Margate Meltdown, The Motorbikes come to town.

The annual Margate meltdown went ahead on the last bank holiday Monday in May. The Ace Cafe in London, organizes the bikers coming down for their seaside trip. Ace Cafe website here   The event also raises money for the Royal British Legion Riders Branch. RBLR website here

Ace Cafe's facebook page has some photos from the event here

There are hundreds of motor bikes parked around the old town and sea front, stalls and music. The weather was fine apart from a tiny shower which still had the effect of covering the bikes in raindrops.

I was photographing the bikes, the people and Margate engaging with the event.

There's something about the edginess of some of the bikers, their alternative society that is interesting to me.

 Bikers are often given a bad name but there is a large group of bikers against child abuse in America for instance, where their intimidating looks work well to protect children.  Link to the story here

Margate Meltdown, bikers come to town.

Bank Holiday Monday saw the annual bikers day trip to Margate. Organised by the Ace Cafe in London, Margate Meltdown attracts hundreds of bikers of all ages for a seaside day out.

Thousands of visitors come for the event too, which has stalls and music with the biker community in mind. Lots of jewellry stalls with skulls predominant,  I liked quite a few pieces myself, leathers, hats, bags and even a few bikes were for sale along the harbour arm and seafront.

It was quite exciting seeing all the bikes arrive and hearing the roar of the engines. I don't know anything about bikes, except for a brief period in my life when I rode in a bike and side car but there were some amazing custom bikes including 3 wheelers that were carrying 4 or 5 people and one decorated to the hilt with skulls, skeletons and flags.

Bikes were parked everywhere, in the town along the seafront and up past the Turner Contemporary gallery.

 There were also a few vintage bikes and of course the Harley -Davidsons they had a stand on the seafront too.

It was also great to see Margate so full of people and as it was a sunny day weather wise, the beach was pretty full too. I had a hint of how Margate was in it's heyday.