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SAM Ladies Ride-Out
June 2007
The IAM Aims
CAPTION COMPETITION:
To improve the standard of driving (and riding) on the UK roads. The Advancement of Road Safety.
sam SOLENT ADVANCED M OTO R C Y C L I S T S
The Administration of an Advanced Test.
MAKING
progress
Answers via email to:
sam.newsletter@btinternet.com
INSIDE p4 SAM Public Relations
Saturday 5 May marks a special day in SAM history as it was the first official Ladies ride, and guys, we don’t mind if you want to have your own ride.
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even ladies arrived in Wickham Square to be lead by Hayley Miller.There were 3 green badge holders, 4 associates and for 3 of them, it was their first ever SAM ride.
S
Looking Ahead
Now who said ladies ride boring bikes? Hayley was leading the group on her R1, followed by a Honda Hornet, a Sprint ST, a Suzuki Intruder 1400, Kawasaki 500, there was even a Burgham 400 Scooter and Lilian was back marker on her SV650 Sport. We headed off at a nice pace and made our way along the A272. It was a lovely day, ideal for biking and Hayley did a fantastic job keeping the group together.We had an uneventful ride to our lunchtime spot apart from the black pick-up truck driver (the new white van man) who seemed convinced that he could overtake 7 motorbikes and a van towing a large caravan in about 100 yds.
Hayley then lead us off to Goodwood for the conclusion of our ride, where we took tea on the outdoor patio watching the cars racing around and the planes and helicopters taking off. It was a lovely end to the day and we even managed to find another biker to take a photograph of all our bikes.
Lilian Hobbs DISCLAIMER Most of the views expressed in this SAM Newsletter are personal to the author and publication does not imply endorsement of any article, any author or any organisation. Views expressed are those of the authors, and are not necessarily in accordance with the policies or the views of the IAM or SAM. Where articles are reproduced from other publications or authors, unreserved acknowledgement is given to the source. No responsibility is accepted by the Editor or SAM for any damage to intelligence or riding abilities, howsoever caused, which might result from reading this publication.
5% discount to SAM members, on production of membership card.
Help us make progress with a contribution towards the next issue. Pics in jpeg format please.
Newsletter email address is sam.newsletter@btinternet.com
Design & artwork by KF:D LTD Fordingbridge, 01425 654557
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Unfortunately our lunch stop in the village of Findon didn’t go as planned when the restaurant announced no food because they were doing a wedding. So we stopped for a quick coffee and then a very quick visit to the Cissbury leather shop next door, and no we didn’t buy the shop! However one of the staff recommended the Black Horse pub around the corner. Not cheap, but the portions are huge, so one meal can easily be shared between two people.
P A G E 12
June 07
Scottish Police Bikes
p10 Book Review
The Emerald Isle - a biker’s paradise report p11
p12 Ladies Run
Registered Charity No. 1097558
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Two bikers
are pulled up at a stop sign. One looks up and sees a funeral procession starting by. He pulls the bike to the side of the road, gets off, stands by its side, takes off his helmet, and bows his head. The procession passes by the intersection and the biker puts on his helmet, gets back on the bike, and starts it up. The other biker comes over and says, “That was touching. I didn’t know you had it in you.” The first biker responds, “Well, I guess it was the right thing to do after all, I was married to her for 40 years.”
to pray for a When I was young I used Harley. sn’t work Then I realised that God doe that way. yed for So I stole a Harley and pra forgiveness
June 2007
S A M S O L E N T A DVA N C E D M OTO R C Y C L I S T S
AGM number 14 held on Tuesday 8th May 2007 ELECTED COMMITTEE Officers: Gerry Gooch ........................Chairman Colin Backhouse ..................Group Secretary John Parvin ............................Treasurer
Members: Nigel Grace ..........................Newsletter editor Dave Spicer ..........................Chief Observer Ian Cooper ............................Runs Coordinator Kate Davies ..........................Merchandiser Dave Forster ........................PR Sam Davis ..............................Club Night Organiser David Barrett ........................ Special Events Organiser Chris Palmer ........................Skills Coordinator Godwin Calafato Financial statement as at 8th May 2007 - £1,158
Changes in Committee This AGM saw the retirement of John Goodson, Chief Observer, and Rex Brittain, Secretary, and with various changes of committee members during the year there is a significant change in the officers and committee members.
Godwin Calafato explained that there had been justified expenditure over and above what will be spent in the next year, including expenses incurred for the 50th anniversary celebrations, repairs to the MDU and the purchase of a projector for training and club sessions. It was also pointed out that the group is a charity and any financial assets should not be hoarded but spent on the group’s objectives of improving rider skills. Godwin concluded that the group was in a healthy financial position.
Ride it twice - once for the view, then for the ride
by Mike West
Another question related the need to hold a postal vote for those not attending. The IAM constitution for group elections does not allow for a postal vote being held. The AGM was properly convened and, despite the less than usual turnout, was quorate. One member also added that it was held on a usual club night and was announced on the website.
Colin Backhouse Group secretary
ay 2007 marked my fourth trip to the Emerald Isle. It’s a bikers paradise, punctuated with breathtaking scenery, wonderful food, delightful people and, of course, the Guinness. The intention of this article is not to provide travelogue but to offer some tips which should maximise safety and enjoyment for those intending to make a similar trip.
M
Moving away from the main roads, the quality of surface can be much more variable. At the extremities around the south-western peninsulas, the roads can be as challenging as they get, best described as a pot-holed rollercoaster. But this is where some of the best and most challenging riding is to be found. My experience of Irish drivers is that they are mostly courteous and “bike-aware”, frequently pulling over into the tractor lane for you to pass. Unfortunately, it’s the Brits you need to watch out for, hogging the centre line and sometimes deliberately blocking your progress.
PA G E 2
Make sure that you have the latest maps for your GPS or leave it at home
•
150 miles on twiddly little roads represents a hard day’s riding
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plan for breaks to take on water and top up on carbs
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garages can be sparse in the less populaced areas
No special preparations ar needed. No beam deflectors as they drive on the left. As you are likely to get wet, electrical issues could potentially be a problem
When you talk about touring Ireland, the first thing people say is “I hear the roads are terrible”. My experience is that the roads are mixed. Main roads between towns are generally better than our rural roads both in terms of surface and opportunities to overtake (many roads have tractor lanes).
t: 023 8023 0002
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direction of the coaches and go the opposite way. Here are my recommendations, in no particular order:
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Connor pass (near Dingle)
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Gap of Dunloe (in the middle of the Ring of Kerry)
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Ring of Bera (three Michelin stars for this)
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Healy Pass
Bike preparations
Postal votes
Financial strategy Asked if there was a strategy for finance in the light of a loss of £409 this year over last year’s gain of a similar figure,
The Emerald Isle - a biker’s paradise
digital maps, so your GPS was pretty useless
The next thing people say is that it rains all of the time. Well that’s not quite true but everything is very green and it does rain pretty often. In my experience, it has rained
about 25% of the time. If you go to Ireland you just have to expect this and plan accordingly, then it’s not an issue. In fact with this mindset every dry day is bonus. Accommodation in Ireland Irish B&Bs are excellent in my experience. There is usually a correlation between the price and quality of accommodation. I have toured Ireland both with and without pre-booked accommodation. On balance, I would recommend prebooking as it makes the afternoons much more relaxed and enjoyable. Most B&Bs have a large hotpress (that’s Irish for airing cupboard). This is invaluable for getting your kit really dry for the next day. Planning for rain The temperature on the West coast may be a couple of degrees colder than home, so take the same kit you would normally wear. Remember that you are likely to be wearing your wets quite often and these may cause you to over heat!
• •
Fabric kit is most convenient
•
Take at least two pairs of gloves summer and waterproof
If wearing leathers, make sure that your wets are really easy to get at as the weather can change in an instant
Navigating All speed limits and distances are now in kilometres. There was a stage where distances were metric and speeds were imperial - a glorious Irish compromise - but this has now been sorted. Until last November only the major roads featured on
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Do the usual POWER checks (petrol, oil, water, electrics, rubber)
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Irish roads are harsh on tyres make sure you leave with plenty of tread
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Take spare lamps, the bumps can take their toll
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If you have an immobiliser, take the code so that you can do a reset
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Make sure that your luggage is waterproof
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Check your insurance and recovery policy
June 2007
the coastline between Dungarvon and Bunmahon on the Eastern side (approx 4 o’clock)
Kenmare is probably my favourite town; it’s not as commercialised as Killarney and there are excellent pubs, restaurants and live music to be found there. It’s a good central location for touring. Which Ferry? I have always taken the Fishguard Rosslaire Route with Stenna but would consider Irish Ferries who go from Pembroke to Rosslaire. This could shorten the UK leg by 30 minutes or so. If booking with Stenna, you can get a discount of 20% by quoting MCN. The return trip cost me £68 for bike and rider.
At the end of a hard day’s riding, you might want to consider jetwashing your bike. I did this one day on my recent trip as the bike was so dirty that the number plate was no longer readable! Favourite parts of Ireland
The fast ferry takes 90 minutes while the standard ferry will occupy you for 3.5hours.
If Ireland were a clock face, the 7 o’clock to 9 o’clock area is simply the best. You may be surprised that I have not listed the Ring of Kerry amongst my recommendations. This is because it is full of coaches and there are currently lots of road works. If you do ride it, check the
If getting an early ferry, I can recommend the fishing village of Kilmore Quay for an overnight stopover; it’s 30 minutes from Rosslaire and there is a pub which is frequented by the fishermen and known locally for the best fish in the area. The Guinness is good too.
SAM Polo-shirts
Black long or short sleeve shir ts embroidered with the Club name - always available to buy at Club Nights. Sizes XXL to Small. Long Sleeves £18.50 Short Sleeves £15.00
Books and Videos The Assessment of Advanced Know your Traffic Signs How to be an Advanced Mo
£3.00 torcyclist
Motorcycle Roadcraft (Blue Mike Waites Video Top Rider Video
Motorcycling £4.50
Book)
£7.99 £11.99 £14.99 £14.99
Contact Kate Davies
Tel 01962 840954
P A G E 11
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Hi
I want to I am in a bit of a dilemma -very little Club
produce a Club Newsletter but I have sletter is self information to print, the idea of a New s about the new the evident and that is to bring you News” “The get I do Group! Having said that; how the from be ld about SAM? and the answer shou Club the ding atten me Members of the Group and by the s, -Out Ride Nights, SAM Training Days, the erences, and Committee Meetings, the Regional Conf d my part of plete com the AGMs and so on. So I have hip! bers Mem the deal; so what about you, the reas whe but se, There is the 20/80 rule of cour d (i.e min in nce fina Vilfredo Pareto created it with it can lth), wea the of 20% of the people owning 80% For . hing anyt and has been applied to virtually ort the Group example 20% of the membership supp turned up the hip bers and 80% don’t, 20% of the mem e on the scor the t AGM and 80% didn’t - that’s righ ors 2, Visit 30, hip bers night was Committee 12, Mem it view of t poin any Absent 204, and therefore from was a pretty poor turn out. : how to So to continue with the original question News”, b “Clu any produce a Newsletter without t the Club abou f’ ‘stuf g similarly how to put interestin manonea g min beco it on the SAM web site without know you se cour of and show with one person’s view; e writ to , lved invo the answer - YOU need to get and in order to something, to send in a photo or two, Club, to the with do this you need to get involved We’ve got es. p-rid Grou attend the Club Nights, and the ting exci ning plan , enthusiastic committee members ort supp the them give events and sharing knowledge, . Club they need, after all ... it’s your tor
Edi
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Chairman
Gerry Gooch
01329 832 416
Vice Chairman
Colin Backhouse
02380 871 642
Treasure
John Parvin
01329 284 640
Chief Observer
David Spicer
01794 341 087
Membership Secretary
Paul Nol
02392 710 929
Special Events Co-ord
Dave Barrett
0771 626772
Club Night Organiser
Sam Davis
07961 534802
Public Relations
David Forster
01962 761026
Group Rides Co-ordinator
Ian Cooper
02380 410 690
Skills Development
Chris Palmer
07919 418 641
Regalia
Kate Davies
01962 840 954
Newsletter
Nigel Grace
07810 480 476
Committee Member
Godwin Calafato
02380 253109
MDU Manager
Vacant
JUNE 2007
CHAIRMAN’S
chat
he summer is here, we are all out on our bikes in the sunshine and the rain.The committee are busy organising the various activities for you the members to benefit from and also to enjoy and as usual, most of the time it is like trying to get blood out of a stone to get you to come forward to help. I have placed a number of announcements for help, sometimes getting no response whatsoever, the exception to this was the Springfield School talks as this was actually over subscribed with your offers to give a 55 minute talk to 15.16 yr old pupils on ‘Life Skills and Biking’ and the School was most generous in their praise for the 6 speakers from SAM who participated. SAM has a new Chief Observer David Spicer who will I am sure be implementing some of his own ideas about Observed Runs etc, so I expect that we Observers must all be prepared to accept a few minor changes in the near future. PR is an important activity for SAM and we need to put more effort into getting the message to Bikers in Hampshire about what SAM has to offer. David Forster our new PR Officer has made an impressive start by setting up databases of media and Dealer contacts throughout the County. David will need your help in doing this, so do please respond to him when he asks. The new SAM website that has been set up by Simon Marsden has received many commendations and nearly all of our new member enquiries now come from the web. The SAM Announce system has I am sorry to say been another story in that the change over to a new system has been plagued with problems. With Simon’s help we are now hopeful that the way ahead is now clear. Skills and Training are now the responsibility of Chris Palmer who is actually more used to training helicopter pilots than bikers, but Chris is working on the SAM Sundays by organising the Free Assessed Rides and the rider training talks at 12.00 hrs directly after the rides. Our Observers are very generously giving their time on the 1st Sunday of each month to support this initiative to attract members of the public to improve their skills. In return for their efforts, SAM provides each Observer with a bacon sandwich to help them on their way around the test route. We must all remember that SAM is actually a Road Safety Group and consequently this should be the area of activity to which we put most effort. Our other Group activities are important, but they are really organised to support our main aim of providing guidance to riders to improve their riding skills. Our Special Events organiser David Barrett has a very full plate with some ambitious events to organise during the summer months. Ian Cooper has continued to provide Group Runs on most Sundays through the year. Unfortunately, Ian has had to take the brunt of the problems that go with this particular job such as last minute cancellations, changes to destinations and of course the ever present problem of the Group Runs being,‘Too Fast’,‘Too Slow’,‘Too Short’,‘Too many Riders’ etc. Ian will be doing his best to ensure that Group Runs do conform with our SAM Guidelines.The fact is that 95% of the participants go home happy, so perhaps we must accept that you can’t please all of the people all of the time. The AGM is over and almost forgotten, as it was by many members on the night with a smaller than expected turnout. But that just left more food for the rest of us to enjoy. Our Auditor Duncan Taylor and the SAM Regional Co-ordinator Geoff Pretty congratulated the committee on the way that they had used the group funds during the past year.You will find the names of your elected committee and Officers elsewhere in the Newsletter. I hope that you are all enjoying and appreciating what SAM is doing for you, but please give a little back, that is all that I am asking from each of you. Happy and safe riding to you all.
T
Gerry Gooch PA G E 3
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June 2007
SAM PUBLIC RELATIONS (PR) As the newly appointed Public Relations Officer for SAM, I thought I would put pen to paper just to give you a bit of background and to tell you how I see the role of PR within our Group. have been a SAM member for about three years, prior to which I had been both Observer and Assessor with the Southampton Advanced Motorists. I sometimes feel a bit guilty for switching my allegiance, but the motorists don’t have weekly “Drive-Outs”, or trips to France, or bacon butties on the first Sunday in the month: so the feeling doesn’t last!
I
In PR terms, I have some experience from within a Government department, but it’s totally irrelevant to SAM PR. The comparison is probably best and most simply summed up by stating that the main aim of SAM PR is ensuring that all the bikers in our catchment area know SAM exists, know what SAM is, and know what SAM does. You will therefore not necessarily see much of my efforts within the programme activities, but I hope you’ll see the results through the steady flow of potential new members “testing the temperature of the water”. I say potential new members, because once they have been tempted in, it is entirely up to the rest of the
membership to see that the welcome they receive ensures that they sign up. I do have a team of trusty pamphleteers, that delivers our colourful glossy flyer to what I hope is the majority if not all the motorcycle dealers as well as a number of garages and outlets near to and at biker venues. It’s nearly time for top up activity, in fact some outlets have already run out of leaflets, so I’ll be contacting the team soon to arrange another delivery run - great opportunity to ride out! Elsewhere, I’m building up a database of media contacts: press, magazines, local radio and television, so that information on SAM activities can reach a wider audience. Such contacts are the foundation of effective PR and the springboard for more specific involvement of the media with SAM activities. This is where I step aside and the activity organiser steps in. This could be the Special Events Coordinator, the Club Night Organiser,
C H I E F O B S E RV E R ’ S REPORT M ay 0 7 At the time of writing, I have held the post of Chief Observer for exactly two weeks, and so far the workload has been non-stop. And that’s good. What it means is, this Club is very active and we have a steady supply of new Associates joining, each of whom have made the worthwhile decision to improve their riding skills. So congratulations to all the new, and existing, Associates. I know how frustrating it can be at times, but believe me, the day it all suddenly clicks into place will be a delight, and you will know you’re well and truly on the road to biking bliss. PA G E 4
When it became common knowledge that I had volunteered to become Chief Observer, many asked me, “Why?” I probably blustered something about John Goodson deserving a rest from the post after five years, but the truth is something slightly more selfish.You see, I have a passion for motorcycling, but I also have an equally strong passion for road safety. Sadly, I believe that for years we have been let down by a speed centric Road Safety Policy which favours legislation rather than education. There is strong evidence that driving standards are falling and road deaths are not following the historic trend and the steady reduction in fatalities has levelled off. So now, more than ever, it’s up to us to do something about it.
Motorcycling can still offer tremendous pleasures but we must all do our utmost to make it as safe as possible.And joining the IAM is a jolly good place to start. So, how better to satisfy my passions than to volunteer for this position within SAM? I must take this opportunity to thank John Goodson for being such a hard act to follow. John has had, and deserved, enormous respect from everyone within SAM, and he has always led by example. He is a trusted colleague and friend and it’s going to be so weird swapping roles. One further thing I must add is my thanks and praise to all my fellow Observers. It would be pretty stupid being a Chief without these guys.
David Spicer
the MDU Manager or indeed almost any member of your Committee or any one of you. The idea is that the PR Officer acts as the facilitator and the subject matter expert appears in the frame with the media. This represents quite an ambitious undertaking and it is not going to happen overnight - sorry about that Gerry! Indeed it could generate some embarrassing moments - live shows are always the riskiest and
... as a famous Hollywood figure once said:“There ain’t no such thing as bad publicity!”. we don’t have dress rehearsals for our events. But on the other hand, as a famous Hollywood figure once said: “There ain’t no such thing as bad publicity!”. Do I have any specific news on current activity? Well I suppose I do. By the time most of you read this Lois will have been and gone, but only just!. At the time of writing, I have personally invited 5 names to be our guests at this event (two of them quite big names in the motorcycling and motoring world) and at the time of writing, all 5 have regretfully declined! Am I discouraged? Too bloody right I am, but I won’t let it show and I’ll keep my disappointment to myself. By the way, did I tell you how I came to be SAM PR Officer? It came to pass shortly after I offered to help deliver SAM flyers to dealers in the Winchester area. I felt no pain and woke up on the Committee!
David Forster
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Looking AHEAD By Andy Ibbot
JUNE 2007
The London Unity Ride 19th August 2007
Do you have days when no matter what you do your riding isn’t clicking? You’re on your favourite stretch of road, you know it well but by the end of the ride you’re frustrated rather than on a high. It happens to us all and I have been suffering from this feeling for the past couple of weeks.
The Unity Ride is to be a major London charitable event for bikers, the beneficiaries of which will be BBCs ‘Children in Need’ and Capital radio’s ‘Help a London Child’.
o try and cure this I got a day down at the ultra fast, ultra bumpy Castle Combe circuit in Wiltshire but an afternoon of riding only made my frustration worse. I was getting on the throttle early, I was turning the bike quickly but still my lines were inconsistant and my lap times slow. The harder I tried the worse it got.
The Unity Riders will pass through the capital visiting all the key landmarks, guided by the Metropolitian police BikeSafe team and trained Unity Support Riders. We encourage all Londoners to join us in this event and share in the pleasure and excitement of motorcycling.
T
On the road a week later I was running wide on the exit of roundabouts and corners because I was stalled on the throttle mid turn. I knew all the things that were going wrong but I couldn’t figure out why. Then, a few days ago on a Brands Hatch race practice day it came to me in a flash. Eyes. Or to be more precise, vision. All the problems in my riding were because I wasn’t getting the information I needed until it was too late. I needed to look further ahead. It sounds so damned simple doesn’t it? But it’s so easy to forget. Your body is designed so you can run at a maximum of roughly 15 miles per hour. At this speed you can look in front of you and avoid just about any hazard without too many problems. Your brain and survival reactions are working in harmony. So what happens when you triple or quadruple the speed? Let’s make it even more difficult and add some lean angle, and a throttle, and brakes. It’s a modern miracle that we can get around a corner at all! When we get overwhelmed or frustrated with our riding our vision goes back to its ‘safe’ 15mph. This means we are looking about 20 feet in front of the bike and riding to reaction rather than planning ahead.
more tense we get, the more our vision pulls in, the more we stall on the gas etc... Try this little experiment if you don’t ‘see’ what I mean. Run along a kerb. Run as fast as you can. Run looking ahead of you, as far as you can see. It’s very, very easy isn’t it? Repeat the drill. Now, at some point during your run, look two feet in front of you. What happens? Did running suddenly become harder? Did you feel like you had sped up? Did you feel a little sick and disorientated? Did you run off the kerb or find it harder to keep on the kerb. Now try that at 50mph. Get the idea? Once I realised what I was, or rather wasn’t, doing my riding INSTANTLY took a turn (sic) for the better. Even on this horrible wet day at Brands my lines tightened up. My throttle control improved. I went faster although it felt a lot slower and the grin behind my crash helmet got bigger and bigger. It was wet and I was loving it. I would have stayed out all day if I had the chance because I was enjoying my riding all over again. It was like someone had waved a magic wand, the only thing was, I knew the trick already but had forgotten its wonder.
http://www.unity2.unityride.co.uk/
The front shot shows a rider looking well ahead of himself and as a result he will be fast and smooth. He can plan ahead. He knows exactly when he will be on the gas. He knows exactly where he will be on the track. He knows where to turn, brake and exit just for looking ahead. The rear shot shows three riders all at a different point in the same corner. The rider at the back is looking ahead of the furthest rider
in front.The second rider is looking about 20 feet in front at the rider ahead of him, while the last rider is looking a little further down the track but still not as far as he could or should. Who will be the fastest on the exit? Pick your head up, look further ahead and you will be amazed how this simple technique will improve your riding on the road and the track. Enjoy!
I have included a couple of pictures again this month. Take a good look at them.
This creates even more problems and it’s a vicious circle. The more we stall on the gas the worse the line gets, the more we run wide, the
PA G E 5
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June 2007
The following was just a short exercise into the prices of tyres. Gerry supplied most of the figures for the FJR and then I phoned around for the rest. The interesting point for me was that I didn’t know that BT020s came in so many different viarients - hence the “E” - and more money of course. Does anyone know the difference between “E” and “non-E” BT020s - besides the price?
M Cox Motorcycles - Eastleigh
BMW R1150RT
YAMAHA FJR 1300A
Bridgestone BT020 “E” £ incl VAT (ride in-ride out) Front and Rear
Bridgestone BT020 £ incl VAT (ride in-ride out) Front and Rear
£198.00
£170.00
£218.59
£216.24
£232.90
£190.00
£237.05
£178.52
02380 618823 Michaeldever Tyres
01962 774437 Pro Tyres Hilsea
02392 694741 Pro Tyres Fareham
01329 220743 One other interesting point is that not only is the cost difference between E and non-E tyres but the diffence between dealers for the same tyres. i.e I saved £39 by going to M Cox and Gerry saved £46 by using the same dealer.
Pedestrian Crossings and Strange Legal Language by Ben Laurie I realised recently that I didn’t fully understand the zig-zag lines around pedestrian crossings. In particular, I wasn’t sure whether you could overtake on the zig-zags after you’d crossed the crossing. The answer is that you can, but figuring it out has been interesting. I’ve always understood the zig-zags to mean “don’t overtake the lead vehicle”, which they do, but if that’s all they’re for, why do they appear on both sides of the crossing? It doesn’t take a huge amount of research to discover that they also mean “no parking”, which I knew but had kinda forgotten about. But if they also control overtaking, what on earth does this mean once you’ve passed the crossing? The Highway Code is actually crap on this, it says: You MUST NOT overtake the moving vehicle nearest the crossing or the vehicle nearest the crossing which has stopped to give way to pedestrians Like several other parts of the Highway Code, this is fantastically poorly drafted. Clearly the vehicle nearest the crossing could be beyond it, which would make it legal to overtake the lead vehicle approaching the crossing! Luckily, the Act itself (The Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations 1997) is a little clearer: 24. - (1) Whilst any motor vehicle (in this regulation called “the approaching vehicle”) or any part of it is within the limits of a controlled area and is proceeding towards the crossing, the driver of the vehicle shall not cause it or any part of it (a) to pass ahead of the foremost part of any other motor vehicle proceeding in the same direction; or(b) to pass PA G E 6
Tyres - The Basic Facts T
yres are sized according to diameter and what’s known as aspect ratio. Diameter is simple; if you’ve got a 17-inch wheel, it requires a 17-inch tyre. Aspect ratio is the relationship between the width and the height of the sidewalls. Say the tyre is sized at 160/70, it means that the sidewalls are 70% of the width of the tyre. The width is 160mm, so the sidewalls are 112mm high. Tyres for sports bikes typically have a low aspect ratio, some as low as 50%, ie a 190/50. This gives less sidewall movement and effectively makes for a tyre that deflects very little, or keeps its shape under high cornering forces. As well as the obvious, like diameter, tyres must also match the width of the wheel rim. Tyre sizes are matched to rim sizes for optimum profile, that is the shape the tyre takes when fitted to that rim. If you’ve heard people talking about preferring the behaviour of a smaller tyre (like a 180/55) compared to a 190/50, it’s because of its profile on, say, a 6-inch rim. The smaller tyre assumes a rounder cross section, offering better turn-in and a bigger contact patch while leant over. There will always be an optimum recommended tyre for any given rim, and fitting a bigger tyre because you reckon you’ll have more rubber on the road can often mean a trade-off in handling, so unless it’s highly recommended fitment that improves the handling and roadholding, don’t do it.
ahead of the foremost part of a vehicle which is stationary for the purpose of complying with regulation 23, 25 or 26. OK, so at least we know it only applies to before the crossing. But hang on, what’s this “any other motor vehicle” thing? The Highway Code (and my understanding) say only the lead vehicle! Fortunately... (2) In paragraph (1) (a) the reference to a motor vehicle in sub-paragraph (a) is, in a case where more than one motor vehicle is proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle in a controlled area, a reference to the motor vehicle nearest to the crossing; and(b) the reference to a stationary vehicle is, in a case where more than one vehicle is stationary in a controlled area for the purpose of complying with regulation 23, 25 or 26, a reference to the stationary vehicle nearest the crossing.
The next things to look at are compounds. A compound is the blend of rubber used for the tread. A soft compound will generally offer more grip, but wear faster than a hard compound. Some tyres are now made with dual compound using a harder band in the centre, where acceleration forces can quickly wear a tyre out, and a softer compound for the edges where the tyre spends less of its time and where a softer compound offers more grip when the bike is banked over. Then there are speed ratings. If a tyre is marked 170/60 ZR17, it’s 1 17-inch rim, ZR-rated for speeds up to 150mph. A 130/70 H17 is H-rated for speeds up to 130mph,V or VB, are for up to 149mph, S for up to 112mph, and there are others lots of others. In fact the more you get into the wonderful world of tyres, the more there is to learn. That’s why tyre specialists exist, but that’s no reason to ignore what those expensive black hoops are all about.
Motocycle News September 2002
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by some commentators as “another example of political correctness gone mad”, but is it? At first I thought that this was the case, but on reflection I now find myself agreeing with the proposed change.
PC nonsense, sexual discrimination and other daftness ou may have heard that the latest draft of the Highway Code is supposed to be removing the word accident and substituting it with the word collision, crash or incident. This has been described
Y
The word “accident” implies something unavoidable, something excusable or something which just happens. Collision is a much better word which assigns an element of responsibility, accountability and perhaps even a lack of skill. It’s a good call in my view. Moving from political correctness to sexual discrimination, I was initially troubled by the “ladies only” run recently organised by SAM. This is without doubt a clear example of sexual discrimination as men are excluded. But so what? It’s pragmatic as it provides an opportunity for the ladies to develop their riding skills in a testosterone-free environment. I guess that it also provides an opportunity for them to go shopping, talk about flower arranging
and their favourite recipes. On the principle that sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, how about a boys only run? This could have both merit and appeal. The lads would be free to comment fulsomely on the excellent fit of the lady pillion’s leathers, there would be few constraints on vocabulary and political correctness could be suspended entirely. Just as with the ladies-only run, a good time would no doubt be had by all. It’s sounding more and more appealing.
June 2007
So what does all this have to do with biking? Well I don’t really know to be honest, but I do feel an awful lot better for SAM having so generously allowed me this opportunity to be grumpy.
The Grumpy Old Biker. Disclaimer: Grumpy Old Biker is a periodic column written for the SAM newsletter. It is highly unlikely that the views expressed here are in any way representative of the IAM or SAM.
The point of this column is that we, as a society, are sometimes too quick to apply labels - particularly in the pc and discrimination area. There can be no better example of this than the pickle Big Brother got into. The discrimination label was daftly applied because people did not think about what was really going on. That Big Brother episode was undignified and deplorable, but it was actually bullying rather than discrimination.
SAM DIARY OF EVENTS FOR 2007 JUNE Tue 12 SAM Club Night Sarisbury Green 7.30pm for 8pm start with Lois Pryce Talk and slide show about her recent ride across Africa Sun 17 SAM Group Ride to the Ogri Café Horam Wickham Paul Nol Tue 19 SAM Committee Meeting Sarisbury Green 7.30pm Thu 21 Continental Trip to Bouillon in the Belgian Ardennes Fri 22 Continental Trip to Bouillon in the Belgian Ardennes Sat 23 Motorcycle World Beaulieu Continental Trip to Bouillon in the Belgian Ardennes Sun 24 SAM Group Ride Ower Motorcycle World Beaulieu Continental Trip to Bouillon in the Belgian Ardennes Mon 25 Continental Trip to Bouillon in the Belgian Ardennes Tue 26 Tuesday Evening Group Ride - Winchester & Fareham 7.30pm JULY Sun Sun Tue Sun Sun Tue Sun Tue Sun
1 8 10 15 15 17 22 24 29
SAM Free Assessment Rides/Training Day Sarisbury Green 9.30am SAM Group Ride Winchester Colin Hitchcock SAM Club Night Sarisbury Green 7.30pm for 8pm start SAM Group Ride Ower Big Wheel Charity Event Basingstoke SAM Committee Meeting Sarisbury Green 7.30pm SAM Group Ride (Arundal) Meon Hut Petra Willoughby Tuesday Evening Group Ride - Winchester & Fareham 7.30pm SAM Group Ride to Castle Coombe Circuit Winchester (Early Start) Nigel Grace
AUG Sat Sun Sun Tue Sun
4 5 12 14 19
SAM Observers Meeting Sarisbury Green 10.00 am SAM Free Assessment Rides/Training Day Sarisbury Green 9.30am SAM Group Ride Ower SAM Club Night Sarisbury Green 7.30pm for 8pm start SAM Group Ride Meon Hut Gerry Gooch
Sun 19 The Unity Ride London http://www.unity2.unityride.co.uk/ Tue 21 SAM Committee Meeting Sarisbury Green 7.30pm Sun 26 SAM Group Ride Winchester Tue 28 Tuesday Evening Group Ride - Winchester & Fareham 7.30pm
SEPT Sun 2 Sat 8 Sun 9 Tue 11 Sat 15 Sun 16 Tue 18 Sun 23 Sun 30
SAM Free Assessment Rides/Training Day Sarisbury Green 9.30am International AutoJumble Beaulieu SAM Group Ride Ower International AutoJumble Beaulieu SAM Club Night Sarisbury Green 7.30pm for 8pm start BMF Tail End Show Peterborough SAM Group Ride Meon Hut Mark Sabin BMF Tail End Show Peterborough SAM Committee Meeting Sarisbury Green 7.30pm SAM Group Ride Winchester SAM Group Ride Wickham
OCT Sun Tue Sun Tue Sun Sun
7 9 14 16 21 28
SAM Free Assessment Rides/Training Day Sarisbury Green 9.30am SAM Club Night Sarisbury Green 7.30pm for 8pm start SAM Group Ride Meon Hut Dave Charlton SAM Committee Meeting Sarisbury Green 7.30pm SAM Group Ride Winchester Nigel Grace SAM Group Ride Wickham
NOV Thu Sun Sun Tue Sun Tue Sun
1 4 11 13 18 20 25
1 - 11 Nov - Motorcycle and Scooter Show NEC Birmingham SAM Group Ride Ower SAM Group Ride Meon Hut SAM Club Night Sarisbury Green 7.30pm for 8pm start SAM Group Ride Winchester SAM Committee Meeting Sarisbury Green 7.30pm SAM Group Ride Wickham
DEC
Sat Sun Sun Tue Sun Sun Sun
1 2 9 11 16 23 30
SAM Observers Meeting Sarisbury Green 10.00 am SAM Group Ride Ower SAM Group Ride Meon Hut SAM Club Night Sarisbury Green 7.30pm for 8pm start SAM Group Ride Winchester SAM Group Ride Wickham SAM Group Ride Ower
JAN
Sun 6
SAM Group Ride Meon Hut
PA G E 7
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June 2007
Just then we rounded a bend and suddenly the most amazing apparition, silhouetted against the blue sky and distant trees, dominated the whole view. Its towering stonework a rich deep oak-brown colour, matured by the passage of time. “What’s this Abbey look like, Nige?” “Don’t know. Maybe they’ll have some signs” The Carvery at Tintern
WELSH WEEKEND Day 3 THE RETURN HOME It was at breakfast the next morning when we both had one of those awful fits of laughter where the very act of trying to suppress the laugh only seems to fuel it. erry did all the cooking and Mrs Terry had just departed to the kitchen to bring back our full cooked breakfast. Now, Nige is not that keen on cooked tomatoes and also quite likes his eggs scrambled and he started to speculate on what might happen if he had asked her for something different from the set meal.
T
We had this vision of a very worried Mrs Terry scampering off to the kitchen, a moment’s silence, and then Terry bursting through the door. His face bright red, a vein throbbing in his forehead and a meat cleaver held high in one hand. “HE SAID WHAT?” He would yell. And so we built on this image until tears rolled down our cheeks.Very childish. I know I’ve used Terry as a humorous backbone to this account of our weekend in Wales, but believe me, none of this is an exaggeration. In fact I could have reported many more equally bizarre incidences with him, but this is supposed to be about a biking trip.Also, believe me when I say that I wouldn’t hesitate for a second in recommending his establishment as an excellent base for touring, especially if you look back on Fawlty Towers with fond memories.
And so it was with a twinge of PA G E 8
sadness that we went to pack our bags and bid farewell. I must just add that Terry’s parting shot was to insist we stopped off at the bus station car park in town, where, on Sundays, there is an enormous gathering of bikes. His description of the shear volume of bikes grew from hundreds to thousands until his final offering was “It’s the biggest gathering of bikers in Europe!” Naturally, this event was not to be missed, but it must have been too early when we pulled in because we could only count about twenty-five. We didn’t stop. We left Abergavenny bound for Hereford on the A465. I know this is a bit of a cheat because, technically, we were entering England for a while, but the road engineers had seen fit not to stop the resurfacing halfway along, and the wonderful road conditions didn’t falter. From Hereford it was the A49 down to Ross on Wye, and this is where we made a mistake. We should have taken the A4138 towards Monmouth (entering Wales again), but somehow ended up on the A40 to the same destination. Never wishing to disappoint, this dual carriageway was like travelling through the Swiss Alps, and so, a
little sooner than anticipated, we entered Monmouth and stopped for a rest. We parked up and Nige went off to buy us some refreshment while I people-watched. He returned proudly sporting cans of drink and also a Mars Bar each. As he handed mine over with a beaming smile, which said “Haven’t I done well?” I said “I don’t like Mars Bars”. I mention this because I still feel immensely guilty, and if Nige ever reads this - “Sorry”. My wickedness was compounded when we later stopped in Cheddar Gorge and I had an ice cream, which was a double caramel chocolaty sickly creamy thing not a million miles away from eating Mars Bars on a stick (if slightly colder). Our next destination was Tintern for lunch. We picked up the A466, which steadfastly sticks to the river Wye as it winds its way through the valley, and is another not-to-be-missed experience.At one point along here, we came up behind a few bikers who appeared to have no more idea how to ride a bike than fly to the moon. Of course, by our standards, we now felt like riding Gods and soon passed and left them floundering about in our dust. I was leading as we entered Tintern and started looking for a place to stop along side the river, but all the parking places were taken. “Carry on up to the Abbey. I’m sure we can park there,” said Nige.
And so, Laurel and Hardy pulled into the car park and took a leisurely stroll over to the conveniently placed café, which boasted a very attractive outdoor seating area. Bikers of every description occupied the majority of benches. We dumped our gear on a vacant bench and wandered inside, where we decided on a pot of tea for two and a couple of pasties, which we asked the girl on the till to warm up. She came round our side of the counter and put both pasties in a commercial looking microwave oven. Now, God had seen fit to bless the young lady with a magnificent bosom, which she held, barely restrained, behind a low-cut t-shirt and our attention was slightly distracted when she casually announced “You’ll know when they’re ready coz a bell will ring and they will pop out!” We fell out the door and erupted into fits of giggling like a couple of adolescent schoolboys. What a wonderful way to let you know when your pasty is cooked!!!! Back on the bikes and unknown to us at the time, the road from Tintern down to Chepstow was the last really excellent ride we were to experience that weekend. The M48 Severn crossing was closed and we were diverted back down onto the M4. Our route then demanded an anticlockwise circumnavigation of Bristol and a journey across the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Approaching the bridge, the road was closed and we were diverted in towards Bristol, where any further information was nonexistent. In an act of desperation, we pulled into a very large park area to try and gather our bearings. Before long, we noticed a very happy looking lad approaching, grinning from ear to ear, and obviously keen to help, which he
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Guest House at Tintern
did. We were very close to the bridge as it turned out. As we thanked our shinning knight, he eagerly told us he was about to take his direct access bike test. See, fellow biker and the renowned camaraderie was, once again, evident. Sadly, it was a rubbish ride down to Cheddar with awful roads and heavy traffic.
then immediately hit the rain, which persisted on and off, all the way home. And so we rode south in virtual silence, each with his own thoughts and memories. With each mile, we moved inextricably further and further away from our biking heaven, hardly seeing a national speed limit and having to avoid potholes and debris.
We stopped in the hot sunshine and I ate the afore mentioned ice cream under the glare from Nigel. From here, we rang our respective wives to announce our imminent return, only to be told the weather at home was very poor.
Eventually, just outside Salisbury we stopped in a pub car park, before parting company. Nige to return to Wimborne and me to Romsey.
Gloating in our good fortune with the sunshine, we left Cheddar and
David Spicer
Two figures stood in the drizzle, shaking hands, and thanked each other for a truly brilliant weekend.
es UsYaredful Web Swwit w.bikersyard.co.uk
Bikers Bike Safe Edge 44 dge44.html adsafety/driverider/e www.hants.gov.uk/ro .co.uk mf w.b ww k BMF www.boxerbikes.co.u s.co.uk cle BMWs rcy oto wm w.c ww BMW Dealers www.ascycles.com ue og tal Ca ts BMW Par www.girlsbike2.com Girls Bike 2 www.iam.org.uk icro.htm IAM www.ronnies.com/m com se. JAP Bike Parts loo the on ois w.l ww cycles.net tor Lois on the Loose mo ion www.marm les cyc tor Mo ion Marm www.hoodjeans.co.uk cycleworld.co.uk Motorcycling Jeans www.beaulieumotor ld or W le w.co.uk Motorcyc www.motorcyclesho ow Sh le cyc tor Mo m C .co NE www.rapidtraining .uk Rapid Training .co zer eri www.telf .photosite.com RAM Mounts www.solentadvanced e -motorcylists.co.uk ed anc SAM Photo-sit adv www.solente Sit k eb v.u SAM W www.highwaycode.go .uk .co tel The Highway Code ho www.stagepost co.uk/ The Stage Post www.threecrossretail. les cyc .uk tor .co Mo on 3X www.ultraseal-sot n m .co Ultraseal Southampto low n-g www.urba e.co.uk/ Urban-Glow www.unity2.unityrid on nd Unity Run Lo
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02380 584358 hing, Southampton 01963 210202 t Fleming Arms, Swayt rse Do ne ngburton Sherbor Lo n, ow Cr and 01380 813392 se Ro vizes t,West Lavington, De 023 9263 1321 Stage Post, High Stree , Nr Chichester on ert ald W w, Mo y Barle uld be included y that you think co Let me know of an btinternet.com sam.newsletter@
June 2007
Scottish police forces have taken a number of motorcycles out of service after the death of an officer in a crash in England. M
erseyside Police motorcyclist David Shreeve was crushed under a lorry after falling from his Honda ST 1300A. The bike was the same model used by three Scottish forces. An inquest into Constable Shreeve’s death in 2005 found he crashed after his bike began shaking violently as he reached about 110mph. The inquest in April heard that the problem, known as high speed weave, only affects the police version of the motorcycles as they are fitted with extra kit which affects the centre of gravity. Coroner Dr James Adeley said that since the death, several of the ST 1300As had undergone safety checks. In one test an examiner broke a leg and fractured both wrists after experiencing similar problems. On Friday, the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) recommended that they should be withdrawn from use. Meredydd Hughes, Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police and head of the Acpo uniformed operations business area, said:“Detailed testing was carried out on a sample of motorcycles from a number of forces.
“Following this testing, aspects of the maintenance and set-up of the motorcycle were considered, and as an interim measure, precautionary guidance was issued to all forces, limiting the speed and use to which these motorcycles should be put. “Individual chief constables used these guidelines to determine the approach they would take, given the high level of confidence in the motorcycle expressed by a number of officers.”
RISK ASSESSMENT Strathclyde Police have withdrawn their 31 bikes from operational use until a risk assessment has been carried out. They insisted it was purely a precaution and steps have been taken to make up the shortfall. A spokeswoman said: “Following a recommendation from Acpo, we have temporarily withdrawn the ST 1300 motorcycles from operational use until a risk assessment has been carried out. “This is purely a precautionary measure which has been taken in the interest of officer and public safety.” Central Scotland Police have taken their three bikes off the road, while Lothian and Borders have already modified their 10 bikes to stop them reaching more than 100mph. A Honda spokesman said: “Following the recent inquest into the death of David Shreeve, the coroner recommended that the Honda ST1300 should not be used in excess of 80mph.
“Ten days ago, Honda met with the ACPO working group to discuss this, and it was jointly agreed that the bike should be withdrawn from service immediately in the interests of safety, pending further investigation and tests.” PA G E 9
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June 2007
Avoiding the taste of
T-BONE The last thing any biker wants to hear is that awful phrase: “Sorry mate, I didn’t see you”. ‘SMIDSY’ crashes happen despite the bike and rider being in clear view.
S
o how to avoid it? Some steps are obvious: for starters, give yourself room to stop before that ‘it’s OK, I’m going through’ decision.
You and your bike are easily ‘lost’ in the visual clutter on an urban street, behind one of the ever-thickening Apillars of modern cars, or even a lamp post. Don’t rely on your headlight, fluorescent jacket or whatever to guarantee you get seen. So look for stationary wheels, indicators and the direction of the wheels, - all good clues as to which way a vehicle is about to emerge from a junction. Look for faces and eye contact with the driver. You get a creepy feeling sometimes that you haven’t been seen - trust it; it can be a life-saver! Ride where car drivers look. They are looking for other car drivers, so don’t hug the kerb. Sit right out in the lane, at the angle they are going to look. Try to think about things from a car driver’s viewpoint, and then put yourself where it’s impossible for them to miss seeing you. Don’t let your vision drop down, and don’t seem less confident even if you feel it. Drivers are more likely to claim ‘your’ space if you do that. A Driver is more likely to think there is time to nip out ahead on an approaching bike if it is timidly ridden close to the kerb. Wet conditions can also make stopping more interesting, so approach the junction in the same position, be aware you need more room or less speed to deal with a driver pulling out. A lot of this is about ‘having a presence’. Car drivers also struggle with vision when their side windows are wet. It’s the nearest most of them will ever get to looking through a wet visor! So approaching junctions, you want signs that the car, van or lorry has seen you and is staying put. If you don’t get them, start planning for the emerging blockage. Or brace yourself for that well-known phrase “Sorry mate......“
Peter Rodger, Chief Examiner of the IAM Other links are: http://www.smidsy.org.uk/ http://smidsy.co.uk/ P A G E 10
Book
REVIEW As Advanced Riders we know some important things that help us to keep safe on the road. We know that safety is the highest priority whenever we are riding. And we know too that safe riding is mainly in our thinking skills - the decisions we make, well before our hands and feet get the chance to execute them. And it’s from exactly this premise that Stephen Haley has written his book. “When the thinking is right, the right actions will follow.” These are complex and subtle self-taught mental processes that we use unconsciously - we look for danger, recognise it and actively control it. “Mind Driving” points out that there is no alternative because the driver is the only person ‘on the spot’ and in control of the danger. Driving is the most dangerous thing that most people do. This book explains how drivers can dramatically reduce the risk. Expert drivers use a lot more than conventional driving skills. The key is not just in what they do but, crucially, how
they think. This has always been the most vital part of safe driving, but no one has found a way to explain the mental processes involved. “Mind Driving” explains how expert drivers think. Revealed for the first time are: what really causes danger on the road, how to control the danger, how to make life-saving decisions, and how to enjoy driving and do it safely at the same time. We are used to telling ourselves that we understand how to be safe on the roads, that we understand how road safety works and that we are good riders. We have to. If we didn’t believe, the risks of riding would be too big to contemplate. But “Mind Driving” elevates understanding of these issues to a new plane. You’ll be amazed at what you didn’t know. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It’s well written and plainly understandable. It contains so many new ideas that there is bound to be something of value to everyone. It is the perfect compliment to Motorcycle Roadcraft. We all need this book.
David Spicer Suzie Perry with Neil Stocker (left) and Gerry Gooch’s XT500 (right) at the “Road Trip 2007” she hosted at Beaulieu, in partnership with UK Youth, the UK’s largest youth work charity. See more pics and article on the web Site.
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Two bikers
are pulled up at a stop sign. One looks up and sees a funeral procession starting by. He pulls the bike to the side of the road, gets off, stands by its side, takes off his helmet, and bows his head. The procession passes by the intersection and the biker puts on his helmet, gets back on the bike, and starts it up. The other biker comes over and says, “That was touching. I didn’t know you had it in you.” The first biker responds, “Well, I guess it was the right thing to do after all, I was married to her for 40 years.”
to pray for a When I was young I used Harley. sn’t work Then I realised that God doe that way. yed for So I stole a Harley and pra forgiveness
June 2007
S A M S O L E N T A DVA N C E D M OTO R C Y C L I S T S
AGM number 14 held on Tuesday 8th May 2007 ELECTED COMMITTEE Officers: Gerry Gooch ........................Chairman Colin Backhouse ..................Group Secretary John Parvin ............................Treasurer
Members: Nigel Grace ..........................Newsletter editor Dave Spicer ..........................Chief Observer Ian Cooper ............................Runs Coordinator Kate Davies ..........................Merchandiser Dave Forster ........................PR Sam Davis ..............................Club Night Organiser David Barrett ........................ Special Events Organiser Chris Palmer ........................Skills Coordinator Godwin Calafato Financial statement as at 8th May 2007 - £1,158
Changes in Committee This AGM saw the retirement of John Goodson, Chief Observer, and Rex Brittain, Secretary, and with various changes of committee members during the year there is a significant change in the officers and committee members.
Godwin Calafato explained that there had been justified expenditure over and above what will be spent in the next year, including expenses incurred for the 50th anniversary celebrations, repairs to the MDU and the purchase of a projector for training and club sessions. It was also pointed out that the group is a charity and any financial assets should not be hoarded but spent on the group’s objectives of improving rider skills. Godwin concluded that the group was in a healthy financial position.
Ride it twice - once for the view, then for the ride
by Mike West
Another question related the need to hold a postal vote for those not attending. The IAM constitution for group elections does not allow for a postal vote being held. The AGM was properly convened and, despite the less than usual turnout, was quorate. One member also added that it was held on a usual club night and was announced on the website.
Colin Backhouse Group secretary
ay 2007 marked my fourth trip to the Emerald Isle. It’s a bikers paradise, punctuated with breathtaking scenery, wonderful food, delightful people and, of course, the Guinness. The intention of this article is not to provide travelogue but to offer some tips which should maximise safety and enjoyment for those intending to make a similar trip.
M
Moving away from the main roads, the quality of surface can be much more variable. At the extremities around the south-western peninsulas, the roads can be as challenging as they get, best described as a pot-holed rollercoaster. But this is where some of the best and most challenging riding is to be found. My experience of Irish drivers is that they are mostly courteous and “bike-aware”, frequently pulling over into the tractor lane for you to pass. Unfortunately, it’s the Brits you need to watch out for, hogging the centre line and sometimes deliberately blocking your progress.
PA G E 2
Make sure that you have the latest maps for your GPS or leave it at home
•
150 miles on twiddly little roads represents a hard day’s riding
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plan for breaks to take on water and top up on carbs
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garages can be sparse in the less populaced areas
No special preparations ar needed. No beam deflectors as they drive on the left. As you are likely to get wet, electrical issues could potentially be a problem
When you talk about touring Ireland, the first thing people say is “I hear the roads are terrible”. My experience is that the roads are mixed. Main roads between towns are generally better than our rural roads both in terms of surface and opportunities to overtake (many roads have tractor lanes).
t: 023 8023 0002
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direction of the coaches and go the opposite way. Here are my recommendations, in no particular order:
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Connor pass (near Dingle)
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Gap of Dunloe (in the middle of the Ring of Kerry)
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Ring of Bera (three Michelin stars for this)
• •
Healy Pass
Bike preparations
Postal votes
Financial strategy Asked if there was a strategy for finance in the light of a loss of £409 this year over last year’s gain of a similar figure,
The Emerald Isle - a biker’s paradise
digital maps, so your GPS was pretty useless
The next thing people say is that it rains all of the time. Well that’s not quite true but everything is very green and it does rain pretty often. In my experience, it has rained
about 25% of the time. If you go to Ireland you just have to expect this and plan accordingly, then it’s not an issue. In fact with this mindset every dry day is bonus. Accommodation in Ireland Irish B&Bs are excellent in my experience. There is usually a correlation between the price and quality of accommodation. I have toured Ireland both with and without pre-booked accommodation. On balance, I would recommend prebooking as it makes the afternoons much more relaxed and enjoyable. Most B&Bs have a large hotpress (that’s Irish for airing cupboard). This is invaluable for getting your kit really dry for the next day. Planning for rain The temperature on the West coast may be a couple of degrees colder than home, so take the same kit you would normally wear. Remember that you are likely to be wearing your wets quite often and these may cause you to over heat!
• •
Fabric kit is most convenient
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Take at least two pairs of gloves summer and waterproof
If wearing leathers, make sure that your wets are really easy to get at as the weather can change in an instant
Navigating All speed limits and distances are now in kilometres. There was a stage where distances were metric and speeds were imperial - a glorious Irish compromise - but this has now been sorted. Until last November only the major roads featured on
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Do the usual POWER checks (petrol, oil, water, electrics, rubber)
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Irish roads are harsh on tyres make sure you leave with plenty of tread
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Take spare lamps, the bumps can take their toll
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If you have an immobiliser, take the code so that you can do a reset
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Make sure that your luggage is waterproof
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Check your insurance and recovery policy
June 2007
the coastline between Dungarvon and Bunmahon on the Eastern side (approx 4 o’clock)
Kenmare is probably my favourite town; it’s not as commercialised as Killarney and there are excellent pubs, restaurants and live music to be found there. It’s a good central location for touring. Which Ferry? I have always taken the Fishguard Rosslaire Route with Stenna but would consider Irish Ferries who go from Pembroke to Rosslaire. This could shorten the UK leg by 30 minutes or so. If booking with Stenna, you can get a discount of 20% by quoting MCN. The return trip cost me £68 for bike and rider.
At the end of a hard day’s riding, you might want to consider jetwashing your bike. I did this one day on my recent trip as the bike was so dirty that the number plate was no longer readable! Favourite parts of Ireland
The fast ferry takes 90 minutes while the standard ferry will occupy you for 3.5hours.
If Ireland were a clock face, the 7 o’clock to 9 o’clock area is simply the best. You may be surprised that I have not listed the Ring of Kerry amongst my recommendations. This is because it is full of coaches and there are currently lots of road works. If you do ride it, check the
If getting an early ferry, I can recommend the fishing village of Kilmore Quay for an overnight stopover; it’s 30 minutes from Rosslaire and there is a pub which is frequented by the fishermen and known locally for the best fish in the area. The Guinness is good too.
SAM Polo-shirts
Black long or short sleeve shir ts embroidered with the Club name - always available to buy at Club Nights. Sizes XXL to Small. Long Sleeves £18.50 Short Sleeves £15.00
Books and Videos The Assessment of Advanced Know your Traffic Signs How to be an Advanced Mo
£3.00 torcyclist
Motorcycle Roadcraft (Blue Mike Waites Video Top Rider Video
Motorcycling £4.50
Book)
£7.99 £11.99 £14.99 £14.99
Contact Kate Davies
Tel 01962 840954
P A G E 11
bike june cov 07
5/6/07
9:42 pm
Page 1
S A M S O L E N T A DVA N C E D M OTO R C Y C L I S T S
SAM Ladies Ride-Out
June 2007
The IAM Aims
CAPTION COMPETITION:
To improve the standard of driving (and riding) on the UK roads. The Advancement of Road Safety.
sam SOLENT ADVANCED M OTO R C Y C L I S T S
The Administration of an Advanced Test.
MAKING
progress
Answers via email to:
sam.newsletter@btinternet.com
INSIDE p4 SAM Public Relations
Saturday 5 May marks a special day in SAM history as it was the first official Ladies ride, and guys, we don’t mind if you want to have your own ride.
p5
even ladies arrived in Wickham Square to be lead by Hayley Miller.There were 3 green badge holders, 4 associates and for 3 of them, it was their first ever SAM ride.
S
Looking Ahead
Now who said ladies ride boring bikes? Hayley was leading the group on her R1, followed by a Honda Hornet, a Sprint ST, a Suzuki Intruder 1400, Kawasaki 500, there was even a Burgham 400 Scooter and Lilian was back marker on her SV650 Sport. We headed off at a nice pace and made our way along the A272. It was a lovely day, ideal for biking and Hayley did a fantastic job keeping the group together.We had an uneventful ride to our lunchtime spot apart from the black pick-up truck driver (the new white van man) who seemed convinced that he could overtake 7 motorbikes and a van towing a large caravan in about 100 yds.
Hayley then lead us off to Goodwood for the conclusion of our ride, where we took tea on the outdoor patio watching the cars racing around and the planes and helicopters taking off. It was a lovely end to the day and we even managed to find another biker to take a photograph of all our bikes.
Lilian Hobbs DISCLAIMER Most of the views expressed in this SAM Newsletter are personal to the author and publication does not imply endorsement of any article, any author or any organisation. Views expressed are those of the authors, and are not necessarily in accordance with the policies or the views of the IAM or SAM. Where articles are reproduced from other publications or authors, unreserved acknowledgement is given to the source. No responsibility is accepted by the Editor or SAM for any damage to intelligence or riding abilities, howsoever caused, which might result from reading this publication.
5% discount to SAM members, on production of membership card.
Help us make progress with a contribution towards the next issue. Pics in jpeg format please.
Newsletter email address is sam.newsletter@btinternet.com
Design & artwork by KF:D LTD Fordingbridge, 01425 654557
p9
Unfortunately our lunch stop in the village of Findon didn’t go as planned when the restaurant announced no food because they were doing a wedding. So we stopped for a quick coffee and then a very quick visit to the Cissbury leather shop next door, and no we didn’t buy the shop! However one of the staff recommended the Black Horse pub around the corner. Not cheap, but the portions are huge, so one meal can easily be shared between two people.
P A G E 12
June 07
Scottish Police Bikes
p10 Book Review
The Emerald Isle - a biker’s paradise report p11
p12 Ladies Run
Registered Charity No. 1097558