A couple of hundred motorcycle enthusiasts who live by the motto ‘grow old disgracefully’ are heading to Richmond this weekend for the annual national rally.
It has been 13 years since the Ulysses Club Nelson Branch hosted the national rally, and committee member Lorraine Lindsay says members will be coming from around the country, and even Australia.
The nationwide motorcycle group is aimed at enthusiasts aged over 40 who enjoy motorcycles – whether they still ride one or not - and a number of the local group, including Lorraine at nearly 78, have moved to three-wheelers.
At one point in her motorcycling past she owned five bikes, each had a different purpose.
“I had one for everything. One for little, tight trails up in the bush and off-piste, a big one for adventures, a smaller one to go to work and my superfast road bike, a 1000cc Yamaha. Then I also had a Royal Enfield in Nepal where I took tours.”
The Nepal tours began after she officially retired in New Zealand. With a couple of other motorcycling enthusiasts she set up business, taking tours through the Himalayas and sometimes to the Tibetan Plateau.
“That was one of my favourites. Until I got altitude sickness on a big trip no-one had done before.”
Damage to her lungs after that tour spelled the end of her Nepal motorcycling days and today she rides the three-wheel Can-Am Spyder – “so I don’t fall off”.
“A few of us have a few joints related – I’ve had three hips and one knee, all age related.”
As members get older, Lorraine says there’s no stigma attached to those who no longer ride bikes, or what bike they ride – it’s all about their shared love of motorcycles.
Their oldest rider is AJ, who at 88 recently rode his Can-Am Spyder to Auckland after previously riding to Southland to watch the Burt Munro Challenge.
“Motorbikes keep you young,” Lorraine says.
Younger riders are joining the club, and she says one branch has three generations of riders.
In line with their ‘growing old disgracefully’ motto, the rally this weekend at The Headingly Centre will include a hobby horse dressage competition.
