TUG August 2022 by EAMG_bikers

August 2022

Registered Charity No. 1107703

EAMG News August 2022 IT’S NOT TUG. WELCOME TO EAMG NEWS Welcome to the first edition of EAMG News. I would like first to thank outgoing TUG editor Chris Johnson for his hard work in turning out regular editions of TUG for the last six years. As Chris has already explained himself, due to family circumstances he can no longer commit to the huge task of editing TUG but we are immensely grateful for the time he has already given to EAMG in so many ways. I will start by saying that this newsletter is an alternative to TUG rather than a replacement. If you’ve been a member of the group for long enough you may remember that I edited TUG for several years so I know how much work it is to produce. A magazine has a specific format with pages in multiples of four it so adding a page for a long article means three others have to be filled or something has to be removed elsewhere. I don’t know how I found myself volunteering again but I didn’t like to see EAMG with no regular publication. I think the major roadblocks to finding a new editor had been the time consumed by the task and the complication of specific publishing software. Hopefully the change from magazine to newsletter addresses both these issues. The new format means the newsletter can be whatever length is required for the available content and most importantly doesn’t require specialist publishing software. Maybe potential future editors will be more encouraged knowing they could use whatever word processing software they are already familiar with. I forgot to ask Chris for the artwork so enjoy an ad free first edition. If you have anything to contribute to future editions, please send to me at webmaster@eamg.org.uk Graham Simpkins

EAMG News August 2022 CHAIRMAN’S PIECE Welcome everyone to our new newsletter. This newsletter has come about through modernisation and necessity. Chris Johnson, our wonderful TUG editor had been battling to give us a regular TUG issue often in the face of publishing adversity. The TUG format demanded a certain number of pages be filled with content or it was unpublishable (is that a word?). No matter what Chris gave us a TUG, always a really good TUG (stop it you lot!!), but we needed to look at less demanding ways to create an informal informative platform to communicate with you all. Unfortunately, as I am sure you are aware Chris had to step down as TUG editor due to family reasons, and so we feel that now is the right time to launch our informal News Letter that will be published every 2 months. It will not have to contain any set number of pages etc, so some months will be a bit bigger than others. The content will be member driven, we are looking for you to send in titbits no matter how big or small, let us know about a great food stop you may have come across? Outstanding dealership service (if such a thing exists?) A great day out doing off road etc. Send us a little bit about a recent trip, the list goes on, but this Newsletter content will depend on what you send us, so don’t be shy. We will also post activities etc here, as we want to inform you of EAMG activities on as many platforms as possible. Talking of platforms, we are now on Instagram. See further details later in this newsletter. I would like to thank all members for continued support, without you we can’t do what we do, BUT we are a volunteer group so we DO need more volunteers in 2 key areas. We need more committee members, I will be chatting to you on group nights promising it’s nothing too scary, maybe come along to a meeting and see for yourself, you are most welcome. But the burden of responsibility is falling in too few here. We need more observers to cope with growing the membership, I loved my time being out with observers, some say my riding might have even improved. Seriously I enjoy my riding more now than ever, and also being an observer I find incredibly rewarding, I am sure there are a few of you out there who feel similar, so please do have a chat with an observer, find out what’s involved, all we ask is you have a current Rospa Gold or IAM equivalent. I have thanked you all for your support but today I must single out a huge thanks to Chris Johnson for his sterling effort as TUG editor over the years. An incredibly challenging job at the best of times, often with very little content until just a few days before deadline. Take a bow Chris!! We wish you and your family all the best and hope to see you sometime soon. So, everyone get your Newsletter contributions ready for the next one. You can send it in anytime to webmaster@eamg.org.uk . Let’s make this a great club feature. Wishing you all the best. Michel Couque.

THANK YOU, FROM DARREN DIGBY 3

EAMG News August 2022 I would just like to say thank you to Clint Bardwell for telling me about EAMG and pointing out that getting back in to biking at the good old age of 55 has risks and dangers. All though my break was only about 10 years Clint did explain things well about safety which then made me want to join EAMG. Once I had joined and thought I was going out for a couple of refresher training sessions with an observer, I felt that I was going to get some good road guidance, as I did motocross racing in my early years, I definitely thought this was going to be very useful and needed. On a cold wet Tuesday morning in late October I met my observer, Andy Parnham. With a good chat before we ventured out and asking did I want to sit my ROSPA I was very surprised and also excited. Within 30 minutes Andy changed the way I rode my bike and my vision became very different of the road in all ways for very good reasons. After 11 ride outs with Andy, some very nice breakfast café’s and great roads he got me ready for my test. Andy also gave me the confidence to ride well in the wet and the not very nice weather as my training was over the winter. I was just going to be fair weather rider but now it’s out in most weathers thanks to Andy and some heated grips purchased after the first 3 rides. As Andy filled a few of my progress reports in Cannons BMW café I fell in love with the 1250 RS which I now own. Yes I got a gold pass thanks to my fantastic observer Andy. This is just a small article to say a massive thank you to Andy Parnham who has made me want to ride and enjoy bikes every chance I can. I think EAMG is something all local riders should join and gain skills from the experience they have to offer to anyone who rides a motorbike. Having the ROSPA has given me confidence and most important a great view of the road and safety. My ROSPA might have been very expensive but it was well wort it especially when I get out on my BMW Many thanks to EAMG Darren

EAMG ON INSTAGRAM It’s probably well overdue but EAMG’s 40th anniversary seemed like a good time to up our social media game and join Instagram with our new account @eamb_bikers so please follow and like our posts.

EAMG News August 2022

I have posted a couple of photos and our logo to get started. If you have photos to share on @eamb_bikers you can send them to webmaster@eamg.org.uk or if you are already posting on your own Instagram, include the hashtag #eamg_bikers. I would have used the hashtag #eamg but if you use that search will find mostly E class Mercs of the AMG variety. Instagram is a great place to promote EAMG but we wish to respect members privacy. I will endeavour to ask anyone in my photos taken at EAMG events whether they are happy for that image to be posted on Instagram. We also have a Linktree page where you can find links to all of our online presence. https://linktr.ee/eamg_bikers

EAMG News August 2022 Further Training Opportunities for Members and Associates - 2022 April 2022 was a sad month for EAMG witnessing the last issue of TUG for the foreseeable future as Chris Johnson, our Editor for the past six years, stepped down to become a 24/7 carer for his wife Mary. With no forthcoming editors, announcements for events such as Further Training Opportunities, will be posted on the forum. 1st January 2020 celebrated EAMG’s fifteen years of independence enabling the Group to draw upon the most appropriate riding techniques to meet the training needs of our members, without having to accommodate restrictions imposed by a governing body. With independence, came the responsibility to ensure our training standards progressed and maintained at the highest level. EAMG Observers fulfil a crucial role within the Group. All are required to hold a current RoSPA Gold qualification before they can be considered for observer training. Once qualified, Observers are re-tested internally every two years by one of four Senior Observer Assessors (SOA’s). In turn, SOA’s are re-tested externally every two years by highly qualified Police riders. Full Members and Associates can be assured that EAMG’s training is of the highest standard. EAMG: ‘Promoting Motorcycling Excellence’. Full Member Training (FMT) FMT format allows greater focus on many aspects of advanced motorcycling over longer distances on less familiar roads. Make no mistake, passing an advanced motorcycle test is an excellent achievement but it’s only a measure of your riding standard on test day. Riding skills require continued practice to be retained or they will sadly be lost. Associate Member Training (AMT) Similar training courses are now available for Associate Members who may be approaching test standard, have been recommended to apply by their allocated Observers or those familiar with riding greater distances than covered on a typical Observed ride. Associates will be encouraged to make their most recent Ride Report Forms available to ensure the Observer on the day has the necessary information to identify needs and address any issues that may be apparent. Ride Format Duration of rides will be circa 200 mls for Full Members and 100-120 mls for Associates. Regular stops, most including refreshments, will include debriefs so that issues identified can be addressed during subsequent legs. We will NOT be riding in one large group. Allocation will usually be on a 2 to 1 basis to avoid continuous Observation. Every effort will be made to match riding ability and/or aspirations. Routes will be pre-planned and forwarded to participants beforehand. Initial briefing will be comprehensive and a full Ride Report will be provided.

EAMG News August 2022 2022 Events Joining Fees: Full Member Training: £45 - Associate Member Training: £35 Pay EAMG direct to Sort Code: 30-96-94 a/c no: 00791646 Ref: FMT or AMT + your name Future 2022 Dates: Sunday August 14th - Sunday October 23rd Register by providing the following information to John Tipper: Email: mailto:ajt@reveillerrides.co.uk Name: Address: Phone No: Email: Riding Experience: Aspirations: Machine: Annual mileage:

John and Audrey’s Ride to the Cotswolds – Sunday 21st August 2022 Recent weather has been excellent for us ‘bikers’ but would you like to experience some different roads? Why not join John and Audrey’s ride to the Cotswolds? For those new to the Group, these rides are open to both Full Members and Associate Members of the Group; John leading Full Members and Audrey leading Full Members, preferring a more leisurely pace and Associates. We will not be able to take Non-Members unless they have been approved as a guest. Due to extensive roadworks on the A120 leaving Birchanger, our route will commence at the first BP petrol station on the A10 by Buntingford, approx. 4 miles north of the A10/A120 RAB by Puckeridge. Please note, there is a new BP petrol station, also at Buntingford, where the A507 joins the A10 but parking is limited. Our route will be the same for each group and include the ‘Charlbury Loop’. We’ll stop for coffee at the Buckingham Garden Centre on the A421. Lunch will be at the Cotswold Barn (formally known as “The Cotswold Food Store & Café”) on the A424, approx. 2 miles north of Stow on the Wold. We’ll provide a printed route and .gpx file for those with Sat. Nav. Our route will be 192 miles plus your ride from home to and from Buntingford. Please be realistic, please ensure you’re comfortable with this mileage before joining us. We can’t think of a better way to spend a sunny Sunday but bring the wet suit just in case! Hope you can join us. John and Audrey

A LOOKBACK AT JULY GROUP NIGHT July was an unusual meeting due to Channels being double booked. We were invited to use the golf club which would have been a bit of a squeeze but it fortunately it was a beautiful summer evening so we were 7

EAMG News August 2022 able to occupy the lovely patio. Our guests from Belview Motorcycles took it in their stride and the patio was actually a nice place to view and sit on the demo bikes they had brought along. Michel also took the opportunity to present Robert Smith with his Rospa certificate and welcome him as a full member of EAMG.

EAMG News August 2022

EAMG News August 2022 SLOW RIDING DAY - Sunday 18th September Always very popular and a great opportunity to practise something not many like doing! Covid curtailed EAMG's Slow Riding Days (SRD) in the last years due to Ford's Dunton closing their facilities - and its still not available. We looked further afield and have booked North Weald Airfield to run a SRD / Machine Skills day on 18th September. We have booked 9am to 1pm - when finished we hope you'll join us at the airfield cafe for lunch. This year we have expanded the course to include more machine handling skills, hence the title. 1) Stands and manual handling. 2) Slalom. 3) Figure of eight. 4) Slow ride control. 5) U-turn. 6) Controlled stop. 7) Emergency stop - 30 MPH - we may introduce higher speed emergency stop - TBC. 8) Cornering and emergency stop. 9) Avoidance control. 10) Slow Riding fun Race - everyone takes part in the slowest run over a measured distance without putting their foot down! - slowest participant wins the snail 'T' shirt. We may also introduce some additional skills to learn on the day. Note: A location map will be sent out nearer the day. Venue: North Weald Airfield, Merlin Way, CM16 6HR - East/West Disused runway. Arrival time: 08:30 prompt - finish at 1pm. Cost: £10 per head - cash on the day. * Bring water and snacks. * Full tank of fuel. * All riding with full safety gear. Please note: This is only open to our 2022 membership or new members joining. Please confirm your attendance via email to - mailto:mickhewitt39@hotmail.com Alternatively; 07762 889408 – Mick