Nov2015

Club Night - 10th November Quiz!

Eastham Ferry Hotel Ferry Road Eastham CH62 0AU

Issue No 210

November 2015

W I R R A L A D VA N C E D M O TO R C Y C L I S T S Group Council 2015-2016 Web Site

IAM Group 5115 http://www.w-a-m.co.uk

Chairman

Tim Brown

chairman@w-a-m.co.uk

Vice Chairman

Ken Smith

vicechairman@w-a-m.co.uk

Honorary Treasurer

Lindsay Boston

treasurer@w-a-m.co.uk

Membership

Nina Jeffries

membership@w-a-m.co.uk

Associate Coordinator

Rob D’Cruze

associatecoordinator@w-a-m.co.uk

Chief Observer

Mike Boston

chiefobserver@w-a-m.co.uk

Honorary Secretary

Rob Cooper 0151 648 4503

secretary@w-a-m.co.uk

Events Organiser

Dave Spotswood events@w-a-m.co.uk

Newsletter Editor & WebMeister

Peter Lovatt

Minute Secretary

position vacant

Group Shop

Martin Titley 0151 632 3570

groupshop@w-a-m.co.uk

Gift Aid Coordinator

Rob D’Cruze

giftaid@w-a-m.co.uk

Ride Out Coordinator

Rob Tutchings

rideouts@w-a-m.co.uk

newsletter@w-a-m.co.uk

Other Council members Nicole Rigby Carl Mason Cliff Evans Derek Jeffries Graeme Thow Steve Lord

MAGAZINE TEAM:

CONTACT WAM

Editor: Peter Lovatt

Rob Cooper Coopers Upholstery The Old Bank Everton Valley Liverpool L5 0RH

Duplication: C3 Imaging, Liverpool Distribution: The Post Office!

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From the Editor of the WAM Mag Welcome to the November issue of the Hallowed WAM mag. Yes, it is November so that means that next month is, erm, umm, er, December. Ahh, the time of Mince pies, Christmas Pud, getting merry, and looking at the Easter Eggs appearing in the shops.

This month we have Rob Cooper and one of his taxing quizzes. Should be good and I think the person who types up this Newsletter will have the mick taken out of…. So please turn up for a bit of taxing the grey cell and have a good giggle and probably some heated discussion over the speed limit of the Clatterbridge roundabout. Either that or a bit of off siding! ;o) only kidding Rob!!

I’ll also bring your attention to the December WAM club night, yes, it’s the WAM Xmas meal. It’s now been confirmed at £12 per head for a 3 course meal. It’ll be the same routine as the last few years and you have to make your choice of starter, main and dessert, and let some one know. So have a look inside this issue for the menu, make a choice and let Nina know, email address opposite.

Finally, in this issue are a few articles, cribbed from various sources. Some are more useful than others - as it’ll be New year in the not too distant future, make a resolution to write something for the WAM mag. Don’t just leave it to me, as I can put a load of tosh in if I have to, and I think I’ve started already….

And finally the final finally….

Here is a pic of a very appropriate sign spotted in Scotland this summer. You can tell it was summer, as the road is wet.

If anyone is out on the bike, take care out there, if you are not, then you don’t have to!

Pete 3

WIRRAL ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS

Diary of Events www.w-a-m.co.uk *************************

November 10th Club Night - One of Rob Coopers cunning Quizzes *************************

December 8th Club Night - WAM Christmas Meal - ÂŁ12 per head 1. Make a selection off the menu opposite 2. Let Nina know membership@w-a-m.co.uk Or Dave Spotswood - dave@w-a-m.co.uk

This is the link for the WAM Official Forum, set up for Members of Wirral Advanced Motorcyclists ONLY. It is a forum for Associates, Observers, and members of WAM to discuss Official Group Rides out, riding techniques, FLC matters, and similar topics. To join you MUST give your name and Postcode when you Subscribe.

Group name: WAMOfficialForum Group home page: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/WAMOfficialForum Subscribe: to subscribe to the group send a BLANK email to WAMOfficialForum-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk Unsubscribe: to UNsubscribe to the group send a BLANK email to WAMOfficialForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk Once your submission has been approved, you can then post emails.

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WAM Christmas Meal Starters   

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Chicken clementine pate Festive spiced parcels-smoked Applewood cheese & chutney Thai king prawn cocktail Butternut squash maple & coriander soup Festive grazer plate for two-smoked cheese parcels, pigs in blankets, olives, sweet potato fries & Brie cranberry fondue

Mains     

Roast turkey Rump steak with mustard & whisky liqueur sauce Grilled salmon with a chilli & lemon cream sauce Ginger duck- ginger ale cranberry & apricot sauce Brie & white onion polenta tart

Desserts    

Christmas pudding Chocolate & caramel crunch St Clements orange bell Chocolate & marmalade bread & butter pudding 5

WORLD'S EASIEST QUIZ 1) How long did the Hundred Years War last?

2) Which country makes Panama Hats?

3) From which animal do we get catgut?

4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?

5) What is a camel's hair brush made of?

6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?

7) What was King George VI's first name?

8) What colour is a purple finch?

9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?

10) What is the colour of the black box in a commercial airplane?

ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ 1) How long did the Hundred Years War last? 116 years 2) Which country makes Panama hats? Ecuador 3) From which animal do we get cat gut? Sheep and Horses 4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?

November 5) What is a camel's hair brush made of? Squirrel fur 6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?

Dogs 7) What was King George VI's first name? Albert 8) What colour is a purple finch? Crimson 9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from? New Zealand 10) What is the colour of the black box in a commercial airplane? Orange,of course.

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Getting past a slower vehicle - Overtaking

Overtaking is r egar ded as one of the most hazar dous manoeuvr es for a r ider , but often it is not planned well enough to ensure maximum safety. When you commit to an overtake you are making a decision to pass the vehicle(s) ahead. In order to get there safely, consider the points below which should make the planning easier.

It is important to make your choice to overtake at the safest and earliest opportunity.

To do this you need to anticipate where an opportunity is likely to present itself and prepare the motorcycle so that you are in the right position with the correct speed and gear selected to commit at the right time.

Prepare the motorcycle so that you are close enough to make the overtake at the earliest moment, but not too close to the vehicle in front. Make sure that you have the appropriate gear engaged that will allow you the maximum acceleration if required.

When you do apply acceleration, deliver the power smoothly to help maintain the stability of the motorcycle when completing the manoeuvre.

Avoid aggressive use of the throttle or brakes when returning to your own lane. Good planning and preparation will ensure a smooth and safe delivery of the task. If you are having problems sorting out the planning and delivery of this skill then simply find a trainer who can spend a little time explaining and demonstrating the techniques required. It is important to get this skill right and leave nothing to chance Points to consider

 Speed and performance of your motorcycle  Most modern motorcycles have outstanding performance; even some of the smaller

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bikes have excellent acceleration. Riders often make the mistake of getting too close to the vehicle in front, which closes down available views. So stay back where you can see.

Speed and performance of the vehicle you are about to overtake Look at the vehicle and consider its performance against that of your motorcycle, bearing in mind that most family saloons these days have surprisingly good acceleration, but not as good as most motorcycles.

The distance you have available to overtake and regain the nearside safely If the available road looks a little short then don’t risk it. Make a sound judgement about whether you have enough available room, if in doubt, DON’T. A safer opportunity will present itself.

The speed and performance of the oncoming traffic Again, think about the performance of most modern cars. The speed of oncoming traffic can be difficult to assess accurately at times, so if in doubt, DON’T and wait for the next opportunity.

Speed and performance of oncoming vehicles as yet unseen This is more tricky. So many riders look at the road ahead and if its clear they do not consider the fast oncoming car just around the corner. ALWAYS assume that there is one just out of your view and consider then if the available road is sufficient to make the manoeuvre safely. If in doubt, DON’T. 7

A new survey has lifted the lid on the latest dreadful excuses for accidents given

by Britain's drivers. The survey covered nearly 37,000 drivers who use company vehicles and asked their bosses two key questions: 1. What is the worst excuse you have ever had for an accident from a driver?

2. What is the oddest thing someone has left in a company car when it has been returned to the company?

Among the worst excuses for accidents was one driver who said: "There were too many mini roundabouts in the road and I drove into the back of the car on the one that shouldn't have been there."

Another driver blamed his crash on a 'bloody woman'. It later transpired she was in her upstairs bedroom window, getting undressed, and the driver had been more preoccupied watching her than the gate pillar on his house, which promptly ripped one side off his Aston Martin DB7.

Other excuses included:

1. The driver said he was impressed with the reversing siren. So much so that he backed into a wall whilst listening to it 2. I was going the wrong way down a one-way street when I hit a car which was not there when going the other way 3. I didn't know my foot was still on the accelerator 4. The other car shouldn't have been in my way 5. I swerved to hit a tree that wasn't there 6. The horse came out of nowhere and landed on my car.

7. I didn't see the lamp-post 8. I had to take too many mobile phone calls 9. The car in front had better brakes so I was unable to compete with the stopping distance and ended up hitting it 10. I don't know why he put his foot in the way while he was seeing me through the gap 11. I forgot I was in a car park 12. I did not think the train ran on those lines any more 13. I sneezed 14. The car didn't come with an instruction manual 15. How could I have known there were metal railings behind the hedge (having reversed through someone's shrubbery).

16. I was picking my mobile phone up from the floor of the car

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In case you needed further proof that the human race is doomed through stupidity, here are some actual label instructions on consumer goods.

On a bar of Dial soap "Directions: Use like regular soap." (and that would be???....)

On Tesco's Tiramisu dessert (printed on bottom) "Do not turn upside down." (well...duh, a bit late, huh!)

On Marks &Spencer Bread Pudding (and you thought?)

"Product will be hot after heating."

On packaging for a Rowenta iron "Do not iron clothes on body." (but wouldn't this save me time?)

On Boot's Children Cough Medicine "Do not drive a car or operate machinery after taking this medication."

(We could do a lot to reduce the rate of construction accidents if we could just get those 5 year-olds with head-colds off those bulldozers.)

On Nytol Sleep Aid "Warning: May cause drowsiness."

(I'm taking this because?)

On most brands of Christmas lights

"For indoor or outdoor use only." (as opposed to what?)

On a Japanese food processor "Not to be used for the other use." (now, somebody out there, help me on this. I'm a bit curious.)

On Sainsbury's peanuts "Warning: contains nuts." (talk about a news flash) On an American Airlines packet of nuts "Instructions: Open packet, eat nuts."

(Step 3: say what?)

On a child's Superman costume "Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly."

(I don't blame the company. I blame the parents for this one.)

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Weather for Motorbikes!

by David Braine (BBC weatherman) It’s November, the outside air temperature is 3 degrees above freezing, the road is dry and the wind is in your hair as you enjoy the freedom of your motorbike at 70mph, how do you feel? Cold is the answer!! Whilst in our cars, vans and trucks we are able to turn the heater up and keeps ourselves warm, on a motorbike we have to wear extra layers of clothing, so much so we look like the Michelin man. Why do we feel so cold - the answer is wind chill.

For many years as a keen motorcyclist I would refuse to use my bike until the outsider air temperature reached 10 deg C or above, and before you say it, yes I am a fair weather biker.

So what is wind chill? A human body loses heat mainly by two main methods.

Warm air near the surface of the skin being replaced by cold air and therefore removing heat form the body, and secondly in the act of breathing we take in cold air which is then warmed and as we breathe out we lose that heat.

There is little we can do about breathing in cold air and losing heat that way, unless of course you are a motorcycle courier (from the way they ride in London some of them must have stopped breathing years ago) but there is something we can do about the wind removing the heat from our body.

Unless you live in California where riding naked isn’t so much of a challenge, we all have to cover up with several layers of clothing. The stronger the wind the

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faster the heat is removed from a warm body and this is effectively wind chill.

The wind chill formulas account for the loss of heat from a warm body (inc animals) by warm air around the body being replaced by colder air.

At 70 mph and with an outside air temperature of 3 degrees Celsius the wind chill works out at around minus 18 degrees, brass monkeys and all that! This is what the temperature feels like because of the effect of the wind.

Despite several layers of clothing, gloves etc., we will still feel the effects. The heat from out bodies is conducted through our layers of clothing to the final outside layer which is cooled rapidly by the flow of cold air.

So what other hazards can the biker face (other than every other road user) with the weather. The wind can also cause problems because with only two wheels the stability can be quite badly effected especially with a crosswind. A head wind can be worse, a 30 mph head wind means that at 70 mph indicated on your speedometer the wind of your body is travelling at 100 mph.

Rain often stops me from getting the motorbike out of the shed. Not only does the rain reduce the insulation of your clothing but it also affects the grip of the tyres of the bike on the road. The rain also reduces the visibility of a motorcyclist since there are no wipers, rather like driving a car with no windscreen wipers.

Fog and low cloud affects the biker in that visibility is very much reduced and made worse by the moisture forming on the visor. Snow and ice have fairly obvious risks, you don’t see many motorbikes when it is snowing heavily, and again with only two wheels, ice on the road is very dangerous.

So my tips for motorcycling are as follows: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

If it is snowing or there is ice on the roads, catch the train If the temperature is less than 10 degrees Celsius, catch the train If its raining, catch the train If its foggy, catch the train If its windy, catch the train

So as you can imagine, I don’t get to ride my motorbike very much, (I don’t think he gets anywhere at all – who would rely on the railways now??!!! – Pete) lets say about two weeks in the summer, but then again I did say I was a fair weather rider.

So the next time you are driving down the motorway, its windy, wet and cold, spare a thought for the motorcycle courier, who is probably soaking wet, freezing cold, partially hypothermic, and thoroughly fed up!!

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This week’s tips, from the IAM’s head of riding standards Peter Rodger are offering advice to motorcyclists about getting their bikes ready for autumn. Read our tips to find out how you can best prepare for the season.

1. It’s that time of the year again when you need to get your waterproof overalls and gloves on. Hi-visibility clothing is important during the day, and reflective clothing is essential to wear when travelling in the dark.

2. Give your tyres a proper check beforehand. The tyre tread should be no less than 2mm in the winter, as opposed to the legal requirement of 1mm. Consider changing your tyres now, before road conditions become increasingly slippery.

3. The colder it is, the more work the battery has to do. Check your battery is fully charged and in a good condition beforehand – keep it protected against corrosion using solid Vaseline or paraffin. If your battery is not working properly, replace it now.

4. The cold weather can cause moisture to collect up in the electrical connections.

Take time to spray them with an anti-corrosion product to keep them lubricated.

5. Check the front and rear brake fluid reservoir levels. If they’re low top them up or consult your dealer. It’s worth checking your brake pads too – if they are near the wear limit then get them changed as soon as possible.

6. Keep an anti-mist product with you when your helmet visor builds up with condensation – this will particularly come in handy in rain and foggy weather.

7. When riding through bad weather switch on your dipped headlights to help you see further ahead. Avoid using full beam as this will only dazzle other road users.

8. Riding in low sun will make it difficult to see ahead, be prepared to slow down and make sure you keep your eyes shaded using a visor helmet if you have one.

9. If road conditions are wet and slippery leave more distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Ride at a steady pace and don’t rush through pools of water as it will force your bike to lose traction.

10. Avoid riding through puddles as they might be concealing potholes. Keep an eye out for any of these hazards ahead and adjust your riding accordingly.

Peter said: “Motorcyclists need to especially make allowances for the arrival of autumn with only two wheels; anything that reduces your contact with the road requires your attention. Keep in complete control of your bike, think ahead, and you can enjoy a bracing autumn on two wheels.”

11. Watch out for leaves and other debris on the road. This can get very slippery when wet or damp. Unless you want to practice power slides coming out of your favourite roundabout, avoid rapid opening of the throttle.

12. Use the car if it is too cold 12

This article was held over from summer…..

This week’s motoring tips from the IAM’s head of driving standards Peter Rodger are looking at how Muslim drivers can ensure they stay safe on the road during the Holy month of Ramadan, beginning this year on 18 June.

Ramadan is a time when most followers of Islam will undertake a daily fast for approximately 30 days, however, children, expectant mothers and those with certain illnesses will not be expected to fast. For those drivers that are fasting, we encourage you to read our tips to ensure both you and your passengers are as safe as possible.

1. Try to maintain a daily schedule; eat your meals and stay hydrated when you are supposed to, exercise regularly and sleep well – disrupting your daily routine too much can affect your behaviour behind the wheel.

2. If you can, avoid setting out early in the morning or late in the evening as you’re less likely to be naturally alert. The same applies for when you have just eaten a heavy meal; you will only end up feeling lethargic.

3. Avoid driving if you are feeling tired or sleepy as this greatly increases the risk of a sleep related crash. If you have no choice but to travel and the destination is within a short distance, take a power nap beforehand to help relieve some fatigue.

4. If at any point you are feeling tired or sleepy when you are driving, ensure that you stop in a safe and legal place where you can park your vehicle and take rest.

Take a short nap and once you have woken up get out of the car and walk about to help improve your circulation. Remember, if you are travelling on the motorway you must not stop on the hard shoulder at any point unless your car has broken down.

5. Be extra alert when driving just before sunset or on the way to have Iftar refreshments which break the day’s fast – at this time of the day your blood sugar levels will be at their lowest so take it easy.

6. Do not speed or drive erratically in the hope of arriving home at sunset for Iftar – it’s better to drive to steady and safely than to be sorry.

7. Sharing the drive when possible is always a good idea especially on long journeys – the chances of you feeling tired will be significantly reduced.

8. Your concentration will also be impacted if you are feeling tired or dehydrated – consider using public transport.

Peter said: “If your eating and drinking patterns are altered for any period of time your abilities and reactions behind the wheel will be affected. This applies equally at Ramadan. Do allow for this if you’re fasting. Look after yourself and you can continue your journeys as normal.”

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DISCLAIMER:-

The articles published herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Institute of Advanced Motorists Ltd, or the Wirral Group of Advanced Motorcyclists. They are the opinions of individual contributors and are published with the view that free expression promotes discussion and interests. So you have been warned.

Interested in doing the Advanced Car Test? Wirral Advanced Motorists are the people to see. Go to www.wirraliam.co.uk