Web tug feb 2014

PROMOTING MOTORCYCLING EXCELLANCE SINCE 1982

Registered Charity Number 1107703

2 PROMOTING MOTORCYCLING EXCELLANCE SINCE 1982

www.allenbymotorcycles.co.uk

Tel: 01245 348100

Fax: 01245 348101

Buying or Selling? phone ...

MOTORCYCLES BOUGHT, SOLD & EXCHANGED

Always 50 machines in stock — see:

Unit 2, Court Industrial Estate,

Navigation Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 6DN

Accessories, Spares + Clothing

USED BIKE SPECIALIST


Chairman’s Piece 2

John Tullett 8

Feedback form 18

(Pull out)

Diary (Pull Out) 20

Membership Form

(Pull Out) 22

Reveiller Rides 30

Further Training 42

Welcome!

What’s happening next?

Log into www.eamg.org.uk, then Runs and Rides Forum

And follow us on Twitter.

Dear Members

Welcome to my last edition of TUG, after two

years I think I have finally got the hang of it !

but now it is time for someone new to have a

go.

Thank you for all your articles, photos, info

and help.

This months AGM will bring about some

changes to the committee so I haven’t

included a list this time, I am sure it will be

updated shortly.

Make sure you have a look at page 30 and

John Tippers article on this years Reveiller

Rides.

All the best and ride safe

Laura


The new season is almost here, time to check your bike over and

brush up on your riding skills if you have not ridden through the

winter, lets hope we have a glorious summer.

This is the last chairman’s piece I shall be writing, I am sure you all

know by now that I am standing down from the post and the

committee as of the AGM in February. I would like to wish the new

chairperson, whoever it is, good luck for the future.

Also big thank you to all of the committee members past and

present that have looked after me during my five years on the

committee.

Membership numbers last year were quite healthy considering

there are now three groups in Essex, our financial position is even

stronger which is good for the forthcoming year. This is due to us

cutting back on expenses where ever possible and looking for more

cost effective ways of running the group. I do not want to steal the

new chairpersons or the treasurer’s glory but we should see more

membership benefits in the future making membership of the

group even better.


Unfortunately we still do not have a new TUG editor to replace

Laura, this is quite sad because if no body steps up to the plate

TUG could become a thing of the past. This would be a crying

shame as all of the hard work put in getting the publication to

almost pay for its self will have been a waste of time! Someone

please think about taking it on, give up a few hours every two

months it really is rewarding.

Nigel


Membership Report

Membership Number

Full

Associate

Social

Total

Dear Members,

Please don’t forget it’s time for membership renewal. The form is right here in the centre

of TUG or you can find it on the website.

If you have paid up and haven’t received your membership card please let a committee

member know.

Please also note the feedback form on page 18 it will be most helpful if as many

members as possible can fill one in and get them to John Tullett.

Also please remember to spread the word about EAMG, recommendation is such a

valuable tool and current members are always the best advocates for what a good group

this is.

Fees for 2014

• New Associate Members £55.00

• Associate Member Renewal £40.00

• Full Member Renewal £25.00

• Socials Member £25.00

• FMT £20.00 (For more information on Full

Member Training see page 54)


Teri Olley

18th Jan 2014

RoSPA re Test Gold

Examiner Paul Roberts

Neil Bullock 28th December 2013

RoSPA (Gold) Observer - Geoff Preston Examiner - Paul Roberts

Steve Lewis 30th November 2013 RoSPA (Bronze)

Observer - Simon Enticknap Examiner - Mark Anderson


Regalia is now

available to order -

please see Jill Winn

for more details


Vo l u n t e e r s R e q u ir e d

P r o m o t in g o u r g r o u p a t v a r io u s e v e n t s

t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r is a r e a l l y v a l u a b l e

t o o l f o r in t r o d u c in g o u r g r o u p t o n e w

m e m b e r s , t h is y e a r w e n e e d y o u r h e l p . If y o u a r e a v a il a b l e t o h e l p m a n t h e s t a n d p l e a s e d o n ’ t b e s h y s p e a k t o a c o m m it t e e m e m b e r

Don’t forget

AGT is on the

Sunday after

group night at

Moulsham school

Please read page

12 about a

forthcoming

group night

guest speaker


Jane Wilson Trophy

The EAMG Training Team awards an annual Trophy in memory of Jane Wilson. For the

benefit of new members, Jane was a former Associate with EAMG who achieved a RoSPA

Gold in 2007 and qualified as an EAMG Observer in January 2008. Tragically Jane lost

her life in a fatal road accident on 4th July 2010.

Throughout her training and subsequent work as an Observer, Jane displayed very high

levels of enthusiasm, effort and endeavour in achieving her goals and promoting these

qualities in those she worked with. Although achievement of standards is always com-

mendable, this award particularly recognises the value of the qualities that Jane brought

to her involvement with the Group.

In recognition of Jane’s achievement, the Training Team awards Jane's trophy to the

Associate who, in their opinion, has worked the hardest, shown the most dedication and

perseverance in their training to achieve their test pass, irrespective of the qualification

achieved.

I am delighted to confirm that this year's winner is Sandra Smith. Congratulations to

Sandra and her 1-to-1 Observer Peter Richbell.

Training with EAMG

We achieved a steady stream of test passes during 2013 and this means that, at present,

there is not a waiting list before I can allocate you to an Observer for 1-to-1 training.


Traditionally quite a few new members join EAMG through word of mouth recommenda-

tions from existing members, so if you know of anyone who could potentially benefit

from joining us please invite them along to a Group Night meeting or an AGT where they

can check us out as a guest and then join before the spring rush gets underway....

Membership fees have been held at last year's levels and are:

£55 for new Associates (to include copies of Motorcycle Roadcraft and the Highway

Code);

£40 for renewing Associates; and

£25 for Full members (plus an additional optional £20 to participate in Further

Training for Full Members).

1-to-1 Observed Rides

Form the core of Associate training within EAMG, with an assigned Observer focussing on

addressing your personal training needs and aspirations. Associates are requested to

make a £10 contribution towards Observer expenses on 1-to-1 training rides.

Before you can be allocated to a 1-to-1 Observer EAMG requires you to complete a New

Associate Training Process (NATP), which covers the prerequisites for safe participation in

training and are normally run in conjunction with Associate Group Training sessions.

Associate Group Training (AGT)

Our first AGT of the year is scheduled for Sunday, 9th February and I am keeping my

fingers crossed that the weather will be kinder to us than it was for the corresponding

event in 2013, when we had to cancel due to a severe weather warning! Please remem-

ber Associates may attend AGTs at no additional cost.

AGTs provide Associates with the opportunity to attend a short Roadcraft sessions fol-

lowed by an observed ride with a different Observer over different routes and are held at

09:15 on the first Sunday of the month after the Group Night meeting on the first Tues-

day. Our venue is Moulsham School, Chelmsford, post code CM2 9ES.

We also offer two additional training opportunities to Full members - Full Member Train-

ing days and Further Training of Full Members.

Full Member Training (FMT)

FMTs offer an opportunity for Full members to have their riding observed over a route of

approximately 200 miles and training will be tailored to fit the individual requirements of

participants, which could range from a check to ensure that no bad riding habits have

developed through to preparation for a RoSPA test / retest or for Observer training.


Where possible we ride on a 2-to-1 ratio with an Observer and two Full Members, giving

one the opportunity to have a 'rest' while the other is being observed. We will endeavour

to match riding experience, ability and aspirations, with any mis-matching being ad-

dressed at the first refreshment stop.

Routes are carefully selected and vary from course to course. A route plan will be sent

by email or post a few days before the day to enable familiarisation. Where possible

routes will be simple to follow and cover a wide variety of roads. Two refreshment stops

will be planned, the first being after 40/50 miles with the second at approximately 120

miles. Training costs £45 per ride. To ensure the highest possible standard, all Observ-

ers undertaking the training will be EAMG Assessors, EAMG Senior Observers or EAMG

Observers holding the RoSPA Gold standard.

Four FMT days are scheduled for 2014 on: Sunday 13th April; 25th May; 24th August &

19th October. If you wish to join any of these rides please contact John Tipper by com-

pleting the application form elsewhere in this issue of TUG or via e-mail.

Further Training for Full Members (FTFM)

With a structure similar to that provided for Associates, you will be assigned to an Asses-

sor, Senior Observer or Observer who holds a RoSPA Gold qualification; 1-to-1 rides will

then be mutually arranged. FTFM is designed to offer individuals the opportunity to pre-

pare for a RoSPA test or retest, to address specific riding issues or to prepare for training

to become an EAMG Observer (if you are potentially interested in becoming an Observer

please get in touch with me and I will be happy to supply further details). Full members

are requested to make a £10 contribution towards Observer expenses on FTFM rides.

To join the FTFM scheme, please tick the relevant box on the EAMG Membership Form

and forward to the Membership Secretary along with your additional fee.

Should any members have any training related queries then please contact me via e-mail

[email protected] or send me a PM via the Message Board.

John Tullett


“If you have a crash and it wasn’t your fault we can manage your claim free of charge. That means we will represent you and communicate with your insurance company, the at-fault insurance company, your repairer and, most importantly, YOU to resolve liability in your favour and manage

your claim until your bike is back with you, fully repaired.

In the unfortunate event that a bike is damaged, bikers may not be aware that once their insurer is notified, the insurer will arrange for their ap-proved repairer to collect their bike. This may not be ideal for a number of reasons, that’s why Ridemaster will work with your chosen local repairer

where they know you and know your bikes’ history.

Call Ridemaster first and we’ll take the pain out of a bad day.”

RIDEMASTER PO BOX 859 Aylesbury

Bucks.

HP22 9FJ

T: 0844 888 0999 F: 0844 888 4190

www.ridemaster.co.uk


Essex Advanced Motorcycle Group

Group Night Talk, 6th May 2014

The Barn, Channels Golf Club, Pratts Farm Lane East

Little Waltham, Chelmsford, CM3 3PT

John Hutchinson, Concorde Captain

Last year I was privileged to spend an evening with John Hutchinson listening to his fascinating talk on Concorde. I’ve always been interested in aviation, more the mechanics than actually flying, often describing it as motorcycling in 3D. I spent the evening glued to my chair, captivated when hearing the truth behind that fateful crash in July 2000. There’s no denying that Concorde ran over a piece of debris causing the tyre to burst and the resultant fire but experts say the fire was survivable. John is

open and frank about his views.

The following is extracted from a forward written by ‘Flying Lawyer’ when introducing John’s fascinating biography, The Wind Beneath my Wings:

Although best known as a senior BA Concorde captain, John Hutchinson started his flying career in the RAF. He served from 1955-1963 (Harvard training in Canada, Shackleton pilot in Singapore, QFI/IRE) and was a corporate pilot for three years before joining BOAC in 1966. He was, successively, a 707 and 747 co-pilot and then a captain on the VC10 before being selected to be a Concorde captain. He remained on the Concorde fleet until retirement, and was a Route Check Captain. The magnificent supersonic airliner was the love of his aviation life and Concorde fans (like me) will find the tales from the sharp end interesting, informative and enjoyable.

Those who have the privilege of knowing John 'Hutch' won't be surprised by his own description of his distinguished career: "I have never worked in my life. I've been paid to enjoy my hobby in the company of some of the finest people I have ever met - my fel-low aircrew."

His very interesting life hasn't been all happiness. He's experienced tragedy and great


sadness, and some genuinely 'near death' experiences - not only in aviation. I don't exaggerate. In 1968, after only about 18 months with BOAC, he was Second Officer on BOAC Flight 712 in which five people died at Heathrow.

John has always given back to the profession that gave him so much pleasure and his contributions to aviation over many years were recognised in 1999 when he was elected Master of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators. He remains an active, highly respected and very popular 'Past Master' of GAPAN.

A great airman, who has flown more than 70 types, he is now happy flying the Auster Aiglet in which he bought a share shortly before he retired. Having spent 15 years flying at 23 miles per minute, he de-scribes being overtaken by family cars on the mo-torway below as 'rather humbling'. Retiring from professional flying hasn't meant slowing down in any other sense - he is much in demand internation-ally as an aviation consultant, expert witness, broadcaster and speaker.

Itinerary

John’s talk will commence at 20:00 hrs concluding at 22:00 hrs, including a 15 min break

Usual EAMG entry fee of £1.00 will apply to Group Members and Guests

Forward facing seating will be provided in the main area of the Barn

Tables in the eaves will be provided for those wishing to eat but please show respect for the speaker when eating in this area. Food is available all day.

John’s biography is available for Kindle and in paperback from Amazon; if you would like a signed copy, purchase your copy on-line and bring it along

A DVD of excellent Concorde photographs will also be available

We are indeed privileged that John has agreed to join us to talk about his life as a Concorde Captain to EAMG. Unlike some politicians I could name, John ‘speaks’ on a voluntary basis. He is President of his local RNLI Branch so a collection will be made on their behalf; we hope you will join us and give generously. Bring your spouse or a friend, past members and non-members are welcome and refreshments are available so let’s fill Channels to the rafters and make this a night to remember.

John Tipper


WWW.PROSPEEDPERFORMANCE.CO.UK

BURNHAM MOTORCYCLE CENTRE UNIT 5 BURNHAM BUSINESS PARK SPRINGFIELD ROAD BURNHAM ON CROUCH CM0 8TE

01621 782 742

[email protected]

A NEW MOTORCYCLE SERVICE CENTRE CONVENIENTLY LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE ‘BURNHAM BENDS’.

WE CARRY OUT SERVICING AND REPAIRS TO ALL TYPES OF MOTORCYCLE.

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:

ALL MAKES OF TYRES SUPPLIED AND FITTED. WE SPECIALISE IN ‘RIDE IN RIDE OUT’

SINGLE SIDED, NO PROBLEM!

WE USE THE INDUSTRY STANDARD ‘HAWEKA PRO BIKE II’ BALANCING SYSTEM

ALSO, INNOVATIVE BALANCING BY ‘DYNA BEADS’ SUPPLIED AND FITTED

Follow us on

Collection and delivery available

Our cafe will be opening in the spring and our location would make an ideal ‘meet up’ venue for ride outs etc.

Come and enjoy a coffee and a bacon sandwich whilst we work on your bike!

No parking restrictions and a large designated block paved motorcycle parking area.

We are a Biker 2 Biker company and treat every bike as if it is our own

01621 782 742

[email protected]

We look forward to seeing you soon!!!

OPENING HOURS

MONDAY-SAT 08.00—17.30

SUNDAYS 10.00—15.00

LATE NIGHT THURSDAYS TO 19.30

CLOSED TUESDAYS

Early drop off—late collection No problem!

SERVICING

REPAIRS

PAINTWORK

PARTS

NUMBER

PLATES

(all types)


P. McKelvey & Co Chartered Certified Accountants

Services available include:

• Statutory audits

• Limited Company accounts preparation

• Corporation tax returns

• Sole traders & Partnerships

• Sub-contractors

• Self assessment tax returns

• Capital gains

• VAT returns

• Payroll preparation & Employer returns

• Management accounts

• Free initial consultation

• Fixed fees available

Telephone: 01708 220548

Facsimile: 01708 220616

Mobile: 07949 827309

Web: www.pmckelvey.co.uk

St Lawrence House 2 Gridiron Place Upminster Essex RM14 2BE


EAMG Members are you looking to renew your bike, car

or household insurance? If so why not try Carole Nash, you

maybe able to earn the group a donation. Please use the

number below and quote the reference number

0800 083 4422 Quote Ref 1460

Motorcycle Courier

Rapid collection and delivery of urgent packages and

documents to anywhere in the UK

• Professional, bespoke service available 24/7

• Immediate, no obligation quote

If you can’t afford a helicopter 2b Transport is the next best thing!!

www.2btransport.com

ALL MAJOR CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS ACCEPTED





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2014

Jan 7 Group Night - Natter night

26 Full Member Ride

Feb 4 Group Night - AGM

9 Associate Group Training (AGT)

23 Full Member Ride

Mar 4 Group Night

9 AGT

23 Full Member Ride

30 Peer 2 Peer Ride

April 1 Group Night

6 AGT

13 Full Member Training (FMT) Cotswolds (Charlbury Loop & Chipping Norton)

27 Full Member Ride

May 4 Geoff Preston’s Day trip to France

4 Full Member Ride

6 Group Night - John Hutchinson (retired Concorde Captain)

11 AGT

17 - 23 John Tippers Reveiller Ride, Normandy, Brittany & Rouen

18 Peer 2 Peer Ride

25 FMT Suffolk (Wortham & Diss)

June 1 Full Member Ride

3 Group Night

8 AGT

22 Slow Riding Day at Ford Dunton






July 1 Group Night

6 AGT

12 - 22 Reveiller Ride Swiss Alps & Lakes

13 Full Member Ride

August 3 Full Member Ride

5 Group Night

10 AGT

17 Peer 2 Peer Ride

17 John & Audrey Tipper’s Boys and Girls Ride to the Cotswolds

24 FMT Cotswolds (Charlbury Loop & Chipping Norton)

September 2 Group Night

7 AGT

14 Full Member Ride

14 Geoff Preston’s Beachy Head run

20 - 28 Reveiller Ride, Dam Busters, Harz & Colditz

28 Slow Riding Day at Ford Dunton

October 5 Peer 2 Peer Ride

7 Group Night

12 AGT

19 FMT Suffolk (Wortham & Diss)

26 Full Member Ride

November 4 Group Night

9 AGT

23 Full Member Ride

December 2 Group Night

7 AGT

14 Full Member Ride

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C J BARDWELL Contractors

Flagstaff Farm, Green Lane, Althorne,

Essex, CM3 6BQ

Telephone: Office 01621 828276; Mobile 07836 277223;

Fax 01621 828113

BUILDING, CIVIL ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE

EXTENSIONS - GARAGES - LOFT CONVERSIONS

BLOCKPAVING DRIVEWAYS - PATIOS

ROOFING (ALL TYPES)

CARPENTRY - BRICKWORK

WATER MAIN AND SEWER REPAIRS AND RENEWAL

FENCING - REPLACEMENT WINDOWS

(upvc, hardwood, aluminium)

UPVC CLADDING, FASCIAS, SOFFITS

UNDERPINNING - LANDSCAPING

PAINTING AND DECORATING

FULLY INSURED (BUT NOT YET NEEDED)

For free no-obligation quote, phone Clint on

01621 828276 (office)

07836 277223 (mobile)

DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL WORK UNDERTAKEN

INSURANCE WORK WELCOME

Member of

The Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors



Reveiller Rides - 2014 Itinerary

I’m always amazed how quickly the nights draw in at this time of the year; one minute the clocks are being put back and it’s dark when you’re watching the 6 o’clock news; next thing, it’s getting dark at 4 o’clock! Enough gloom, remember, my glass is always half full; 2013 was a year we’d like to forget and it’s nearly over! By the time you’re reading this the days will be getting longer… and it hasn’t snowed yet. Well not where we live anyway.

Continuing with positive thoughts, our ride plans for 2014 are progressing well with only one hotel yet to finalise, they’re probably away on holiday for Christmas. As you can imagine, organising and running six rides every year is very demanding and many other things tend to get pushed aside because time is at a premium. With this in mind our itinerary for 2014 includes three rides, one Green, open to all: (daily mileage of circa 150 to 200, less challenging roads, ideal for solo riders who prefer to ride at a leisurely pace, riders carrying a pillion or riders who haven’t ventured abroad on a motorcycle before). One Blue open to all: (multi-day tour that can include daily mileages of circa 250, more challenging roads but ridden at a leisurely pace). One Red, experienced riders only: (challenging roads and some high daily mileage).

We’ve already received several enquiries about next year’s itinerary, our brochure will be available early in the New Year and I’ll give a short presentation after the AGM at February’s Group night. In the mean time, here is a brief summary of the rides we have planned for you; I hope these wet your appetite and get you thinking about the splendid rides that you have available:

Honfleur, known for its picturesque port characterised by its houses with slate-covered frontages, one of the most painted ports in France, will be our first night stopover. Continuing west, we stay for two nights in a charming hotel located just a short ride from a ‘wonder of the western world’, Le Mont Saint Michel. Built in the 13th Century this magnificent abbey is situated in the heart of an immense bay in-vaded by some of the highest tides in Europe. Turning south, the quaint village of Fontevraud, located in the heart of the Loire Valley, is our host. Our characterful and authentic hotel, where we stay for one night, is located alongside another famous Abbey, the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud. Returning northeast, our route takes us through the Loire Valley to the historic town of Rouen; located on the river Seine,

RV1401 (7 Day Green)

Sat 17th to Fri 23rd May

Normandy, Brittany, Loire, Rouen


one of the most beautiful and famous rivers in the world. We’ve reserved rooms for two nights leaving us the choice of spending a day in this medieval city or riding around the stunning countryside. We will be using very little motorway on this ride

so there’s no better way to see this wonderful part of France.

Returning from our fabulous tour to Lake Garda last year, we rode over the grandiose Swiss passes; Gottard and Grimsel and followed the shores of the beautiful lake Lugano. Everybody loved the superb 4 Star hotel we’d arranged for our stopover so much that we’ve decided to return for six nights allowing plenty of time to savour the spectacular scenery and sheer magic that Switzerland has to offer. In the sun terrace of the Swiss Alps, our hotel is located high above the roof tops of Interlaken from which you feel you could almost reach out and touch the 2,000m

RV1402 (11 Day Blue) Sat 12th to Tue 22nd July

Swiss Alps & Lakes


high Niederhorn or the legendary Eiger North Face. This majestic landscape alone provides plenty of reasons to visit for a very special vacation but for us, this is an ideal location from which to explore Switzerland.

Rideouts of Switzerland’s major passes are planned: the Furka, St. Gottard, Grimsel, Lukamainer, Nufenen, Oberalp and Sustan are all within reach but not all our time has to be spent in the saddle. We’re also planning visits to the Trummelback Falls, the Aares Gorge and taking the cable car to the Schiltorn, 007 film location and the Alpine Railway to Jungfrau, the top of Europe. Fare prices for these excursions will be shown in the brochure but not included within our ride price.

We’ve been asked if it is possible for spouses, who would rather not make the ride down through France and back on a motorcycle, if they can join us while we’re in Switzerland. This is possible; indeed, one rider’s spouse did exactly this on our ride to Lake Garda last year. You’ll have to make your own arrangements but flights are available from Stanstead to Bern, which is 52 minutes by train from Interlaken. Our hotel is about 15km from Interlaken by road; there is a regular bus and rail service so this could be a superb holiday for you both to enjoy.


Each year, I endeavour to join two good friends for a ride in Europe. This year we visited Sauerland, a hilly, heavily forested, rural area that spreads across most of the south-eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, better known for the location of the ‘Dambuster’s’ dams. We were there midst the 70th anniversary celebrations but, I hesitate to say, this wasn’t the reason for our visit; we were there to enjoy the wonderful roads of the region. Nevertheless, the dams were spectacular and popular attractions for bikers, well worth a visit.

RV1403 (7 Day Red)

Sat 20th to Fri 26th September

Dambusters, Ruhr, Harz Mountains


Having ridden the best part of 300 miles to reach Sauerland, we can’t miss this ideal opportunity to push further east to the Harz Mountains. With spectacular scenery, fantastic empty roads and awesome challenging bends, it’s no surprise this superb region is known as the ‘biker’s playground of Northern Germany’;

We’ll spend our first night in a favourite Luxembourg hotel before crossing the vast urban, industrial sprawl in the heart of Germany to reach Sauerland. Avoiding autobahns earlier this year, it took us a day to ride this 140 route so I make no apologies for making use of the superb Autobahn network second time around. We spend two nights in a family hotel near Drolshagen allowing a day to ride the region and visit the dams. We then continue east, no autobahn this time, to Bad Lauterberg, our base for another two nights in the heart of the Harz Mountains. From this location you’ll be within reach of Colditz but be prepared for a round trip of 300 miles. We’ll spend a day enjoying the Harz.

If you’ve not ridden with us before, check out our pictures on www.reveillerrides.smugmug.com to get a flavour of what’s available to you. Our sincere thanks to those who have joined us before, we hope this itinerary appeals and would be delighted if you can join us again.

“Réveiller Votre Penchant Pour La Motocyclisme”

For further information, download a copy of our brochure from the EAMG Website

You can also email John & Audrey at: [email protected]



Working in the motorcycle trade is always surprising, from the characters you meet

from all walks of life to the variety of machines they choose to ride. You could try to put

people into categories but it would be a rather long list.

Since moving to a certain Honda dealer in Southend I have discovered some strange new

characteristics that would make my list even longer. There appears to be a large number

of people who will not ride in the rain, some thing I never came across when working

closer to London and a strange phenomenon in such a wet country. This is coupled with

the Honda fanatic who will not allow their motorcycle to get wet or dirty and will not

hesitate in replacing all manner of bolts and fixings to keep their machine perfect and

then only do the mileage required to get to the Mot and back once a year. Some will even

dress specially in their Honda clothing, whether on the bike or not when they come to

visit us as if they aspire to be part of our ‘Honda’ gang.

I don’t think I have ever met so many riders that ‘used to race’ and that will probably lose

their licence if they buy a fireblade or something similar (never quite worked that one out

myself). However while some people are strange and annoying overall the enthusiasm for

motorcycles from those that visit the showroom creates a great atmosphere that reminds

you of what its all about and makes it all worth while.

Anyway going back to the trade always being surprising, a trend of more recent years is a

real lack of maintenance. In a former life at the Kawasaki dealership we also catered for

the scooter rider, when the recession hit we began to find that people didn’t bother having

their vehicles serviced anymore. In fact not only didn’t they service them they didn’t even

bother with any maintenance of their own. Now we put this down to the large amount of

people that bought scooters or small motorcycles as a form of cheap transport and didn’t

have the faintest idea on how to look after them, the amount that ran them out of oil and

seized the engine was quite impressive! Once moving over to Honda this trend seemed to

disappear, generally customers get their bikes serviced when recommended and those

that don’t at the dealer do actually look after them, but there is always one!

Not so long ago a bike was booked in for a service, the customer asked if we could ‘check

his front tyre and replace if necessary’ as he felt it was possibly a little de profiled. This

turned out to be the understatement of the year. Hopefully you can make out what the

problem was on the opposite page but the pictures don’t really show how bad it was, this

tyre was so worn that there was about an inch or more strip round each side of the tyre

where the tread was just gone and the canvas was poking through, this created such a

strange profile it must have been hideous to ride as the dip created by this wear was

really pronounced. I have seen plenty of rear tyres where the centre section has been worn

to the canvas, but I have never seen a front this bad.

You do tend to see a lot of awful things like brake pads worn down so far that the pistons


have pushed through the backing of the pad and are scrapping on the discs, front

sprockets that only have what can be described as pimples rather then teeth and

headraces that are so knackered it must be like trying to ride a shopping trolley. But this

tyre was shocking because it was so obvious and the customer had been so casual about it.

I know not everyone is mechanically minded but surely certain aspects of riding a motor-

cycle should be clear and having decent tyres comes up high on my list of what’s

important. It does make me wonder whether some people are prone to not being

concerned about such things in life and go about their whole lives like that (modern day

natural selection maybe?) or do they just need educating? If it is education that they need

then I really hope that other riders out there aren’t afraid to point out to others where

they are going wrong, in a sensible way of course, not everyone is as clued up or lucky

enough to have had the training that we have, so lets all be helpful after all it might save

someone's life.


The RoSPA

Guardian Angel

Awards

'Shining a light on

safety's unsung champions'

What is a Guardian Angel?

Offering us support and protection... catching us when we fall...

Unrecognised... until now!

In 2014 RoSPA will present a new award celebrating individuals who have made

a demonstrable difference in the world of safety and accident prevention through

their initiative, diligence, enthusiasm and commitment. Guardian Angels exist in

all professions and come from all walks of life. From dedicated safety managers

to self-motivated shop workers, they move amongst us unrewarded and under-

appreciated for the difference they make to our lives.

RoSPA's Guardian Angel Awards aim to set that right. For the first time, we are

rewarding people who have gone 'above and beyond' to improve the safety of

either their organisation or the wider community, finally offering them the rec-

ognition they deserve and ensuring the spotlight is firmly shone on safety and

personal responsibility.

To find out more go to www.rospa.com


MOTORCYCLE TYRES AND TUBES

RIDE IN RIDE OUT FITTED FREE

Car and Van Tyres

All Makes — All Sizes

Vintage Classic Modern

Road OffRoad Race

AUTOSAFE GROUP

1ST CALL TYRESAVE—BIKERS MOTORCYCLES –ASG

Tel: 01621 856 888 Email: [email protected]

Autosafe Group—MOT Classes 1-2-3-4- 5-7


First I would like to wish Colin Snow a speedy recovery, following a

‘SMIDSY’ incident

where someone

pulled out in front of

[email protected]

www.baconsmotorcycles.co.uk

Open 9am-6pm Mon to Sat



Have you ever wondered if your riding skill is still as good as it was when you passed your IAM or RoSPA Test?

Is your RoSPA Retest fast approaching and you feel you’d like a refresher to check that bad habits have not crept into your riding?

We are all only as good as the day we are actually riding our bikes. How good our riding was last year or even last month may not be as good as we think it is; com-placency can be fatal.

EAMG provide two Further Training Schemes for Full Members:

Full Member Training (FMT) – One-day training courses available four times a

year

Further Training for Full Members (FTFM) – Assignment to an Observer for 1

to 1 training

These courses are provided to check riding skills haven’t deteriorated, for those wishing to take a higher grade of test such as RoSPA or for those preparing for qualification as an EAMG Observer.

Full Member Training

Four FMT Courses take place during ‘summer time’ between March and October. Participation is entirely voluntary and those taking part do not have to join each ride. Training is for your benefit and enjoyment; it is not a mandatory requirement that you go on to take a RoSPA test. To ensure the highest possible standard, Ob-servers undertaking this training will hold a current RoSPA Gold certificate.

You will not be riding in one large group. Where possible you will be riding with an Observer and one other Full Member giving you the opportunity to have a 'rest' while your partner is being observed. Every effort will be made to match your riding experience, ability and aspirations with your partner, any miss matching being ad-dressed at the first refreshment stop. The routes, approx. 200 miles, will cover a variety of roads and include several debriefing stops and two refreshment stops. Joining details will be sent by email or post a few days before the event. Events this year:

Further Training Opportunities for Full Members

Joining

Fee 13th April 2014 Cotswolds 25th May 2014 Suffolk

£45.00 24th Aug 2014 Cotswolds 19th Oct 2014 Suffolk

Contact John Tipper. Email: [email protected]


Further Training for Full Members

You will be assigned to an Observer and rides will be arranged on a one to one basis when mutually convenient. Although not mandatory, unlike FMT, the training will be structured as preparation for a further test such as RoSPA.

To apply to join this scheme:

Apply to the Membership Secretary either at membership renewal or during the season. You will be asked to pay an additional Membership Fee (details below).

Your Application will be passed to the Observer Co-ordinator who will assign you to the first available Observer. Where feasible, geographical location will be considered.

You will be expected to pay the Observer a contribution (details below) towards fuel costs.

Participation must be renewed annually.

FTFM - 2014

Membership Secretary Observer Co-ordinator

Additional Membership

Fee

Contribution to Observer

Teri Olley John Tullett

tba [email protected] £20 pa £10 per ride

Name:

Address:

Post Code: Tel:

Email:

Riding Experience:

Aspirations:

Typical annual mileage: Machine:


EEE S S E XS S E XS S E X A A AD V A N C E DD V A N C E DD V A N C E D

MMMO T O R C Y C L I S T SO T O R C Y C L I S T SO T O R C Y C L I S T S G G GR O U PR O U PR O U P

Laura Windram, Editor

University of Essex Printing Services, contact Hannah 01206 872822 for more information.

Please mention EAMG when replying to advertisers - it identifies you!

http://www.eamg.org.uk

Affiliated to the

British Motorcyclists Federation

Registered Charity Number 1107703 Essex Advanced Motorcyclists Group Ltd, Registered

Office, St Laurence House, 2 Gridiron Place, Upminster, Essex, RM14 2BE

Registered in England & Wales, Registration No. 5258261

Disclaimer and Copyright Notice: The articles pub-lished herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Essex Advanced Motorcyclists Group. They are the opinions of individual contributors and are pub-lished with a view that free expression promotes dis-cussion and interest. Any spelling or grammatical

errors are the responsibility of the editor and a society that pays footballers more than teachers. Inclusion of adverts is not to be construed as EAMG endorsement, although most advertisers are excellent, but seek

personal recommendations.Text © EAMG 2011. Illus-trations © EAMG 2010, except where indicated other-wise. Group material may be reproduced provided acknowledgement is given to EAMG and the original

author.

Wanted

A new editor for TUG

As far as I am aware while writing this no one has come forward to

be the new TUG editor. Content has dwindled over time and a lot

of the great writers seem to have disappeared, I think it is a real

shame. People have often commented about how they have

enjoyed reading this little newsletter and how it has been one of

the best ones compared to other similar groups. After all not every-

one wants to look at internet based stuff, some of us just like a little

book with humorous inspirational stories and great information

and news.

This maybe the last issue for a while but I hope not for too long as

I for one will miss it. Editing is not too hard, it can be time

consuming and even frustrating but overall it is very rewarding so

come on have a go.

Laura



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