TUG December 2023 by EAMG_bikers

Welcome to another TUG. I thought I had got myself organised to produce this edition of TUG in plenty of time for the final group night of the year. I had a blank template ready and most of the content organised in folders just waiting for the last contributions from fellow committee members but then the time just vanished! A friend recently moved onto a narrowboat. It’s lovely but they can be cold and damp places in the winter so on Thursday I was insulating the front bulkhead to hopefully reduce the condensation that was running down the wall and onto her bed! On Friday I found my dad couldn’t close his patio door enough to lock it. There were a few contributary reasons so I spent the day rectifying that. On Saturday my youngest daughter called to say her new dishwasher was left in its box in the middle of her kitchen because the delivery team couldn’t work out how to disconnect the old one. I went over there armed with tools and various fittings only to find the connections for the old and new machines were identical. The delivery team obviously weren’t employed for their intellect. It’s now Sunday night and our weekend guests have just left so I’ll have to complete editing on Monday evening. Never mind, at least I didn’t miss any good riding this weekend! If you have photos of group rides or events that you would be happy to share, maybe even a possible cover shot, please do send them to tug@eamg.org.uk . Find our website and all other social media quickly using the QR code below. You’ll also find a link to our membership form there when you need it. https://linktr.ee/eamg_bikers

Graham Simpkins, Editor webmaster@eamg.org.uk

COVER PHOTO Supplied by Phil Reader. The location was Wildner Top on the A39 just 3 miles from our tea stop in Lynmouth. We (Myself, Mick Hewitt and Danny Rutter) left the tea stop in the rain and as the road climbed the temp dropped to 3c then the hailstones covered the road hence our unplanned stop. Roughly 2". We had to wait an hour and a half before it was safe to carry on.

www.eamg.org.uk

CHAIRMAN’S PIECE Hi everyone. And here we are, nearly at the end of 2023. This year really seems to have flown by with hopefully much more normality returning to our daily lives now. Again, its good news on our membership numbers. BC (before covid, remember then?) our membership had seen the numbers declining slowly over time, however the last couple of years have seen that trend reversed, so we now have just under 200 members. About 25% of the membership are associate members undertaking training for an advanced test. It seems our training is bloody brilliant as the following figures prove. 24 RoSPA Gold and 9 RoSPA silver passes in 2023 up to beginning of November. Now that does include some full members taking re tests etc, and it includes very new riders too, so it is an amazing feat. We should all be very proud of this achievement, and it is the result of a lot of consistent very hard work and effort from all involved in the training team who all go way above and beyond. This also includes a lot of close collaboration with our committee too, so we must thank all involved for the continued success in the running of this fantastic group which is entirely run by volunteers, please don’t forget that. Our standard of riding does not go unnoticed. In my recent conversations with RoSPA examiners they are now expecting to see a very much higher than average ride from any EAMG member, saying what a great job we are doing enabling much safer riders on the road. With that in mind I do want to make you aware of a few tweaks to our rider training programmes you should look out for in this Michel Couque: Group Training at The Beryl Platt Centre TUG edition, and we will also put it onto our forum very soon. The running of the group as mentioned is all done by volunteers and one of those, Jill Winn, has announced that she will not be standing to continue to role of Membership Secretary after our next AGT in February. I will not forget the phone call I got from Jill when I was out walking the dog, after the email following Nigel's resignation. Jill was very taken aback at what she had read, and offered her unwavering support to help the group at that most difficult moment. This help was to act as membership secretary for a mid-term period. Let’s just pause and reflect here for a minute. How kind and generous is that! showing that Eamg is in Jill's heart! We thank you and salute you Jill.

www.eamg.org.uk

So, we will very soon need a new membership secretary, remember without volunteers this group CANNOT function, so I urge you to consider helping the group. Membership secretary is one of the key roles so I am reaching out to our membership asking that anyone who would like to discuss the position please DO ask me or anyone on the committee about it. If you think you are interested but not sure please don't do nothing!!

Michel Couque: Group Training at The Beryl Platt Centre

We would also love to have more input for ideas and suggestions from our members regarding activities. Our members are a very well connected lot, I am sure many of you could suggest some guests for our group nights? Also, I would love to hear about some ideas for some overnight ride destinations from you, I am thinking both 1 and 2 nighters, nothing like that for team bonding etc. Please do talk to me or email chair@eamg.org.uk so we can get things moving. Lastly, a BIG thankyou to everyone who helps with the running of EAMG, to my fellow committee members and observers and you, the faithful membership. I think that’s enough rambling from me, so I would like to wish everyone and their loved ones well over the festive period. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. Michel Couque Chairman.

www.eamg.org.uk

RoSPA Test Passes Congratulations to the following for achieving RoSPA test passes Thanks also to the Observers and Examiners. Candidate Steve Chambers Nick Sparling Michel Couque Phil Wilkinson Andy Hurst

Test Passed RoSPA GOLD RoSPA GOLD RoSPA GOLD RoSPA GOLD RoSPA SILVER

Observer Phil Wilkinson Paul Cardin N/A N/A Terry Sullivan

Examiner Mick Jones Mick Jones Mick Jones Mick Jones Mick Jones

Observer Test Pass Congratulations to the following for achieving an Observer Re-test. Thanks also to the Examiner. Candidate Colin Digby

Test Passed Observer Re-Test

Observer N/A

Michel Couque: Group Training at The Beryl Platt Centre

www.eamg.org.uk

Examiner John Tullett

www.eamg.org.uk

Presentations at October Group Night Michel had the pleasure of presenting an EAMG Full Member certificate to Kevin Chesworth.

Following the observer training trip to Wales, trainee Observer Clive Taylor was presented with a colouring book. I think you had to be there.

www.eamg.org.uk

Michel also congratulated EAMG Membership Secretary Jill Winn on her completion of the Great North Run. A foot injury had severely hampered Jill’s training so she was rightly proud to be showing off her finishers medal. She completed the run in a decent time too.

Presentations at November Group Night Michel had the pleasure of presenting an EAMG Full Member certificate to Steve Chambers.

www.eamg.org.uk

A Look Back at Recent Group Night In October we were delighted to welcome Keith Roissetter who is store manager of our local Sportsbikeshop in Harlow. Keith spoke to us about recent changes in motorcycle helmet safety standards and had examples of the newest helmets to show us. With his varied experience including racing and commentating Keith was a very entertaining speaker. The Sportsbikeshop in Harlow generously offers a discount on their already competitive prices to EAMG members so be sure to look there for clothing and accessories.

In November we greeted Paul Brown of FTT Advanced, a training company that offers. motorcycle mentoring here and on trips abroad.

Paul was previously with the Met Police as a covert motorcyclist so had plenty of interesting stories to relate as well as some alarming facts. EAMG members will already consider themselves cautions road users but Paul gave us a hundred more reasons to be wary of other road users!

www.eamg.org.uk

2024 EAMG EVENT DIARY Month January

February

March

Date Sunday, 7 Tuesday, 9th Sunday, 14th Sunday, 21st Tuesday, 6th Sunday, 11th Sunday, 18th Sunday, 25th Tuesday, 5th th

See Forum / Facebook for details

April

Sunday, 10th Sunday, 17th Sunday, 24th Saturday, 30th Sunday, 31st Tuesday, 2nd

See Forum / Facebook for details

May

Sunday, 7th Sunday, 14th Sunday, 14th Sunday, 21st Sunday, 5th Tuesday, 7th

See Forum / Facebook for details

June

Sunday, 12th Sunday, 19th Sunday, 26th Sunday, 2nd Tuesday,4th

See Forum / Facebook for details

July

Sunday, 9th Sunday, 23rd Sunday, 30th Sunday, 30th Tuesday, 2nd

See Forum / Facebook for details Sunday, 7th Sunday, 14th Sunday, 14th Sunday, 21st

www.eamg.org.uk

Event Group Training (GT) Group Night - Natter Night Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Colin's Full Member Ride Group Night - AGM Group Training (GT) Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Colin's Full Member Ride Group Night Bob Cowl / Dave Hawke Mid-Week Social Ride for all. March to October only. Group Training (GT) Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Observer Peer to Peer Ride (2401) Chairman’s Easter Ride Colin's Full Member Ride Group Night Bob Cowl / Dave Hawke Mid-Week Social Ride for all. March to October only. Group Training (GT) Associate/Full Member Training (AMT/FMT 2401) Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Colin's Full Member Ride Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Group Night Bob Cowl / Dave Hawke Mid-Week Social Ride for all. March to October only. Group Training (GT) Colin's Full Member Ride Observer Peer to Peer Ride (2402) Slow Riding Day, North Weald Airfield Group Night Bob Cowl / Dave Hawke Mid-Week Social Ride for all. March to October only. Group Training (GT) Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Associate/Full Member Training (AMT/FMT 2402) Colin's Full Member Ride Group Night Bob Cowl / Dave Hawke Mid-Week Social Ride for all. March to October only. Group Training (GT) Colin's Full Member Ride Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Observer Peer to Peer Ride (2403)

2024 EAMG EVENT DIARY Month August

September

Date

Event

Sunday, 4 Tuesday, 6th

Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Group Night

See Forum / Facebook for details

Bob Cowl / Dave Hawke Mid-Week Social Ride for all. March to October only. Group Training (GT) Colin's Full Member Ride Associate/Full Member Training (AMT/FMT 2403) Slow Riding Day, North Weald Airfield Audrey & John’s Cotswolds Ride Copdock Show TBA Group Night Bob Cowl / Dave Hawke Mid-Week Social Ride for all. March to October only. Group Training (GT) Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Observer Peer to Peer Ride (2404) Colin's Full Member Ride Group Night Bob Cowl / Dave Hawke Mid-Week Social Ride for all. March to October only. Group Training (GT) Associate/Full Member Training (AMT/FMT 2404) Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Colin's Full Member Ride Group Night Group Training (GT) – Remembrance Sunday Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Colin's Full Member Ride Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Group Night - Xmas Quiz Group Training (GT) Colin's Full Member Ride

Sunday, 11th Sunday, 18th Sunday, 25th Sunday, 1st Sunday, 1st Sunday, Tuesday, 3rd

See Forum / Facebook for details

October

Sunday, 8th Sunday, 15th Sunday 22nd Sunday, 29th Tuesday, 1st

See Forum / Facebook for details

November

December

Sunday, 6th Sunday, 13th Sunday, 20th Sunday, 20th Tuesday, 5th Sunday, 10th Sunday, 17th Sunday, 24th Sunday, 1st Tuesday, 3rd Sunday, 8th Sunday, 15th

See the EAMG forum for any last minute updates to the advertised schedule.

www.eamg.org.uk

EAMG 2024 Training Costs Visit: www.eamg.org.uk / Events Diary / Forum for dates/details.

Group Training (GT) Associate / Full Member (FTFM): Members under training make no contribution to the Observer - pay £10 when signing on to cover venue. Associate One to One Training: For each Observed ride, each Associate is required to pay their Observer (fuel expense) Associate Member Training (AMT) day – John Tipper: Training Days (4 per year): Associates pay direct to EAMG Treasurer Further Training Full Member (FTFM): Full Member to pay EAMG Treasurer Full Member to pay Observer for each 1 – 2 – 1 Observed ride (fuel expense) Full Member Further Training (FMT) day – John Tipper Training Days 4 per year): Full Members pay direct to EAMG Treasurer

Amount £10.00

£10.00

£50.00 £20.00 £20.00

£60.00

RoSPA / IAM Pre-Test Rides (PTR) – 3 Observed rides: Full Member to pay EAMG Treasurer Full Member to pay Observer for each 1 – 2 – 1 observed ride (fuel expense).

£20.00 £20.00

Slow Riding Skills Days (SRSD): EAMG Members (Associates & Full Members) attending pay (held June and September at North Weald Airfield)

£10.00