what's legal? - Motorcycling Matters

MEG
MORRIS
FROM A FEMALE
PERSPECTIVE
MASTERCLASS: DEFENSIVE
COMMUTING AND RIDING IN ROADWORKS
issue 2
FREE
FREE
WHAT’S
LEGAL?
Your bike
and you

CONTENTS
5 Welcome
A welcome from Simon Deards, project leader
within the Bedfordshire and Luton Casualty
Reduction Partnership for Motorcycle
Training Matters
6 Masterclass
In this issue we look at defensive commuting and
riding safely through roadworks
12 Help from Above
In the event of a serious road accident, a patient
needs help, and needs it fast. That is where the Air
Ambulance comes in...
18 Law and Order
Police motorcyclist Tony Richardson explains what
we need to do to make sure that our machines –
and us – are legal
23 Getting Mobile in Bedfordshire
The Wheels2Work initiative is helping people in
less accessible parts of the county to make their
journeys to and from college or their
workplace easier
24 Pillion Paradise
There’s more to being a pillion than just climbing
aboard and hoping for the best!
6
www.bedfordshire-biker.org
24
26 What to do at a Crash Scene
Emergency Medical Technician Stephen Thomas
explains what we can do – and what we shouldn’t
do – if we are the first at the scene of an accident
30 Suits You, Madam
Gone are the days when women had to make do
with smaller-size men’s biker clothing
34 Meg Morris – My Perspective
IAM Senior Observer Meg explains her
love of biking
39 On Track
Track days aren’t there just for boy racers gone
mad. You can learn much about you and your bike
46 Spring into Action
Is it time to check your steed and make sure it is as
ready as you?
49 Clubs
Club listings from around the county
12
26
3
30

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Welcome
Welcome to
the second
edition of
Bedfordshire
Biker. Our
pilot edition last year was
so well received and
supported by you the local
motorcycling community
in Bedfordshire, that we
thought we'd give you
some more!
A road-safety
engineer by training,
and now transportpolicy
officer for
Bedford Borough
Council, I am also the
project leader within
the Bedfordshire and
Luton Casualty Reduction Partnership
for Motorcycle Training Matters.
Those of you who already know me,
will be well aware that motorcycle safety is
something I’m really passionate about. I
ride an SV 650 myself and, exhilarating
and enjoyable as it is, my safety head
always reminds me how vulnerable we
are as riders. In 2009, one in four of all
serious collisions in Bedfordshire
involved a motorcyclist. I find that a
shocking but unsurprising statistic given
our vulnerability. That’s why I’m so keen
that we all work together to change
things (note that I said ‘involved’ not
necessarily caused by).
The Motorcycle Training Matters
initiative kicked off in earnest last
March and, looking back, I think it was
an amazing year. We introduced
1st Ride, an introduction to riding
for new riders to prepare them for
their CBT and to help instill a positive
attitude towards safe riding from the
start of their riding life. Many
participants went on to do their CBT
and further training.
We also introduced RideSafe, giving
more experienced post-test riders the
chance to have their riding assessed by
our police advanced motorcyclists, get
expert feedback and understand where
they could benefit from further training.
The feedback was fantastic – even
motorcyclists with 40 years experience
and more found that they can still learn
and improve their skills – and what’s
www.bedfordshire-biker.org e-mail: subscribe@bedfordshire-biker.org
Simon Deards (centre) with Alan
Collins, Luton Borough Council’s
Principal Road Safety Officer (left)
and Shaun Masters, Firefighter
with Bedfordshire and Luton Fire
and Rescue Service
more it’s fun!
It is a fact that motorcycle casualties
are sometimes the result of other road
users’ errors. But that is not always the
case. So doesn’t it make sense for us to
take responsibility for our own safety
and develop our skills? We have the
opportunity to take control and that is
why I am such an advocate of ongoing
training and motorcyclists developing
defensive riding skills.
A recent highlight for us has been
taking delivery of our brand new hi-vis
Road Safety Bike and Fire Bike
(pictured above) which we are using to
promote safety and training, as well as
the Think Bike message. They certainly
turn heads and are a talking point at
motorcycle events!
I hope that you enjoy our second
edition. If you missed the first one, we
still have some copies so you can request
a back issue. And finally my personal
thanks to all who contributed to the
features and to our advertisers, and to
you, for reading our magazine.
Ride Safely!
Simon Deards
Subscribe or request a back
issue of Bedfordshire Biker online at
www.bedfordshire-biker.org or e-mail:
subscribe@bedfordshire-biker.org
or phone 01234 716333
5

Defensive Commuting
Tony Clarke
passes on
some tips for
riding in traffic
The first thing I should say about
these Masterclass articles is that
any recommendations given are
guidelines and cannot possibly
apply in every situation: one or
two people have told me that something
I have suggested didn’t work for them
on a specific occasion. That’s quite
possible. I wasn’t there and so I can’t
say why something I may have
suggested didn’t work. The bottom line
is that if it fits, wear it; if it doesn’t look
or feel right for you – then don’t!
There are all sorts of bikers – whether
you commute or ride only for leisure,
you want to get the most out of your
ride and arrive in one piece. Any lapse
in concentration or judgement can have
serious consequences: the stark reality is
that motorcyclists represent around
three per cent of road traffic in
Bedfordshire but over 20 per cent of the
total numbers killed or seriously injured.
Although my last Masterclass article
looked at overtaking and filtering,
defensive commuting takes filtering –
between lanes and between opposing
streams of traffic – to new and
challenging levels.
The first and most obvious thing to
consider before changing position on
the road is to be sure that the space
we’re planning on moving into is clear.
Most bike mirrors give an excellent view
– of our hands, elbows or shoulders, so
it is worth considering a final overshoulder
check – unless you have
added an extra mirror to help minimise
(but not eliminate) your blind spot.
6
Good Filtering
Note that the rider ahead is both conspicuous and filtering at about 10 mph faster than
the speed of the traffic. He is clearly more experienced than the learner behind who is
still accelerating while being far less conspicuous.
No Room to Filter?
Hang back – if we were in a car, we would leave a space big enough to enable us to
see the rear wheels of the vehicle in front. Why would you want to leave less space
when on a bike? This picture demonstrates how getting too close restricts our options.
It also would mean that we are less visible to other drivers.
Filter Swap Lane
Filtering is a low-speed manoeuvre. There
was a gap developing in the left-hand
stream. Consider the possibility that other
drivers will want to take advantage of such
a gap and, sure enough, the driver of the
Saxo did change lanes, with their indicator
only visible after the position change
started, implying that the move was made
without checking that the road was free of a
filtering motorcycle. Gaps in traffic
frequently encourage car drivers to make
abrupt lane changes and the experienced
rider will be on high alert, contain the speed
and still make good safe progress.
www.bedfordshire-biker.org

Escape Routes
Here we’re making progress – travelling
at less than 15mph faster than the traffic
on each side. Always plan an escape
route. There’s one adjacent to the lorry
ahead. And there’s a junction ahead on
the left; if a gap opens in front of the
lorry, consider the possible
consequences.
Be especially wary of the effects of
wear and repairs to the road surface:
most roads are laid in sections and the
join deteriorates first making your wheels
"tramline", which and can seriously
affect your machine's stability.
Mirrors Check
Too Much Going On
There are too many things happening
here to warrant filtering to the front of
this queue. Hang back!
A new (there’s evidence of old
hatchings) ghost junction allows more
space. We can see brake lights ahead
and two vehicles indicating right so
they’ll position too close to the bollard to
permit filtering. The taxi is positioned to
carry straight on, as is the following car
with fog lights on. Our primary concern
is the lorry. Best advice is to be in front,
behind, but NEVER alongside. Yes, we
stayed back here!
www.bedfordshire-biker.org
MASTERCLASS
You’ve seen the signs on lorries ... “If
you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see
you!” Stay well back (and as the left
indicator is activated, I’m not going
anywhere on its nearside or offside!).
Not only will you see more ahead,
e.g. the car on the roundabout which
will prevent us filtering past the lorry,
but the driver will know you’re there.
And I prefer to see the driver’s eyes in
his mirrors! N.B. If the lorry has a
foreign plate, chances are that it’s
left-hand drive. If you pass, consider
giving a whole clear lane’s width as
the driver’s blind spot is huge!
7

8
Truck Reversing
Pedestrian
A busy road in the rush hour and well
ahead, we can see a lorry manoeuvring,
so nothing’s going anywhere. This is an
opportunity to filter to the front – but go
wide so should a frustrated driver decide
to do a U-turn, we have enough space
around us to enable us to take evasive
action or stop.
Busy high street. Zigzags mean no overtaking. Proceed with caution as many pedestrians see this as open forum for crossing the
road anywhere! Lights have gone red so we’ll filter alongside the lead vehicle
Red Light
There’s no point following other vehicles
too closely – and the lights went red well
before the bus and Volvo finished
crossing the stop line. Had we been
close behind we’d not have seen the
change and possibly collected a ticket
along the way. And if a pedestrian
stepped out when the traffic light went
red, we wouldn’t have seen them either
and may have hit them
www.bedfordshire-biker.org

Van, Pedestrian, Car
Which Lane to Choose?
We’re in a 50 which is coming to a 40 limit. The black Vauxhall
has recently passed us travelling close to 70! The driver has
had to brake hard and is too close to the car in front of him.
There’s a junction ahead so we can predict a lot of lane
swapping for the A1 North & South and straight on the North
Circular. This is a good place to hang back and let the traffic do
its own thing. When everyone decides where they’re going we
can make some progress again! Do the same on motorways.
Filtering at junctions or on entry/exit slip roads is fraught to say
the least as cars and lorries change position and speed –
frequently with little notice or indication. It requires great
concentration and you may judge that it is worth holding back,
maintaining a good position with plenty of space around you
until you can make safe progress again.
www.bedfordshire-biker.org
MASTERCLASS
Space is our biggest friend. Everything is slowing for the red
traffic light – BUT there's a lot happening near to us. There's a
milk truck on the left (with the driver walking back across the
road) and the white van has gone wide so we can't get past on
his offside. Is this an opportunity to go up their inside? Not with
the front of the white car poking out! With luck, the driver can
see the reflection of our headlights on the side of the van, but
don't bet on it! Hang back! Because if the white car driver hasn't
seen us we'll be on a collision course.
WHEN FILTERING, THE “SYSTEM” OF MOTORCYCLE
CONTROL STILL APPLIES
What information is being given and implied by other road users?
Check your position, making good use of the space around you as much as
possible, in front or behind. Pay attention to your:
• Speed: 10–15 mph faster than traffic when filtering
• Gear: you need to select a flexible gear that enables deceleration when
rolling off and brisk acceleration when rolling on the throttle
• Acceleration: you will be in a good position to make progress when the
traffic flow improves, steady slower speeds when filtering enable better
progress and more control than frequent acceleration and braking.
Tony Clarke (pictured left) is the force behind A1 Driver & Rider Training
(01462 894624). He has a RoSPA Diploma for Car and Motorcycle and is a
Senior Observer with the IAM. He’s also on the DSA’s post-test motorcycle
training register and delivers their Enhanced Rider Scheme.
If you would like details of motorcycle training companies in Bedfordshire,
please contact the Road Safety teams at your local council, or visit
www.MotorcyclingMatters.org e-mail: info@MotorcyclingMatters.org
9

Roadworks are a fact of life as
heavy traffic in this country
means that the roads we have
need regular repair, while there
are always new ones being built
to ease congestion. These will invariably
involve reroutes, contra-flows and some
congestion. And if you use the A421
between Bedford and the M1, or the M1
from junctions 10 to 13, then riding
through cones will be a fact of life for the
next few years as major changes to
improve these roads progress.
Riding through roadworks should be
common sense, but sometimes some
riders just forget that they are coping
with very different conditions and
circumstances, and that is when
problems can arise.
Firstly, and this is in no way aimed at
bikers, some road users hate the fact
that any maintenance takes place at all.
Road workers, already coping with the
stress of working alongside moving
(and sometimes fast moving) traffic,
Be Aware
10
Roadworks
You have to keep your wits about you at all times on
two wheels, but roadworks demand even more care
sometimes not only have to put up with
abuse from drivers frustrated that their
journeys are being interrupted or
delayed, but also have to put up with
the occasional missile aimed in their
direction. There is no excuse for that:
we all have our work to do, and they
are doing their dangerous jobs as
efficiently as they can.
Next, how do we cope with riding
through, for example, contra flows with
narrow lanes? Sometimes, really very
badly. In doing the photography for
this piece the editorial team was moving
through a contra-flow with three
narrow lanes when a biker on a 1-litre
sports machine went past and then
attempted to filter between two lines of
cars ahead in between the 2nd and 3rd
lanes. The traffic was moving at a little
over 30mph (less than the limit in the
area, due to heavy traffic) and the rider
had barely a few inches between his legs
and two cars. He wobbled for a while
and then thankfully thought better of it
Roadworks, like those on the A421 seen here, are a moveable feast as construction
progresses, so your route through will be changing quite often. That means not getting
complacent and always being prepared for the unexpected
and then waited for a gap to appear
before gassing it off into the distance. It
looked frightening from behind, and it
only needed one or other car driver
either to have moved a fraction for our
man to have been hitting the deck. It
was scary stuff.
You have to realise that, although the
narrow lanes may be fine for you, even
on a Gold Wing, they are tight for
other vehicles – with less space for
anyone to take avoiding action. Contra
flows are not usually that long (a few
miles at most), and being patient makes
all the sense in the world, and can be
the difference between staying upright
or not. Just forget about filtering until
the road opens up again.
On major roadworks, where new
roads are being constructed, it really
means one thing: slippery conditions.
Rules for construction-site traffic are
strict. Trucks often have to go through
wheel washes before they come onto
the main carriageways, and the routes
themselves are regularly cleaned by
sweepers and washers to take away
mud. But it still builds up, usually in
the middle of the lane. Stay in the track
either side of the centre where truck
and car tyres have 'swept' most of the
debris away but be careful if and when
you change lanes as you will invariably
have to go through some sludge.
And in a big road-working area, there
will always be routes on and off for the
aforementioned construction vehicles,
so again there may be extra mud
brought onto the main carriageways
and vehicles wanting to come on and
off. And always be aware of changing
road surfaces as you get filtered from,
for example, a main carriageway onto a
temporary one. Grip levels may be
different and these will always be
exaggerated when it is raining.
You should always ride with your wits
about you, but when you see a
roadworks sign and the tell-tale cones
looming up ahead, be extra vigilant
and careful. A few extra minutes of
patience here can be a real lifesaver. ●
bedfordshire-biker.org

Wet and Dry – and Watch Out for Mud!
Alan Collins, on the Road Safety Bike,
has crossed from one section of tarmac
to another with a consequent change of
grip. There are plenty of extra road signs
to monitor, plus those directed at
construction traffic. But the ‘Works Exit’
one signifies that vehicles could be
joining the main carriageway, along with
extra mud (as can be seen to the right of
Alan’s right-hand mirror). Then there is
that green container in mid-air up ahead
which may be distracting. Traffic in
sections like this will be moving less
smoothly than normal as drivers explore
their way through, and here Sat-Nav
will most definitely not be of any help
to them!
● We would like to thank to Balfour Beatty
for their help with this feature
MASTERCLASS
KEEP INFORMED
Of course, one option is to avoid riding
through roadworks by finding out where
they are and taking an alternative route!
You can get information on the location
of roadworks on motorways and trunk
roads, as well as incidents and traffic delays
at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic or on the
Highways Agency Information Line
on 08457 50 40 30 available 24/7.
Alternatively, you can get the
information from Traffic Radio on
DAB or at www.trafficradio.org.uk
For WAP enabled mobiles similar
information is available at
www.highways.gov.uk/mobile and
there is a new app for the iphone
The Bedfordshire councils also post
information about roadworks on
local roads on www.elgin.gov.uk which
includes a mapping tool.
The work on the A421 from Bedford to the
M1 junction 13 to create a new highstandard
dual-carriageway road are due to
be completed by the end of 2010.
Work on the M1 is to open up the hard
shoulder at peak times in order to relieve
congestion. Work is expected to last until 2013.
Construction companies try to keep the vehicles coming onto the carriageways as clean as possible, by driving them through wheel
washes, and they also clean the roads regularly. However, mud comes onto the road and heavy car and truck traffic washes it to the
sides and the centre of the lane, just where you normally want to be on your bike. Here it is sensible to choose the left-hand track which
will afford more grip, but don’t bank on it being constant. Once again, be prepared for varying conditions and leave extra room to stop
Much Going On
bedfordshire-biker.org
11

12
Help From Above
When accidents happen, as they sometimes do in our
pressurised world, a crucial aspect for the treatment and
recovery of the victim is how quickly you can get help
Words: John Dalton
Anglia Two, which
serves Bedforshire, at
its Cambridgeshire base
www.bedfordshire-biker.org

www.bedfordshire-biker.org
AIR AMBULANCE
Medical people talk of the
first 60 minutes after an
accident as 'the golden
hour', when stabilisation
and prevention of
further injury is most possible. In
most cases, road ambulances can
reach victims and deliver them to
hospital within this time, but there
are accidents that occur well away
from main roads or in congested
areas which are difficult for land
vehicles to reach quickly. This is
where the air ambulance is such
an important service, even in a
country as densely populated as
Britain. And as the air ambulance
that flies over Bedfordshire is
more fully equipped than a land
ambulance, it is able virtually to
bring a hospital's A&E (Accident
and Emergency) department to
the scene.
The East Anglian Air
Ambulance (EAAA) was founded
in 2000 and operates two
Eurocopter BK117s, an
aircraft developed in part by
Kawasaki and the most
frequently used aircraft for air
ambulance work around the world. The
aircraft has enough space to convey the
medical team, a patient – and, if
necessary – another passenger. This
capability is particularly important, for
instance, when a child is injured as
it means that a parent can
accompany them to hospital.
The aircraft operated by the
EAAA are also two of the most
advanced air ambulances now
operating in the UK. Anglia
Two serves Bedfordshire and
Cambridgeshire while Anglia
One covers Norfolk and Suffolk.
Anglia Two is based at The Marshall
Airport in Cambridgeshire although its
daily operational base is RAF Wyton,
near St Ives, Cambridgeshire. It is
now entering its third year of service
in Bedfordshire.
'We started operations in Bedfordshire
in March 2007 when the county became
part of the East of England NHS
Ambulance Trust and, at that time, we
were looking after Norfolk, Suffolk,
Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire from
RAF Honington, central to the whole of
East Anglia, with a single aircraft,'
explained Paul Airton, fundraising
manager for the EAAA in Bedfordshire.
'Our second aircraft, Anglia Two,
arrived in August 2007. We used it to
provide a dedicated service for
Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire while
Neil Waller is the pilot of the Air Ambulance
Anglia One did the same for Norfolk and
Suffolk. Unfortunately, at that time we
only had funds to fly Anglia Two five
days a week. This meant that for two
days a week all four counties (7,500
square miles and over five million
people) still had to be covered by Anglia
One. This changed thanks to the very
generous support of Sir Michael
Marshall of Marshall Aviation, who
offered the charity free overnight
hangering facilities at Marshall Airport,
Cambridge. This enabled us to operate
Anglia Two seven days a week providing
a dedicated 365 day air ambulance
service to Bedfordshire and
Cambridgeshire for the first time.’
He went on to say that bikers are very
generous when it comes to raising money
to keep the helicopters airborne. 'Bikers
throughout the whole country have
always been tremendously supportive of
the air ambulance,' explained Paul, who
used to ride a number of motorcycles 'in
a previous life' before he traded his
Suzuki GS1000S for a pram!
'We've had great support from the
Harley-Davidson motorcycle club in
Toddington, called the Cruisers, for
instance,' he continued.' They're a small
club of 20 or so but they raised over
£2,000 for us in 18 months. We've also
had a lot of support from Oakley
Motorcycle Club, the fastest growing
club in Bedfordshire and have just >
13

been adopted as
Charity of the Year by the
RAF Henlow Motorcycle
Club. We're also involved
with the Bedfordshire and
Luton Casualty Reduction
Partnership, promoting
road safety and getting involved with
motorcyclists, and I am a member of the
Motorcycling Matters forum.
'I've been particularly pleased with the
response of experienced riders who have
done RideSafe riding assessments with
Bedfordshire Police. It just goes to prove
we are never too old to learn. We carry
copies of Bedfordshire Biker wherever we
go, and the Great Roads, Great Rides DVDs
go down really well with motorcyclists
and young drivers alike – with learner
drivers practising on the interactive
DVDs in preparation for their
hazard awareness tests in their driving
theory tests.
'As is well known, motorcyclists account
for a small percentage of road users yet,
unfortunately, a high percentage of the
seriously injured and killed statistics.
We really appreciate the huge support
we receive from Bedfordshire's biker
14
AIR AMBULANCE
community – which benefits not just
them but everybody living in or passing
through the county.'
The Anglia Two helicopter can fly from
RAF Wyton to the furthest point in
Bedfordshire in 17 minutes, measured
from receiving the call in Bedford (where
they use two different phone networks
simultaneously in case there's a delay or
network problem), to landing at the
scene. It is always ready for immediate
take-off with the pilot and medical team
on standby.
Paul explains that over half of the callouts
it receives are to attend road-traffic
accidents but it's also regularly tasked to
assist at the scene of industrial or
agricultural accidents and to help those
suffering a medical emergency.
The aircraft is crewed by an EAAA
pilot, highly trained paramedics from the
East of England Ambulance Trust and,
The back of the helicopter opens to reveal a very
well equipped area for looking after patients
several days a week, by a volunteer
doctor from the charity Magpas, an
emergency medical charity for
Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and
Peterborough. Together, their work has
saved lives and improved the outcome
for many others in Bedfordshire since
the service was launched in the county.
Paul stressed that the value of the air
ambulance is not always in being able to
take accident victims to hospital at the
155 mph cruising speed (top speed is
163 mph). 'Sometimes you'll see press
reports saying the air ambulance was
called but which then go on to say that
the patient was taken by land ambulance
to hospital. Readers may then wonder
"Well why then did the air ambulance
attend?" but the truth is we may well
have done our job by then, which was to
stabilise the patient so that they can be
taken to hospital and the helicopter freed
up to attend other emergencies. If
necessary, of course, we can also fly them
to hospital quickly too but the air
ambulance is really all about getting to
someone quickly and bringing the
Accident and Emergency department
to them. Sometimes we don't need to >
www.bedfordshire-biker.org

SBW Motorrad
Summer 2010 starts
at SBW Motorrad –
make the most of it
In Hertford we’re always here to welcome you
and help you get the most out of your bike.
Even if you have never owned a BMW before
we’ll offer you a warm welcome, great coffee
any time. There’s a real club atmosphere every
Saturday, all year with free doughnuts and
friendly helpful staff to show you the latest
BMW model line up for 2010.
There’s the new S1000RR superbike as
well as the new R-series range with improved
engines and aerodynamics for the RT, GS and
GS Adventure. Also on show is the F800R
Chris Pfeiffer replica special edition. Now
there’s a bike for summer!
New R Series for 2010
• New fairing design improves wind
and weather protection on RT
• DOHC engine technology
• Improved engine performance
• New colours
• Revised switchgear
• Improved exhaust note
New Season,
New Equipment
To mark the launch of the new S 1000 RR we have a
range of clothing and special equipment to complement
this and the other BMW bikes in the range. In addition
to some exciting new lines from BMW Motorrad Rider
Equipment, SBW Motorrad is delighted to announce
that we are now official stockists for GiMoto, Kriega and
Alpha Racing kit and equipment.
Our specially trained staff Richard, Graham and
Carolyn will be only too pleased to help you try out the
new lines on display in Hertford for the new Season.
Postal Address: BMW Centre, 33 Chambers Street, Hertford, Hertfordshire SG14 1PL
Tel: 01992 583135 Fax: 01992 554472 E-mail: mail@sbwmotorrad.bmw-net.co.uk
Web: www.sbwmotorrad-bmw.com
BMW Motorrad
Dealer Newsletter
2010 Events
Enjoy your bike with us
18 April – Bikers in Paradise
Come and visit the Bikers in Paradise show at
Broxbourne to help raise funds for Herts Air
Ambulance. Visit us on the SBW Motorrad stand.
classic bikes, live music, club stands, Bikesafe
competitions.
Tickets £9.50 in advance
SBW Rideout programme starts April
Check website for details
www.sbwmotorrad-bmw.com
Meet at SBW at 0900. Leave 0930 Sharp
29-30 May – Herts County Show
Come and see us on the SBW Motorrad stand at the
Herts County Show. We'll have an amazing outdoor
display Come and enjoy this great fun day out for all
the family. Herts County
Showground, Just off J9 M1
16 June – Meldreth Manor Bike Nite
Charity bike night with rideout from SBW
Leaves SBW, Hertford at 1830
Check www.sbwmotorrad-bmw.com for details of
up and coming events throughout the summer
Pay us a visit
We’re always happy to make new friends in the biking
world. Come along and talk bikes to us whenever you
like. We’ll always give you a warm welcome and a cup
of coffee. And on Saturday, enjoy the boss’s legendary
FREE doughnuts.
On the first Sunday of every month, we organise
rideouts leaving at 0930. Check out
www.sbwmotorrad-bmw.com for details.
Directions
Leave the A10 at Junction 25 for Hertford then at
roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A414. At Fox
Holes roundabout take the 2nd exit into London
road - A414. Entering Hertford, at roundabout take
the 1st exit onto Gascoyne Way - A414. (to Hatfield,
Stevenage). At roundabout take the 3rd exit onto
the B158 (to Bengeo).
At traffic signals turn right onto Old Cross. Take 2nd
right onto Chambers Street.

fly the patient to hospital
because we've already given
them emergency medical
attention and stabilised the
patient and then he or she can
go by land ambulance.
'Another benefit of the
service is that, should a patient
suffer, for instance, severe
brain injury, rather than them
being taken to either Bedford
or Luton & Dunstable Hospital,
it may actually be better for
them to be flown direct to
Addenbrooke's Hospital in
Cambridge as it specialises in
neurological injuries. We can
'overfly' the local hospital to take
a patient to the best hospital for
their needs.'
Call-outs can come at any time and,
sometimes, on the way, information will
come and show the helicopter is not
required. 'It may be that the injuries are
not so serious and we can turn around
but we have to get underway in case we
are needed.'
It costs some £3 million a year to run
the two aircraft, money that comes
entirely from fundraising and donations,
with no direct funding from the
government or the National Lottery.
The highest costs are fuel, maintenance
of the helicopters and the
If you would like to help, contact Paul Airton at the
East Anglian Air Ambulance, Room 12, The Rufus
Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick, Beds MK45 1AH.
Tel: 01525 718517. The website is www.eaaa.org.uk
Simon Standen, Critical Care paramedic, and Doctor Ben
Teasdale, who is also Magpas’ Chairman, stand by the
Cambridge Police Helicopter which is sometimes used
as an ambulance when flights need to be made at night
AIR AMBULANCE
This beats the ‘dash’ on your two-wheeler...
medical equipment. The aircraft have
stretchers on wheels to take people to the
helicopter, and from the helicopter into
the hospital, which sound simple enough
but these items alone cost around
£20,000 each.
Paul said: 'Anglia Two carries
considerably more equipment than is
found in a land ambulance – somewhere
between that and an A&E department.
This equipment enables our highly
skilled medical teams to carry out a
wide range of emergency
procedures.
For example, doctors flying
aboard can anaesthetise a patient
at the scene, which is not yet
possible on a land ambulance.
The fact is that emergency
medicine is improving all the
time, and we can now offer an
ever-increasing range of
procedures which we couldn't
perform even two or three
years ago.
'The good news is we're
managing to save lives and
reduce the impact of
injuries and medical
emergencies for people in
Bedfordshire and this is what spurs us
on to keep the air ambulance flying and
to improve even further the service
we offer. It's what makes our
work worthwhile.
'When our supporters in Bedfordshire
see our bright yellow air ambulance in
flight, they can take great pride that it is
through their generosity, the crew is
being rushed to the scene of an incident
and that they are making a real
difference to a casualty's chances of
recovery. I know I do.' ●
www.bedfordshire-biker.org

To find out more contact us on:
0800 458 8425 or
tellmemore@hbam.org.uk
Visit our website at:
www.hbam.org.uk
TIME FOR A PERFORMANCE CHECK
It's that time of the year again when you are
dusting off the bike gear, polishing the bike,
checking it over and thinking of the open road
ahead. It has been a few months since last sitting
on the bike and the anticipation is high.
Remembering last time, taking a bend a bit too
fast and the stomach wrenching moment? Or
overtaking that truck on the A38 cutting it a bit
too close? And that time on the M1 when traffic
was at a standstill for an hour and you were
trying to filter through? Missing the opening door
at a close range... Lucky escape!
So how can you improve your performance on
the road and avoid the same type of situations?
Feedback from hundreds of bikers who have
taken the Enhanced Rider Scheme say it is ideal
for bringing the biker's skills up to speed to enjoy
biking more. It is tailor-made training to help
improve risk areas and to give you added
confidence on the road. You also have the chance
to lower your insurance premiums.
Bobby did his training last year: "The scheme
improved my ability & confidence; I was happy
www.direct.gov.uk/ers
with learning to ride but being a perfectionist,
wanted to do everything right e.g. filtering,
cornering, I intend to do lots of miles"
Ben has been riding for a few years:
"I have been riding for 12 years and got
frustrated. I wished to have an assessment to
improve my riding. I was confident on the bike
but there was room for improvement.
I wanted to do the scheme for sometime. I was
given encouragement of what I had done well.
I think more about what I am doing and the
instruction on weak points helped me."
Richard has clocked 39 years on the bike:
"It has been so long since passing my test and
I had no training since. Now I ride defensively,
and I am a better rider. I can do better on
the bike and my confidence increased."
Find out how good a rider you are by
visiting direct.gov.uk/ers and contact
the trainers near you.
Enhanced Rider Scheme
Adding to your riding
performance
Why Join?
• Gain advanced skills
• Group rides
• Cheaper insurance†
• New friends
*£50 off the Skills for Life Package. Subject to Terms and Conditions. †some insurance companies offer cheaper insurance for an IAM advanced test pass.
Herts & Beds Advanced M/C’s (HBAM) are affiliated to the IAM and operate the IAM’s “Skill For Life”. Registered Charity Number 1055810. Group Number 7145.
“It has been so long
since passing my
test and I had no
training since. Now I
ride defensively, I am
a better rider. I can
do better on the bike
and my confidence
increased
”
ADVERTORIAL

You don't have to be an outlaw biker to have your collar
felt. A standard motorcycle might fall outside the legal
framework, even with a valid MoT. Same goes for your
helmet, as Bedfordshire police motorcyclist Tony
Richardson explains to Johnny Tipler
Got an MoT for the bike? So, it
must be legal, right? Well yes,
up to a point. Tony Richardson
from Bedfordshire's Roads
Policing Team is the man to ask,
because if your bike doesn't comply with
the legislation whenever and wherever
he sees it, there's a ticket on its way.
A long-time VFR800 owner, Tony's
been a motorcycle patrolman since 1998.
He's an advanced VIP outrider and offroad
pursuit man, too, in addition to
dealing with day-to-day traffic work.
Today he rides a BMW R1200 RT for
work, although he still misses his big
Honda Pan European. 'The BMW feels a
bit agricultural after the Honda, but
there you go, that's my view!' He fills us
in on what's legal and what's not, for as
he says, 'With just two wheels on the
road, there's not a lot keeping you
upright and you want to make sure that
it's as safe as possible and that it complies
with everything'. That MoT certificate is
only as good as the moment the bike was
tested. Tony hears riders say, 'it was only
MoT'd a month ago', but that's no
defence. As he says, 'take the tyres: you
ride another 1,000 miles in a month and
the tyres wear down, maybe below the
minimum legal requirement, which is
1mm across the crown of the tread. That
means you've hardly got any treaded
channels to get rid of water, compared
with a car's minimum tread depth which
is 1.6mm. A moped just has to have the
original tread visible, which can be
virtually nothing'. As a benchmark, the
police force change bike tyres when they
get to between 2 and 3mm, because they
square off and lose manoeuvrability.
Mixing different tyre brands is not a
problem, 'so long as it's got the same type
of tyre, i.e. radial or cross-ply at both
ends'. Tyre pressure is another crucial
factor, and Tony's team check pressures
front and rear before every single ride.
He notices that 'if they haven't been
18
Law and Order
Tony Richardson is a
roads-policing sergeant
and a keen motor cyclist
himself. He tells us how
to stay safe and keep on
the right side of the law
ridden for over a week – which, over the
autumn and winter, they won't be –
they'll have lost a few pounds in
pressure, and that will affect the
handling'. And then Tony sounds a real
note of caution: 'If there's anything
wrong with your brakes you'd be mad to
take your bike out; so check them'.
Although bikes only have to carry rear
number plates, this is an area ripe for
illegal mods. It's cool in certain superbike
circles to mount the plate beneath the
seat on the hugger where it's virtually
invisible, although the most common
offence is fitting a minimised plate. As
Tony points out, 'the people with the
small number plates tend to have the
faster motorcycles and they are the ones
that are more likely to get nicked. We
have loads of ANPR (automatic number
plate recognition) cameras throughout
the county, and if a bike's stolen we can
follow it through the camera system, stop
it and recover the bike. But the ANPR
has no chance of reading the numbers
on these small plates, so they're a thief's >
www.bedfordshire-biker.org

1
CAMERA DEMO
3
www.bedfordshire-biker.org
WHAT’S LEGAL?
Alan Collins on the
Road Safety Bike
passes the van (above
right). The cameras
catch images of the
front (1), the side (2) and
the all-important rear
view (3) showing the
number plate (left)
2
When it comes to legality and keeping within
speed limits, speed cameras play an important
role on roads where speeding is an issue. The
police operate fixed and mobile speed
cameras for the Bedfordshire and Luton
Casualty Reduction Partnership, and don't
think that they won't register bikes because
they only have forward-facing cameras... The
mobiles register a vehicle from the rear, but
when their systems are alerted to a speeding
machine (however many wheels it has), side
and front-mounted cameras also record
images as we see here in this demonstration
with the Road Safety bike which, incidentally,
came through at 29mph!
However, the motorcyclist on the red bike
below was banned from driving for a year,
fined £900 with £600 costs for nine counts of
careless driving and nine counts of speeding
after regularly being recorded by fixed
cameras. He was traced by Bedfordshire Police
who identified him from his
motorcycle and leathers.
19

An E-stamp is
essential for the
exhaust system
dream. It would help so many people
if they had a proper number plate
because we'd be able to retrieve a lot
more stolen bikes.' By the same token,
some riders believe that a miniature
number plate will help them avoid
identification by speed cameras. Think
again! Tony states that speed cameras will
pick up a small plate: 'the resolution is so
good on these new Gatso and Truevelo
cameras that they can zoom in no matter
what the size'. He lays down the law by
saying 'it must be within the regulations
set out within the Highway Code, and
mounted on the back of the bike. And
don't fiddle around with the typeface
either. Our rule of thumb is that if it can't
be read by the ANPR cameras then we'll
deal with it by prosecution'.
Swapping silencers is a straightforward
customising ploy. The official line on
aftermarket exhausts is that bikes must
have an E-stamped exhaust or one with
the British standard kite mark. As Tony
says, 'we don't need a decibel meter; it's a
case of either it does or doesn't conform,
and if it doesn't conform then it's an
offence'. Summer brings the complaints,
and the police are duty bound to deal
with them: 'The Shefford by-pass is a
very fast route and you hear the bikers
winding the throttle up one after
another. So naturally people relaxing in
20
Number plates have to be standard size
WHAT’S LEGAL?
the garden on a Sunday afternoon make
a complaint'. It is easy enough to check a
motorcycle silencer's E-stamp because it's
mounted on the side of the bike. The
majority of police motorcyclists are keen
civvy street bikers as well, so they're
sympathetic when they preach their
safety mission to regular riders. But it's
not a simple matter. 'We're caught
between the devil and the deep blue sea,'
“That MoT
certificate is
only as good as
the moment the
bike was tested
”
says Tony. 'We don't want to spoil
people's fun, but when that causes safety
problems we have to deal with it. For
example, lads going round a roundabout
trying to get their knee down is
something that we'll deal with robustly,
because they are causing a nuisance, and
who's to know whether there's been a
diesel spill. If you want to do that,
go to a racetrack'.
Mini-motos and off-roaders are
Tread depth is very
easy to check
becoming an issue
in green lanes and quarries. Tony
clarifies the position starkly: 'mini-motos
are illegal anywhere unless the rider has
been given permission to ride it on
someone's property or they are riding it
on their own property. Riding it in a
playground, play area, recreation
ground or in a farmer's field is illegal. We
deal with them under a section 59 notice,
which means anyone riding on land
other than the highway or being a
nuisance will be given a warning. On the
second warning the bike is confiscated.
They can claim it back but they have to
pay a fee. If the rider gets caught twice
on different bikes, the second bike gets
taken away, and that applies to off-road
bikes as well'.
Which brings us to mudguards.
'They come into the category of
"construction and use" offences,' says
Tony. 'If mudguards, indicators and
mirrors are fitted they must be in good
working order. You're not legally
required to have them, so you can take
them off, but its stupid to do that because
you really do need them'.
And as for the pillion, riding astride is
the only way, no side-saddle please.
Tony has some warnings
>
www.bedfordshire-biker.org

Bike servicing and repair • Vehicle diagnostics
Tyres & Exhausts • M O T’s • Moped performance
accessories • Bike Recovery • Tracker
RX125 R
RX50 R
£2,995
£2,500
Unit 7 Kingfisher Business Park • London Road
• Bedford MK42 0NY
01234 354222
www.bedfordbikeandcar.co.uk
Rick Stringer
Motorcycles Est 1971
Bedford’s Oldest Bike Shop
Broadlakes Lodge
Social Club
Thursday night is bike night.
We are open to all keen motorcyclists
with all makes and models of bike.
Our facilities include: Bar • Pool Table
Music • Hot Drinks Large Car Park
Café open 7:30 am - 2pm Mon-Sat
We are holding 3 events by Busy Bee
Motorcycle Club called Big Bash from
12-12 on April 24, June 26 & September 25.
Includes Rock ‘n’ Roll band!
For details of other evenings
Tel: 01727 822240 or visit our website
www.broadlakes.com
Shenley Lane,
London Colney, Herts AL2 1DQ
01234 352951
Opening Times
Tuesday - Friday 9am - 5.30pm
Saturday - 9.30am - 5.30
RICK STRINGER MOTORCYCLES & SCOOTERS
20 LONDON ROAD
BEDFORD MK42 ONS
TEL: 01234 352951
FAX: 01234 343798
EMAIL: info@rickstringer.co.uk
M.O.T.
Tuesday - Friday
10am - 1pm 2pm - 5pm
Saturday
10:30am - 1pm
2pm - 4pm
Appointments Only
www.rickstringer.co.uk

Even an off roader
has to have an
operative headlamp
– if one is fitted
>
about luggage as well; 'don't
carry more than the manufacturer
recommends, make sure that it is
evenly distributed, and be
aware that any type of luggage
whatever it is and wherever
it is situated will effect the
bike's handling'.
Moving on to rider apparel, the
helmet is the only item of clothing a
rider and pillion are legally obliged to
wear. And it's got to be properly done up
to work properly in a crash. There is a
problem with youngsters and helmets,
Tony sees scooter lads 'wearing the
helmet on the top of their head and
walking around with it like that. Or
they'll just put the helmet on when they
want to go out but they never do it up. If
the helmet is not done up it's the same
offence as not wearing a helmet at all'.
What about tinted visors? They get
Tony's thumbs up, so long as they meet
proper standards. 'We actually wear
tinted visors in the summer ourselves,
the correct Shoei
The all-important
E-mark again, this
time on a visor
If indicators are fitted, they have to work
WHAT’S LEGAL?
ones that go with our helmets. Any visor
sold for motorcycle use must be tested to
BSI European equivalent standards
rated as BS4110 or ECE22-05, and those
numbers should be etched onto the visor
itself. But in any case the visor must be
able to transmit at least 50% of light
through it. That's quite dark actually.
Just to give you an idea, the front
windscreen of a car must let 75% of light
through. So 50% for a visor is obviously a
lot darker than a car's front windscreen,
because a visor is, in effect, a
windscreen. But deeply tinted visors or
mirror-effect ones are illegal, unless they
are actually marked with the
BSI numbers'.
So that's the head
protected, but
what about the
body? Tony
rides out with
his wife on
pillion, and he
says 'it's crazy to
go out without
anything less
than a full set of
protective clothing,
gloves, boots and a decent helmet,
and the same applies to the pillion.
My wife and I don't go anywhere
unless we are both dressed to the
nines'.The police like to see
clothing that is visible and well
fitted. If it keeps you warm and dry,
it will make your riding safer, more
comfortable, and more fun. Tony
reminds us about keeping an eye on
the weather, and he knows what he's
talking about since he's out in all kinds of
conditions. His common sense tip is to
check the weather forecast for your
destination, not just rely on what its like
at the start of your journey. Summer
brings just as much potential discomfort
to the unwary rider. 'If I see some lunatic
riding in Bermuda shorts and flip-flops I
pull him over and have a word. Because
morally I've got a duty to ask him if his
brain is in gear'!
Tony knows how to make his point
graphically clear; 'I say to youngsters, "do
you know what it's like to fall off?" And
they say, "no". So I say, "right, I want you
to drag your knuckles against the road
surface now, hard". And they say, "don't
be stupid", and I say, "well, that's exactly
what it's like".' He has given many a talk
to young riders on good biking practice,
and it's these kinds of examples that tend
to stick. The police's remit is about how
you can look after yourself as well as how
your riding affects others, because, as
Tony says, 'We are not out there to be
killjoys and say you can't do this and
you can't do that. At the end of the day
it's all about safety'. ●
www.bedfordshire-biker.org

Sometimes just getting to work or
school can be a challenge, and if
your route takes you off the
beaten track it is even harder. It is
especially difficult for youngsters
starting 6th Form college or even
university and who previously have had
to rely on parents for their transport.
Help is at hand now in Bedfordshire
as the Wheels2Work initiative expands
into the whole of Central Bedfordshire.
Wheels2Work provides an innovative
way of overcoming transport barriers to
key services offering individuals their
own transport solutions for up to a
nine-month period until a longer-term
solution can be found. But don't worry
if you are a student as the scheme can
be extended to take into account a full
academic year.
The scheme is delivered through a
50cc Yamaha scooter loan, which is
provided complete with fully
comprehensive motor vehicle
insurance, road tax and provision for
service costs. Clients meeting the
criteria are required to undertake a
Compulsory Basic Training (CBT)
course and Rural Ride training, both of
which are free. A monthly wear-andtear
fee is paid for the scooter loan.
The scheme is eligible to those who
meet the following criteria:
·Being of working age (16–64) with
priority given to those aged 16–24
·Living in the Central
Bedfordshire area
·Having limited or no access to
transport to employment, education or
training opportunities
The scheme is led by Bedfordshire
Rural Communities Charity. Funding
was originally sourced from
Bedfordshire County Council, with
additional grants from the Learning
and Skills Council and South
Bedfordshire District Council. Finance
has more recently been secured from
the Central Bedfordshire Council
Economic Participation Programme.
Other partners include Jobcentre
Plus, Connexions, Central
Bedfordshire College, Leighton-
Linslade Town Council and the Central
bedfordshire-biker.org
WHEELS 2 WORK
Getting Mobile
in Bedfordshire
Two beneficiaries of the
Wheels2Work scheme
get to try the Yamaha
scooters for size
Bedfordshire Integrated Youth
Support Service. And from there come
most of the people who have benefited
from the scheme thus far.
The process starts with an interview
for which applicants under 18 need to
have a parent or guardian at hand, and
is followed by the Co-ordinator taking
up references and seeking confirmation
that a clean driving licence is held.
Bob Hughes, Wheels2Work Coordinator,
has been impressed by how
well it has worked so far, with plenty of
takers thus far for the 22 machines on
the books at the moment. 'We have had
loads of enquiries for this year', says
Bob, ‘and it is pleasing to see the
expansion to Central Bedfordshire
come to fruition'.
Certainly it’s a blessing for the people
who have found that a scooter can be of
real benefit, not only in getting to their
various placements, but also in
extending their social networks.
According to Aaron Roberts, one of the
first young people to complete a loan
period, 'Wheels to Work has made a
huge difference to my life'. ●
For further information please contact Bob Hughes,
W2W Co-ordinator at Bedfordshire Rural
Communities Charity on 01234 83246,
e-mail bobh@bedsrc.org.uk. or visit
www.bedsrcc.org.uk/Wheels2Work/wheels1.html
23

Pillion Paradise
The rider has bars to grip and the tank to clench with
thighs and knees. But what of the pillion? Johnny
Tipler looks at the holds and techniques available
Solo's free as a bird, but two-up's a
different game. For the rider,
there's that extra weight affecting
the handling, and the
responsibility of ensuring
another's safety. But the passenger isn't
just along for the ride: they can deploy a
host of skills to boost the quality of the
on-board partnership.
It starts from the moment of
mounting: the footpegs are not
stirrups, they're just footrests once
astride. Normally the pillion gets on
when the rider has the bike balanced,
but if there's a top-box on the back and
the bike has a centre-stand it's easier for
the pillion to cock a leg over from the
front rather than straddle the box.
Then there's the saddle to consider.
Touring bikes come with a reasonably
padded saddle, and there's always the
aftermarket option of a palatial Corbin,
or the whole hog of the Electra
Glide armchair.
At the other end of the comfort
spectrum, state-of-the-art super-sports
machines offer little relief between
posterior and bodywork. The pillion
perches high over the back wheel,
visor-face full in the airstream, hanging
tight onto a pair of handles either side,
gripping the rider's hips with their
knees, legs doubled back jockey-style. It
wasn't always like this; back in the
vintage days of individual sprung
saddles, there was a hoop between
them, and classic double-saddles often
had a loop for the pillion to clutch. A
transverse bar behind the saddle
affords a reliable two-handed grip,
though it's a test of the pillion's
confidence in their rider. At least with
side or rear handles on the back seat
there's more of a feeling of
controlling one's own
destiny.
There is another way of course.
Between consenting adults, and indeed
children, it's OK for the pillion to
embrace the rider around the waist.
There need be no inhibitions about
intimacy when lives depend on it, so if
this works for both parties so much the
better. As a compromise, grasp the
rider's jacket – not so easy with leathers
but viable with a Belstaff waterproof
where there's material to spare.
And that's the crucial factor in
double-trouble biking. The frontman
has to be considerate and ride
courteously, otherwise the pillion is no
more than a dangerous sack of potatoes
that could turn you both to chips.
Aggressive starts – let alone wheelies –
and heavy braking are highly antisocial.
At worst the unwary passenger
could hit the deck back-first,
but even a clash of lids
might be a knock out for
both parties. It's up to
the rider to change
gear and roll on
the throttle as
smoothly as
possible without
the jerking
that'll throw
Something to
hang on to... For
sports bikes, a
neat pillion
solution is this
Duodrive grip
which attaches
easily to the tank

A commuter Honda with
a decent grab rail for
the pillion. It is essential
that rider and passenger
operate in harmony
the pillion forward. And as for the
pillion, your main task is to sit tight,
keep alert, avoid head-to-heads, and
lean the right way in corners. The right
way? That's always with the angle of the
bike, although not in an exaggerated
fashion which would pitch the bike into
the turn more acutely than the rider is
expecting. If the pillion is looking
ahead up the road, head to the inside
of the rider's, they'll automatically lean
with the bike. So in a left-hander the
passenger's head needs to be to the left
of the rider, and in a right-hander to
the rider's right. A good pillion moves
along with the rider, tucks up at full
speed, and keeps still at low speed
when it's easiest to upset the balance of
the bike. Like the rider, the passenger
should take the opportunity to relax
body muscles and stretch legs at traffic
lights. Don't get off until the rider
indicates that it's OK to do so.
Communication matters – the rider has
to know what their pillion is up to.
There are other implications for the
rider when carrying a pillion and these
involve the bike itself and the rider's
insurance policy. As the suspension is
likely to sag between 30 and 40mm twoup,
suspension pre-load could do with
being raised, especially if you are
carrying a pillion regularly.
Manufacturers' recommended tyre
pressures err on the high side because
a bike's handling will be less adversely
affected when riding with high
inflation than with low. Your bike will
have recommended pressures for
riding solo and pillion or laden, but if
you're uncertain, raise the pressures
according to the manufacturer’s
specification depending on the extra
weight being carried.
You should advise your insurance
company when filling in the proposal
form that you intend to carry
passengers, and it shouldn't affect the
premium dramatically, if at all. An
insurance company may say that it is
RIDING PILLION
legal to carry a pillion but in the event
of an accident any injury to the pillion
is not covered, although a pillion is a
third party in any accident and as such
should be covered by the third party
clauses of your insurance. Better play
safe and get it locked into your policy.
Clothing for pillions matters, too. We
don't have skin to spare, so if it's daft
for the rider to ride with just a helmet
and jeans it's equally foolhardy to ride
pillion without a full set of protective
clothing and a decent lid. Apart from
being proofed up against the elements,
even trivial accidents could threaten a
beautiful friendship.
So, if being on the back is a regular
role, the pillion should ideally be kitted
out with similar quality kit as the rider.
And for longer rides there's no
substitute for a comfortable saddle with
grab handles and fairings.
And of course you can always ask
your local motorcycle instructor for a
lesson in proper pillion proceedure. ●

What to do at a Crash Scene
You're riding along enjoying the
bike and the line of the road,
taking care, somewhere to go
and suddenly you're distracted
by a gap ripped through the
hedge and a glimpse of a vehicle. The
raw hedge damage tells you something
has just happened. Or you round a bend
and see cars at strange angles on the
road, glass everywhere, steam rising from
the front of a car. Or you find a biker
who's come off. They need help and
quick. There's just been an accident, noone
else is there and it doesn't look good.
Your plans have suddenly been
changed by events outside your control.
As you scan the scene you're aware of a
great many things: people, machines,
traffic that may arrive at any moment. So
many unknowns. You need to think, to
prioritise.
This scenario is mercifully rare, but
road accidents are nearly always reported
by members of the public. But how often
do you think about what you would do if
you witness or come across an incident?
Stephen Thomas, from the East of
England Ambulance Service, takes us
26
through what to do next to keep yourself
safe and to help ensure the best possible
outcome for the casualty.
Caution first
At an incident the primary consideration
should be your own safety. There are
occurrences every year where those who
have stopped to assist at the scene of an
incident end up becoming casualties
themselves.
Find a safe location at which to stop.
The safest spot will vary from location to
location, but some basic rules can be
applied. You should avoid stopping in
places where visibility is poor, such as just
BE PREPARED
The best way to be prepared to deal with an
incident is to attend a First Aid course. An
article such as this, whilst providing an
introduction to this topic, can in no way be a
substitute for good quality training. With First
Aid training, you will be better prepared to
employ some of the potentially life-saving
techniques described here that are regularly
employed by trained paramedics.
after the brow of a hill or on a bend.
It may be appropriate to use your
vehicle as a physical barrier between the
scene and other road users, but be aware
that it will provide little or no protection.
To aid visibility of your vehicle, make use
of your hazard warning lights. If your
motorbike does not have hazard lights but
has an alarm, check the manual as some
alarms allow you to use hazard lights
through the alarm key fob. If you have a
warning triangle, and it is safe to deploy it,
use it at least 150 feet before the incident
when time allows.
Once safely parked, don’t rush straight
in. Take time to assess the scene and make
sure it is safe to approach. Damage to
vehicles may have resulted in release of
flammable liquids and/or vapours, so stop
anybody from smoking and switch off all
engines. If any of the vehicles is equipped
with a hazard warning plate, don’t
approach the vehicle and only use your
mobile phone from a safe distance.
If there are serious casualties, advice
from the Police is not to move or touch
any vehicles (except to switch off the
engine) or move any debris unless it is
www.bedfordshire-biker.org
PICTURE: JAY TV & FUSED LIMITED

KEY POINTS
• Safety first – stop where it is safe
and you are visible to traffic
• Assess the scene before approaching
• Are there casualties? Call the
emergency services – use the CRASH
card advice to give the emergency services
the information they need.
• Offer reassurance to injured and uninjured
people involved.
• Administer first aid if necessary to control
bleeding and keep injured casualties breathing
• Do not move casualties or remove crash
helmets to avoid any further injury to the
spine or neck, unless absolutely necessary.
This takes training and more than one person.
essential to save a life. Their collision
investigators treat a crash scene in the
same way as a crime scene and will need
to collect evidence from the scene,
including where the vehicles came to a
halt, for their investigation.
Getting help
You will need to contact the emergency
services if people are injured, if the
incident is creating the risk of additional
incidents, if the road is partially or fully
blocked, or if there is risk of fire or
explosion. In these circumstances, call
them at the earliest opportunity.
Contacting the emergency services can
seem daunting, but their
call handlers are trained
to make it as easy as
Stephen Thomas and
his Yamaha Diversion
FIRST AT THE SCENE
possible and offer advice when necessary.
As soon as your call is connected from any
phone, your general location can be
identified and appropriate resources will
be despatched. The call handler will then
ask questions to identify the exact location
– be as specific as you can, giving
landmarks such as pub names if necessary.
Riding on country roads is enjoyable,
but knowing where you are is important.
How else will the emergency services know
where you are? If you use a mobile phone,
the emergency services can trace your
location, but this takes time, so the more
specific you can be, the better.
On a motorway or major trunk road use
the emergency telephones at the side of
the road to allow the rapid identification of
the location. You will then answer a
number of other questions to help clarify
the nature of the incident, the number of
casualties and whether other emergency
services are required. The control centre
will contact the other emergency services if
required, so you only need to make one
call. If there are other bystanders, their
assistance can be invaluable. For example,
one person can call for help while another
is reassuring casualties. Just remember that
when making use of other bystanders it is
important not to put their safety at risk.
Uninjured people
If any of the people involved are
uninjured, ask them to move away from
the incident to a place of safety. When
dealing with anybody involved in an
incident it is important to provide
reassurance at what is a distressing time,
and to keep them warm. Whilst it is good
to unclutter the accident scene, it is
important that they do not leave the scene
as they could be witnesses.
>
BECOME FIRST-AID
PROFICIENT
If an accident victim's airway is blocked, they
can die in three or four minutes. An
ambulance can take longer than this to arrive
at the scene, so the benefit of as many people
as possible having First Aid skills is obvious.
St John Ambulance Emergency
Aid for Motorcyclists
The St John Ambulance independent charity is
the UK's main provider of First Aid training
courses. They run an Emergency Aid for
Motorcyclists half-day course in Bedford and
Luton, and have 250 venues across the
country. This half-day course costs £42.50.
There is also an extended First Aid course run
as an evening class at Redbourne School,
Ampthill.
Website: http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/
Tel: 08700 10 49 50
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross also offers five First Aid
courses for members of the public. The fourhour
'Emergency Life Support' course, for
example, is focused on treatment for victims
with shock and significant blood loss, and
covers resuscitation (CPR) and how best to
deal with unconscious people.
Find out about this, and the other courses,
including certificated ones, by calling
0844 871 8000 or seeing www.redcross.org.uk
BBC
The BBC provides plenty of information online
about First Aid, with many on-line pages
about procedures to follow should you come
across someone who needs help. It then
offers you an online course where you answer
questions and then find out how ready (or not)
you are to offer First Aid. The site also lists
some important misconceptions about First
Aid. Find out more at
www.bbc.co.uk/health/first_aid
CARRY THE CRASH CARD
Carry a CRASH card and encourage your fellow
riders to do the same. If you are first at the
scene, the simple steps on the card will help
you get emergency support to the scene as
quickly as possible. And if you are a casualty,
then the personal information you provide will
assist paramedics in giving you the treatment
you need. Hopefully no-one will ever need to
use the CRASH card, but even just carrying it
could help riders think about their own safety.
To request a card call 01234 716333 or email
info@motorcyclingmatters.org.
27

Holding the head still
>
Conscious casualties
Being in a road-traffic collision can be
distressing, and being injured even more
so. Talking to the casualty and providing
reassurance will be comforting to them
and help distract them from their current
situation. Ask them if they have any pain
and where it is. Ask them how old they are
and if they have any medical conditions,
but do not press them for this information
if they refuse to give it. Pass on any
information to the emergency services.
Check to see if the biker has a green dot
on their helmet – if they do, inform the
paramedics – this tells them the
motorcyclist is carrying a CRASH card
with details of who they are and any
essential medical information.
Administering First Aid
With First Aid training, you will be better
prepared to use some of the potentially
life-saving techniques outlined below, that
are regularly employed by trained
paramedics.
● Bleeding If the casualty has any
significant bleeding then this should
treated by applying pressure to the
wound, wearing gloves if possible.
Anything lodged in the wound should be
left in place.
● Protect the Spine It will rarely be
necessary to move an injured person, so to
protect their spine, you can help them to
keep their heads still by holding their
protective helmet (or head if they were
not on a motorbike). Get their permission
first and try not to cover the ears as
this can be very disorientating
and you need to let them hear
what you are saying.
If they need to be moved –
for example, if they are at
significant risk from fire,
explosion or other hazards
On a First Aid course you will learn
how to roll a patient correctly if
they are vomiting
28
FIRST AT THE SCENE
– then this should be done gently,
minimising movement of the person’s
neck or back as much as possible. Once in
a safe location they should be laid on their
back on the ground.
● Unconscious Casualties Check whether
they are breathing. If breathing is normal,
then leave the person in the position that
they are found with their head kept still,
unless they start to vomit or their
breathing becomes abnormal.
● Breathing If breathing is or becomes
abnormal or stops, this indicates a
problem with their airway, which they will
not able to maintain when unconscious, so
they need assistance. First Aid training will
show you how to clear the mouth, move
the injured person to a safer position, and
how to administer CPR (cardiopulmonary
resuscitation).
● Vomiting If they start to vomit they
should be rolled onto their side to allow
the vomit to drain naturally. Again, this is
a skill that takes practice – it should be
done by at least three people if at all
possible to protect the spine and neck.
Helmet removal
Removing a crash helmet takes skill and
practice. Advice from paramedics is that
you should never attempt to remove
another rider’s helmet on your own, to
avoid damage to the neck. One of the few
circumstances under which the helmet
should be removed is when there is
difficulty in maintaining the casualty's
airway, and then this should be done
with great care by a minimum of two
trained people.
Be prepared
A useful item to carry on in any vehicle is
a First Aid kit. The carrying capacity of
some bikes is obviously limited, but there
are a number of First Aid kits available
that will fit in all but the
smallest underseat
compartments. There are even
waterproof options that fit
behind the number plate.
Helmet removal, if essential, should
be done by two trained people
Legal protection
One fear that some people have is of being
sued if they assist at an incident, and one
of the casualties they assist does not have a
positive outcome. Those who do help at
the scene of an incident may be covered
by the Good Samaritans Law.
This advises that a person acting
reasonably, with good intention, may be
legally protected.
Get First Aid training
Courses specifically tailored for
motorcyclists will cover topics such as
scene management, spinal management
and CPR. An HSE approved First Aid at
Work course is a comprehensive multi-day
course that is recognised by employers,
with some willing to pay for their staff to
attend. As well as giving confidence at the
scene of a road-traffic collision, first-aid
courses provide important life-saving skills
that can be used at any time. These types
of courses provide both theoretical and
practical teaching, giving you the
opportunity to gain experience of
techniques through staged scenarios.
Remember, enjoy your biking, do it
Stephen Thomas is an
Emergency Medical
Technician with the
East of England
Ambulance Service
safely, stay safe and
calm at an incident
and get some
First Aid training. ●

Alison, a keen biker
herself, is the RideSafe
administrator for
Bedfordshire Police.
Here she tries the
Dainese Yu two piece
suit at £739.99

So what is it about rider apparel
that until just a couple of years
ago reduced strong women to
downsize men? True, its been a
macho world out there for
generations – think of movies like the
iconic The Wild One where Marlon
Brando, Lee Marvin and co wore trad
biker jackets, copied by a generation of
rockers. And then at the other end of
the spectrum, delightful Roman Holiday
where Gregory Peck and Audrey
Hepburn ride their Vespas with nothing
to protect them but raincoats.
Somewhere in between there's
WOMEN’S CLOTHING
Suits You, Madam
Until recently, if you were a female biker you'd have
little choice about the clothing you wore: you'd simply
make do with smaller sized men's outfits. But at
long last the biker-clothing scene's finally woken
up to women riders, says Johnny Tipler
Checking fit on a
simulator with a Bering
Tempo jacket with
removable thermal and
waterproof linings
Quadrophenia's ubiquitous unisex parkas.
But for committed women
motorcyclists it's been an uphill struggle
to get kitted out in comfort.
The preponderance of male racers in
top-line events like the Isle of Man TT
compounded the felony; obviously
more blokes than birds ride bikes, ergo
there's less call for women's clothing –
and maybe not such bumper profit
margins for mainstream manufacturers.
Most bike journos are geezers, too, and
then there's safety; these days we all
know that whoever wears the trousers,
sensible has got to come before sexy.
GLF Accessories
New opening hours for 2010 • Mon-Fri 9 to 6 – Sat 9 to 5 • 10 High Street, Flitwick, Beds MK45 1DS
Tel: 01525 717009 • Fax: 01525 717403 • www.glfaccessories.com
FULL MADE-TO-MEASURE SERVICE & EXTREME SIZES
So the net result is that, although
there are some lights twinkling on the
horizon, it is still difficult to source
much variety of women's kit, with only
a handful of specialists offering ranges
of riding wear that are designed to both
fit the female form and provide
optimum protection at the same time;
it's all very well looking the part down
the pub but not so great getting
skinned in a high-speed tumble on the
way home. Form, as in fashion, rides
pillion to function, because in real
motorcycling, rather than leather tassels
and baby pink panels, you need
abrasion and impact resistance to guard
against the worst. That's why jackets
and pants are abnormally thick, the
shoulders, elbows, knees and hips
protrude with Kevlar panels. Wrists and
neck areas are tightly zippered or
elasticated to keep out draughts,
and such
practicalities
are not
typically
associated with
Barbie doll
femininity.
>
The smart Dainese Bonnevile D-Dry jacket

Rev'it Pearl Waterproof
Jacket – £199.99
Dainese Yu Leather Gloves – £69.99
>
There are strict rules for the safety
elements of crash helmets but not so for
other protective garments, but always
look out for a genuine CE label.
However, if you choose from a
respected retailer and take great care if
buying from markets, you will be safe.
Quality is obvious when it comes to
thickness of material and quality of
stitching, and go for the better known
brands if you can afford to.
Where to go?
Locally we have SK1N in Hockliffe
Street Leighton Buzzard, where you
can buy a good quality ladies textile
jacket from as little as £59, and they
have a great website at
http://www.sk1n.co.uk . Graham Falke
at GLF Accessories in High Street,
Flitwick, specialises in high-quality
made- to-measure clothing in leather or
textile from brands such as Held,
Halvarssons and Scott Leathers. Browse
the web or better still go and see their
The Spada Camo
jacket at £74.99
ranges first hand.
Hein Gericke have shops in most
UK cities, including at 326 Dunstable
Road, Luton, where you can try
stuff on, which makes especially
good sense if you're starting from
scratch. Their 'feel the ride'
website http://www.heingericke.co.uk,
is straightforward to use,
although the women's section is
nowhere near as extensive as the men's.
'Not bad,' commented the woman who
rides out with me, '...jackets with stretch
panels in the movement zones,
more black than baby pink,
so it's ok'. For a full suit,
you'll be spending in the
region of £300.
Furygan offers a
modest women's range,
and MCN recently
reviewed their new
Clara Evo jacket: 'this
should be massively
popular with
women riders
thanks to a really
gorgeous design
and three very
nice colour
options'. At
£269, it's
certainly not
cheap.
Surprisingly for
such a
respected name,
the female
The elegant
Dainese Retro
jacket costs £399
The leather-trimmed
Dainese Lucky Lady
textile jacket
ranges on Alpinestars' website are pure
fashion items, although bike-shop links
indicate they do provide women's'
leathers for serious riding. If you are
looking for something different, check
out SupaMoto of Bunyan Road
Kempston (see their advertorial on
page 45) who have a neat ‘Lady Rider’
section of their store. Then there's
BikeStop in Old Steveange which has a
really good selection of women’s gear in
all sorts of sizes – and prices, too. Lady
Biker, based in Bury St Edmunds,
Suffolk, is a one woman band selling
ranges of jackets and trousers in fabric
or leather with contrasting coloured
panels, incorporating armour, zips
and linings that conform to the
highest safety standards. Pauline
also does boots, gloves and rain
oversuits, plus knapsacks and
tank bags. She's been
operational for seven
years, having found it
hard to source riding
apparel for herself
that didn't make
her look like
Michelin Man.
'The French
firm Bering
were very
professional;
their jackets
were all
beautifully tailored,
so I took on their
franchise. Now women
can order anything they

The Bering Gattaca
textile jacket, at
£79.99, is available
in several colours
like off the website'. Typical is the
Bering Ella Women's Waterproof
Jacket, waterproof, armoured and
with detachable fleece lining, priced
at £130. Check out
www.ladybiker.co.uk.
Other makes and suppliers worth
investigating are Frank Thomas, Fox
Creek Leather, Dainese, Sidi (boots),
Teknic, First Gear, AGV and Prexport.
At £150, AGV's Sport Lady Jane jacket
ticks all the boxes, while at the high
end, Dainese's Yu Lady
Professional one-piece ladies
racing suit costs £1,408.83. Out of
these, Frank Thomas with it's
Lady Rider range appears to
take women's apparel most
seriously, rather than something
of a token gesture, and its
website is fast and
comprehensive: frankthomas.co.uk.
The Velocita
leather jacket is under
£200 and Xti gloves are
£99.99, a good
benchmark price for
gloves. In Bedfordshire,
Frank Thomas products
are stocked by Flitwick
Motorcycles and
Supermoto in Kempston.
Of the motorcycle
manufacturers, Triumph
offers a good range of
women's clothing and
accessories, nothing flashy,
but everything's covered.
Harley Davidson provides
women's lids and jackets but
no leather pants; call that
WOMEN’S CLOTHING
equality? I don't think so. Most
bike dealerships offer boots,
gloves and clothing, providing
another means of trying on kit
and garments for size. There'll be
lids too, and don't forget that
whatever your riding pattern, day to
day or occasional, you'd be crazy not to
bin your helmet after four years when
its kite mark expires. Likewise, if your
lid's been dropped onto solid ground
the construction may have been
compromised. A quality bone-dome like
Shoei's Multitec with opening front is
expensive at £370, but a decent helmet
is a no brainer.
Dainese Hellfire Evo Gloves – £109.99
There can't be many realms out
there, outside of Little Britain that is,
where the 'Lady' word still pops up so
frequently, but women bikers stand
firm! Things are looking up; you
can now feel safe and fabulous at the
same time, although it takes
some searching! ●
Something a little
different is the Dainese
Lucky Lady jacket with
collar and suede trim
We are grateful to Bike Stop,
of 104 High Street Stevenage,
for their help with the photography for
this feature

It is hard to know how Meg manages
to keep up with her busy lifestyle.
Married to fellow biker Vic, between
them they have 5 sons to look after
and on top of that she runs a
growing web-presentation business,
which is boosted by her background as a
model and actress. And then in 2003 she
discovered biking. Not being one to do
anything by halves, Meg passed her test
on her Honda Hornet – 'I wish I had
kept that bike: it was just wonderful'! –
and went on to develop her skills further.
Firstly, she got involved with the
Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire
Advanced Motorcyclists and then took
her IAM advanced test before becoming
involved in the training side.
She is now a senior observer
with Cambrideshire
Advanced Motorcyclists, the
test for which she passed
back in 2007. 'I really enjoy
getting involved in training and
I get immense pleasure from seeing
someone improve their riding', says
Meg. 'And I get a real kick from
helping someone through their tests;
it really is rewarding'.
In her relatively short twowheeled
career, Meg has
graduated through a few bikes
(Honda VFR 800 – 'a bit top >
34
FEMALE FOCUS
Meg Morris, an actress, model, successful business woman, mum
and now a dyed-in-the-wool biker, talks to Laurie Caddell
“I really enjoy
getting involved
in training and I
get immense
pleasure from
seeing someone
improve their
riding
”
Meg Morris –
My Perspective
heavy when manoeuvring for me', then a
BMW F 800 ST before getting her
Yamaha Fazer 1000, identical to her
husband's steed apart from the colour.
'I love the Fazer; it is certainly fast
enough, but it is comfortable, smooth
and brilliant to ride. Well, I say
comfortable... . I am going off on a tour
to Northern Italy soon and that should
be a good test of how good a longdistance
machine it will be!'. She has
done a good deal of touring, having
done a trip to New Zealand in 2004: 'that
was amazing. Lovely flowing roads that
were almost empty, and it was also our
honeymoon! Since then we have
Meg Morris
caught the
bike bug just a
few years ago,
but is now a
dedicated rider
and trainer

Get your riding
skills assessed by
Bedfordshire’s elite
About to do CBT?
Start by learning the basics with1st Ride
For more information and to book a place visit
www.motorcyclingmatters.org/1st-ride/
or call 01582 546288
Assessed ride with a Bedfordshire Police
advanced motorcyclist
For any rider who holds a full motorcycle licence
“If you are thinking of going and just cannot make your mind, I
would say just do it” Martin
“This is an excellent day out, I can thoroughly recommend it to any
rider no matter what their skills”Bob
“I went on a RideSafe day and it was one of the best things I have
done for bike riding as I am back in the saddle after 30+ years” Dave
For more information and to book place visit
www.motorcyclingmatters.org/RideSafe/
Email: RideSafe@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk
or Telephone Alison on 07787 704716
Spaces must be booked in advance
RideSafe assessed ride dates
28th March, Luton
25th April, Kempston
23rd May, Luton
20th June, Kempston
4th July, Luton
8th August, Kempston
3rd October, Kempston
Dates and Venues may be subject to change
FREE Training for
aspiring Motorcyclists.
Practical sessions in a safe
off road environment.
1st Ride Course dates:
28 th March, Luton
25 th April, Kempston
23 rd May, Luton
20 th June, Kempston
25 th July, Luton
26 th September, Luton
3 rd October, Kempston
Dates and Venues may be subject to change

done the Black Forest and the
Pyrenees, as well as Ireland, and
I can't wait to do Italy and the
Alps', adds Meg.
While touring is most definitely
a buzz, training gives Meg as
much satisfaction. 'For young
inexperienced riders, some
instructors can be a little
daunting, especially if the rider is
female. I worked with a young
woman recently who was very
nervous and I thought: "that was
me five years ago!". I do a lot of
motivational work in my commercial life,
and it was relatively easy to put her at
ease. And that gave me an even greater
feeling of accomplishment when she
passed her test', Meg smiles.
So, what's it like being an attractive
blonde biker? 'Well, I honestly haven't
had too many problems. The occasional
36
FEMALE PERSPECTIVE
biker in the past (on both the instructing
and pupil side...) has obviously thought
"she's just a blonde; what would she
know", but that is usually the first
impression. And I have had other riders
try to see what I am like as a rider out
there, but then I make no claims to
being a fast rider, per se; hopefully a safe
“There is something almost poetic
about the smooth inputs into a bike
and how it responds
”
Meg loves touring;
here she is with her
BMW up in the
Pyrenees a few
tours back!
It’s winter but the Fazer
is out and ready to go!
one, but not the quickest. I have
done a few track days and really
loved them, and they are a buzz,
but I know I am not the fastest
rider around, and I really don't
want to be!
'However, I love riding well and
quickly within the limits and there
is a real buzz when the Fazer
overtakes and gets the job done
swiftly and efficiently. I did some
ballet when I was younger and
there really is a connection
between balletic dance moves and
riding smoothly. There is
something almost poetic about the
smooth inputs into a bike and how it
responds'. And if you think that is just a
feminine view, watch carefully some of
the best racers. The fastest are the ones
who work with their machines as a whole,
and are gentle with their inputs even at
the racing limit.
For Meg Morris, her busy schedule
beckons, so it's on with the leathers for a
business trip to Cambridge. The recent
snow and ice may have curtailed her
riding, but nothing else does, and it is
just lucky that her 12-year-old has too
much gear to take to school as for sure he
would be on the back of the Fazer for the
school run, much as the turkey (frozen!)
was which had a pillion ride back to
Chez Meg for Christmas dinner! ●
Meg’s garage is a
Yamaha domain...
bedfordshire-biker.org

We're not sure if it's the
friendly clubby atmosphere
that makes SBW Motorrad
in Hertford such a favourite
with bikers. Or it may be
the outstanding events programme
which runs throughout the year. Or
maybe the tireless charity work. Or
maybe it's the people in the Hertford
team who will always try to go that extra
mile to help you get the most out of
your bike!
Listening to SBW Motorrad boss
Stephen Crowder talking about his plans
surrounding the racing events he has
planned for the brand new BMW S 1000 RR
superbike you would swear he has been
racing bikes for years. In fact this is the
first race bike that BMW has launched and
the past few months have been one
frenetic period of development for the
Hertford bike dealer and his team.
"Until now we have made a name for
ourselves in world travel," a smiling
Stephen says. " If you want to take your GS
around the world SBW Motorrad is the
place to come. Just ask Globebusters! The
team here has prepped many bikes for
overland travel and we have loads of
experience in advising customers what is
best to fit and what is best to leave off that
long extra spec list when you are planning
global domination."
The focus now is racing. And as ever
with BMW, when the company put their
minds to it, they plan to do it well.
"We have always strived to help people
to get the most from their bike," Stephen
says. "But an indication of how seriously
BMW is taking this new superbike sector is
that, in addition to the great BMW kit we
have always supplied, we are now able to
supply our customers as official
agents for GiMoto race suits,
Alpha Racing parts and
equipment and Kriega luggage.
"That's a fundamental change
in attitude and stresses how we
remain true to our aim here at
SBW Motorrad, and that is to
help our customers get the
most out of their bikes,
whether they simply use it to
get to work, or travel to
Timbuktu."
www.bedfordshire-biker.org
Customer relations
Of course, all of this really focuses on
creating the sort of environment customers
enjoy and it goes with out saying that SBW
Motorrad underlines this service this with a
great range of new bike stock and a
carefully managed inventory of approved
used bikes.
"We'd like to thank our customers for
their continuing support," Stephen says.
They have helped us grow in to the
record breaking business that SBW
Motorrad is today."
ADVERTORIAL
SBW Motorrad Hertford helps
you get the most out of your bike
“We have always
strived to help
people to get
the most from
their bikes
”
Charity
Charity plays a large part in the plans of
the dealership which raised more than
£3000 for Riders for Health, Children in
Need and The Herts Air Ambulance when
it invited customers to a VIP preview of the
new S 1000 RR ahead of its official launch.
"It was a bit of fun and we were very
lucky to have race legend Troy Corser as
our guest of honour," says Stephen. "But it
was really worthwhile because everyone
had a great time. "
In addition SBW Motorrad supports
local biking events such as the Bike Nite at
Meldreth Manor School, Paradise Park,
and Bikefest. And for years, SBW has been
the only biking presence at the Herts
County Show!
Ace café
Come down to the Hertford showroom
anytime and you're assured of a warm
welcome, whether you ride a BMW or not.
There's a friendly atmosphere especially on
Saturdays when the boss's doughnuts have
become something of a local
legend. He doesn't bake 'em, he
just makes sure there are enough
for everyone.
"We try to make the place
welcoming and riders have
started to realise that we are
open and happy to talk bikes,
and they can use us a staging
post and a place to relax
between rides," Stephen says.
"In fact you often see guys who
are training come in for a debrief with
their instructors. It's great to see and we
look forward to seeing you in Hertford
over the coming months and years." ●
37

BEARDS
‘N’ BARNETS
BARBERSHOP
28 High Street South, Dunstable
(on A5, opposite Woolworths)
For funky haircuts,
traditional too,
Beards ‘n’ Barnets
is the place for you.
01582 476811
Monday to Friday 8.30-5.30
Saturday 7.30-5.30 • Sunday 7.30-2.00
NO SMART PRICES.
JUST GREAT HAIRCUTS.
WE “THINK BIKE” AND ARE “BIKER FRIENDLY”
www.oakleymc.net

www.bedfordshire-biker.org
TRACK DAYS
Track days are increasingly popular, but are they just
hooligan retreats or can they be useful for learning the
handling of your bike, asks Laurie Caddell?
Well, maybe a bit of both, but
with the emphasis firmly
on the latter, plus a
generous quota of fun,
satisfaction and
accomplishment thrown in for good
measure. Track days are fine for testing
the limits of your bike; public roads are
not! For one thing, there are no
marshals dotted along your road route
to warn of potholes, manhole covers,
oncoming traffic on your side of the
road or slippery patches of tarmac!
It's a sobering experience that when
you take to the track for the first time,
however well and briskly you think you
may ride on the road, it will inevitably be
On Track
at a positively pedestrian pace compared
to experienced track standards.
Not that there's anything to be
ashamed of in that; it's vital to be aware
of the limitations of both your riding
skills and your bike.
Speed limits, road furniture and other
traffic keep you informed on the road,
but the first sensation that hits you on
the circuit is just how wide it all seems,
and how far away everything is. For the
first few bends you'll be braking tens of
yards too soon and turning in well before
you should. Those tight corners you
have seen on TV will seem pretty
expansive, and the fast ones will appear
to be very open and extremely quick.
It is not all about
knee-down riding
on a track day. It
is about enjoying
your riding and
exploring you and
your machine’s
limits in safety
Especially when you see an experienced
rider come past at a fast rate.
Most track days are well organised but
choose a company that has an established
reputation and you will be rewarded
with top-class logistics and instructors
who will be happy to show you around
the circuit. There are plenty of venues
on offer, but you need to think carefully
about what's important to you.
Remember that a day at a proper race
circuit is likely to have better marshalling
and medical facilities than one on some
private land somewhere or on a disused
kart track. Try to find an organisation
that splits the riders up into
different levels of expertise >
39

so you can select the level that is most
appropriate for your abilities.
As for your bike, as long as it is in good
condition – a proper track-day
organisation will make sure that it is fit
for purpose – it will serve you well. You
are likely to use considerably more
rubber than you would in weeks of fast
riding on the road, because there is so
much more grip on a track, the surface is
less contaminated, and of course your
speeds will be higher. Tyres with plenty
of tread and in top condition are an
absolute prerequisite. You don't need to
go too far, even if some do! One 'track
dayer' takes it all very seriously and
trailers his big Suzuki around Europe to
some great venues. His bike has a lap
timer (on board as well as on the pit wall
in the shape of his partner!) and he
always has extra tyres in their tyre
warmers on hand in the garage...
When you've made all your
preparations and the day finally arrives,
be realistic and open about what kind of
rider you are. As TV
commentator James Whitham,
who is also one of the few
men to have won races in
Some riders have their
own track-day specials
40
both World Superbike and Supersport,
says: 'you have to be humble and you
have to be honest. When you turn up for
a day, don't big yourself up and say you
have more experience than you have
and get yourself into a more advanced
class because that will end in tears with
you in the gravel. Most days have three
levels of groups: beginner, intermediate
and experienced. Take them one step at
a time and, even if you think you
are a natural as a fast road
rider, please still start in the
beginner's class. It is a fact of
life that most spills on track
days take place in the
TRACK DAYS
“You have to be humble and you
have to be honest. When you turn
up for a day, don't big yourself up
and say you have more
experience than you have and get
yourself into a more advanced
class because that will end in
tears with you in the gravel
”
mornings when the posturings and the
machismo come to the fore'. When you
press that starter button, your mind will
be so bombarded with information and
sensations that you need a while to
acclimatise. Take it easy, and don't worry
about yourself. Your destiny is controlled
by your right hand, so only go as fast as
you feel comfortable. It's a strange
feeling to be leaning right over on a bike
through a long corner, especially on tyres
that have never been used on their sides
in anger! Cut yourself some slack to get
into the groove.
So, what can you gain from a track
day? First off, you get in-depth
knowledge of your steed. It is all well
and good knowing that it may have 180odd
horsepower and be able to
accelerate to oblivion in 7 seconds flat,
but none of that means much on the
road. One big difference between road
and track, apart from the fact that the
traffic generally only goes one way on
the latter, is the amount of grip on
a circuit. Sometimes it can be
almost twice as much. So you
can accelerate more quickly,
corner faster and stop more
readily. And by doing all those
things you will have a better
idea of how your bike operates
and more importantly feels in
extreme conditions. The top
sensation to get intimately
acquainted with is your bike's
stopping potential. A superbike can
stop very quickly indeed – if the
rider is capable enough to >

Powerful stuff for everything you need
to handle your machine on the nation’s
best roads. Featuring exclusive footage
of Tommy Hill, Lead Rider, Virgin mobile
Yamaha British Superbikes Team.
Get the edge. Read the road. Take the
challenge! Are you really as good as
you can be? Reading the road edition.
Featuring a ride out across one of the
UK’s favourite routes.
To request your free copy call 01234 716333 or email info@motorcyclingmatters.org
and let us know which DVD you would like and how many.
THINK
www.motorcyclingmatters.org
If you would like a free sticker call 01234 716333 or send an email
to info@motorcyclingmatters.org saying how many you would like
and whether you want sticky or cling (or both!)
FREE
Think Bike
stickers
also availa a ble

Good protection,
all the glass and
indicators taped
up: time to enjoy!
>
master the process. And there is
nowhere better than in the safe confines
of a track to try that out on the same
corner time after time. You may even get
to the stage where you can almost lock
one or other wheel (and be ready to let
the brakes off rapidly again!) to feel how
the bike responds, with the suspension
dipping and you being pushed up and
almost over the bars.
The beauty of a circuit is that you keep
coming up to the same corners so you
can improve your technique each and
every lap. That isn't just about shaving
tenths of a second off your times, it's
about gently coaxing your machine and
getting a feel for how it reacts and how
by changing your position on the seat –
forward and back and not just from side
to side – you get a different response.
What you need to be aware of is that
with little notable scenery about and wide
open spaces (unless you're at the
Nürburgring!), you will be travelling a lot
more rapidly than you think, so all input
into the brakes and
steering especially has
to be firm and sure
but gentle, lest the bike
be upset in its stance.
Once you are up to a
decent track speed you can
really begin to enjoy your bike.
A lightly modified road-going 600cc
steed in the Superstock category can lap
a track as quickly as a British Touring
Car racer on slick tyres, which is
staggering. If your road machine is a
top-range superbike, you can be safe in
42
the knowledge that it will deliver that
sort of performance; it is here that the
difference between 160 and 180bhp
matters in a place other than a pub
argument. Give a bike its head on the
track and it will feel right at home,
which, with the potential to get into a
three-figure speed in first gear, it won't
on the Queen's Highway.
There are two schools of thought
about what happens when you have left
the track day and it is time to get back on
the straight and narrow homeward
bound. One school has it that you may
be tempted to travel at the same
TRACK DAYS
exaggerated speeds once back on public
roads, but the majority feel that the
opposite applies. Its fantastic to get that
speed out of your system, and you know
you've got nothing left to prove. Back to
James Whitham: 'once you have tried it
for yourself, you will still enjoy riding
on the road, but you won't have quite so
much of a need to go fast. And you will
have also found that you will have
honed your bike control by an
enormous amount, especially braking
safely from higher speeds and
generally getting a feel for your
particular mount. Once you get used
to knowing what it does at track pace,
you will be more aware of its limits
and what you have in reserve on the
road, and that can only make you a
better and ultimately safer rider'.
If there is one golden rule to bear
in mind with a track day it is not to
push beyond your own boundaries.
Build up to comfortable pace and soon
enough your speed will increase without
much effort on your part. Keep it steady
and you will gain enormously from the
experience. Crashes are quite rare on
such days, and you have much more
chance of running wide and going into
the gravel or onto the grass than you
have of being involved in a big accident,
as long as you keep your wits about you.
Back on the highway again, you can
revert to riding your machine in a more
sedate manner, but happy in the
knowledge that you will have extracted
more performance from it than you
could dream of on the road. And as for
your riding confidence, you can be sure
that the same skills you learned to brake
and turn hard on a circuit corner will
come in handy if by unlucky chance
someone forces you into taking evasive
action when they pull out on you. ●

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Stop
Dreaming
Get Riding!
Bedfordshire’s No.1 Training Centre
CBT to Full Licence
Direct Access Courses
Advanced Training
Bike Hire - 50cc to 500cc
Training for all ages
01525 405 237
www.smartmotorcycles.co.uk
TRAINING CENTRE
Smart Motorcycle Training, Redborne School,
Ampthill, Beds, MK45 2NU
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Plenty of bikes and
clothing for sale and a
comfortable and inviting
atmosphere at SupaMoto
SUPAMOTO: bringing to
Bedfordshire a dealership that offers
everything a motorcyclist could want!
That was the aim
of SupaMoto's
owner Peter
Coleman when he
opened this
emporium one
year ago
Never before had Bedfordshire
had a point of contact where
bikers could buy all they
needed under one roof or just
meet up with like-minded
people any
www.bedfordshire-biker.org
day of the week.
My wife and I used to ride all over
the county looking for somewhere we
could go which was bike related, have a
coffee and chat to knowledgeable
people. And then we had a really good
idea with a very simple aim: to set up
our own shop, one with a full range of
reasonably priced clothing and
accessories, a range of quality new and
used bikes and a fully equipped
workshop which could cope with all
makes and models of motorcycles but
most importantly a comfortable,
friendly cafe serving a top-quality
ADVERTORIAL
Plenty of crash
hats to suit
every need and
pocket here
brand of coffee in a motorcycle setting.
I think we have achieved our aim and
now we have been open for 12 months
we are almost where we need to be.
Obviously we are always happy to hear
peoples ideas; that's what its all about.
SupaMoto certainly caters for the
needs of motorcyclists in Bedfordshire.
Plans are already afoot to take the same
principles elsewhere. Watch this space!
Open seven days a week
means there is no excuse not to take a
look, sample the coffee and browse
round the shop. For contact details see
our advert opposite. ●
45

When contemplating that first ride-out after winter or a break,
do yourself and your bike a favour and test all systems are on
form before you hit the road, says Johnny Tipler
Spring is in the air: daffodils are
thrusting through the thawed
earth, there's a hint of warmth to
the sunshine and the notion of
that first ride is bubbling into
consciousness – at least after our frozen
winter, that's what we are hoping for! All
winter long you've been restricted to
peering into the garage to check that
hibernation is proceeding unhindered,
but now the white stuff's hopefully in
retreat, and it's time to get biking!
But hold tight; there's a checklist to go
through before you even press the starter
button or fold out that kick-start lever. That
bike's been standing idle over the last few
months, and before firing it up you've got
to verify its vitals. You know that makes
sense – it could be the difference between a
breezer and a seizure.
Chances are it won't need a
comprehensive re-commissioning,
especially if you mothballed it properly
before the winter lay-up. First, take a look
under the bike to see if there are any
significant drips or pools of fluid where it's
been standing. Don't worry if you can't
attend to them yourself, at least you know
TYRES
Spring into Action
Check tread is clear of stones and tyres
are generally in good condition
you've got to get it seen to. Asking yourself
question numero uno: "were there any jobs
outstanding when I put it away, in a bid to
save money over the winter?" If the
answer's "yes", delay no longer! Book
the garage, or if you can, DIY. As for the
post-lay-up health check, begin at the top
of the bike and work down to give it a
systematic once-over.
Take the brakes: squeeze the lever and
pedal, feeling for firm resistance before
reaching maximum travel. Pumping the
lever or pedal several times in rapid
succession on a hydraulic brake system will
ensure that the brake pads are in the ideal
position to stop effectively. Have a peek at
the pads, making sure they're not overly
worn, and check the brake discs for
excessive scoring, rust or blue colouring.
With the bike on centre-stand or blocks,
spin the front wheel; it should rotate freely
and the disc shouldn't wobble from side
to side. Push the bike forwards and
make sure that each brake pulls it
up. Remember, it doesn't matter
how well the bike goes; if the
brakes fail you're in trouble.
Tyres are just as crucial,
deserving respectful treatment
as your bike's footprint, your
point of contact with the road
surface. With tyre temperatures
cold – as they presumably will be –
and assuming your gauge is accurate,
check the pressures are correct. Maybe you
over-inflated them to keep the tyres firm
over the winter. If they're good, then
measure the tread depth near the tyre
apex. It must be at least 1mm all the way
round the circumference in the central 75percent
of the tread pattern so it would
make sense to have more than this at the
start of the season to allow for wear, and
the remaining tread pattern on the
shoulders must still be visible. Assuming
they're not going to need replacing, nitpick
the treads and remove grit and alien
objects which reduce grip and could be the
cause of a puncture
BEDFORD BIKE & CAR CENTRE
MOT – SERVICING – REPAIR – 24hr RECOVERY

OIL
Emulsified oil is a sign of water
ingress which could be serious
further down the road. Check sidewalls for
splits and signs of perishing, and if in
doubt play safe and invest in new ones. It's
worth deflating the tyres completely and
re-inflating them as, believe it or not, fresh
air can affect the bike's handling
significantly. And bear in mind that tyre
pressures fluctuate according to the
weather, temperature,
as well as your riding style.
To see that the steering is in good shape,
with the bike on its centre stand – axle
stands or blocks – raise the front wheel off
the ground. The handlebars should move
from lock to lock with minimum effort, no
knotchiness or stickiness, and without
trapping any cables, wires or control hoses.
If the headset needs replacement you are
out of DIY and into specialist territory.
Test the suspension by pressing down
firmly on the front and rear of the bike,
separately. Keep the brakes on while you're
MAINTENANCE
BRAKES
Brake lever pivots need lubricating
Check brake lines for splits or nicks
Make sure the brake
calipers aren’t leaking
doing it. Lean on the bars to evaluate the
front, and push on the rear seat for a
reaction at the back. The suspension
should travel down, return upwards and
then settle straight away – in just those
three stages. If there's more or less
movement it usually indicates a damper
fault which will need professional attention.
Now we come to the chain. Make sure
it's correctly tensioned as designated by the
model's Workshop Manual: too tight is just
as bad as too loose. You'll have doubtless
lubricated it prior to its winter lay-up, but
it won't do any harm to squirt WD-40 to
ease links and suppress rust. As for
scooter owners whose machines are >
Phone: 01234 354222 / Fax: 01234 354333

WHEEL SPINDLE
SUSPENSION
>
Grease the rear-suspension
pivot, too, if necessary
fitted with belt drive – out of sight
should no way be out of mind, so pop the
cover off and take a look. If the belt looks
ragged, get a new one fitted ASAP.
All the bike's lubricants, including engine
oil – both four and two-stroke – gearbox,
wheel bearings and brake fluids, should
look reasonably clear and golden with
levels resting at the correct indicator points
in their reservoirs. Even if you're one of
those paragons of virtue who check them
weekly whatever the weather, now's the
time to make sure that fluid levels are
accurate and in good consistency. Take care
not to overfill: too much fluid creates
excessive pressure and is to be avoided.
Basically, if it moves, the best advice is
lubricate regularly and comprehensively,
with oil or grease as appropriate. Examine
all the hoses and fluid lines to make sure
there are no splits and joints aren't
weeping. And if you didn't get around to it
pre-lay-up (which is the best time because
it means there's fresh, clean oil in the
crankcase) now's a good time to change the
oil and oil filter. Use the correct oil or
lubricant for specific places, as specified in
your machine's Owner's Manual. Beware of
getting excessive grease on brake caliper
The rear splindle is exposed to muck
and grime and may need greasing
pistons or brake discs as this will hamper
their operation.
You might want to change your Coolant
at this point. Although not a major
concern, it tends to get contaminated and
therefore less effective as time goes by.
Stating the obvious, but don't forget to
check the fuel level in the petrol tank,
otherwise you could be on the road to
nowhere. It simply isn't true that petrol
lasts indefinitely; if it's stored over time,
petrol degrades, the octane rating falls, and
it burns inefficiently. Although not so
critical with older kick-start two-stroke
machines, this really does affect later fourstroke
models. Over the longer-term or in
cases of neglect, petrol turns into a waxy
green sludge that blocks fuel taps, lines,
filters, right through to carburetors or
injectors – containerised grey imports that
have been parked dockside before
shipping are especially vulnerable. It's a
laborious job to clean out the crud, so get
into the habit of turning the fuel tap off,
assuming it has one. Add fuel stabiliser to a
tankful, running the bike long enough to
get the treated fuel through the carbs, but
for a comprehensive result run the carbs
dry. Take the engine up to 3000rpm and
set the choke as it starts to cough to get as
BATTERY
MAINTENANCE
Corroded battery terminals
need to be cleaned
BEDFORD BIKE & CAR CENTRE
MOT – SERVICING – REPAIR – 24hr RECOVERY
Phone: 01234 354222 / Fax: 01234 354333
much fuel out as possible; if there's no
petrol in the carb it can't wax up. There
will still be fuel in the float chamber so
remove that and dry out the chamber. It
could be worth draining the tank if the
bike is going to be stored for a while,
although you need to weigh up the
advantages with the benefits of a full tank
preventing oxidation and thereby rust. It's
the proverbial Catch 22. A reasonable
compromise would be to turn the engine
over periodically during the winter just to
keep the systems up to scratch, but make
sure the exhaust gases have somewhere to
disperse outdoors.
There shouldn't be any deterioration in
the electrical systems if your storage area is
dry, although the battery could be an issue.
So turn the ignition switch on and start the
engine. Ensure that the headlight and
main beam, taillight, indicators, brake light
and horn are all working. Note whether
the fuel gauge, rev counter and
instruments are operating properly. If
something isn't working it may be
down to a corroded fuse that needs
replacing. Have a look in the fuse box in
case any need cleaning.
Is the battery the sealed for life type? If
not, how's the fluid level? If it needs to be
topped up, only use distilled water. A
useful barometer of battery condition is if it
starts the bike with the lights on from cold,
then it's OK, but a more thorough check
can be carried out with a voltmeter. You'll
be looking for 12.75 volts, up to a
maximum of 13 volts if it's good or brand
new; 12.45 volts or less indicates a battery
that's on the green mile, so beware, since if
its lost its charge it can freeze and split. On
balance it's better to remove the battery
from the bike and keep indoors over
winter, putting it on a trickle charge for
48 hours before starting up. If the battery
is flat, maybe your charger isn't up to
scratch. Batteries have a limited lifespan, so
be prepared to shell out for a new one
every three years.
Finally, take a look at the body panels.
Washing your bike's fairings isn't just a
matter of cosmetics; getting the dust off
keeps the paintwork in good order. Wash
the bike with mild chemical cleaners – so
much better than spraying with a jet wash
that could damage critical components like
those all-important brakes. What goes for
your bike goes for your kit as well. You'll
want to clean your visor and check your
boots and leathers for splits. If in doubt,
replace! And if you've got all these bases
covered, you can don your kit with a clear
conscience and get riding, safe in the
knowledge that all systems are go. ●

Local Clubs and Associations
Beds and Luton
Local Access Forum
This forum is an independent advisory
body working with Bedford Borough
Council, Central Bedfordshire Council
and Luton Borough Council to improve
your enjoyment of the area’s countryside
while safeguarding its future.
Website: Visit local council’s websites
BMF Eastern Region
Website for all British Motorcycling
Federation members in Hertfordshire,
Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk,
Suffolk and Essex. Find out what's
happening in the region. Tell us what
you are up to, join the forum or just
surf to find out what everybody else is
up to. You will be most welcome.
Website: BMF Region 4 (East England)
members' website, www.bmf.co.uk/
Region_4/home/index.php
Herts & Beds
Advanced Motorcyclists
Get a skill for life by joining the Herts &
Beds Advanced Motorcyclists (IAM), pass
your advanced motorcycle test, socialise,
better your riding, organised monthly
ride-outs, talks etc.
Address: Rob Beasley Membership
Secretary, 103 Chase Green Avenue,
Enfield, Middx, EN2 8EN. Tony Mulhall,
Group Secretary, 49 Vincent Road,
Luton, Beds, LU4 9AN
Phone: 0800 4588425
Email: tellmemore@hbam.org.uk
Website: www.hbam.org.uk
Henlow
Motorcycle Club
The club is based at RAF Henlow,
Bedfordshire, and was formed in
2007. We currently have around
30 members from all around the
local area. The club attracts an
assortment of bikes/riders and as
well as holding regular rideouts
to shows and meets each week
though out the summer, we also
travel to Europe each year. We
meet for drinks in our club
building every Thursday at
7pm and other bikers/clubs are
very welcome to attend
providing they let us know first
so that we can arrange passes.
Contact: Tom Webster
Phone: 07825 296510
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/
group.php?gid=26358489541
The Vintage Motorcycle
Club – Shefford Group
We meet at the Shefford Memorial Hall
every third Thursday of the month. The
group are old motorcycle enthusiasts and
have some really good evening shows in
the summer of huge numbers of
glittering old bikes.
Contact: Bryan Marsh the current
Chairman on 01525 877585
VMCC SHEFFORD GROUP A member’s
immaculate P&M Panther outfit
BEDS CLUBS
HENLOW MOTORCYCLE CLUB Group rideout
Honda Owners
Club (GB)
Bedfordshire Branch
Meet every Wednesday at 'The
Chequers', Streatley, nr Luton,
from 8pm.
We are primarily a social club for
motorcyclists that own, or have owned,
a Honda motorcycle, and have
rideouts, rallies, weekends away, BBQs
and parties throughout the year.
Phone: 01438 357398
E-mail: bedfordshire@hoc.org.uk
Website: www.bedfordshire.hoc.org.uk
Oakley Motorcycle Club
Oakley Motorcycle Club has been running
since 2005, based in the small North
Bedfordshire village of Oakley and we
welcome all members. Our current
membership stands at over 200 from places
as far away as Luton, Milton Keynes,
Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire.
The club consists of members of all ages,
with a wide cross-section of biking
interests from those with a collection of
vintage motorcycles to those who only
use theirs to race.
We meet every Thursday 7pm, all year.
Please visit our web site
www.oakleymc.net or call Roger on
07747 144497
Luton Lambretta Club
Lambrettas & other makes of scooter.
Website: www.lutonlambretta.co.uk
For all your motorcycle needs
Quote Line 0843 357 1780
www.footmanjames.co.uk
>

Italian Motorcycle
Owners Club
The enthusiasts meet at the Rose &
Crown in Ridgemont, and local
representative Graham Wilkinson can
provide more details.
Phone: 01525 750757
Web: italianmotorcycleownersclub.com
The Pilgrims Scooter
Club, Bedford
The club is made up of mainly
Lambretta, Vespa and Malcolette
enthusiasts, and the Pilgrims
meet most Sunday mornings from
11am onwards at the Old Market
Square in Bedford town centre,
right in front of The Piazza café.
Website: www.thepilgrimssc.co.uk
Triumph Owners
Motorcycle Club
The enthusiasts meet at the Red Lion,
Bedford Road, Wilstead, Beds, every
Monday fro m 8pm.
Website: www.bedfordtomcc.co.uk
Velocette Owners Club
Meet third Monday of each month at
8pm and first Sunday of each month for
a run out. Friendly bunch of chaps with
a very good knowledge of Velos among
other bikes. Everybody made welcome.
Contact: Dave Carter on 01844 201060
Meeting place: White Horse,
Mill Road, Husborne Crawley,
Bedfordshire MK43 0XE.
EAST NORTHANTS CLASSIC MCC Some of the group on 2009
‘Heartbeat’ Tour where we travelled around 600 miles staying at the
Aidensfield Arms for 3 nights. The bikes used were mainly classics
ranging from 1940s to the ’60s plus a couple of modern machines
AJS and Matchless
Owners Club
Meet second and fourth
Thursday of each month at 8pm.
Meeting place: White Horse,
Mill Road, Husborne Crawley,
Bedfordshire MK43 0XE
Contact: Lawrence Howes
Email: heartofengland@jampot.com
Website: www.ajsmatchless.com/heartofengland
Top Yokes M.C.
This small bike meet organises local rideouts
and also ventures to the Ace cafe,
weekends away in Wales or other biking
destinations. It is free to join and to take
part in the ride-outs, simply turn up,
come and have a chat and enjoy yourself.
We meet on a Wednesday evening from
about 7pm onwards at the Packhorse Inn
on the A5, on the junction between the
A5 and Kensworth (Lynch hill). All types
of bikes are welcome.
The pub is run by a very welcoming
couple called Martin and Jan who
help and support the bike meets. Bikers
are welcome whether it is bike night or
not. We have a website if you wish to
contact us or organise a ride-out of your
own or even just come to say ‘hi’ then
please do. There are some pictures on
there of previous meets.
Website: www.chilternmc.co.uk
George, Karl, Nick and all of
us at Top Yokes hope to see you
soon and ride safely.
BEDS CLUBS
East Northants
Classic MCC
Offers a friendly, welcoming
atmosphere; 'where there is no place for
egos or bull', just a genuine bunch of
sociable enthusiasts with a common
interest in bikes, especially anything a
little unusual. The Club organises
weekday, early evening and weekend
rides throughout the year plus weekend
and longer tours etc, and while there is a
strong interest in bikes from the heyday
of the British Motorcycle industry nearly
all our members also ride modern
machinery therefore the word 'classic'
is undefined so you can make up your
own mind whether that includes you –
as long as you're interested in Classics
– it does! The only real rule is that we
ride to speed of our slowest machine /
rider and always within the legal
requirements of the road.
Meeting place: We meet Tuesday
evenings from about 7.30pm at the
New Inn, Wymington, Bedfordshire,
NN10 9LN (near Rushden).
No Membership fees.
Web: www.eastnorthantsclassicmcc.com
The Mad Hatters
The Mad Hatters is a bike club in Luton
that meets every Monday except the
second Monday of the month at the
Globe pub in Latimore Road,
opposite the Casino on the flyover. We
cater for all types of bike from 125cc to
1000cc and beyond, and it doesn't
matter if it’s race rep, custom, classic
tourer or trike: all are welcome.
Once a year we hold a bike show, which
this year takes place on Sunday 19th
September 2010, at the Packhorse Inn
on the A5 Watling St, Kensworth turn
(between Dunstable and the M1).
For more information: call Cliff on
01582 729690 / 07956 202541 or
Acker on 01582 592431 / 07814 677950.
Free entry, trade stalls welcome –
no charge!
NOT LISTED BUT
WANT TO BE?
Please send your details to:
info@bedfordshire-biker.org
For all your motorcycle needs
Quote Line 0843 357 1780
www.footmanjames.co.uk

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