Final Dave Day ride to be 'absolutely magical'
PA MediaThe widow of TV chef Dave Myers says this summer's third and final tribute ride to the Hairy Biker will be "absolutely magical" after a "long and challenging" process.
Thousands of people are once again expected to ride to Barrow, in Cumbria, on 20 June in celebration of the 66-year-old who died from cancer in 2024.
Earlier this week, organiser Jason Woodcock said funding problems and the difficulties involved arranging it meant this year's - billed as The Last Ride Home - would be the final one.
Westmorland and Furness Council, which has responsibility for Barrow, said it had committed £10,000 to the safe management of any bike procession and offered help from staff on the day.
Starting at the Ace Cafe, in London, at 07:00 BST, a procession of bikes will travel along a route taking in Oxford, the National Motorcycle Museum at Solihull, Knutsford and Lancaster.
Lili Myers told Radio Cumbria talks started "a few months back".
"The process has been really long and challenging, but finally finally we got to sort of a compromise and a solution and we're making it happen," she said.
"I've had messages from hundreds and hundreds of people saying 'which bridges should I wait for you' or 'which stations will it be? We want to go and cheer'.
"It's magical. Absolutely magical."
South Shore ProductionsLili described the support she had received from the biking community, as well as other people across the country, as "one of the biggest gifts" her husband had given her.
"The biking community have been embracing me and have been so lovely to me all these years. I've got a new family," she said.
"I think people had a lot of reasons to connect with Dave's story, whether it was travel, the food, friendship, biking or the illness.
"Many people joined [the previous rides] because they had someone they'd lost or they were going through challenges themselves and they wanted to honour that.
"It was like a cauldron with all these people that had something special to connect to. I think we all needed that to uplift us."
Led by the other Hairy Biker, Si King, more than £125,000 was raised for charity by the inaugural ride with another £134,000 donated following last year's event.
Woodcock, also speaking to Radio Cumbria, said this year's offering would aim to set a world record for the biggest gathering of motorbikes.
He pointed to issues with "health and safety and all the other things that come with it" as the reasons for the event ending.
Earlier in the week, he said "the reality is Westmorland and Furness Council said they didn't have the funds to put on Dave Day.
"They wanted me to become a full-on event organiser and that could have cost between £80,000 to £100,000, which we can't do."
In a statement, the council said the first two Dave Days had been "amazing events" that had brought the community together to remember and celebrate the life of Dave Myers, "a true proud Barrovian".
However, having "absorbed the considerable costs" of the safety arrangements put in place for the bike processions in both 2024 and 2025, it said it could not do so again as it would mean there was "less money available to support community organisations in Barrow".