I know not all rallies are suitable for kids and as a parent you would hopefully use common sense on that issue, but a blanket ban on cars simply rules out so many bikers whether they are not on bikes because of families or financial reasons or whatever. I just don't think you should have to stop being a biker and staying involved in the rally scene simply because you have children.  Like you, I would love the opportunity to disappear for a weekend and be ME rather than mum but unfortunately that's not possible for me or many others who don't have accommodating grandparents or whoever to take the kids off for a while.    The last thing I'd want is screaming toddlers running round at a rally or being kept awake by babies screaming rather than loud music but in all likelihood that wouldn't be the case because most are, like yourself, getting away without kids and rallies are not suitable for small children for safety/hygiene reasons.   I think it should be left to common sense.  I am not sure how the insurance thing works but events organised at camp sites or pubs should already have considered safety and the great catch-all of "children must be supervised at all times" tends to work for most locations whether it be because of equipment, rivers, canal banks or whatever.   I just think it's wrong to exclude bikers as soon as they become parents provided we are not talking about the PIL rallies or similar lol                                                                                                                                                                              

If only it was that easy but with PC and people sueing left and right, it's not, health and safety has gone mad (i should know I was a health and safety officer in my last job) for those in the insurance companies now they do not believe that ' common sence' is something that any of us have any more, and we All need wrapping in cotton wool, I believe , and am sure that someone from the friendlies will correct me if memory is not right, but they could not get insurance at a reasonable rate without the exclusion of children (I think) under the age of 15?

If people did believe in the rights of people to show some common sence we would be allowed to do a lot more.

Just read Terry,s-RustyKnight-last comment on the free family weekend--"up to now 10 kids & 6 or so adults-so where are you all?" The Friendlies, from the early onset had in mind to set a seperate family friendly rally to promote biking for the youngsters, but as sv_shell points out  due to the location(riverside) the insurance made this nigh impossible, so the idea was shelved. Cassie & Mark took a lot of flak from site members wanting to take thier kids along but stood firm on the dangers & the insurance aspect(I for one didn,t hold with the prospect of a youngster drowning at a rally I was attending)..Whilst the idea of the family friendly rally has not died with Cassie & Mark I think it will stay on the shelf a while longer seeing the support for Terry,s free family weekend..As Terry succinctly puts it"where are you all?" If site members can,t support a free one, what chance is there of selling tickets for one!!?? Here endeth the sermon                                                                                                                                                                             

Hello, grumpy old man here ... 

I actually don't have a problem with kids at rallies as long as the parents don't expect me to modify my behaviour or language over the weekend and if they get brought on a trike, great!!

However the issue of safety etc in these days of the elf police must be of concern for the organisers with insurance etc. There are rallies that actively welcome kids and have facilities especially aimed at them, these usually dont have any issues with cars turning up either.

Cars at bike rallies is my gripe, never happened in the olden days, that was when dinosaurs ruled the earth of course 

So yes, you choose the ones that fit your needs.

I think there will always be a difference, and discussing our opinions is good as long as even if we disagree, we respect each of us have our own opinions. Which is how it will always be I hope on here.                                                                                                                                                                              

Grumpy old men unite!

Once again I find myself in complete agreement with shadowfax -

"I actually don't have a problem with kids at rallies as long as the parents don't expect me to modify my behaviour or language over the weekend and if they get brought on a trike, great!! ...Cars at bike rallies is my gripe..."

Absolutely my stance - I know people whose kids go to rallies on the back of their bikes or trikes - more power to them I say. Having kids, driving a car, riding a bike - they're all choices we make for ourselves, and each comes with certain responsibilities and consequences. IMO whatever choices we make we should never simply expect other people to have to make allowances for us. Probably not a popular view, but hey, as a grumpy old dinosaur I'm entitled to it! :)

Ultimately though, as Shadowfax says - you choose the rally to fit your needs, so I simply try to avoid the car friendly ones whenever possible.

Well guys I have had my attitude sway a little back and forth with all the healthy debate on here and can see it from all sides as I see it so far 1. Generally the cost of attending the rally is good value with most around £12 - £20 mark. 2. Alcohol is a little too expensive at some of the more commercialised rallys, but smaller rallys remain at a resonable price. 3. Food well again it depends on the rally but over £2 for a bacon roll and over a £1 for an instant coffee is getting out of hand. 4. Kids 2 chains of thought....it is an adult event for bikers who....shouldn't have to rein in there langauge and behaviour because there are kids there. ................... the other side is because your a parent and can't get child care why should you not be able to attend a rally and surely an adults behaviour shouldn't be that bad it needs that much modifying anyway. 5. Cars....No No No.....however if you have a valid reason an exception should be made..... ie injured etc, bike broken down....however a large portion want no cars at all...   Well that seems to some up the feelings on here....I'm sure depending on your personal circumstances you will feel strongly about it...... and I have too seen the van parked a few miles away with 2 bikes coming out the back and riding the last 2 miles with immaculate bikes...surely this is a piss take as well, when I ride in all weathers many hundreds of miles to go to rallys, surely vanning up is a bit out of order as well??????????   ????????? thoughts on that then me old hard line rallyers                                                                                                                                                                             

The mention of the van reminds me of when I used to live in Cov. When bikers used to gather in The Dive you'd sometimes see them getting off the bus with a helmet in hand. The bar in The Dive was in the cellar so you couldn't see if they were on a bike or not from inside. Now it might be that they were getting a lift home later, but I think it was so they could pretend they were bikers when they weren't.I suppose it's a bit sad and pathetic really, but I guess they were just trying to fit in. Worse that the guys who roll their bikes out of the van 2 miles down the road, but not much.                                                                                                                                                                             

It might be the lads in the van have travelled 300 miles to get there and it's a lot cheaper to transport the bikes together to save fuel costs. Some of my mates are off to tour Europe next month and they're taking 5 bikes in a van with trailer down to Dover to save fuel on this side of the pond.

Does this make them pretend bikers or intelligent people with a sensible option considering the current fuel prices I wonder??                                                                                                                                                                              

Interesting, I hadn't thought of it from that point of view...
                                                                                                                                                                             

Thought i,d put my view in,i go to 4/5 rallies each yr,done bulldog and rock /blues once each,to big and pricey so stick to small limited number rallies ,you get to know people and food and beer can be priced ok,but usually take a few cans and food anyway.dont think there should be any cars at BIKE rallies,and didn,t take my kids till big enuff to ride on bike.And as for bikes in vans....

Come on rustyknight that is a different thing all together, organising a trip like that and rocking up a couple of miles from a rally and wheeling a bike out all dry n nice and giving it the full bike packed for a rally thing is a little more poseur than biker, its not always the 300 mile trippers that do it, furthest I have travelled in one go was over 400 miles to get to a rally but was worth it...I go not only for the rally but the pleasures and pains of getting there and back its part of the fun...   ... God I wish I lived in middle earth.....it nearly kills me travelling that distance lol.....and if anyone is in Cornwall and has a van give me a shout PMSL                                                                                                                                                                             

I have followed this thread and nodded and shook my head at some of the comments, which I guess indicates that I agree with most of the comments   However, and I did state this in my 1st posting, last year, I was used as a back up vehicle for Soggy Moggy.  The MCC that I hook up with there, like to put up a geezebo and take enough chairs for all of the group etc, and I shall do the same this year.  I am not about to apologise for attending this rally in a car........I did not/will not attend the rally pretending to be anything that I am not, but I will continue to show my support for the event organisors and the supported charity.  I am damded if I am going to miss out on all of the fun the weekend just because I don't arrive on a bike.  I guess if there was a bike only rally that I really wanted to attend, then I would respect that and consider my options.    

To do with carrying gear,it can be a struggle,but with the light weight tents and sleeping bags and decent luggage you can take most of whats needed,and after turning 50,i dont go with out a canvas chair.And in the good old days there would always be a couple of sidecars to put stuff in.                                                                                                                                                                             

...take enough chairs for all of the group etc, and I shall do the same this year.     ...sounds like they've found a mug... Support vehicle my a*se - you're just their nanny.   Tell the lazy buggas to carry their own gear - that way u can go on a bike. You are being taken advantage of - just say NO!                                                                                                                                                                              

Cassie here again,it still seems that some people just want to bitch and moan.Evreybodys idea of a perfect rally is different so at the risk of sounding like a parrot find the ones that suit you and stop bitching bout the rest.There are many rallies out there there that allow children,cars even one very large and popular rally that lays on buses!!!That may suit some but personally its not my idea of a rally so i no longer attend,don't waste my time bitchin about it.As Red and SV Shell have kindly pointed out(thanks guys)there are many legal restrictions that have to be considered which many people are unaware of.Becoming a parent does not exclude you from the biking scene,just certain aspects and rallies.Mark and i are both parents and it never stopped us,in fact my daughter will be joining us at the ure welcome this year but then she is now 24!!If people can please consider that we all have different ideas and opinions,all of which are valid and should be respected,we are all bikers and are all entitled to enjoy ourselves in whatever way we see fit

Shell,i am indeed working on something big and growly,don't wanna say to much just now in case i jinx it but hopefully all will revealed at the ure welcome. Babys still alive,just needing an mot.don't wanna mot her till i have a buyer tho cos i know i wont be able to resist one last blast and i think 4 engines in a 3 year old bike is a bit excessive,even for me!! So if anyone wants to buy a 3 year old vixen with only one careful lady owner........(insert tongue in cheek smiley)                                                                                                                                                                             

*and if anyone is in Cornwall and has a van give me a shout PMSL*

Good one jonny 

My ex works for a van hire company so if anyone fancies hiring one for a weekend (no questions about rallies asked of course) give me a shout 

old red cheers for the sentiment but I/We weren't looking for any support. After last years complaints about children being excluded from a lot of events we thought we could actually support those amongst us that have kids and struggle to get time out. It seems this year there's a lot less people in that situation than we thought so yes it will be shelved for a while unless somebody else steps forward with a different idea                                                                                                                                                                              

"Does this (bikes in a van) make them pretend bikers.........??"

IMO not having or riding a bike at all are the about only things that might, possibly, make you a 'pretend' biker. I'm sort of old-fashioned and very literal like that though.

I'm kinda surprised at some of the negative attitudes towards the guys who brought their bikes in a van. I guess it doesn't really  matter to me how far you actually rode to get to a rally as long as you rode in. At the very least I'd say these blokes made some kind of effort to turn up at a bike rally on bikes rather than in a four wheeler.

So is it the distance they rode? Kudos to those who ride 400+ miles to a rally, but it doesn't make you a better (or worse) person in my eyes (I have done it myself. Mostly it just made me feel sore)

My first rally was only 25 miles from where I live - I rode there of course, took about 20 minutes or so -  but I don't think the guy I met there who spent 8 hours traveling over from Ireland thought any less of me for it!

...and of course, if no one actually SAW them unloading their bikes, how would anyone know how far they rode? :)

Oh well, just rambling aloud... as a senile grumpy old guy, I'm allowed! :)

Move along, nothing more to see here.
                                                                                                                                                                             

Hi as Warhed was saying, I don't think it is the distance it's the turning up!  Coz I live in Ayrshire and rally alot over the border I quite often have a 300 plus round trip which is entirely my choice and I love the ride as it is part of the overall adventure lol.  However, after a weekend of partying and the thought of the severe numb bum syndrome for the ride home - I would love to travelling 20 miles home or even less                                                                                                                                                                              

.... guess it doesn't really  matter to me how far you actually rode to get to a rally as long as you rode in. At the very least I'd say these blokes made some kind of effort to turn up at a bike rally on bikes rather than in a four wheeler. So me taking my car but NOT actually into the rallies, but parked up before i get there and then getting a pillion ride in ..is ok???   as long as you rode in....   so those that pilly in aren't proper rally goers either??    This could and probably will go on forever. You will never please all of the people all of the time.  I just feel you can't judge people who are able to ride in to a rally on a motorcyle against those who can only get there by other means.  They all have their reasons, lets respect that.   *sorry..sh*t day at work..needed a rant*