Ring of Red 2014

The "Ring of Red" is pretty typical of the attitude of the motorcycle industry and bikers in particular.  Ask someone to stand out in the rain and cold wearing a red top on a Sunday afternoon, you may well get a couple.  Ask a biker to ride his bike around the M60 wearing a red T-Shirt over his leathers to commemorate the country’s fallen war heroes, you are likely to get hundreds and that is exactly what happened last Sunday.  Hundreds of bikers took off around the M60 to form a "poppy" in a ring of red, an event that happens annually from Birch services from 11am.  Julia Stevenson, who is the organisor of the event was quoted as saying:

The ride is intended to present a physical show of support for our Armed Forces, both current and previous.  Not every biker goes to a remembrance service on this day, but I do know that they respect our armed service men and women. This is just another way of showing it.

Our very own Paul Birt, as well of a number of other MoBsters went along to pay their respects.  I caught up with paul and he told me:

I decided (last minute I must add) to show my support and brave the M25 on Sunday afternoon to Ride the Ring of Red, because I had left it so late I didn't get a chance to meet up at one of the service stations and enter the motorway in a convoy so, wearing a bright red T-shirt over my leathers I entered on my own around 1:15pm to be greeted by no motorcycles at all. I went up a couple of junctions going clockwise then back again but still no sight of bikes then suddenly I could see this wave of red coming towards me.
I quickly went to the next junction then re-joined going clockwise again.

I felt such a sense of pride being in amongst a mismatch of sportbikes, cruisers,  tourers and every possible bike I could imagine with riders wearing something red to show their support.

I didn't go all the way round with them but had a massive smile for the 8 junctions I did ride although I was freezing cold by the time I got home I had a warn feeling inside and will look forward to riding this again next year