April 2023 – Clyde Valley HOG 9894

Clyde Valley HOG at Denny Tank Dunbarton

The Ride Out that wasn’t Irvine:

30/04/2023

A wee shop ride out yesterday and not in the best weather it has to be said, though it could have been worse. Maybe Lairdy would argue otherwise….that strap on…then Jigger and the Spoon.

At least while great and cold and with the roads pretty wet in patches, it never rained particularly heavily at all around Renfrew and West Dunbartonshire. Unlike the ride from Stirling down to Glasgow that morning, let me tell you which was disappointingly wet.

Harley on fire — Ladies of Harley Fire Walk: There is still time to support the LoH Fire Walk….do it now!

Anyway, we still had a pretty good turn out of about 11 bikes and Tommy’s Trike. Mixing it up with the road crew, was Raymond on Road Captain duties, Kenny on Sweeper and Janice on the tail. However, we had plenty of spare bodies with Jigger , Davie , Tommy and Lairdy from the Road Crew along for the ride as well! We also had the pleasure of the company of five Ladies of Harley…and two flags…. sometimes we have none….flags that is! *

The destination seemed to surprise many ( the many that don’t read the website event list evidently, mwah ha ha ha) and was to the Scottish Maritime Museum at Dunbarton….not Irvine as some “assumed”.

” Assume”… it makes an ass of u and me .

So maybe the ride was a wee bit further from home than was anticipated!

The run took us out to Faslane over the Old Military Road, a great road to ride even on a less clement day like this was…one day we will have to arrange a photo of the chapter riding through some of the dips, there are some good photos to be had here without a doubt! Then it was back towards Helensburgh and Dunbarton, where Lairdy turned off unexpectedly…almost certainly trying to escape. Having suffered the strap on rumours were rife Jigger had brought a spoon as well.

Jigger brought a spoon which he held in a threatening manner, Lairdy I felt had suffered enough for one day but apparently not according to the Head Road Captain.

The Dunbarton branch of the SMM is known as the Denny Tank and is a former design and test building for the shipbuilding industry where hull designs were tested on a long water-filled tank. It still has a substance in it loosely composed of the chemical element of water, but looking at it probably has a few other biological and chemical agents in it, which mean you really wouldn’t want to fall in.

All the bikes at Dunbarton, Photo by Peter Chisholm

It does though house a dynamometer….maybe someone should tell West Coast HD! Not sure how you would strap on a Harley to it mind…. though there was a little too much Strap On action on this particular ride (Lairdy) …and what was going on in the public car park between John and Karen that led to them fumbling with their trousers….. Can’t take this lot anywhere!

Not the nicest day for motorbike riding but what else could you be doing on a grey Saturday in April?..always great to be out, see something new and have a laugh. A great day out.

Jigger preparing for the “Dance of the Seven Veils” or maybe he was just hiding behind his buff so Raymond wouldn’t spot him in the ride out.

Oh, and allegations that Kenny was doing the Madness dance to One Step Banana** in the car park at the Denny Tank are entirely without foundation …nae photies…didnae happen.

See all the photos from the day at Flickr.com

*No Burnsy….probably in Egypt.

** Once you hear “One Step Banana” by Madness you can’t unhear it…just like “I’m a Single Ex” by Beyonce…#fact

A Wee Ride to the Seaside

24/04/2023

Portpatrick Chapter Ride Out

Probably like many, you would have watched the weather forecasts in dismay as what’s been a pretty good week, plenty of dry and sunny days if a wee bit nippy at times, was forecast to deteriorate into another Ice Age by the weekend. The good weather was to turn pretty nasty over Saturday and Sunday. Then it appeared to change a wee bit and Saturday was to be wet and miserable with Sunday looking showery but Baltic cold….and we had a Chapter ride out scheduled.

I don’t know about you but Saturday here was glorious, it rained late evening and by morning the sun was shining, though that quickly turned to rather leaden skies locally. The threat of a wee shower wasn’t enough to put off over 20 bikes and about 30 members for this month’s Chapter Ride out led by Road Captain Davie Fulton, ably assisted by First Officer Catherine.

Davie and Catherine lead off — The bikes all queued up ready for departure. A Volvo tried to sneak into the pack but Patrick’s and Nicole’s exhausts managed to shatter its windows leaving it stranded in “Pit Lane”

Remember and Sponsor our Ladies of Harley doing the Renfrew Fire Walk on the 5th May in aid of Brain Tumour Research!

For most of the day the worst it got was a very slight sprinkling of rain, barely enough to wet the bike, and some damp patches under trees and shady corners which seemed to suggest rain had fallen at some time recently, but not on Clyde Valley Chapter. The sun always shines on Clyde Valley HOG.

We rode down across North Ayrshire, skirting Irvine and Ayr and by Kilwinning, and had a stop to stretch the legs at Girvan. There were a few “challenges” on route to be fair but after a stop to stretch the legs and refuel some bikes we were off down a slightly modified route to Portpatrick and the sun shone.

About 21 or 22 bikes assembling for the ride to Portpatrick. I think the last time we looked at Davies bike in detail it looked like he took a short cut through a field. Looks like this time he went through a hay bale as well. Judging by the state of some of the roads we encountered yesterday, finding a hay bale at the bottom of a pot hole is maybe a new tactic being employed to save them money just repairing them.

To be fair though the temperature was noticeably lower down the coast road though probably most riders were kept warm by working hard to avoid some of the lovely potholes laid on by the Ayrshire (yeah I know there are a few take your pick they were all as bad as each other) and Dumfries and Galloway Councils. When you failed to avoid one it was a gamble whether you would still have a pillion on the back or a bike underneath you at times.

That said the sun shone and it was glorious as we finally arrived at Portpatrick. While a wee bit windy the sun shone and after a quick chapter snap, we headed for the Harbour House Hotel for a light lunch and a warm up. It is fair to say the Harleys created a bit of a stir around this wee sleepy fishing village and it definitely wasn’t as sleepy when we left as it was when we arrived. All the bikes were requested to be lined up outside the Hotel for more pics and the Government even seen fit to send us all a Public Emergency Warning at 3pm, probably due to Paddy’s exhaust note.

After that it was every man for himself and various routes home, good times, plenty of laughs and dry weather, can’t say fairer than that.

Burnsy never made it, probably not sunny enough….not like Egypt…

Our Flickr Gallery of all the images from the day at Portpatrick

Gretna Weekend

17/04/2023

Sounds like a great weekend was had by all that attended* the Gretna weekend ( formerly CRAGG) . Some of Red Rose Chapter came up and met the Chapter on the Saturday afternoon as well. At least three weddings were upstaged by the Chapter outing.

And while you are image surfing, remember and support our LoH and their Firewalk Challenge…

All images used with permission.

Red Rose Chapter leaving Gretna (Courtesy of Frazer Auld)

Photos of the weekend from Jigger and Connor

Photos from Frazer Auld

Photos from Pete Chisholm

*Evidently Burnsy wasn’t in Egypt

I Would Walk Through Fire…..

16/04/2023

The Ladies of Harley are once again on the march, literally through fire, in aid of Brain Tumour Research, a cause very close to everyone here at Clyde Valley HOG particularly at this moment in time.

Have a search down the back of the sofa, check the pockets of your jeans before you lob them in the washing machine (what do you mean you don’t wash your jeans?) . Check the wee bin things on that Ultra Glide, look in the panniers of your Sport Glide, and scrape together every penny you can to help the ladies with their quest to raise £1000.

Read enough Already? Donate NOW!

You can donate on just giving, any amount will be hugely appreciated and if you can remember Gift Aid it!

Donate NOW!

Seven of the Ladies will be taking part in the Renfrew Firewalk on the 5th of May at XSite, Renfrew PA4 8XQ and I am sure they would not only love your monetary support but would be delighted if you turned out to cheer them along the fiery path as well.

The team on the night will be Janice Graham, Yvonne Baird, Tina Tayl0r, Karen Fitzsimmons, Karen Spiers, Beth Willis New and Catherine Crawford……. Go Ladies!

You can sponsor the team here and read more about the event here.

Gordon’s 90th Birthday Ride Out and WCHD Easter Weekender

09/04/2023

What a Fabulous weekend!!

This was a Clyde Valley “mates” run. A group of Road Crew and Clyde Valley regulars rode out to Newton Mearns to bring some V Twin joy to a “nonagenarian”…..(look it up, that’s someone in their 90’s), Gordon Bland, a lifelong biker and friend of Road Captain Jigger’s family. On the occasion of his 90th Birthday, Clyde Valley brought Gordon, his son in law and Grandson in to spend a few hours enjoying the Easter party atmosphere at West Coast. There was Birthday cake, live music, a charity BBQ in aid of CHAS being run by Clyde Valley HOG and lots and lots of Bikes.

Gordon rode Pillion on the back of California Highway Patrol’s latest recruit, Tommy Poncharello’s CVO Trike and was escorted by his family members on the back of Davie Fultons Sport Glide, and Connor Fitzsimmons Street Glide.

A noisy accompaniment was provided by the riders of CVH. Everyone made it out and made it back, though to be fair, one of the residents took a shine to Brians’s Street Glide and he nearly became a resident himself.

We made short video of the ride to collect Gordon, crank up the volume and enjoy Gordons entry to his 90th year….Wild and Free. You might find it easier to download the video to watch, any half-decent tablet or PC should be able to cope with it…..Can’t really share via YouTube for obvious reasons due to the audio.

If it won’t play for you in full 1080HD, download it and watch it directly on your device.

Gordon’s 90th Birthday Ride Out

gordon90-mp4 Download

There are loads and loads of photos from the day, the prime selection are on Facebook with the usual (witty?) caption’s, a few have been reposted here along with some not seen on fB and ALL (many not so far seen) will be on Flickr at the Album linked below.

Easter Sunday Ride out

Clyde Valley joined with hundreds of other bikers from across the West of Scotland to take part in the Glasgow Childrens Hospital Charity Easter Egg Run through the city from Glasgow Green to Braehead.

We had about 15 riders out for this great cause and then the party continued at West Coast with more burgers and BBQ.

By days end the Chapter had raised a colossal £1400 for GCHC from the weekend. Well done everyone who came out and supported us and West Coast with this event, a brilliant result!

Our Flickr Album of all the images from this weekend.

Balmaha April 2023

03/04/2023

Captain Jigger takes the Salute.

It’s not summer yet…..but Clyde Valley HOG got the riding season proper off to a start (last week’s outing to Largs was essentially a training and familiarisation weekend) with a short run out to Balmaha on Loch Lomondside. The ride was originally scheduled to head out on Saturday but the weather forecast early in the week was looking a bit shaky and while there was sufficient time to make adjustments to the plan, it was decided to move the ride to Sunday with a slightly more promising forecast.

In fact, the weather turned out fairly pleasant, not warm but not the body-piercing damp cold of Saturday and the roads were dry and seemingly clear of salt. Hopefully, we have seen the last of that this side of winter now.

The change of days did no harm to the number of bikes turning out and in fact, we had one of the best-attended ride-outs we have had in some time*. I counted 32 bikes on the ride passing out of Drymen and with pillions along as well there were getting on for 35 members out for the run.

Clyde Valley HOG head for Balmaha (Video by Kenny)

*Very probably the numbers were boosted by those turning up to have something to say about the new Clyde Valley Tartan (one imagines, only complimentary things), stunning though it is in its off-yellow tones….but alas, though I can already sense the disappointment in the Chapter when you learn it was in fact an April Fools joke , yes really(unbelievable but true!) !

I know Burnsy whose Egyptian adventures inspired the new tartan, (have we mentioned he went to Egypt recently?) and Davie Fulton, who had immediately ordered a stunning new yellow kilt… were almost inconsolable.

Andy (Burnsy) was forcing back the tears of disappointment

Not a smile passed Davies’s lips all day…the ladies on the other hand were relieved that off-yellow was a wind up!

Balmaha was proving to be a very popular destination generally ( probably because it felt like this was the first Sunday that it didn’t either Snow, rain or freeze) so consequently, the queue for the coffee shop was fairly long. Some of us suspected wee Shas had been lost down a pothole, she was gone for so long. Rumour had it that weighed down with the weight of Kenny’s camera gear, in her role as Photographers assistant today, that she simply disappeared…. Kenny on the other hand attempted to pass himself off as a “Nichola” in order to appropriate someone else’s toastie and coffee. The attempt failed miserably, which is surprising given his naturally blonde hair that he’s had since a child you know…

Karen did brilliant on her first rideout as a rider

As you will be aware if you follow our Facebook feed….there were an awful lot of photo’s from this weeks ride out, so rather than fill this post with endless scroll fodder, pop on over to our Flickr page where all those from Facebook, and more will be available to browse.

A final note from the Webmaster and photographer…..as we waited on the bikes coming at Drymen, we could hear the rumble of those 32 Harleys coming for some time before we actually caught sight of them, and it made the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. The Chapter has currently around 200 members….imagine the presence even half of that would make on a ride out….join us on the Chapter ride out to Portpatrick and stop imagining!

Harleys coming through Drymen — Loads of Harleys, you could hear them from miles….

Flickr Album

All Change with Clyde Valley Tartan

01/04/2023

New Clyde Valley Tartan — New Tartan for Clyde Valley

As we have had some difficulty getting sufficient orders in for the Clyde Valley Tartan so that we could get a new bale made up by the Manufacturers, yet there remains considerable demand for tartan for some kilts, dresses, sashes, and back patches, we have decided the best way to stimulate the extra required demand would be to replace the existing tartan with a new one and we are proud to reveal the new design today.

We have decided on a tartan with an “off-yellow” hue. Some wags might say this reflects that we are all “Banana’s” here at Clyde Valley HOG but the reality is less obvious.

Stylish Man Bag featuring the New Clyde Valley Tartan

Taking inspiration or “inspo” as the influencer youngsters on “the IG” ( whatever that is) say, we have adopted what we call an Egyptian Yellow, influenced by Andy Burns’s well publicised “awakening” on his recent adventures in Egypt.

The tartan will be registered STA ref 010423 and is available immediately, contact Fitzy the Merchandise Officer if you want to place an order.

Wearing the old tartan will, of course, need to end immediately, but we are prepared to offer an amnesty of 1 year, to anyone with the older tartan, ordering items made with the new.

As well as Kilts, Trews and Dresses, we also hope to offer a range of Man Bags, Purses, Seat Covers, courtesy of Tom Hurley Custom seats, and helmet finishes ( courtesy of West Coast Customs) very soon.

Place your orders today.

26 July 2026