Aberystwyth is just under 250 miles for me, heading up the M27, M3, A34 and turning left at Oxford on to the A44 all the way to Aberystwyth. I met my riding buddy at Chieveley on the A34 and headed on.
Despite a dire forecast, the weather was actually OK, we caught the odd shower, but nothing serious, not even when we reached Wales. The ride was nice, very picturesque through The Cotswolds with lots of little villages, which make a pleasant change from the motorways I normally take to get to the rallies.
Windy roads
Into Wales and we started to get into ever steeper and windier roads, with some of them seemingly hanging off the sides of the mountains. We were riding through, down and around ‘S’ bends and up again, these roads are fun (though on more than one occasion I lost my nerve and crawled around a tight bend at the bottom of a hill).
Lost in Wales
We got into Aberystwyth and missed the accommodation completely and ended up in town. Turned around, headed back up the hill, found the venue, got our wristbands and finally got to the accommodation. It’s student bedsits, but not like I remember, they’re clean, smart and the whole place is like a housing estate.
Mature students
Bike gear off and we took the short walk back to the venue, which is actually in the university, and headed straight to the bar. The good thing about a National is no matter where it is there’s always going to be people you know, and Aber is no different, lots of ‘great to see you again’, ‘how was the ride’, ‘did you break down?’ (no I didn’t!). It was a good night, and after quickly catching the band it was time for food. Now there’s only one food van, but I needn’t have worried, the food’s fabulous with great prices too.
Hello sunshine!
Saturday arrived with something quite unexpected… SUNSHINE! After breakfast, we checked out the custom show, then took a walk down the hill into town, and it was absolutely heaving down there. With pubs full, scooters everywhere and scooterists enjoying the unexpected sunshine, we did the tourist bit, wandered round the castle ruins, then up the funicular railway to the top of Constitution Hill. The views are amazing. Wait, aren’t I supposed to be getting drunk? Must be getting old I guess.
These things don’t just happen
Organising a National Scooter Rally (or any large event) is a thankless task. Not only does it take lots of time and head space it also involves site visits, plenty of form filling, red tape, hoop jumping and box ticking. Then there’s the substantial financial outlay, which could easily be lost if something goes wrong.
We asked Scooter Collective South Wales’ head honcho, Tony Bryant to give us the low down on Aberystwyth.
The joys of organising a National Rally!
We heave a sigh of relief and a collective, thank fu#k that’s over!
2019
Rewind, pre-covid and we, the Scooter Collective South Wales, decided we would try a new venue for the Welsh National Rally. After a bit of research and touring about, including a trip to Aberystwyth, (which went well) we opted for that as an option.
Then the dreaded bug hit, so it was shelved. The following year was our normal destination, Tenby. But there is a constant cry from the masses to try something new. So, for 2023 we called on Aberystwyth again.
After three trips back and forth from Cardiff, numerous phone calls and emails the venue was secured. The venue for us on paper worked well, with two rooms and a decent-sized bar, with the bonus of the university offering discounted rates on rooms on site.
The location was announced. Then starts the enthusiasm, but also the reems of negativity! No camping, the town is too far away, the rooms are too expensive and it’s a steep hill from town!!! Thankfully the good outweighed the bad so we soldier on.
Pre-rally set up
Our small team arrived in town on Thursday, yes you must be there early to start the setting up. But the real work starts on Friday. We arrived at the Union building at 10:00 am and set up DJ equipment, signs etc. The steady stream of arrivals means selling wristbands, t-shirts and patches. The stream was constant all day, which meant there was no chance of a break before the evening festivities commenced. The band (Simmer Down) were delayed, which meant the sound check carried on late, but once they got going the band went down well. We left the venue at 02:30 am, exhausted!
Saturday
Saturday morning came around too quickly, but thankfully the sun gods were kind, so the decision was made to hold the custom show and trade stalls outside. This we thought went well and the feedback was positive.
Saturday night was another busy and long night, with Sharp Class playing, three young lads played a blinding set. Another 02:30 finish for the team. But it went without a hitch.
Sunday morning it was back to the Union building to clear up the DJ equipment etc.
The future?
Aberystwyth is a great town, the university was helpful and accommodating, but if we go again, we have learned some lessons.
Putting on a rally is a funny thing to do. It’s a lot of hard work and very time-consuming, regardless of what people think, none of us can retire from doing it! We get stick from people with our choice of venue, choice of entertainment, cost and just about everything else. Yet we still do it, we must be mad. Then the dust settles, and you see all the positivity on social media, and you think that wasn’t so bad, was it..?
Thanks to all those happy scooterists that made it a success.
Tony Bryant
Scooter Collective South Wales
Our team is made up of, (from left to right) Tony Bryant, Jason, Paul Reeves, Steven ‘Moz’ Morris, Libby, Erica (not pictured) Sharon and Gareth. Plus lots of helpers.
A final note
Before you complain, think; did you volunteer?
Win a SLUK t-shirt
One of our readers spotted this well-known dyslexic ‘vandal’ defacing the noticeboard at Aberystwyth. We’ve got a SLUK T-shirt up for grabs for the person who comes up with the best caption for the photo.
How to enter
You can email your ‘SLUK vandal comp’ entry to: editorial@scooterlab.uk
We’ll draw a winner on Thursday 17th August.
