HARD GRIND BARBERS RIDE 2017 | THE RIDE – P&Co

August 09

HARD GRIND BARBERS RIDE 2017 | THE RIDE

MECHANICS, HARLEY DAVIDSONS & A COUPLE OF SHOWGIRLS- AND THAT WAS JUST THE COCKTAIL LIST! AS WE MADE THE MOST OF THE BIKE SHED’S HAPPY HOUR AND THEIR IMPRESSIVE MOTORCYCLE SELECTION, THE BARBERS RIDE CREW WERE FACING THE LONDON TRAFFIC… IN TORRENTIAL RAIN.

THE CHALLENGING WEATHER CONDITIONS, TYRE CHANGES AND THE ODD LOST RIDER DIDN’T MAKE IT THE EASIEST OF RIDES BUT WITH NUMEROUS CAFFEINE STOPS AND THE FINAL GOAL IN MIND IT QUICKLY BECAME ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE AND EMOTIONAL RIDES THAT THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN ON. STARTING AT HARD GRIND, DUNDEE THEY COVERED 900 MILES; BRAPPING THROUGH THE IN-AND-OUTS OF SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND- VIA ICONIC ROADS SUCH AS THE PEAK DISTRICTS SNAKE PASS, AND STOPPING OFF AT EACH OF THE BARBERING SEMINARS ON THE WAY.

THE SEMINARS THEMSELVES WERE A HUGE SUCCESS- WITH SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED BARBERS INCLUDING RYAN & VIKKI SMITH, LUKA CHITTY, WES JONES, SID SOTTUNG, YUCEL OLMEZKAYAPLUS AND FRANK RIMER; TALKING THROUGH AND CREATING BOTH CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY STYLES. POSSIBLY THE MOST INSPIRING AND DEFINITELY THE MOST EYE-OPENING OF THE TALKS CAME FROM TOM CHAPMAN OF THE LIONS BARBERS WHO SPOKE OF THE IMPORTANCE IN SUICIDE PREVENTION- THE CAUSE BEHIND THE BARBERS RIDE.

AS THE RIDERS AND THEIR SWARM OF HARLEYS FINALLY PULLED INTO THE ARCHWAYS OF THE BIKE SHED, THE NOISE FILLED THE SPACE WITH EXCITEMENT, RELIEF AND SHEER PRIDE. HAVING RAISED APPROXIMATELY £10,000 (AND COUNTING) FOR THE LIONS BARBER COLLECTIVE AND GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL, IT WAS TIME FOR CONGRATULATIONS, A WELL DESERVED BURGER AND A MASSIVE PARTY!