1st Class Motorcycle Training - with 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff » News

We are Back! Ride Outs are restarting.

Andy Smith — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:27:02 +0000

We’ve been away… but now we are back. I do apologise for the missing ride outs.

We have been extremely busy with ‘Learner’ training through the last few months, (and we are still heavily booked up now) but I have been asked a few times when the ride outs will start again. So here we go.

To make up for the missing ones I will be running 2 in November.

Sunday the 6th of November. Tintern Abbey, Wye Valley and the Banks of the Severn.

Starting from our new meeting point. 9.30am at the Caerphilly Mountain Snack Bar, (which is a snack bar….on Caerphilly Mountain). The snack bar has been revamped and now offers covered seating – and still has the same range of burgers, rolls and drinks etc. that we (I) have grown to love over the years. It is the home of the ‘Mountain Monster’ which is a massive breakfast roll – and not the woman who works there!

Sunday the 20th of November. Motorcycle Live 2011. (The NEC Bike Show to you & me).

This is an old favourite taking a scenic route up to the M5 near Worcester and jumping on to the Motorway for the last run in to the NEC. Starting at the ‘Mountain Monster’ for an early start at 8.30am. Tickets for the Show are £19 on the door or £16 if you buy them in advance from the ‘Motorcycle Live’ website. If you don’t want to visit the ‘New’ bike show there will be an opportunity to visit the British Motorcycle Museum, which is just the other side of the NEC roundabout. Either one is a great bike day out.

Sunday the 11th of December. The Teddy Bear Christmas Run to the Children’s Casualty Unit at UHW.

We have done this before and we will do it again. All I ask is that you bring along a New Teddy Bear or similar, (at least 1). Please don’t bring along a massive bear as the idea is for the Bears to be given to the children who are unfortunate enough to find themselves in the Casualty Unit as Christmas approaches. As an idea, IKEA sell small (pocket sized) soft toys for around 40p up wards. So for a couple of quid you could fill your panniers!

The reason is that it is believed that if a child becomes attached to the toy whilst they are being treated, it aids their recovery if the are allowed to take the toy home with them afterwards. Obviously there is no funding for this in the NHS. So please support this one and dig deep for your Teddies. So remember it is better to buy a few small ones rather than one big one (which can become cumbersome in the confines of the Casualty Unit).

So I hope there is something here for you and you can join us on one or all of these. As before these ride outs are free but all I ask is that you buy a ‘Full Stop’ badge in aid of the NSPCC.

Also, get your free copy of ‘Motorcycle Monthly’ plus discount vouchers for clothing at ‘Infinity Motorcycles’ and also ‘Bikegear’ at Bridgend.

If nothing else…. come and see the Mountain Monster!

Come on…… you know you want to. We are back!

Follow us on Facebook. Just search for ’1st Class Rider Training’ and see some things about some stuff and some pictures with things in….. 1st Class!

1st Class Gear

Andy Smith — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 20:25:48 +0000

1st Class Rider Training are pleased to announce that we are now able to offer for sale 1st Class Biker Gear. We are testing the water and we have a choice of two styles of Jacket and two styles of Gloves.

The jackets are waterproof and breathable 600D cordura. With CE approved armour in the elbows and shoulders, and a removable comfort pad in the back.

Orange/Black and Silver with reflective piping. Removable thermal lining, velcro adjustable sleeves, wrists and elasticated waist. Summer vents and many zipped pockets, including an internal mobile phone pocket. £85.

Black/Silver with reflective piping. Removable thermal lining, velcro adjustable sleeves, wrists, arms and elasticated waist. Summer vents and many zipped pockets, including an internal mobile phone pocket. £85.

Gloves. Style 1. Waterproof, Kevlar lined with armour on knuckles and fingers. Soft Cowhide. £25

Gloves. Style 2. Waterproof with ‘Air Protection’ on the back of the hand. Drawstring wrists. A mix of textile and leather, fleece lined £25.

Get a discount. Buy a jacket and 1 pair of gloves for £100. Various Sizes Available.

Scooter CBT Cardiff. Motorcycle Training Cardiff.

Andy Smith — Sun, 29 May 2011 17:57:14 +0000

Here we see Jody & Hannah, the first two, 1st Class Rider Training students to complete a cbt on our ‘new’ scooters.

We have a fleet of five Piaggio Free 50cc ‘Twist ‘n’ Go’ Scooters and they are something special. A rare find of 5 almost unused Piaggio Free scooters from 1995. Never registered or used on the road and with only 200 miles on the clock these scooters are in pristine condition.

Having a larger wheel than many more modern scooters, this makes them more stable. Light and easy to handle they are perfect for starting off your biking life style on today’s busy roads.

Previously owned and used by Cardiff Road Safety Department, they had recently become redundant at the road safety centre and were looking for a new home.

We are thankful to the Road Safety Centre Staff for being given the opportunity to offer them a new lease of life, whilst still maintaining the primary use for them, as promoting Road Safety, and safe riding for life.

At 1st Class Rider Training we take our responsibility towards our students very seriously and we are pleased to be able to offer our students training on these new bikes.

Piaggio Free, 50cc Automatic Scooters…… cheap to run, cheap to tax, and fun to ride…. life doesn’t get any better than this. Just ask Jody & Hannah.

For Motorcycle Training Cardiff it has to be 1st Class Rider Training.

CBT Training Cardiff

Andy Smith — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:50:53 +0000

1st Class Rider Training are pleased to be carrying out motorcycle training in Cardiff on our new training site at The Sports Pavilion at Whitchurch High School.

It is a DSA approved site, approved for up to six students for CBT Training. Here we see one of our students practising ‘Wet Weather’ braking and emergency stops in the wet.

We can’t make it rain….but we can carry a bucket. We find that it is far better to experience braking in the wet, rather than simply having it explained. This takes away the fear factor and boosts the confidence of our students, and prepares them better for riding on the road. After all if you are motorcycle training in South Wales….it will rain eventually!

A full debrief is given at each stage.

Motorcycle Monthly June Issue (2011)

Andy Smith — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:13:35 +0000

It’s out now. The June 2011 issue of Motorcycle Monthly and it’s free. Filled once again with tons of bike related info, advice, articles, test reports and competitions.

Get your copy free from us at 1st Class Rider Training. Either pop in and see us when we are training, or grab a copy from one of our instructors out and about (probably very close to a bikers cafe somewhere between Swansea and Newport).

News, views and reviews. All good stuff. And it’s free. If you cant be bothered to get a copy at least you can read the front cover right here!

Join us on a ride out and I’ll bring some along.

Motorcycle Monthly… it’s exactly what it says on the cover.

Riding in France

Andy Smith — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:49:32 +0000

New measures are being called for by French Ministers who want to see the introduction of regulations to make it compulsory for motorcyclists to wear ‘dayglo’ fluorescent and reflective clothing.

For some time it has been law whilst motoring abroad that you need to have a reflective/fluorescent jacket easily accessible in your car, to use in the event of an accident or breakdown on the road.

But now the new measures call for a step further requiring bikers to wear hi viz clothing at all times. As you can imagine this is being resisted by our biking chums from France and a call to action protest day for June the 18th has been arranged.

The UK Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) are in the process of arranging a UK response in an attempt to deflect the measures from crossing the Channel. The feeling being that if it becomes law ‘over there’, then soon it will be here.

Personally, anyone who knows me, knows that I wear hi viz out of choice but for it to become law, it won’t suit everyone. (Does my bum look big in viz….)

Biking fashion aside, another measure being called for is the immediate imprisonment of anyone caught exceeding the speed limit by 30mph or more. Currently in the UK anyone doing this is almost certain to face a period of disqualification, but the French are proposing to offer Bed & Breakfast too.

For further information visit the MAG web site, and whilst you are there, why not join up. They are fighting for your rights and we at 1st Class Rider Training are pleased to support them.

In the picture…. Motorbike, France, Yellow Jacket….. ‘Freedom’ (and an old French bloke going for a beer).

TT 3D, Closer to the Edge

Andy Smith — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 06:45:16 +0000

‘TT3D, Closer to The Edge’ is a film in Cinemas now. It is a documentary behind the scenes look at the Isle of Man TT Motorcycle Races. The TT is an iconic event, where ordinary men (and recently women) risk their lives to compete in the World’s most dangerous race. For no big prize money they pitch their wits against the clock and against the course rather than against each other.

The film features Guy Martin and centres on his efforts to turn his 8 podium places into his first win in 2010. This film is not just for the bike enthusiast, although if you’ve ever ridden you will be sure to appreciate it, but it shows the human spirit and determination of those not only riding but friends and family behind the scenes. It’ll make you catch your breath, it’ll make wonder, it’ll make you laugh and it might just make you cry.

Go and see it.

CRASH Card

Andy Smith — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:55:49 +0000

What is a CRASH Card?

The CRASH Card was designed by Paramedics who are passionate about motorcycles. The purpose is to pass on essential information about you, the rider, to paramedics at the road side and medical staff in A & E, in the event of you having a crash and not being able to communicate yourself.

Here at 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff I have just received mine. It was sent out when I renewed my Bike Insurance.

How does The CRASH Card work?

You will be supplied with a small Green Dot Sticker which you place on the right hand side of your visor or helmet. (I think the helmet is better in case the visor comes free in a collision). The Green Dot sticker alerts Paramedics that you have joined the CRASH Card scheme.

The sticker comes with a small (credit card size- but not plastic) card on which you put your name and contact details together with any essential medical information or history. You then place the card inside the lining of your helmet. The Green Dot Stickers tells the Paramedics what to look for and where.

So if you are unlucky enough to have a crash, and unlucky enough for that crash to be that serious that you can’t speak for yourself then the CRASH Card will do it for you.

Please note if you lend your helmet to a mate make sure you take your CRASH Card out first!

Also remember that the removal of a helmet after a crash is a skilled ‘two man’ operation and unless the casualty is not breathing, should never be attempted without medical or trained assistance. So never attempt to remove another rider’s helmet on your own.

Hopefully you will never need it, and may even forget that it is there….but just in case.

Here at 1st Class Rider Training we support this initiative and I am trying to get a supply of the cards and stickers which we will be happy to distribute.

Honda CG 125cc For Sale.

Andy Smith — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 06:55:27 +0000

Here is a Honda CG 125cc Bike for Sale by one of 1st Class Rider, Rider’s Club members. The CG 125 is an ideal fuel cost busting commuter bike and has recently been serviced and MOT’d.

It is the 2002 model with both Electric and Kick Start and has covered just 2,600 miles.

The asking price is £1000.

If you are interested please give me a call and I will put you in touch with Martyn who is the proud owner at the moment.

Please note hat this is a private sale and is not connected with 1st Class Rider Training and for your peace of mind this is not one of our CBT training bikes so has never been used for learner training.

So just think, cheap to run, no toll on the Severn Bridge, free to park in a lot of places and (out of Cardiff) able to use the Bus Lanes.

If you are thinking of buying a small commuter, then this is it. If you want a bike and haven’t done any training yet, then we can assist you with that.

All you need to ride this is a CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) and we do CBT in Cardiff at our training site in Whitchurch High School.

Don’t miss this opportunity.

Motorcycle Monthly May Edition out now.

Andy Smith — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:09:13 +0000

Here at 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff we have just taken delivery of the new, May 2011 Edition of ’Motorcycle Monthly’. This a fabulous Monthly all about Motorcycling and all things connected to biking. It is absolutely FREE.

You can get you copy from any of our 1st Class Instructors or if you are passing, call in and collect your copy.

This edition is filled with news, reviews and competitions. News such as having a Bikesafe Day at Castle Combe Race Circuit, a report which shows that Driver Error is the top cause of crashes (there’s a surprise!!) and an appeal for bikers to support the Air Ambulance Charity Ride Out.

There is also report on the new tyres by MAXXIS, and it asks ‘are the any good’. Read it and find out. Our Instructor, Simon currently uses them on his Kawasaki GTR 1400, so when you collect your copy you can ask what he thinks of them.

Motorcycle Monthly May 2011, not to be missed.

Free at 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff.

We do motorcycle training in Cardiff, Motorcycle Training in Newport, Motorcycle Training in Swansea and anywhere in between. Compulsory Basic Training, Direct Access Training and Advanced Motorcycle Training. If you want it…..we do it….