week [Edit - Oops, I meant the 3rd Feb] for a meet up. Probably in a nice pub in Soho, Camden or Islington. How many takers?

27th is this week mate....and its good for me i think.

If it's the 3rd then I might be able to make it.

I would need to jump on a train after work so probably couldn’t get there much before 8. If you are just doing a quick after work pint there would be little point but if its an evening then I'm in (workload permitting).

Will check the thread for detail.

Good for me - would prefer somewhere with bike parking 'visible', particularly if in Islington........................

Cool. next Thursday 3rd. I'll sort a venue asap.

Perfect...day after my birthday!

I'm in. Not sure what shifts I'm working next week, but as long as I'm not on nights I should be able to make it.

I will try if it's on the 3rd.

Thursdays is my night for dressing in my PJs and getting beaten up.

Any more firmed up ideas on this night? Hate to be a professional bore but I need to get things in my diary or I will get double booked and not be able to make it. I'm free at the moment for the 3rd - don't care where it is really as long as it's in London.

We are DEFINITELY on for a meet up this coming Thursday. I've just been trying to find a suitable venue where there is visible bike parking, but it's proving to be impossible to match a decent central London bar with a suitable bike park.

I wasn't planning to ride (unless everyone else was), as the idea was to be sociable and have a few beers, but I know some of you wanted to.

Any thoughts?

Maybe http://www.smithsofsmithfield.co.uk/sos/index.html ?

Free parking on the road directly outside on the south (not north)side of Charterhouse Street after 6.30pm from memory (http://en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/char ... of_london/?

Not sure if I'll make it but I'm working on it.

I'll be there

I'm in...the Mrs may come as well.

Looking good. I'll see if I can bring the Dutchess too. ...So the girls can talk hair & makeup, etc. (Slapping sound in the B/G)

I'm in as long as work permits! Was planning on public transport so i can drink but if bikes are out then i will try too (weather etc)

Cant view that website (must be flash) but will have a nose later on

I can come with or without the bike, but as we're not planning on a ride through town together it might be more fun to just have a drink and a chat. Obviously for those who use the bike for transport, then do bring your wheels, and if that constitutes a majority then I might bring mine too... or if the weather is ok and I don't feel like drinking... Doesn't matter either way really.

I think I should be able to make it. Might not be able to get there till 8 ish so just checking people are not just stopping for a quick one and leaving. Be a shame to turn up just after the last person had left!

well, I am going to be in London and free from about 5pm i think....so I'll be there anytime. Lord knows what tim I'll leave but I'd guess at abouut 10pm latest which would get me home by midnight (unless I get an uber early callout the next day)

On a side note....might be wise to book Dutch.....looks like it's a popular place (and expensive too....London prices eh!! )

It is a nice venue but not as expensive as it looks. Been there quite a few times. Of course it is London prices so no you won't get much change from a £5 when buying a pint

I'll be there. Let the thread say if everyone is turning up on bikes or on foot for a drink or two. And a time.

I've eaten there - the prices get higher the higher up the floors you go. I once had a meal for me and my business partners on the top floor and the bill was in excess of £500 Good view though.

Ground floor or basement for me then!

I will be on foot, not sure about time yet.

Hey guys if you're still planning for 3rd of Feb then there is better than fifty percent chance I'll be over in London on business then. I'd love to join you if you will have me. I'll be staying in Soho. Won't have my bike though - excess baggage allowance won't stretch that far...

Be good to meet you Davo. Come along if you can! Soho not too far from Smithfields - by London standards anyway. Reasonable taxi distance.

Unless everyone is coming by bike and it's a "show your Superduke" event I'll be coming straight from the studio on foot so I can have a drink. Not often I get the chance to get out, (what with little kids and Amy preggers with twins) so I see this as a chance to have a few bevvies and I will do my best to see if I can't write Friday off as a hangover day.

Think it would be a good idea to see if we can book a table or something, (in the basement for Shade) because I know this place and it can sometimes be rammed on the ground floor. However if you lot are leathered up and as ugly as I suspect most of you are we might be able to just clear the place out and have it to ourselves!

Thanks Bic. I'll do my best. Will let you know if the trip pans out in a week or so. I can find Smithfields no worries. Be good to meet you all.

Blimey, wherever you come from if you are Sdnet material you are invited!,

I'll be near traf square before the meet so if anyone is worried about getting there from the west end i can meet you and we can stroll into the east end if weather is nice. London is a dmall place and is very walkable...if not, the tube is always there

What time are you guys looking at meeting and for how long?
If Davo is making the effort I may miss a training session and try and get there.

Where's the nesrest tube or BR station?

Faringdon is a 5 min walk away

Sounds like we have a good roll call. I've also invited a Superduke riding mate who's not on forums (who'd've thought it possible)..

As for bikes vs no-bikes... Well, it kinda doesn't matter. Some of us may need to bring the bikes simply cos it's daily transport and it's their best way to get there. It's also nice to show our bikes off and make a scene on arrival, so I could be persuaded, but the original intent was to make it social and that usually means some kinda beer or booze.

Shall we say, from 7pm?
Meet in the Ground Floor Bar. I'll try to book a space.

So far it looks like

Dutch & The Dutchess
Simmo (newbie on here, oldie on the KTM Forum)
Dutch/Simmo's mate, Martin (ex 1198. Now on an SD)
Millar & Maria
The Klinckster
ShadeTCM
Ducati Pete
.47
Bic
Davo
Jester (maybe)

Still waiting confirmation on:
Shadowman
Schnauzer
StupidLuke

Count me in.

Subject to sods law and the unexpected I will be there. Looking forward to it.

Might put in an appearance meself!! no bling though too cold...

Amy want's to come to meet all you fookers that take up so much of my time. She says that you need a good sense of the "other half of the picture" what with all the tolerance we get given for out indulgences. But with her seven months preggers with the twins, our 18 month old daughter and the fact she can't drink she might not make it. She says she'd have to get drunk to listen to all the bollox that will be talked and she can't drink so it would be too painful! Ha ha.

lol it's like she already knows us all

Looks like we have a big turnout!

Working tomorrow night. Next time.

what great (self contradictory) advice.

What time are peeps getting there then??

I'm going to go into work by tube - first time this year - so I can have a drink or two. I'll leave work about 6 so should be there about 7. My mobile is 07866433296. I'll be stressed because I always am when I leave work, especially when we have so much on as at the moment and no one will be helping me to leave on time , so will be trying desperately to chill out before I arrive.

Have a great time lads, It isnt likely that I will be there, being boring as Millar mentioned. It would be great to meet those of you I havent already. Those I have already met I am likely so see again either at a trackday,road ride, enduro or on crimewatch

Living in deepest Kent, with the darling buds of May ,it is quite an epic for me to get to doirty North East London. Although, I accept most of the residents came further (from Ireland, Bangladesh and Somalia in the main). Anyhow last time I went to the Kentish Town Church (Sunday afternoon 1pm -3pm) I kind of got sidetracked by the Bermuda triangle that is Covent Garden and staggered onto the last train home (10.30pm ish) Dont ask my wherabouts between 3pm and 10pm as that is forever a blur.Unfortunately, the tain driver failed to provide the requisite alarm call and I slept through Maidstone (4 miles from my door) and woke up at Ashford Intl (14 miles from my door) where the train termniated .

Luckily there was one London type cab waiting outside the station for the last remaining passenger (me). I got in one side asked the fare home (50quid !!!!) and got straight out the other side. 'I will walk home' I thought, in my befuddled state. So I did. Got home about 4.45am with blisters but no hangover at all

I dont think TJ can get a pass out otherwise I would tag along with him and he could get me home. If you havent met him TJ was once cursed by an irish voodoo priestess. So the efigy is unmarked and she stuck all the pins in him, should fit right in up that London though.

Next time. Especially if it is at a weekend. Although I will be at Excel centre on Friday so if anyone is making a weekend of it.....

I'll probably bring the SD as I will come straight from yoga which doesn't finish until 7.30. Will be there by 8.

Shame that Luke. Try and make the next Endurland m8. You missed a cracker at the weekend. Next one is by Luton so not too far away-ish FFS don't turn the wrong way and drive into Luton though What a shit hole that is.

26th/27th February 2011
'Hillside Havoc' Returns.
Ivinghoe Aston Beds. LU7 9DP
(this is the farm postcode then follow the orange Day-Glo arrows.)
Our exclusive hillside venue near to Whipsnade and Dunstable downs. Always a busy event and very popular, trialsy wood, natural jumps and fast open undulating fields.

26th February: 'kads' and adult novice and new rider day (subject to weather).you must pre-book to [email protected]
Kids/dads rider briefing will be at 9.45 am sharp….. no briefing - no ride.
Riding from 10am -12pm lunch from 12pm-1pm then riding from 1pm-3pm.
Age 6-16 years and max 250cc (kids) dads unlimited cc.
Kids £30 (additional same kids/youth family members £10) dads/mums £25. parents only may accompany the kids. Other adult family members will be charged £40.
Adult novice and new riders briefing at 10.45am riding from 11am -3pm (lunch at 1 pm).
Age 16 years and over £50 a free buffet lunch is provided on Saturday.

27th February the main event - adult x/c practice, no booking just arrive and ride. Adults and competent 14 years and over. All enduro/silenced mx quads, sidecars and twinshocks welcome.

Rider briefing is 10.15am with riding from 10.30am -3pm. Please try and make the briefing.!!!!

I'll be able to get there very early as i expect to be finished work in the west end by 6 latest.....although i can stick around there with friends until yous lot are ready.

So you're coming tthen TJ?


I dont have sprogs (as you know) but i'll be around early and will probably bolt by 10ish too as ive got a mega early start tomorrow.

Gimme a buzz if you come into town mate, i'll meet you early. I will be in London all day mate although i wont have emails until a short period today about 3pm

Been keeping an eye on this, but alas gents I have to prepare this weeks exciting episode of the godawful Primeval for transmission this weekend, so will be working late. Enjoy yourselves...

Good to meet everyone last night, Klinky, Shade, Dutch, No.47, Schnauser, Millar, Shadowman and a few others and of course the other halves that made the effort to come along and listen to our SD drivel. Here's some pics.

Twas a lovely evening but I'm payng for it now. Early start for me after a late arrival home

A couple more names to faces and nice to catch up with some mates not seen for a few months

got knocked off my bike Thurs AM by a twat changing lane down The Highway en route to Canary Wharf , so sorry didnt make it....took all my nerve getting back on the bike...luckily crash bungs took all the impact and scraped the foot peg !!! nice hole in my winter trousers...a bruised leg and ego...so soz i didnt make it..i was looking forward to that...

Sorry to here that dude. Glad you and the bike are generally ok though. It does seem dangerous out there at the moment. A few days ago I popped to Sainsburys on mine. Had a oncoming car do a right across me, thank fook it didn't see me at the last second as if they had and had hit the brakes it would have been T-bone time. 400 yds later I was filtering to the front of the lights. Just as I got there a cabby started rolling forward, hit the bike but I managed to keep it upright. Fooking idiot was unaware he's even done it

Had a great night, was a lot better when we moved to a bar where we could actually hear each other!
Good to catch up with some old friends and some new faces.

Couldn't quite put my finger on it last night, but some thing was definitely different with Shade and Klinck. It's really bugging me.....

That is soooo disturbing!

You need to spend less time on photoshop and more time advertising your better half's shop! We heard all about the time spent doing pics like this when you are supposed to be busy on other things

Yep, good to put some faces to names for the first time - clearly Smith's was not the best venue but how was Beduin?

Apologies for having to disappear early - paid the price with 3k minimum rpm all the way home..........................

Just a quick thanks to Dutch for sorting it all out.

Good to put some faces to names. Look forward to sharing some dry warm roads with some / all this year.

fook me dude...that is your finest one yet mate!!

HILARIOUS!

Brilliant!

Now it all becomes clear why Mrs. Millar says you're always on photoshop!!