Damian and Elle at Triumph in Hatfield Pretoria have come up with a cool initiative to build lasting relationships with their customers. They have been hosting a series of rides for riders who feel like and are able to go for a mid-week spin. Elle puts out the venue and date for the next event on their social media and chat groups. Damian asked if I would like to host a couple of “Wheels up Wednesday” rides. Absolutely! What is better than riding and shooting the breeze with like-minded souls?
We met up at the dealership at 9:30 AM for a coffee and meet and greet. The prospect of midday rain was pretty real keeping some prospective riders away so it was just four of us that rode out. I took a chilled route out of town on the old Bronkhorstspruit road.
Turning right on the Rayton road we cruised past Diamond Hill and Rhino Park before turning onto the Boschkop road. The countryside looked magnificent after the good rains. Green, lush and verdant. We turned left onto Lynnwood road extension, riding east to the T-Junction where we hung a right before turning back towards Pretoria east.
The beauty of a small group is that it was easy to keep tabs on one another as we rode. A midweek ride is like playing hookey at school, all the sweeter, like biting into forbidden fruit! We pulled into Urban Fields, a rustic little eatery out in the country. I always enjoy meeting fellow riders and hearing how their biking journey has unfolded. Manie, riding a new 1200 Tiger, is a retired SAAF pilot. Trained as a ‘vlamgat’, or jet jockey, he spent most of his career flying choppers. With a bike as his sole transport during his time at flight school, he ended up selling it when he married and ‘life’ happened. After retiring he bought a Triumph Bobber to fill the bike void in his life. Planning to do some touring prompted the move to the Tiger, which he is really enjoying.
Cecil found himself semi-retired after Covid, filling his time with writing technical manuals. Like Manie, he is a long-term biker and also needed to scratch the biking itch. This happened in the most wonderful way. His son, who understands his passion for bikes, gifted him a Triumph Speed Twin. Cecil for obvious reasons loves the bike, riding it at every opportunity.
We dined on Ostrich burgers, one of Urban Fields’ specialities, with Cecil smashing an omelette before hopping on the bikes for what looked increasingly like a blustery wet ride back to Triumph PTA. And so it turned out to be. We took a roundabout route, trying to navigate between the darkest clouds, but to no avail. Riding back into town on the N4 the heavens opened up and dumped on us properly! A damp but upbeat bunch arrived back at Triumph PTA before going our separate ways. Despite the inclement weather at the end of the ride a good time was had by all.
Bring on the next Wheels up Wednesday!
