Monthly Archives: April 2010
Gravs Great Bike Run 2nd May
Grav’s Great Bike Run 2nd May 2010.
Below are the details of the Charity Bike Run in memory of Welsh Rugby Legend, Ray Gravell, which I published on a previous blog page.
I have recently been contacted by a Ride Out Colleague who has sent the following message regarding changes to the registration fee for the event.
“Andy,
Would any of your colleagues be interested in doing this ride?
The organiser has been in touch with me today to say that he is aware that many bikers are baulking at the registration cost hence the low numbers from the UK (120 bikers arriving from Eire, about 15 from Wales). To overcome this little problem he has suggested that bikers turn up on the day and make whatever donation they think appropriate.
Hope this makes a difference and that we have a strong turnout on the day at Parc y Stradey.”
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/In_Your_Area/Wales/Fundraising/Social-events/
Sunday 2 May 2010
Grav’s Great Bike Run is being held in memory of Welsh rugby legend Ray Gravell to raise funds for Diabetes UK Cymru and The National Council for the Blind of Ireland. Starting at Llanelli Scarlets RFC, the 252-mile motorbike ride will finish at Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Entry costs £60 per biker and £40 per pillion.
- Contact
- Joseph Cuff
- wales@diabetes.org.uk
- Phone
- 029 2066 8276
Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)
The Motorcycle Action Group, or MAG as it is known is a volunteer lead riders’ rights organisation with a local and regional branch structure, that has been building in strength and diversity since it began in 1973.
MAG is the representative voice of riders in local and national government and passionately defends all that is good about motorcycling.
MAG campaigns to protect and promote motorcycling and the interests and rights of all riders, from learner to advanced.
MAG celebrates biking and the freedoms and independence it provides, through it’s support of parties, rallies, sport and competition, touring and travel, and through the camaraderie all riders share.
MAG works directly with politicians and civil servants but still employs other forms of direct action if necessary to ensure the rider’s voice is heard.
Current Campaigns
Current Campaigns include;
AGAINST; Latest EU proposals to prevent owners modifying their bikes.
AGAINST; Over complicated and expensive Learner laws.
FOR; Non slip manhole covers and proper road maintenance.
FOR; Access to bus lanes and free, secure parking.
Past Successes
Won; An exemption from congestion charging and most bridge tolls.
Defeated; EU proposals for a 100bhp limit on bikes.
Changed; Proposals for continuous taxation and insurance of bikes not in use.
Moving Forward
With MAGS position on working groups within the DSA DfT, and DVLA MAG continues to ensure that the voice of the rider is heard at the centre of democratic government.
They support the RAV campaign (Riders Are Voters) in the pre-election run up.
Benefits of membership include;
A representative voice in local and national government.
The Road. An 84 page colour bi-monthly magazine mailed directly to members.
Bikesure, low cost motorcycle insurance from Adrian Flux,
Legal Helpline, free 24/7 advice on any legal problem provided by access legal.
These are just some of the member benefits. visit the MAG web site for full details.
So why not join today? Annual individual membership is just £25. Application forms are avaialble for me at 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff. Give us a call.
I am a member and 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff are about to become Corporate Members and we will be able to offer discounts to other MAG members on our training and tours.
Watch this space for details and we will keep you posted.
Meeting with Phillip Hammond MP
As a member of The Federation of Small Businesses I was invited to a small group meeting with Phillip Hammond MP, The Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury,(Monday the 19th April), to discuss pre-election issues relating to boosting the economy, and issues relating to business.
The meeting was hosted by Jonathan Evans, the Conservative Party Candidate for Cardiff North, and included representatives from a broad spectrum of businesses.
Some of the sectors represented were, Post Office, Accountancy, Estate Agents, Electrical Retail, Flood Damage Restoration, and I was there representing my business, 1st Class Rider Training.
A number of matters were discussed but I was given the opportunity to put to Phillip Hammond the issue of the current state of the motorcycle industry, being hit by the introduction of the new test, the closure of local bike testing stations, the disparity between how the test is delivered in the rest of Europe compared to how the DSA implemented it in the UK. Also the fall in test numbers since it’s introduction were raised and the knock on effect that this would have on the motorcycle training, sales and accessories market.
To be honest, he didn’t really have an answer! Which I guess is understandable. He was vaguely aware of the problem, as his own constituents had raised the issue of the closure of their local test centre, but when I related to him the experience of the Aberystwyth Motorcycle Training School faced with a 200 mile round trip for a ten minute Module 1 test he was shocked to hear of such a situation.
Whilst I don’t think the meeting would achieve any immediate change, it certainly served to get the issue raised at higher levels.
When issues like this are raised in conjunction with the MAG (Motorcycle Action Group) campaign of RAV – Riders Are Voters, it must have a positive effect.
Couple all this with the changes to the Driving Licence Groups for bikes coming in with the 3rd EU Directive, the Motorcycle Industry is under threat, and this would have far wider reaching implications to the economy, congestion, and pollution than many Politicians have yet considered.
It’s time they listened.
Filtering
French Biker Protests.
When it comes to protests there are great differences between The Brits and our biker cousins across the Channel.
If something bugs us (like the New Bike Test Fiasco for example) we write an angry letter, and ‘We Huff and We Puff’ but we never manage to blow the house down!
Now for the French…. A transport minister recently tried to impose a ban on bikers filtering in France. He stated that they should stay in their position in the queue, like everyone else. He went on to say, ‘If the bikers don’t like it they can use the Metro (Paris Underground Train System).
So the French Biker group, Francaise des Motards en Colere (Angry French Biker Association) responded with a very well organised protest.
Thousands of bikes across the country, (10,000 in Paris alone) took to the streets and were briefed to ride in the centre of their lane and the correct following distance from the vehicle ahead – effectively taking up the space of a car. No filtering, no overtaking but following in the queue as the Transport Minister wanted.
The result was the Paris Ring Road, the peripherique was left devoid of cars! They couldn’t join the flow as the road was completely taken up by bikes. Paris was encircled and completely cut off!
And whilst this was going on above ground, thousands of bikers, in full bike gear, took to the Metro, like the Minister recommended and completely swamped it.
The bikers action was supported by the Police and Parisian car drivers hooted their support, as they quickly got the message that if the bikers were not allowed to filter then the transport system would grind to a halt.
One of the main reasons why bikes reduce congestion and therefore pollution is by their ability to ease the flow of traffic and keep the road systems moving. Taking up less road space, quicker journeys and less parking space.
Stop this and you stop everything.
However, when it comes to filtering, there is filtering and then there is French Filtering! Whilst French motorists do seem to be far more biker aware and biker friendly than our home grown drivers, the bikers can create some bad impressions by the antics that many carry out in the way that they filter and the speeds that they do it.
Filtering does have a place in any modern transport plan but let’s not spoil it for ourselves. Keep it safe and sensible and most car drivers won’t even know that you’ve gone past them!
To see videos of the French protest take a visit to You Tube and search French Biker Protest.
Grav’s Great Bike Run 2nd May
At 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff, I’ve been asked to publicise this fundraising event and I am happy to do so. For full details contact the originator, below.
Grav’s Great Bike Run
Sunday 2 May 2010
Grav’s Great Bike Run is being held in memory of Welsh rugby legend Ray Gravell to raise funds for Diabetes UK Cymru and The National Council for the Blind of Ireland. Starting at Llanelli Scarlets RFC, the 252-mile motorbike ride will finish at Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Entry costs £60 per biker and £40 per pillion.
- Contact
- Joseph Cuff
- wales@diabetes.org.uk
- Phone
- 029 2066 8276
Website Blog Index
Since I started this Website News Blog I haven’t yet done an index of topics covered, so here is the first listing of subjects discussed here.
In future I will issue an index at the end of every month for convenience and ease of searching.
Jan 26 Welcome to the 1st Class Rider News Blog.
Jan 29 Motorcycle Training in Cardiff.
Jan 30 5 Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes
Jan 30 Police Class 1
Feb 1 Principles of cornering
Feb 1 Five Rules of Braking
Feb 2 Motorcycle Training in France
Feb 3 RoSPA Advanced Motorcycle Test
Feb 4 Top Ten Selling Bikes for 2008
Feb4 BMW Sales Up in the UK
Feb 5 Today it Snowed
Feb 6 29th Bristol Classic Motorcycle Show
Feb 6 New Motorcycle Test
Feb 6 Filtering
Feb 7 New Motorcycle Test
Feb 8 Cardiff Motorcycle School
Feb 8 United Motorcycle Training
Feb 9 Harley Davidson Rider’s Edge
Feb 9 World of BMW Training
Feb 11 Your Bike and The MOT
Feb 14 Air Bag Jackets
March 1 Race Retro Show
Mar 5 Rider’s of Cardiff opens its doors
Mar 13 New Motorcycle Test
May 13 French Tours with 1st Class Rider Training
June 24 Trip to The Somme
June 28 Motorcycle Training in South Wales
July 4 Slow Manouvering and Emergency Braking Day
July 5 Thunderoad Motorcycles
July 6 Cardiff NSPCC Childrens Centre
July 7 BMW Motorcycle Technician
July 7 Slow Manouvering and emergency Braking Course
July 7 Advanced Motorcycle Course & RoSPA Test
July 8 Aberdare Park Races
July 10 1st Class Tours
July 31 Road Deaths Down
Sept16 James Toseland Open Day
Sept 18 Next European Tour France & Belgium
Sept 27 Motorcycle Training Cardiff
Oct 2 Launch of our New Site for Motorcycle Training
Oct 5 CBT Training Cardiff
Oct 5 M4 Motorway Safety South Wales
Oct 6 Classic British Bikes
Oct 7 Classic British Bikes The Humber Trike
Oct 8 Classic British Bikes Matchless
Oct 12 AIS Ace Instructor Services set to close
Oct 12 Hoggin ‘ The Bridge
Oct 15 Motorcycle Training in The Vale of Glamorgan
Nov 17 Direct Access training
Nov 19 Moulded Ear Plugs
Nov 22 Direct Access Instructor
Nov 25 Direct Access Training – What’s the Cost
Nov 25 Traffic Filtering M48 Severn Bridge
Nov 25 3rd EU Directive on Driving Licences
Dec 1 Christmas Hospital Teddy Bear Run 2009
Dec 2 Motorcycle Ear Plugs
Dec 3 Group Riding
Mar 25 Motorcycle Monthly Latest Issue April
Mar 30 Drinking and Riding
Apr 1 Booking your Motorcycle Test
Apr 4 Filter at your Peril in Norway
Apr 6 Bike Insurance
Apr 6 Booking your Motorcycle Test – Update
Apr 7 Think Bike!
Apr 14 New Motorcycle Test ‘Bungled’
Apr 15 Bikes now Tax-Deductable
Apr 16 Real Radio Bring a £ to Work Auction
Real Radio Bring a £ to Work Auction
Charity Auction – Motorcycle Training with 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff.
Real Radio– Wales Based in Cardiff are raising Money to build a playground at the Children’s Hospice, Ty Hafan. Ty Hafan, which is based in Sully, South Wales cares for children with life shortening illnesses, and their families, and gives invaluable support at times of great stress within these families.
As part of this fund raising, the Radio Station is running a Charity Auction.
1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff has donated a Motorcycle Training Day as a prize. You can bid for either a Full Day Basic Training for a CBT (value £125) or for a Full Day Advanced Training with a Police Class 1 Motorcyclist (Value £180).
For the CBT we provide the use of a Yamaha 125cc bike, all the fuel, insurance, helmet, jacket, gloves and waterproofs whilst you are training. So this is a great way to get started.
For the Advanced Day, it is better for you to use your own bike but we can provide a fuel injected Honda CBF 600cc.
Our training base for the CBT is at the Cardiff County Council Road Safety Centre, Maindy Stadium, Cardiff, and for the Advanced Day, you will find yourself riding the challenging mountain roads of Wales.
So, come on support this worthy cause and place a bid. Visit the Real Radio Wales website and click on ‘Auction’ for full details. The auction ends in 5 days.
Thank You.
Bikes now Tax-Deductable
In a recent, little known change in the Finance Act Motorcycles were included in your Tax-Deductable expenses.
For Self Employed riders buying a bike’ solely for business use’ can deduct the full amount of its cost from their tax profits. This is done by claiming it as an annual investment on their tax return.
John Shaw of the Bentleys firm of Chartered Accountants told ‘Motorcycle Trader, ‘Motorcycles are no longer treated for tax purposes like cars, but as plant and equipment. This has a significant affect on the amount of tax relief you can claim when you buy a motorcycle for use in your business. whatever the CO2 emission, 100% of the cost is potentially available as a tax write-off in the year of purchase’.
Good news indeed and can surely encourage more people to use motorcycles for work. With fuel costs rising, bikes are cheaper to run, often cheaper to insure and definitely cheaper to tax. So this potential tax ‘handout’ has got to be good for the industry.
New Motorcycle Test ‘Bungled’
A Parliamentary Transport Select Committee setup to examine the DSA’s implementation of the New Motorcycle Test say it was ‘bungled’.
In a report of over 140 pages they also claim that the reduction in the number of Driving Test Centres carrying out Motorcycle Tests was ‘unjustified’.
(Tell us something we didn’t know). The report vindicates many of the criticisms and complaints from the Motorcycle Industry. Trainers and riders have encountered problems since the test was implemented last year.
The Training Industry has seen a sharp drop in the numbers of riders taking up training. In some cases this drop is reported to be as high as 62%.
This of course will have a knock on effect. If less riders are going for tests, then less bikes will be sold, less riding gear and less bikes in for servicing and maintenance in the future, etc etc.
The report concludes that the DSA handling of the implementation of the new Multi Purpose Test Centres was ‘bungled’.
It says that ‘Many candidates and trainers now have to travel too far for their motorcycle test. This adds to the cost and in some cases exposes candidates to fast and dangerous roads on the way to the test site – before they have even taken their test’.
It says that the DSA needs to ‘give greater priority to customer service and convenience for test candidates and trainers’.
A case in point is the campaign for a test site to be placed in Aberystwyth (or nearby) – an as yet unsuccessful campaign. What this means is that if you train with the Authorised Training School in Aberystwyth you are then faced with a ride to Swansea or Chester to take a Module 1 test. The Module 1 test takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. So a round trip of over 200 miles for a 10 minute test!
Now add in the fact that the test candidate may be under 21 and taking a test on a 125cc! What a trip that would be.
When the point is argued that if the rider is going for their test then they should be up to riding on almost any road! You must remember the Crash Statistics year on year in the mountain roads of Wales make shocking reading -and these involve already qualified and ‘experienced’ riders.
At 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff. we are relatively fortunate in that we can take our candidates to the new Centre at Neport, but we find that we are now in competition for test slots with training schools as far afield as Hereford and beyond.
So what does this Transport Select Committee report mean for the industry? Well I think it means…The Horse has gone…let’s close the door!
For those training schools that may have closed, and those hanging on but with a massive drop in business it means nothing in the short term. It just confirms what everyone was saying at the time, but the changes were imposed upon the industry with no redress and no-one listening to those trainers who are doing a very challenging job.
I wait with mounting excitement to see what the DSA response may be, or will Rosemary get a big brush and add it to the mountain of junk already hiding under her plush DSA carpet.
To read the full report visit http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtran.htm