*** STOP PRESS ***
ELAM introduces significant price improvements
- The ‘Dangerous Instincts’
- ELAM’s secret Poet
- An end of an era
SOCIAL RIDEOUT ’S
- The Blue Egg Café – 39 riders attended
- The Longest Day Ride
-
Motorcycles Banned from Parts of the Pyrenees (sort of)
Chair John Saffer chair@elam.org.uk
Treasurer Mike Coggins treasurer@elam.org.uk
Chief Observer Anthony Fitzgerald chief.observer@elam.org.uk
Secretary Angelo Villaschi secretary@elam.org.uk
Membership Secretary Brian Dunne membership@elam.org.uk
Social Ride Coordinator Sam Amin ride.coordinator@elam.org.uk
progression@elam.org.uk
Steve Born Progression Editor
Jacqui Barnard Committee member
Paul Gillett Committee Member paul.gillett@elam.org.uk
Antony McNamara Committee member
Welcome to the latest Edition of Progression – I must firstly mention the social ride out to The Blue Egg Café – I actually arrived a couple of minutes before Brian Dunne who was leading and his face was a picture when he arrived, as even he couldn’t believe how well attended it was. Nigel said he lost count at 30 riders, I think I counted 39. A credit to Brian, no incidents, everyone enjoyed themselves and nobody got lost!
Been a busy few months - On a personal note I’ve been working with Martin Clark post course and really pleased to say Martin passed his test this quarter, a clear testament to his hard work and commitment to learn – as an Observer we really do get a joint sense of achievement on these occasions. If any of our full members want to know more about what it takes to be an IAM Observer please speak with Anthony Fitzgerald our ELAM chief observer.
I wont steal John our Chair’s thunder, but am really pleased to report the ELAM committee are doing everything they can to help our members with the current financial challenges and also to promote more Social Rides by contributing to ride leaders expenses – great news.
Another month and another visit to the dealer for the Himalayan - This time I'm pleased to say ‘Philip’ is running really well and only in for a service. I opted to order new Pirelli MT60 tyres and have them sent directly to my dealer, East London Kawasaki – I find this approach much less time consuming and saves on costs too. I’ve got to say the handling improvement over stock is almost breath taking, especially in wet conditions. As the Himalayan has almost no power this new grip allows me to really carry more progressive speed and momentum through corners. I even took him on a gentle green lane and the grip was excellent too.
Speaking of the Himalayan - I’ve experienced one or two incidents of ‘creep’ from junctions and noticeably on a mini roundabout primarily from car drivers. I definitely don’t get this when on the KTM SDGT. I did wonder if this was just a case of saccadic masking but on reflection came to the conclusion that the Himmy’s frontal presence is very small coupled with being a black bike. So decided on adding two 7-Led spotlights, since adding these I’ve found my presence on the road is much visible to other road users.
I spotted a recent cancellation on a Met Police ’Bikesafe’ course, so jumped at the opportunity as I’d never done one. I must confess there was a few examples of riding that I thought only a Police Officer might get away with. Notwithstanding, my experience of this was very positive and the Police rider was able to give me some good progressive advice on my riding, especially around corner exit.
This edition we see a number of technical thought provoking articles, especially Neil’s on the future of motorcycle fuel – it did get me thinking about the future of Rider aids, I’d welcome our group members thoughts on where this branch of technology might be heading . . .
It just leaves me to say I hope you all enjoy this new edition of ‘Progression’.
Welcome to our Summer season edition of Progression where I expect everyone will be getting out on their bike at every opportunity whilst the weather is good. I know you will have been keeping your bike well maintained so it won't let you down, but if for some reason you haven't ridden much lately, be sure to cover all the items in the P.O.W.D.D.E.R.S.S.S list just to be sure you're all set for the ride in question.
Personally, I check my tyre pressures every week and examine them for damage/wear etc., and spray lube on the chain every tank-full. Giving the bike a good clean shows "pride of ownership " and helps you spot if anything needs attention.
The opportunity for long distance trips is now with us and there's plenty of good information available from our last edition of Progression and also for specific questions or suggestions you might have about planning longer trips. Do make full use of the ELAM forum where specific questions you may have about all things biking can probably be answered by other members who've been through the same situation you are facing.
On a financial note - the ELAM Committee are pleased to advise that there will be a reduction in Annual subscription fees for all full members coming up for renewal from the 1st July 2023. This will be reduced from £15 to £10. Associate membership fees will remain the same at £25 so you will benefit from the reduction after you pass your Advanced Rider Test. On top of that qualification in any case, you should get the benefit of a reduced insurance premium if you shop around.
Social Rides - We are also keen to increase the number of social rides organised by Full members and to encourage this, we are offering ride organisers "Rider expenses" on a par with Observer training expenses which currently stands at £15. per session. More details will be available for you when you contact the current Ride Organiser Sam Amin with your proposal and suggested dates.
I hope this incentive will have the double benefit of offering you all more social activities and also to step up and show others your favourite routes.
I hope you are all riding safely and progressively whatever your skill level within the group, and that you enjoy every journey.
Since we last met, I have been doing a bit of moonlighting with other training organisations and other IAM groups, looking at how they do things and thinking about whether we should change the way we do things.
Our neighbours at Herts & Beds (HBAM) invited me to join their Slow Riding Instructors course and their Incident Management course. It’s fair to say that HBAM have a lot of resources at their disposal and enjoy a lot of support from Herts & Beds Fire & Rescue Service in terms of personnel, facilities and time. Both courses were hosted on Fire Service premises and delivered entirely by Fire Service personnel. I can only dream of ELAM having such a close relationship with London Fire Brigade (LFB).
The Incident Management course expanded on the “Biker Down” / “First Bike on Scene” concept & content. Those courses are an excellent introduction to what to do if you encounter a biker down situation and are usually free. Thoroughly recommended. LFB’s dates can be found here…
https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/road-safety/motorbike-safety-course-biker-down/
More recently I attended Essex Fire Service’s Firebike Advanced Machine Skills course. This is very similar to our own Machine Control Day at the start of each course and was held on familiar turf at North Weald airfield. In further familiarity news, two other ELAM members were on the course I attended and even the coaches were familiar! All three of them I had met before on Hopp Rider Training (HRT) track days at Cadwell Park; it turns out that Essex Fire Service have outsourced their AMS course to HRT! Both are again thoroughly recommended, and details can be found here…
https://hrtridertraining.co.uk/
The next big event on the horizon is our circuit-based training course at Folembray, France in early August. I am delighted to see that we have SOLD OUT! with 52 riders and coaches joining us this year. I certainly hope we can run the event again next year so, if you missed out this time, be ready when the call goes out later this year.
Planning for the event is coming together nicely. We have a coaches’ meeting booked to discuss plans for the day, a pre-trip social event booked for riders to get together beforehand, and Julie at Eurotrax has booked the venue and menu for our dinner and awards ceremony in the evening following the course – always a highlight of the trip. The only thing left to chance is the weather! Usually we are blessed with glorious weather but as Lynn Anderson sang in her 1967 Country smash Rose Garden, – “along with the sunshine, there’s gotta be a little rain sometime.” Yeah, just not on the weekend of 6th August thanks, Lynn.
Until next time, ride safe.
Fitz Anthony Fitzgerald ELAM chief observerIAM RoadSmart has revealed the stark difference between the behaviours of company car drivers and other road users
• Of over 2,000 drivers surveyed, a higher proportion of company car drivers don’t believe driving after drinking alcohol or taking illegal drugs is a threat to their personal safety
• The report also found company car drivers were more likely to think using social media whilst driving and ignoring red lights were not a threat to their safety
The UK’s leading road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, has expressed concerns around the percentage of atwork drivers who believe it’s acceptable to drive under the influence of drink and drugs. Research carried out by IAM RoadSmart, which surveyed the safety attitudes and behaviours of 2,010 UK motorists, found 31 per cent of those driving for work believe driving after using Class A drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy is acceptable, compared to 5 per cent of non-company car drivers.
The survey also revealed that over a quarter (26 per cent) felt it was acceptable to drive when they may have drunk too much alcohol, and 24 per cent would drive after using cannabis. In both cases, only 5 per cent of non-company car drivers felt it was acceptable.
Highlighting the differences between motorists driving for work and non-company car drivers, IAM RoadSmart’s Driving Safety Culture Report found 21 per cent of company car drivers had regularly or often ignored a red light within a 30-day window compared to 3 per cent of other drivers. The research also found that 21 per cent of at-work drivers often read a text or email whilst driving compared to 3 per cent of other drivers. Even more dangerously, 19 per cent said they often typed or sent a text while driving (compared to 2 per cent of non-company car drivers).
The latest figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) revealed up to a third of all road incidents involve someone who is at work at the time, this could account for over 20 fatalities and 250 serious injuries every week.
Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research at IAM RoadSmart, said:
“It is incredibly concerning that this latest research shows we still have far too many drivers who don’t understand the dangers of driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol, and not acknowledging the danger they pose to themselves.
“By choosing to ignore key safety features like red lights or even using social media whilst driving, you are putting yourself at much higher risk of being involved in a crash. With a third of all incidents involving people driving for work on UK roads, businesses also need to hold themselves accountable for the responsibility they play in keeping their workers and other road users safe.
“IAM RoadSmart is calling on all fleet managers to adopt best practices such as checking licences, monitoring driver performance, and offering coaching to their most high-risk drivers. Not only will this save lives but also bring a direct benefit to the profitability and competitiveness of hard-pressed UK plc.”
Mark Cartwright, Lead for Driving for Better Business at National Highways said:
“It astounds me how many organisations I see with strong, robust health and safety management who fail to apply the same expertise and energy to mitigating their road risk for their employees.
“People who die or are injured on roads are not statistics – they are families, friends and colleagues devastated. It’s personal and simply unacceptable.
“At National Highways safety is at the forefront of every decision we make and we urge employers to manage the risk their employees are exposed to.”
Rick Brown our long standing member (he joined in 2002), was a past Chief Observer, Mentor and the go-to person on many biking matters, has decided to take time off and retire from Observing . Many of you will have had contact with Rick who was present on many training sessions, theory nights, and Machine Control Days where he would turn up in his White van with wife Kim and provide Tea & Coffee for attendees.
Rick is a devoted motorcyclists and has a long standing relationship with Ducati bikes and the occasional Rat bike which he'd bring along to various events or Folembray where he offered many people riding tips and help with mechanical issues. His Observing skills will be missed but he is expected to show his cheerful face around the group when this time permits
Rick was recently presented with this Certificate of Appreciation from ELAM and the IAM which we think you will agree was richly deserved.
“Rick on a personal note you've been a tremendous asset to the group and to me personally. You have a great coaching style that many have tried to emulate.”
John Saffer ELAM Chair“Rick has been a stalwart of the observing team for nearly two decades, in which time many associates have benefited from his wisdom and experience. He has also served the group as Chief Observer (a challenging but rewarding job, let me tell you!). Enjoy your "retirement," Rick. If the family v. free-time balance swings back the other way and you fancy a return... the door will always be open.”
All the best Fitz ELAM
Chief ObserverMy mate ( yes I do have one ) decided he wanted to have a mini tour in Wales <yes I did edit this bit lol – Ed! >
As per usual it was down to me to design the route and find the hotel. My brief was it had to be cheap, cheerful and great roads (very difficult to find a rubbish road in Wales). Unfortunately we lost one guy two days before we even set off as his (ahem, Triumph) engine decided to blow up.
That aside, we were off and making our way along the A40. About quarter of the way we came across a large gathering of bikers at Onyerbike Oxford so we decided to pull in and be nosy. It was basically a girlie biker meet with 95% blokes! We grabbed a coffee and had a look at the huge variety of great bikes.
Then it was off again, our destination The Mount Inn at Llanidloes at £84 for two nights with breakfast what could go wrong.
Well absolutely nothing it was basic but clean, comfortable and the bikes were safe. Breakfast was good and the owners were brilliant.
Oh and 3 pints were only £11.25!!!!! – and that’s not a typo!
They also served evening meals which were pretty good too.
Day 1 Route – Up to Oxford and across the border No hair care products were harmed in the making of this trip - EdAs I had family commitments I parted with my fellow riders and headed south to Caerphilly via the Breacon beacons and Aberfan stopping to pay my respects to the 116 children and 28 teachers killed in the 1966 disaster. An amazing place and very sobering.
Then next day was the 190 mile circuit. We were blessed with 21c sunny weather, so headed out early heading towards WelshpoolLlyn Llanwddyn reservoir - Bala and my personal favourite road Bala to Ffestiniog via A4212-B4391.
Riding down towards Penmaenpool wooden toll bridge (50p) towards Aberystwyth then cutting inland toward Devils Bridge then the Elan Valley (stunning scenery) into Rhayader back to Llanidloes for a very welcome pint or two.
All the roads are amazing, those that know me would be disappointed though, I couldn't find a ford to cross!!!
The lack of traffic and the brilliant race like tarmac surface is mind blowing.
If your looking for a quick getaway and not to far....Wales is the place....and that's not me being biased.
By Nigel S.What kit did you pack Nigel ? - I travel very light, topbox, with basic tool kit, first aid kit, security chain for bike, toothbrush and paste, jeans, couple of tees and trainers. You don't need anymore than that. On saying that my nephew on a triumph turned up with 3 panniers full of kit it was his first time away on his bike, poor little soul
Day 2 – The fantastic 190 mile circuit routeContinuing the IAM drug-driving campaign, our research revealed that 1-in-10 motorists have driven within 24 hours of taking illegal drugs, most commonly cannabis and cocaine.
But driving after prescribed medication can also be risky – our IAM CEO, Antony Kildare, spoke to the media:
“Almost 1-in-3 drivers do not know maximum dosages of medication before it will impact their driving ability, and 1-in-5 rarely, or never, check whether it will have an impact.
We are calling on the government and healthcare sector to reform the prescribing process to make people more aware of the risks.”
Mention something about being hydrated and knowing your meds
IAMSAFE
This got me thinking about an often overlooked ‘S’ when we do our POWDERS(sss) checks and that is ’Self’.
I’m sure many of us have ridden when not 100%, but making time for oneself and reflecting on the factors that could affect our riding safety is critical.
I recall one such incident when were returning to the Ferry in French France. We were riding in miles of slow roadworks in near 40c heat, we stopped for a drink and my brother-in-law noticed our friend was pale and very quiet. We soon deduced he was dehydrated and overheating. We took measures to cool him down but also took the decision that if he didn’t recover soon we would plan to miss the ferry, which we did.
I’m pleased to say after an hour of so our friend recovered and we all got home slightly late, but safe.
Many Observers and experienced riders use the mnemonic IAMSAFE – this isn’t listed anywhere in the Advanced Rider Handbook but it’s a useful drill to remember;
IAMSAFE
• Illness - Do I have an illness or symptoms that might affect my ability to drive?
• Attitude - How do I feel about this journey? Am I fully focussed on the riding task? What human factors do I need to take account of?
• Medication - Am I taking any medication that might affect my performance and do I need to inform my riding associates?
• Sleep - Am I suffering from lack of sleep / fatigue?
• Alcohol - Have I had a drink? Am I still affected by alcohol?
• Food - Am I hungry or thirsty? Could low blood sugar or dehydration affect my judgement (I also consider toilet breaks as key)
• Emotion - Am I angry, depressed or stressed? Could this lead me to take risks?
By Steve BornWell it was 'mad' May! - Whilst out on an observer run, one of those where it was chucking it down with rain, I found myself thinking what could have helped me when I first started to 'get' the system. Having been working in the training field for the last 30 years I decided to try something we use in technical training, talk to myself.
So what do I mean talk to myself? Well would it not have been great if my observer was providing a running commentary, so provide your own.
"Two lane carriageway. Roundabout sign on the left. 4 exits including the one I am joining from. I am at speed limit doing 50mph. Observer is indicating right, so we will be taking exit 3. No traffic, just me, slowing on approach using engine braking, and roundabout looks clear in the distance. Glance in mirror and over my shoulder nothing in lane 2 should I move to lane 2 or stay where I am and straight line a little? Approaching yellow stripes on road, slowing using my brakes, 50 yards to go. Still nothing behind, Head up, can see roundabout is clear, nothing at this time from the right. I have my Information, Position for entry is good, Speed is right, block change Gears to second as I am not going to be stopping, entering the roundabout. Look to my left and check nothing joining from exits 1 or 2 as I go round, can see the exit 3 and nothing behind me, life saver over left shoulder in case I missed something, gently on the Accelerator and exit the roundabout. Head up to horizon, what's ahead, which way does the road go, I see it bend right but half a mile or more away, up a couple of gears to speed limit 50mph again, scan back to me and start the process again.
I realised talking it through is a great way of discussing with your observer too, I talked to myself what my associate was doing up front and was able to recall much more of what he did and where he did it. Of course eventually it becomes unconscious competence and you just do it over and over.
I like to ride my motorbike
I know a cafe or two or three
Ode
-
By AnonI’d ride it every day
The problem is, I seem to find That life gets in the way
If I could only find a way
To ride my bike some more
But I fear that if I do
I might just start a war!!
(at home!!!)
For my local group
Everyone is welcome
We’d make up quite a troupe
That does some decent grub
Or failing that, we might just even find a decent pub
We’ll all meet up at 9 O’clock
At Harlows Golden Arches
Have a chat and chew the fat
Get ready for departures
So come along, bring a friend
We’ll have fun, I guarantee
And if you get there first
Mine’s a cup of tea!!
A measure to limit noise pollution prohibits the use of motorcycles in parts of the High Pyrenees Natural Park (El Parque Natural de los Altos Pirineos). Electric vehicles and cars are not covered by the ban.
A ‘Special Noise Quality Zone’ (ZEPQA) was created, with a ban for motorcycles, quads and buggies throughout the year. This makes a large area of 80,000 hectares inaccessible to motorcyclists. The Pyrenees are located in the border area between France, Spain and Andorra.
The ban excludes motorcycles from local roads and trails but does not place similar restrictions on cars ‘Unfair discrimination’, says Moto de Campo Sostenible
The regulations described in the ‘Action Plan for the declaration of a zone of special protection of acoustic quality in the Alt Pirineu Natural Park’ distinguishes motorcycles, mountain bikes, quads and buggies as ‘particularly noisy’ vehicles, without take into account their type approval or the level of decibels they emit
The action plan includes the following:
• Limit the passage of noisy vehicles to certain areas of the ZEPQA, taking into account the regulation of motorized traffic inside the park, restricting access to certain tracks either throughout the year or at certain periods.
• Restrict motorized access to the entire network of forest trails and paved paths of the ZEPQA of Alt Àneu and Farrera, except the access roads to urban centres, by vehicles considered excessively noisy consisting of all types of vehicles such as motorcycles, quads, ATVs and buggies that are not electric, except those of registered residents, beneficiaries of livestock forest exploitation, public services and those duly authorized by the Alt Pirineo Natural Park and/or the respective local entities.
• Promote the use of electric vehicles.
• In addition, there is a specific point dedicated to ‘Carrying out awareness actions specifically aimed at drivers of vehicles that emit more noise: motorcycles, mountain bikes, quads and buggies.’
Although I had no idea what roads and what places we meandered through ,I can tell you where we ended up though, it was the Shuttleworth Café -
Where on occasions you can see aircraft taking off and flying about , and as it seems to be a meeting point for quite a few other clubs, there’s always something to see, classic and vintage cars and bikes on our visit. So as I settled down for a deserved sausage roll , chewed the fat (not the roll that was lovely) with some fellow ELAMites ,and other attendees of the cafe.
After the break , we started to gear up ready for the return leg. I noticed my steering damper screw was loose , but trusty Nigel had the necessary tool to rectify the issue, he's a bit of a Boy Scout don’t you know.
I must admit I preferred the return journey as it was more to my style of riding, some lovely flowing B roads Throughout the ride , we did see some lovely scenery, travel down some lovely roads and some not so lovely (in my opinion), but we did also see plenty of cyclists, a few horses and even a man in a mobility scooter with his dog (down quite a narrow lane) when a few of us came along, the dog managed to escape from his owners grasp , which could have been a bit scary , luckily the dog wasn’t bothered by the bikes, I’ve seen other dogs run after bikes , so this could have been interesting to say the least, if the dog didn’t play ball so to speak. however it was soon back under the owners care though,and danger averted. I didn’t return to the finish point (Ilford I believe) asI turned off early on the way home , as there was an opportunity to be nearer home than the finishing point.
It was a personal journey for me of about 150 miles , so it was a nice ride to stretch both mine and the bike's legs.
Obviously a big thank you goes to the frog man, sorry Nigel and Marek (Tail End Charlie TEC), who sacrifices his own enjoyment and freedom to make sure no one’s gets left behind. Takes one for the team so to speak.
So there’s no reason or excuses why you can’t join a social ride , everyone and everything is planned out and catered for
By Paul CarterFor more info see : -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuttleworth_Collection
Adapted from an original booklet published by the Norsk Motorcykkel Union
“instinctive faulty reactions” we mean those unconscious, panic-like actions you do when you get scared They come as a reflex, before you can think, without you planning them The human body really is not built for riding a motorcycle It is built to walk or run During evolution we have been equipped with instincts and reflexes meant to protect us when in danger, triggered lightning-quick. An example is how you wink your eyes when some sudden movement startles you Another is when you retract your hand, before you can think of it, when touching something hot These are unconscious reflexes designed to keep you from harm The problem is that some of these reactions can be life threatening when you ride a motorcycle. Instinctive faulty reactions are a major cause behind motorcycle accidents. More often than not they worsen a situation that you easily could have mastered if only you knew what you were doing wrong.
By
And how to do it right. Each one of these instinctive faulty reactions has the power to override reason. The most common of them is that you in a scary situation push away from the fear by straightening your arms and your back, to create distance from the threat, to protect yourself That is the absolute opposite to what is needed to steer a motorcycle, namely loose arms, lower arms horizontal and shoulders low. Been there, one that It happens to us all.
A second faulty reaction is that when scared you tend to fix your stare at the danger, what you want to avoid. And it is with motorcycles as with other weapon you hit where you aim Such target fixation is probably a reason behind many accidents This faulty reaction may come into play for example when you ride into a bend on the road and feel that the speed is too high or when a car does not yield for you and suddenly blocks your way
A third one is the tendency to suddenly and quickly rolling off the throttle in the middle of a curve because you get worried about the road grip. This reaction is almost like hitting the rear brake in a curve, as the engine suddenly brakes the rear wheel and you risk a slide A second consequence of rolling off the throttle is that you transfer a lot of weight to the front wheel and the bike becomes truckish to steer.
How can you learn to conquer these primitive instincts in order to handle the situation properly. There are really only three ways;
• Always be conscious of the problem
• Learn to recognise the situations that usually trigger them and the faulty reactions
• Learn and drill precise riding technique to become a correct working habit (new reflex) so that you may override the instinctive reaction
You are not the only one to get scared every now and then Seasoned riders and instructors have long since identified what triggers cold sweat moments;
• You are suddenly scared not to come safely through the curve
• You suddenly experience your speed to be too high into a curve
• Your lean angle is bigger than you are comfortable with
• Sudden worry about road grip
• A hazard right in your way
For more information and the full article please visit;
https://www.iamroadsmart.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/iam-full-controldocument-v01
A motorcycle is a precisioninstrument and a correct riding technique will make you play like Eric Clapton
1.What is your favourite biking memory? A trip to France back in 2006 or 2007, with a small group of recently made friends at ELAM, my first trip abroad on a motorbike and I was hooked!! Great riding on fantastic roads with brilliant people. Loved every moment of it!!!!
2.Best bike ever owned (and why)? A 2005 BMW R1200GS, bought new, and it absolutely flattered my riding, It was such an easy bike to ride it made me look good!!
3.Worse bike ever owned (and why)? 2002 Honda Repsol Fireblade, It was a FANTASTIC bike, but it wasn't for me, so much power and silky smooth with it, I just wasn't a good enough rider at the time to appreciate it. Wish I had it now though;-)
4. What's your most embarrassing "Oops!" on a bike? On a trackday at Mallory Park in 2009 on my GS. My ambition outweighed my talent and managed to highside it exiting Edwinas bend (and it's a long way over the top of a GS) breaking my shoulder. <ouch! – Ed>
5. What are your biking ambitions? I'm about to achieve one of my ambitions on a 10 day trip to the Dolomites and Alps which I'm really looking forward to. Other than that it's just to keep learning and having new experiences and try to say 'Yes' more to opportunities that take me outside my comfort zone.
6. What’s in your dream garage? Rather boringly, not much. I don't really aspire to own any bike in particular. I love my 2012 Speed triple and don't really know what I'd replace it with yet, maybe a 765 Street triple, who knows????
7. Best ever biking advice received? Don't ever give up, I nearly gave up riding after my 2009 accident, But, for me, it's more than just riding a bike, it's a community, a friendship group and a skillset. Had I stopped riding I would have given up so much more than a convenient means to commute. It would have been a whole world of people and experiences missed out on which I'm grateful to have had and hope to have more in the future.
8. And finally, do aliens exist (and why?) No, wait, what? No, maybe, No ......definitely not, no, really, no.........
Thank you to Gary Allworthy
Saturday 10th June – Kevin O’Dowd
The intro from ride leader states “some of you have had the pleasure of joining me on this ride over previous years and have been treated with brilliant roads accompanied with weather to suit, let's hope so again” – I can agree wholeheartedly, it was exactly that, having ridden the ride a few times previously I’d forgotten what an excellent ride out this, with some stunning views and mixture of roads.
Really nice lunch Break
Ice Creams are mandatory with a view like this -
In a week that Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, and Kawasaki announced a research project together to explore Hydrogen based motorcycle engines, Mikka Hakkinen together with Verge released a limited-edition electric superbike with a total of 100 only bikes for sale. So what does the future hold? Will we be riding fully electric bikes, and when will the infrastructure suit the lifestyle?
A couple of years ago we decided to change our car. We ordered a hybrid Mini as the milage on the electric model was too limiting. After waiting eight months and still no sign of a car, with further added delays, a price increase and no chips available we cancelled the order. After another round of research, I managed to source a Mercedes hybrid that someone had cancelled before taking delivery.
The choice of hybrid seems to have been a great decision. We travelled last summer to the northern shores of Scotland and charging was totally hit and miss. Had we been electric only we would have been in trouble. Every service station where there were charging points there was a queue. Tesco’s was our saviour in Wick, charging was both free and never saw another car charging on any of the 4 points available. Plus the house we had rented had an outside socket. But some service stations had queues 20 cars deep waiting for a splash of electric, would you sit there for hours to fully charge?
The infrastructure is going to take many years to catch up, so what for the bike, with only a 150- or 200-mile charge range? <I suspect there will be a significant tax rise soon to pay for the infrastructure – Ed>
Imagine a carpark for 200 cars, each needing a charge of 25Kw – would the cable from the grid even be able to supply 5 million watts? In my opinion, electricity is still not clean enough to make the real difference.
So what are these alternatives. What are the pros and cons of Hydrogen that the four big Japanese manufacturers are going to work on. As I write this there are many more cons than pros.
Kawasaki has been playing in this arena for a while. They had a Ninja running on hydrogen since last year, however storage of the hydrogen was an issue, using multiple containers. Honda had an idea for a compressed container that was removable and sat below the seat, some safety issues came to mind with the rider sitting directly above a pressurized container that would propel the rider into space on a hydrogen cloud if it failed. They tried both pressurized gas and liquid hydrogen as an alternative to reduce the space, but it needs to be frozen at some ridiculously low temperature to make it viable. To make matters worse hydrogen used as a fuel may negate the carbon dioxide issue of fossil fuels, but it increases global warming by over four times when used as an alternative, so a lot of research still needed. I hope we can get into a discussion on this on our forum, as these manufacturers move forwards.
As for the new electric bikes, are you considering one? I don’t yet see much in the hybrid bike space or in mainstream manufacture. Little known Vitesco produced a hybrid Husky and Tromox released a weird looking machine that advertises front and rear camera, but not a lot about engine capacity, but you can buy it is 5 different colours!
Kawasaki revealed an HEV for 2024 with an 11Kw electric / parallel engine with some interesting features like ‘walk’ mode, these may be an interesting next step.
Watching this space to see where it goes.
…along the way charging was a nightmare. Hotels with a 200-car carpark had just 1 or 2 electric charging points
Saturday 8th April 2023 – Blue Egg Cafe
Ride leader Brian Dunne couldn’t have imagined how popular his ELAM AA Rideout would be with an amazing 39 riders turning up!
The roads were relatively empty considering it was a busy Saturday. Pace was progressive/relaxed and I really enjoyed the time to take in the scenery.
Lunch was fantastic and it was a credit to Brian that every one enjoyed the ride safely and we had nobody lost or missing in action.
By Steve Born ELAM Bikes as far as the eye can seeEach quarter we provide a real-world experience of the Bikes, Kit and Cafes some of our members have sampled this period.
These are personal experiences and do not necessarily represent the view of ELAM but provide helpful insights nonetheless . . . .
From £50 (18litre) to £125 (70litre) | thesportsbikeshop.co.uk
Choosing motorcycle luggage can be a bit of a minefield. Does one opt for OEM (original equipment manufacturer) or aftermarket made by another company? Hard or soft luggage?
These questions I’m not going to answer for you. Let me just say “it depends”, what I would say is do your research.
When I purchased my Triumph 1200xe the previous owner had very kindly added an OEM soft 25litre pannier bag and an OEM tail rack (one of the advantages of buying used). The only problem I had with this pannier was that I couldn’t purchase another to fit on the opposite side. The issue with my scrambler model is a high exhaust silencer so it’s not possible to run a second pannier.
I needed more luggage capacity for up and coming camping trips, Folembray and UK tours. I had a decent size rear luggage rack so wanted to make good use of it. I dismissed a hard tail box option, not for me on this style of bike. I considered Kriega tail bags, these are highly regarded and used by round the world motorcycle adventurers.
Bruce Smart aka TeapotOne ran with these on his Suzuki GSX-R1000 World tour (definitely worth a binge watch on YouTube) They are expensive and built to exacting standards. I felt for me these were a bit of an overkill. I finally fell upon SW-MOTECH dry bags. They come in various size options, a huge 700 (70litre) available. The luggage is very tough, waterproof, versatile and importantly secure plus a high vis yellow is available. What I like about these is the simplicity to attach to either your tail rack or subframe of your bike using four mounting straps (similar to Roc straps) and can be mounted sideways across your pillion seat or lengthwise if you do not have a tail rack.
These bags can be used in various combinations. I went for the 350 and 180 version that can be clipped to each other.
I would really consider looking into this product further if you are in the market for motorcycle luggage this summer. The quality to price ratio is pretty hard to beat.
I wish you all happy and safe touring this year.
By Jamie Newman
These riders recently passed their Institute of Advanced Motorists Riding Test and are now full members of ELAM. Congratulations!
Martin Clark
MASTERS
These individuals have passed the Masters course – designed for existing advanced road users to enhance and develops their riding ability to what is widely accepted as the the highest civilian level !
These riders have not only demonstrated advanced road skills, but have proven their ability to effectively lead Associates. Congratulations!
NEW NATIONAL OBSERVERS
Everyone on this list is a veteran rider with exceptional road and leadership skills.
Welcome to all the new Associates this quarter. Good luck with the course and of welcome to ELAM.
James Perrin
Stephen Upton-Bryant
Harry Cameron
Arsen Lumai
David Byrne
Congratulations to all for achieving these outstanding skill levels!
Michael Griffiths
Peter Horrall
Spotted in Newcastle
Hope it didn’t make the bike run ruff <Ed>
Aberfan Colliery Memorial
A device for protecting the animal inside – and a dressed crab shell
What a massive pair of ……..…. <Roosters obviously – Ed>
Please note the ELAM Calendar is the definitive place to find out about all upcoming ELAM events.
- https://elam.org.uk/calendar/
Sunday 9th Course Run 5
Sunday 16th Super Sunday Ride
Tuesday 25th ELAM Zoom Committee Meeting
Saturday 5th -7th Folembray Weekend
Tuesday22nd ELAM Zoom Committee Meeting
Monday 28th Summer Bank Holiday
Sunday 3rd Machine Control Day
Thursday 7th Theory Night 1
Saturday 9th Saturday Course Run 1
Sunday 17h Sunday Course Run 1
Thursday 21st Theory Night 2
Saturday 23rd Saturday Course Run 2
Tuesday 26th ELAM Zoom Committee Meeting
Although we meet in many places in East London, Herts. and Essex, the following venues are used regularly by ELAM:
St Francis Hall (map), Hawkwood Crescent
Chingford
London E4 7UH
Note that some sat-navs will take you to the wrong place – take a close look at the map – you want the little road at the top of Hawkwood Crescent!
North Weald Airfield (map)
Merlin Way, North Weald, Essex CM16 6AA
All Observed Runs start from various venues around London and Essex. Details of the location will be provided when you join the course.
Many BUT NOT ALL social rides meet at McDonalds London Road
Harlow, CM17 9LH
Details of the location will be listed on the ELAM Forum/Calendar.
Disclaimer: ELAM is a charitable training body, the trustees of the charity being the committee. The Progression publication is a collaboration from articles provided by any and all ELAM members written in good faith.
The views expressed in articles are not necessarily those of the editor or the ELAM committee. Before acting on information or advice given in any article the individual should discuss with their Observer, the Committee or seek independent advice. ELAM cannot accept any liability for any loss, damage or claims occurring as a result of any action carried out on the basis of information founded in Progression and all such liability is hearby excluded. You are responsible for your own ride: even when you are riding with others, your ride is your responsibility including riding safely within your own capabilities and complying with all road traffic regulations.
