The legendary Ace Café in West London held their annual Triumph Bike Day on 14 June and a group of Berkshire Branch members attended on their bikes. It was sunny weather and there was a great turn-out with lots of Triumphs of all ages to browse around in the car park. Triumph West London had a stand there selling discounted merchandise, there was also a live band and of course, the rocker themed café itself to enjoy.
The legendary Ace Café in West London held their annual Triumph Bike Day on 14 June and a group of Berkshire Branch members attended on their bikes. It was sunny weather and there was a great turn-out with lots of Triumph’s of all ages to browse around in the car park. Triumph West London had a stand there selling discounted merchandise, there was also a live band and of course, the rocker themed café itself to enjoy.
The Ace Café is worth a visit any time and if you have never been there, you should go sometime. It has a special place in the history of British motorcycling and the rocker culture in particular. But on Triumph Bike Day it’s even better than usual. There was a fantastic collection of Triumph’s on display and lots of Triumph owners there. The five piece band, the Smash, playing new wave music from the 70’s and 80’s provided the sound track for the day.
The Ace is a great destination, but the ride there necessarily along urban roads through built up areas. But that too, perhaps, has its own nostalgic charm, because its location on the North Circular Road was largely what attracted the bikers of the 60’s to the cafe as they rode their Cafe Racers along it.
Now the Ace Cafe is in the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone), which means there is a £12.50 charge for bikes for bikes to go there that don’t meet the emissions standard. That may have put some people off, but most bikes manufactured after 2013 comply, and so don’t have to pay. Also, any bike classed by the DVLA as historic, which means any manufactured before 1986, is exempt. So that allows a lot of Triumph’s to go there without paying.
Our members took the direct route there along the M4 and M25, but chose a scenic route through the leafier suburbs on the way home. It was a great day.
