What a busy time it has been since the last issue of Network and lucky to get this issue out in time as the computer crashes finishing of “my bit” of Network.
The last month or so has seen me out and about pedalling MAG political wares on the MAG Stand at the Welsh National Motorcycle Show, The Farmyard Party, Youth Bike, The Heart of England, and Magna Carta,
great to meet and place faces to e-mail addresses.
In July myself and Henry Marks supported by members from Mid Lincs attended the MEP Ride in Strasbourg to support FEMA, lobby the MEP’s and
take them out for a “spin” on a motorcycle. Some of the MEP’s like the UK’s Liz Lynne (one of the rides patron’s) braved the elements and rode their own bikes. There will be
a full report in the next issue of Streetbiker.
Closer to home myself and Henry attended a two day Bikesafe assessment workshop weekend in North Wales. I took the Buell XBR up got soaked through
even though wearing a supposedly all singing dancing waterproof Gortex jacket and when’s the last time you wore fully waterproof gloves in the rain and your hands remained dry? But that’s
another issue Some have likened riding a motorcycle as having the best fun while still wearing clothes. Bikesafe is intended to reach those riders that are hard to reach the weekend warriors and a new
term the returners or born agains. Taking each group stereotypically and to extremes it seems that the former want to have their fun in premature ejaculation style while the latter are overtaken by the
bikes capability in technological advancement in tyres handling and engine performance.
The workshop involves classroom and assessed rides both by serving police officers, IAM and Rospa riders.
The classroom involves a refreshing look at First Aid how to respond at an accident scene in the first vital minutes and how the ambulance service works, technical and debates on the causes of motorcycle
collisions.
The assessed rides follow the system of motorcycle control and I can tell you trying to keep up to the speed limit on the rural roads of North Wales was indeed the best fun you can
have with your clothes on in a smooth flowing steady style.
