oct_2011

sam

SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS AUGUST 2011

The IAM Aims

To Improve the Standard of Driving and Riding The Advancement of Road Safety The Administration of an Advanced Test

SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS October 2011

MAKING

progress Track Day Impressions, Page 9.

INSIDE P8 Camping & Hiking Ad­ vice

P7 Tour of the Iron Bridge Gorge

P6 SAM Camp­ ing Week­ end

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Registered Charity 1097558

SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS AUGUST 2011

Chairmans Chat…

Hey, let me tell you a little secret, motor biking is not my only hobby. Yes, I know, I should be ashamed of myself but I have to confess that I am also a great (armchair) supporter of rugby, ‘Union’ of course! I’m not a northerner or an Aus­ tralian but my Sunday rides have given way to getting up early and shouting at the television for the next few weeks. As I write this, England have just slugged it out with a tough Argentine side and scraped together a win. Tomorrow’s press will no doubt be full of articles about how poor England were, and how they should be able to beat a team like Argentina easily.

But the truth is there are very few ‘easy’ games at inter­ national level because nowadays teams train, they ana­ lyse the dangers they have a plan, and they are pre­ pared to go the extra mile to beat the opposition. So not really very different from ‘Advanced Riding’ after all.

Whether England survive to the journeys end remains to be seen, but I will continue to help them by shouting insightful instructions through the medium of the TV. Has anybody noticed that SAM is quietly changing? It’s all get­ ting very exciting isn’t it? In August we held our first ever offi­ cial track day at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire and 20 members and associates made the (long) journey up there to practice cornering, braking, and try to find that balance of power and control that is the true joy of biking. I know that groups of you have done this before, but this was a true SAM event, open to all, at a discounted cost, and it was a huge success. There will be a club night presentation in the not­too­distant future with some great stories and video footage which should definitely not be missed. I was pleased that everyone enjoyed the oppor­ tunity but what really pleased me was the comment I received from the training company afterwards:

“Our staff were really impressed with your club members. So many times we have had clubs along who come with a dreadful attitude and seem deter­ mined not to enjoy themselves. Your bunch could not have been more different. A really nice mix with such a positive attitude they made the day a pleasure to run. Not sure what your secret is but I wish a few more clubs were doing it your way.”

So I wanted to say thank you to those who attended and proved themselves to be great ambassadors for SAM. I have returned to the keyboard to talk about another major change to how SAM is doing things ­ the September club night at Bahnstormer. Just under 100 of you came along to look at the bikes, listen to our intrepid travellers’ tales, talk latest kit, catch up with friends and eat the excellent hog roast, a really fun evening. We owe the guys at Bahnstormer a big vote of thanks for opening up and hosting the evening (as well as help­ ing to defray the cost) but we owe an equally huge thanks to Mark and Martin who have taken over the organisation of club nights like a breath of fresh air. You will doubtless remember the pleading for someone to step up and volunteer, well now we are reaping the very considerable benefits. As ever, a small Club like ours survives and thrives thanks to small team of peo­ ple who are willing to put in a little bit of extra effort to make things better for us all. The same is true of this very magazine that you are reading, and the slow riding days, and the goodies which we sell at club nights, or the bacon butties on SAM Sun­ days and every single social or observed ride we have ever been on. The list is a long one; longer than that for most clubs.

So I want to tell you that I am very proud of SAM, of the direc­ tion we are going, of the image we portray at a track day, and especially of those who are prepared to go the extra mile. Not so very different from Rugby after all then.

Kevin

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SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS AUGUST 2011

Chief Observer’s Report – Sept 2011 A few acknowledgements before I introduce the main topic ­ Members' Refresher Rides.

Many of you will know by now that Observer, Dominic Forrest was involved in a serious collision resulting in the amputation of his right leg. A terribly traumatic event for him and his family and our best wishes go out to Dom, Marty and Helen. Sad news, but Dom is a man of true grit and determination. With access to the latest in computerised prosthetics and excellent treatment at the Nottingham Medical Centre Dom was walking on a new leg again in a time that surprised his doctors and had them ask if they could make him a teaching case!

You can follow Dom's remarkable recovery through his posts on ‘Facebook and his videos on ‘youtube’.

In August SAM had three Observers pass the demand­ ing Senior Observer test, all to a high standard. Our congratu­

"Alec, well done to you and the recent set of Senior Observers you've sent through for testing. SAM has come a very long way in a comparatively short space of time in the standard of its Senior Observers. Well done to all."

With such a great team of Observers and strong leadership from the Seniors in each of the four Observer Cells, I am confi­ dent that SAM will continue to provide advanced rider training to the highest standard, which is of benefit to every member of the Group.

Have you still got it?

Are you still up to Green Badge standard? Perhaps you've not done as much riding in recent months or years as you would have liked to and need a confidence booster?

Maybe you're wondering about taking SAM Advanced Plus or even the IAM Special Assessment, but not sure how far from that level you are. Perhaps you would like to lead a Group Ride or interested in becoming an Observer and need to know if you've still "got it"?

Another road­safety organisation requires that its members take a re­test every 3 years and the IAM has sometimes been criticised in the past for allowing riders to pass a one­off test, collect their badge and call themselves "advanced" for the rest of their lives. Fortunately, because of the increase in the num­ ber of Observers and Senior Observers, SAM is able to mitigate that position and enable its members to get an up­to­date view on their riding skills.

Whatever the reason for wanting an up­to­date assessment of your level of advanced riding skill, SAM was happy to announce in August that, after consultation with Observer Cell Leaders and approval by the Committee, that it can to offer any Full Member a Member's Refresher Ride. · They will be conducted by a Senior Observer or experi­ enced Qualified Group Observer. · Sessions will last 2­3 hours, including briefing and de­ briefing

· · ·

lations go to Colin Hitchcock, John Arthur and Keiron Parsons.

IAM Motorcycle Staff Examiner Jon Taylor wrote the following to me:

Are our roads getting safer? by Rod Griffin The following headline statistics have been published by the DoT for 2010: Results by road user type

A written summary of the ride will be provided by e­mail after the ride Full Members can apply by e­mailing the Chief Observer

A contribution towards the Observer's expenses of £25 should be made directly to the Observer on the day of the Refresher Ride The time between applying for a refresher ride and being of­ fered one will obviously depend on the level of response and the availability of Observers. Associates' preparation for the IAM Advanced Test will always be given priority.

Within a week of an Announce Message going out about this, nine Members had applied for a Refresher Ride.

When will you do yours?

There were 405 pedestrian deaths, 19 per cent fewer than in 2009. Seriously injured pedestrian casualties in accidents re­ ported to the police fell by 6 per cent to 5,200.

The number of people killed in road accidents reported to the police fell by 17 per cent from 2,222 in 2009 to 1,850 in 2010.

Just under half (45 per cent) of all fatalities were car occupants, while pedestrians and motorcyclists each accounted for just over a fifth (22 per cent).

The number of pedal cyclists killed increased by 7 per cent from 104 in 2009 to 111 in 2010. The number seriously injured in accidents reported to the police increased by 2 per cent to 2,660. Total reported casualties among pedal cyclists also rose, by 1 per cent, compared to 2009. Pedal cyclist traffic levels are estimated to have risen by 1 per cent over the same period.

The number of deaths among car users in 2010 was 835, 21 per cent lower than in the previous year. The number seriously injured in accidents reported to the police fell by 11 per cent to 8,914. Total reported casualties among car users were 133,205, 7 per cent less than 2009. Car and taxi traffic fell by 2 per cent over the same period.

There were 403 motorcycle users killed in 2010, 15 per cent fewer than during 2009. The number reported as seriously in­ jured fell by 11 per cent to 4,780. Total reported motorcycle user casualties decreased by 10 per cent to 18,686 in 2010.

However, motorcycle traffic also fell by 10 per cent over the same period.

Continued on page 4

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SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS AUGUST 2011

There is a definite 'camping' theme running through the pages of this issue of 'Making Progress', which, altogether, is not surprising considering the number of enthusiasts for the activ­ ity. There is quite a lot of good advice embedded in those articles and, if you are planning a bike tour/ camp trip for next year, they will be well worth a read. Also contained in these pages are pictures and impressions of the 'Cadwell Park Track Day'. All who attended the event, myself included, were impressed and most said they were keen to attend the next track day.

ed sed

A number of articles did not make it into the magazine, mainly due to space constraints, they are all on the web site. Having surplus content for the magazine has made me very pleased. One of my greatest fears when taking on the role was that I would struggle to find enough content to fill the 12 or 16 pages that constitute 'Making Progress' and that I would have to write most of it myself. So far that fear has not been realised, so well done you. However, things could still be better. The majority of items come from a small number of club members, so if other mem­ bers, and in particular our female members, could come up with something to contribute, we will be more likely to

please the majority. So come on, if you have not tried it before, give it a go and put pen to paper, you never know you may actually like it

If you read the August issue you will have got the impres­ sion that I had a lot of fun compiling that issue, and you are right. My wife often asked me what I was chuckling about, until she saw what I was doing, then she joined in.

One of my articles was the hardest thing I have ever had to research and write, even so I was definitely proud of the result. The rest gave me great pleasure, especially when one or more pictures just cried out for a caption. There aren’t as many jokes in this edition, but the agony aunt section will hopefully make up for it and may even become a regular feature.

I would like to say that while this is the 2nd issue with me at the helm I am definitely still finding my feet with the ‘editing’ malarky. Therefore you will probably notice differ­ ences between the issues until a balanced format has been achieved. After all, if I don’t find it appealing to read, why would I expect you to?.

Finally: thank you to everyone who has given me feedback and advice, I reserve the right not to take it but it is all gratefully received.

ed

When looking at figures for the accident count per road type we find that the most dangerous type of roads (total accidents re­ ported) are the 30 mph roads in built up areas (100,174), followed by 60 mph country roads (23,371).

When comparing the reporting police force areas within the extent of our region: Force Area

Killed

Serious

Killed or serious

Slightly

All casualties

Hampshire

43

885

928

5,202

6,130

Dorset

18

331

349

2,239

2,588

Sussex

56

772

828

4,462

5,290

Thames Valley

96

844

940

6,779

7,719

Surrey

32

488

520

4,811

5,331

Unfortunately these figures are not differentiated by road user type.

Even though the government believe that we are all becoming safer as road users, there is no room for complacency. The roads are still a very dangerous playground, the better our skills and reactions; the better our chances in that playground.

To read further see: http://www2.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents/reported­road­casualties­gb­main­ results­2010.html

Avoiding the Darmah Dramas. (or ‘Rally Preparation’) by Rod Griffin is that old), one or two sets of spark plugs, if I take them I probably will not need them, but it will save all the hassle of trying to find the right type on a Sunday morning when attempting to turn my bike back into a twin.

Spare throttle and clutch cables, oh and an inner tube.

For the last few weeks I have been preparing my old Ducati 900SD for our annual MC Piston rally in Northern Spain. I say 'Annual' but actually this will only be my second attempt and I hope to avoid the many incidents I en­ countered last year due to lack of preparation, by actually doing some this time.

I have changed the oil and overhauled the clutch (new springs, plate inspection/replace where necessary) to stop it slipping on the hills and under hard acceleration. Checked and tightened bolts to recommended torque settings known, or guesstimated at using similar values from the manual for my other Ducati. Tinker with the carbs until the en­ gine is running as smoothly as possible.

Next is to decide what spares to take, a set It’s ok, it’s only flat on the bot­ of bulbs are a given as they are compulsory tom. on the continent. A spare inner tube (yes it Page 4

Tools, well you can go mad here, but how much stuff should I take? Well just enough for an emergency, which is: tyre levers, plug spanner, screwdrivers, (assorted) small ring spanners (as the ‘open end’ ones do just that), allen keys, pliers, knife, large adjust­ able spanner, tape and bicycle pump (I kid you not).

There are some things I am not taking this year, for starters, the bike cover, cause of the condensation that resulted in the plug failure. Oh and the wife, more space on the bike, stops my ribs from hurting and lessens the chance of a rear tyre blowout.

SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS AUGUST 2011

SAM Welcomes New Members Andy Clarke Richard Gwilliam Philip Houghton Stephen Riggs Terry Stanfield Michael Carter Marvin Lockyer Andrew Thomson Shaun Turton Kevin Jones

Matty Neller Phillip Rudd Anthony Sheppard Lorraine Woodthorpe Alison Tod Martyn Liddy Jonathan Reed Chris Sturgeon

Write to Becker when you have no answer for the issues you face and need help from the professional.

Becker's advice will guide you on your way.

Dear Becker, Two months ago I bought a new Harley Sportster.

I commute 20 miles to work and like to use the Harley when the weather is fine. Last week I came home from work early and imagine my surprise when on opening the front door I saw my wife rushing down the stairs in her bath robe looking a little flustered. She had told me that she was running the bath and it started to leak, so she asked Bert from next door to take a look. Surely enough Bert then appeared from the bathroom buttoning up his shirt and explained that the U bend had come a little loose and that he had tightened it up. I did not know that Bert was good at plumbing.

Last Monday I again came home from work early on the bike, and on opening the front door my wife was again rushing down the stairs in her bath robe, she explained that she was in bed when she heard noises coming from the loft and had asked Bert to investigate. Seconds later Bert emerged from the bedroom and explained that there was a pigeon in the loft and he had scared it off. This made me think.

I am not sure that the Harley is the right bike for me do you think I should trade it in for a proper sports bike? Can you help?

Signed, Mr C.Uckold

Becker advises: “Take the first exit from the roundabout in 200 yds onto the A27”.

Dear Becker, My husband complains that I never support him, what do you advise?

Mrs T Russ.

Becker advises: “Keep to the right in 400 yds and stay on the A27”.

last year. My life was definitely going in the wrong direction and your advice to 'Make a U turn now' was just what I needed to hear, it made a fantastic difference. So I told my lazy husband to sling his hook, bought a Harley and my girlfriend Vivian has since moved in with me.

My life is fantastic now and I owe it all to you. lots of love Lady Biker.

Becker advises: "Keep on this road for the next 16 miles".

Dear Becker, I am planning a camping trip to Slovenia, taking in France, Germany, Austria and Italy. I plan to go on my 1200 GS. The trip there will be leisurely and take 3.5 days, allowing 4.5 days touring Slovenia before making my way back through Northern Italy, Switzerland and France to reach the channel tunnel on the tenth day. My question is: while organising my gear for the trip I noticed that one of glass fibre tent poles had split. Should I replace it with the same or an equivalent Alumin­ ium or Carbon fibre item?

Yours Mr A N Orrak

Becker advises: "Beware! Beware!".

Dear Becker, I have five bikes in my shed. A sports bike for when I want to walk on the wild side, a tourer for those trips abroad, a trailie for jaunts down country lanes, a classic for polishing and displaying at shows and a cruiser for looking the part. But I feel my collection is incomplete, I have been think­ ing about getting a combination, my wife is dead against it, what would you advise?

Yours, truly confused.

Becker advises: "You have reached your destination".

Dear Becker, thank you so much for the advice you gave me

Only the genuine Becker 7629 'Ferrari Traffic Assist Pro' is consulted as advice from lesser makes and models of satnav can confuse.

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SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS AUGUST 2011

Oakhampton Camping weekend By Nigel Grace Once the tents were pitched or, for the less hardy, the fresh linen in the B&B turned down, we all descended upon the restaurant for a very socia­ ble meal and, for some, one or more pints of Doombar Ale. The following morning we split into two groups for a ride out. Colin Hitch­ cock led a Level 3 ride over the quicker roads and I led a larger group on a more comfortable ride to eventually arrive at Looe for cream teas. Both groups later met at the Adrenalin Quarry to have a go on the longest zip wire in the UK. Excellent fun especially as we were treated to a 50% discount from the owner who happens to be a relative of mine (thanks Will).

We all returned to the camp site for another lively evening with great food (and drink). By now the weather had deteriorated, getting wet and windy, in fact it lashed down for most of the night. An early start for some saw

“Hurry up Nigel, I can’t sit still any more this bench is making me saddle sore.”

The forecast of rough weather in the South West did not deter the 15 riders from SAM who attended the 2 nd Annual Camping Weekend at Betty Cottles Inn near Oakhampton in Devon. It was necessary to arrive before sundown and we made good time.

Next year I will remember to stop for break as I believe that “saddle sore” was creeping in after just 2 hours, a consequence of the brisk ride down.

“I’m a fire starter a crazy fire starter…”

Colin incinerating his breakfast in a very hot version of Floyd on Food.

The ride home was dry and sunny and following a coffee stop near Lyme Regis while a dissenting group who preferred Fish and Chips at West Bay broke away and was last seen disappearing in my rear view mirror.

In summary it turned out to be a great weekend which hopefully will be repeated in early next year in Wales, the Lake District or even France.

“Ooh, she could have waited to floss her teeth.”

The Magnificent 7 8 ride again...

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SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS AUGUST 2011

IRONBRIDGE GORGE VISIT

By Simon Gardiner A trip to the Shropshire hills with bikes and tents gave us the chance to visit the Ironbridge Gorge World Heri­ tage site, museums, town and working Victorian village.

It’s a fine ride if you keep clear of the motorway and we chose Andover, Devizes, Gloucester, bypassing Hereford, then Led­ bury and Leominster arriving at The Craven Arms and then our farm camp site at Church Stretton, totalling about 140 miles.

Neil Stocker rode his BMW R1200 RT and I was on a re­ cently acquired Triumph Sprint GT. Both bikes were well loaded with tents and walking boots.

We pitched at the foot of the hills on a small site with basic facilities, no all Idyllic camping at Church Stretton night entertain­ ment! Of main interest was the welcoming pub a couple of hun­ dred yards away, where we became quite well known.

open road and stunning views, some of the inclines being quite challenging, to stop would not have been wise!

On two evenings at the pub we met up with fellow campers from our site and enjoyed very jovial company.

BACK A DIFFERENT WAY

THE TOURING

Day 4 was the re­ turn trip

A short ride the next day took us to Ironbridge, where the bridge itself is the first example of the practical application of cast iron. It is only one part of a mile or so of heritage buildings and sites, with displays and museums, inside and outside, tell­ ing the story of the pioneers of smelting, forging and casting from iron ore.

We finished with a visit to the working Victorian village laid out over many hectares beside the river, with traders selling their wares from authentic premises. Butchers, bakers, the forge, the bank, the clothing shops, even the rail­ way, and much more made the visit fasci­ nating.

Simon & Neil at high altitude.

THE WALKING

The famous Iron Bridge

The rain showers held off over night and on the third day we took a 10 mile walk

through the valley, returning by way of the ridge with superb scenery all the way.

This necessitated a visit to the pub during the afternoon and the inevitable return visit in the evening. Some­ how we managed to fit in a short bike run across the fells to The valley walk. take in some of the

crossing the Severn from Chepstow to Aust, then down via Bath and the A36 home.

If you’ve not done the lightweight camping thing then try it – you won’t be disappointed.

We covered about 425 miles and enjoyed good riding, walking, eating and the touristy bit. Cost? Very little. Mainly the amount of beer consumed for which I blame my colleague, I just had to keep up with him.

We stayed at: Small Batch Camping, Church Stretton http:// www.smallbatch­camping.webeden.co.uk/ at £7 per tent per night.

Ironbridge: http://www.ironbridgeguide.info/

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SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS AUGUST 2011

MOTORCYCLE CAMPING – “CREATURE COMFORTS” A PERSONAL VIEW By David Charlton Many bikers enjoy camping and if you are just camping for a couple of nights or even a week you can endure the odd discom­ fort or sleepless night but if you are embarking on a longer trip there are a few relatively simple and cheap things that can make a significant difference. Everyone will have their own ideas of what is acceptable when camping, so the following are some personal thoughts and experiences gained during a 7 week tour that others may find useful.

corkscrew. A small polyurethane chopping board saves accidents and frustration!

When on the road it can be surprising just how few changes of clothes you actually need. If you use ‘high­tech’ fabrics to go under your riding kit, most will wash and dry overnight so 2 or 3 items and a couple of tubes of travel wash can last for weeks. Don’t forget to take a length of line and a few clothes pegs. Choose clothes that can be ‘dual purpose’ or matched with others. Lightweight ‘Zip­off’ trousers avoid having to take separate jeans and shorts, a micro­fleece jacket can be worn a as a casual jacket for cool evenings or as a mid­layer. Choose a style swim­ ming shorts that look equally at home by the pool or in the high street.

Footwear can be difficult – trek sandals can be a good compromise, particularly as skin dries quicker than socks and shoes, but beware mos­ quitoes and biting bugs (see below).

A few plastic bags or bin liners will keep your things dry in transit and you can kneel on them while rolling up your tent. A ‘survival’ Bivvy Bag dou­ bles as an extra groundsheet as well as being available for its main pur­ pose in an emergency.

Loaded up for a two month trip.

Firstly, what to take – the old adage “put half of what you plan to take to one side and take half of what is left” is a good starting point!

The choice of tent is affected by the nature of the trip small lightweight or micro tents are ideal for single night stopovers when touring but difficult for anything other than sleeping, particularly in wet weather, a slightly larger dome tents will provide more living space and comfort for a modest increase in size and weight.

Various styles of tent, including one for the bike.

A Downmat or Thermarest makes sleeping much more comfortable and allows you to use a sleeping bag of a lower TOG rating. Pillows make a big difference to comfort, a rolled up jumper starts out ok, but it will squish and move during the night giving less support. At the least take a small pillowcase that can be stuffed with clothing. Travel pillows are light, comfortable and pack small.

A folding stool or lightweight armchair will make such tasks as cooking, reading and have a beer or two far more comfortable.

Head torches may look ‘nerdish’ but once you have used one you will realise what a brilliant tool they are. The classic ‘Swiss Army Knife’ tack­ les most culinary tasks and has essentials of knife, bottle­opener and

Securing your kit Take several small re­sealable plastic bags for travel money, documents, wallets, cameras, etc. When using a tank­bag, separate your stuff into plastic bags, so that you find what you are looking for easily and the rest will not get wet if raining. Keep a separate (preferably waterproof) wallet handy with a single credit card and small amount of cash for tolls/coffee/ snack etc. When touring abroad taking a pre­paid ‘Travel Card’ in the relevant currency avoids costly charges when used, it also limits the potential cost if lost or stolen.

Take lots of insect repellent ­ mosquitoes love ankles so if possible wear long trousers and socks in the evening when they tend to be most active.

Smelly feet are a delight to many biting insects so it can be a benefit to be cleaner and fresher than the person next to you!

Use small screw­top bottles of the type sold for taking liquids on flights for liquids such as cooking oil and washing­up liquid. 2­3 small bottles will be easier to pack than 1 large one.

Kitchen roll has any uses – to save space take off roll and keep batches of half a dozen sheets in the aforementioned re­sealable plastic bags.

A few herbs & spices, a tube of tomato puree, sachets of stir­fry sauce and pasta make a quick and easy meal. Have a few instant meals (that only need re­hydrating) and a couple of cereal bars for the times when you are too late or tired to shop for food.

Night­wear is likely to be dependent upon the climate, location, number of bugs and whether a nocturnal toilet visits are anticipated (remember it gets light very early in the summer!).

Establish a routine or sequence for doing things that way nothing will get forgotten (leaving the disk lock on, packing your ignition keys at the bot­ tom of the pannier, leaving some tent pegs behind etc). Keeping pad­ locks that snap shut locked when not in use will avoid the risk of locking the container with the keys inside.

In summary, in fact every trip is different and half the kit you take you won’t need and some of the things you left behind you could have used, however this will not be apparent until you get home!

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SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS AUGUST 2011

Cadwell Park Track Day, August 1st Pictures by Rui De Castro A ‘Riding Skills’ track was organised by the club for August 1st and run by Rapid Training at Cadwell park. 19 Mem­ bers of SAM attended the event. When asked of their impressions of the event the following are a few of the replies:

I have noticed more confidence using the power coming out of corners in my own riding . Has any one else noticed a difference in their riding since doing the track day? Most of all it was just damned good fun just like riding on the road.

(Julian Labouchardiere) The day progressed perfectly, absolutely awesome.

Sign me up for the next one. (Ian Morrison) The day was well organised and run professionally with safety consid­ erations. And thanks for arranging the weather! The track itself has eve­ rything for improving technical riding. Personally, I enjoyed 5 sessions, before deciding that I'd had enough fun and there was no need to try too hard to increase speed beyond my limits. All in all I have enjoyed the experience and the ride there and back with excellent weather. I realise that my interest in motorcycling does not include me racing at my absolute limit ­ call me a cissy! I would not go to a racing track to race, but I found it good experience just pootling around the track at my own speed. Well done the organisers! (Peter Nowicki)

My only regrets were that there were only seven sessions. I had not broken in my leathers enough to enable me to move about on the bike more and although my little Ducati was definitely the best bike for me to take as its handling is superb, it could do with a few more horses. Sign me up for the next one now. (Rod Griffin)

Great weather, great track, great friends, great fun possibly not in that order. 20 minutes on track felt like 5, the 40 mins between sessions felt a bit longer.

I will definitely do it again. (Vince Hall)

Lessons learnt for me from the track day were that, when overtaking on the track, don't try run­ ning before you can walk. Try hard to be aware of your limitations and don't try pushing yourself too far out of your comfort zone. Don't ride on the road like you do on the track. Leave the track days to the youngsters. Another thing to cross off the Bucket List. (Tony Eaton)

See all the track day pictures at: https://picasaweb.google.com/Solentadvancedriders/SAMTrackDayCadwellPark# Page 9

SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS AUGUST 2011

SAM ASSOCIATE CHARTER (Revised) Purpose This Charter sets out the basis of the relationship between Observers and Associates.

Observers Observers give their time freely to Associates. They also invest considerable time, energy and personal expense in their personal training so that they can provide Associates with a “Skill for Life”.

Associates In exchange for Observers’ time and commitment, a reciprocal commitment is required from Associ­ ates:

·

Regular practice between Observed rides in order to put into practice what they have been shown and to apply `The System of Motorcycle Control`.

·

A commitment to study the Highway Code, How to be a Better Motorcyclist, Know Your Signs and, preferably, Roadcraft, in­between observed rides.

·

A voluntary contribution towards the Observer’s motorcycle running costs, as set down by the Group and varied from time to time. This is currently £10 for rides up to 40 miles and £15 for rides in excess of 40 miles.

·

To keep in contact with their Observer at reasonable intervals to arrange subsequent rides.

The Process

1. The Observer allocated to an Associate will make contact to arrange the first observed ride.

2. When an Observer feels that an Associate is test­ready, he/she will recommend a Check Test with a Senior Observer to verify the Associate’s progress.

3. Any Associate who wishes a second opinion on their progress is welcome to come along to a SAM Sunday and request an observed ride with an Observer, other than their own.

4. Some riders achieve the necessary skills with 6 runs, while others require more. Every rider is dif­ ferent: If, after 10 runs, the Observer or Associate feel they are unable to make further progress, the Associate may be handed back to the Chief Observer for advice or re allocation to another Ob­ server.

5. Associates are normally expected to pass the IAM Advanced Test within 2 years.

6. Associates are encouraged to ride in bad weather, as this is an essential skill for life. Cancellation of an observed run due to bad weather will be a joint decision by the Observer and the Associate.

7. If the Observer feels that insufficient progress is being achieved by an Associate over a three month period due to a lack of practice, lack of studying or the Associate not keeping in contact, the Associate will be "pooled" and await reallocation to another Observer.

8. In the event that an Associate feels that, for whatever reason, e.g. a clash of personality, differ­ ence in style etc. he/she is not making the progress with their Observer that they had hoped for, they should firstly talk this through with their Observer and agree a plan and, if this is not satisfac­ tory, contact the Chief Observer to request reallocation to another Observer, at the Chief Ob­ server's discretion.

Ready for your Test …….

is Th is

IM P

ORT

A NT

"The IAM has told all examiners that candidates’ driving licence photo cards must be valid, otherwise the test will not take place. Previously the test would have gone ahead and the candidate would have been advised to get it sorted."

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SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS AUGUST 2011

Events Calendar October 2011– December 2012 SAM Event

Other Events October

SAM Sunday(2nd)

20th Copdock Motorcycle Show(2nd) Ipswich See: http:www.copdockmotorcycleshow.co.uk

Cheddar Gorge ride out (2nd) RL Dave Duckett, SM 09:30 Ower Svcs

Wessex Ale & Cider (3rd) Thatcham Berks, http://www.wessexaleandcider.webs.com

October Club Night (11th)

Rally De Cantabria (Santander 6th ­ 10th) See: http://www.mcpiston.com

Kennet & Avon Canal ride out (23rd) RL Paul Nol, SM 09:30 Loomies

BSB ­ Brands Hatch (7th ­ 9th)

MDU at Loomies (30th) 09:00—12:00

Brightona (9th) Madeira Drive, Brighton. http://www.brightona.net/ Carole Nash Classic Mcle Mechnics show, (15th ­ 16th) Stafford Show ground, see http://www.classicbikeshows.com/ November

SAM Sunday (6th)

11­13 Footman James Classic Bike show ­ NEC Birmingham http://www.classicmotorbikeshow.com/

November Club Night(8th)

19­27 MotorCycle Live, NEC Birmingham http://www.motorcyclelive.co.uk/

December December Club Night (13th)

Southern Experts Trial (4th) Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot. http://www.sunbeam­mcc.co.uk

The Ace Cafe London run events every weekend, see www.acecafeevents.com for further details Key: (SAM Events) RL (Run Leader), SM(Start Meet), EA(End At), (Other events) BSB—British Super Bikes

Note: Check the web site for the latest SAM events programme.

The sources for the other events are varied and include some of the links mentioned below.

Not found something of interest in the list above? There are a number of useful web sites to watch de­ pending upon your particular interest.

I have compiled the following short list: · http://www.mag­uk.org/en/eventslist · http://www.thebikerguide.co.uk/bikerrallies.html · http://sump­publishing.co.uk/classic%20bike%20events.htm · http://www.cernunnos­mcc.org/whatson · http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/RidingEvents/ · http://www.acu.org.uk/events/ If you know of an event or show that may be of interest to other members in the months January — March 2012, drop a line to editor@solent­advanced­motorcyclists.co.uk with dates, contact details and any other useful information, and it will be added to the list.

· · · · · · · · ·

Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.

Smile. It's the second best thing you can do with your lips.

One Liners

Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.

Courtesy of http://www.vtwinbiker.com

Sometimes I wake up grumpy; other times I let her sleep.

Your kid may be an honor student, but you're still an IDIOT! If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle them with bullshit.

Constipated people don't give a s**t.

If ignorance is bliss, why aren't you happy?

Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?

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SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS AUGUST 2011

YOUR COMMITTEE Role

Member

Email Address

Chairman Club Secretary

Kevin White Logan Colbeck

chairman@solent­advanced­motorcyclists.co.uk secretary@solent­advanced­motorcyclists.co.uk

Public Relations Treasurer

David Forster Sam Davis

public­relations@solent­advanced­motorcyclists.co.uk treasurer@solent­advanced­motorcyclists.co.uk

Chief Observer

Alec Gore

chief­observer@solent­advanced­motorcyclists.co.uk

Membership Secretary

Nigel Grace (temp)

membership@solent­advanced­motorcyclists.co.uk

MDU Co­ordinator

Tim Bennett

mdu@solent­advanced­motorcyclists.co.uk

Webmaster Club Night Organiser Merchandise

Rui De Castro Mark Rowe / Martin Thomas Ian Kennard

webmaster@solent­advanced­motorcyclists.co.uk club_night@solent­advanced­motorcyclists.co.uk merchandise@solent­advanced­motorcyclists.co.uk

Magazine Editor

Rod Griffin

editor@solent­advanced­motorcyclists.co.uk Riders Recommend

Rod Griffin recommends: Saxon Seats of Christchurch Dorset.

And: MVM of Waterlooville for bike MOT's.

If you need your bike seat re­covered or the foam pad­ ding adjusted to suit you, they provide an excellent ser­ vice. In my case they even made adjustments to the seat cover after completing the job for free, I made a mistake and forgot to include the seat tail piece.

No vested interest, they do not service bikes, therefore will not try an rip you off, and at £25 for the test you cannot complain, as many others charge far more. They only test during the week which may be a limitation but as the test takes up to 30 minutes it is easy to fit it into a lunch hour.

MVM are at: 25 Aston Road Waterlooville PO7 7XJ 023 92 252559

Visit Saxon Seats at: http://www.saxonseats.co.uk Unit 14, Sea Vixen Industrial Estate 3 Wilverley Road, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 3RU 01202 488 866 Caption Competition August 2011

Caption Competition.

Suggestions to editor@solent­advanced­motorcyclists.co.uk

“When I told the bike shop I wanted a Hog, this wasn't quite what I had in mind...!”

Entry sent in by Graham Marsden

DISCLAIMER Many of the views expressed in this SAM Newslet­ ter are personal to the author and publication does not imply endorsement of any article, any author or any organisation. Views expressed are not nec­ essarily in accordance with the policies or the views of the IAM or SAM. Where articles are re­ produced from other publications or authors, unre­ served acknowledgement is given to the source.

No responsibility is accepted by the Editor or SAM for any damage to intelligence or riding abilities, howsoever caused which might result from reading this publication.

Advanced notice: The following edition of ‘Making Progress’ is scheduled for January 2012, please ensure all contributions are submit­ ted by 10th December.

Advice on submitting articles: send in your article in the form of a word document, plain text or in the body of the email. Images should be accompanied by a caption, i.e. file name ­ caption, if not I will apply my own. So get busy, write and send them in.

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