Twisty Roads. When you look and feel this good - perhaps advanced training is not for you!

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1 Twisty Roads October 2017: Issue 57 RoSPA ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS RoSPA Gold - the highest riding qualification a UK civilian rider can attain COVENTRY When you look and feel this good - perhaps advanced training is not for you! For everyone else there is still RoSPA Advanced Motorcyclists Coventry! Welcome Welcome to the October 2017 issue of Twisty Roads. I ve not been around for the past couple of months, but as always, a lot seems to be going on. So thanks to everyone that has attended or helped out at our recent courses and events. Also, well done to all those that have recently undertaken their RoSPA tests - read on to find out how everyone has got on :) As a reminder, articles are always in demand for the newsletter, so if you have something of interest, feel free to submit it. Jane McNeill Welcome... From the Chairman... Training Officer s Report... EARLY PREVIEW Dates - make a note... Diary Dates & Contact Details The images above are from the website for Custom Fit Guards, the cornering course (held in June) and the recent braking course (held in August). 1

2 Chairman s Report Greetings from your Chairman! First of all may I apologies for not being in a position to attend the October monthly members meeting which was due to my new job work commitments so I expect that you will have all been there in great numbers to show your support and to make up for my absence, but not too many I hope, otherwise the committee may get the wrong idea, if you know what I mean! Anyway the September meeting, if you missed it, had everything in it to include a presentation from Custom Fit Guards, a What if Presentation from Gordon McCue and loads of discussions and healthy controversy so you need to be there in order to gain new experiences, put your own point of view forward or just enjoy others making theirs! There are loads of changes going on within the RoSPA RoADAR structure, vision and mission statements of which you need to be brought up to speed at future meetings and on the website, also we have had new members joining in a steady flow of numbers and Associates getting Silver and Gold award in their Advanced Riding Tests along with those members who have taken their 3 year re-tests getting Silver and Gold Awards, so well done to all that have achieved these very commendable awards because it does take a lot of commitment and hours of training to get to those prestigious levels which, very importantly, is recognised by the public as an extremely high standard of riding! In other words there is loads going on so make sure you are part of the journey and also there at the end to enjoy the fruits of your labour by attaining Silver or Gold and at that point, should you wish, begin a whole New Journey of learning to become an Observer, an Advanced Tutor or Diploma Holder of which we can boast more than the average in our Club! support one of the most important events of the year! We are very lucky to have true professionals in our club who give up their time and provide commitment to the position of Secretary, Training Officer, Events Officer, Treasure and the Newly recognised CSM s because without them the club would not function within a structure designed to make sure you as a member can enjoy your experience of attending meetings, Training and Social Events, which I may say, can be challenging on some Ride Outs but rewarding when you look back and say, you know what, that Ride Out is what I trained for and it is what Advanced Riding it is all about! Changing the subject though from RoSPA and RoADAR matters to Club Branded Clothing, the site is all up and running and now has Ladies Wear as well a Base Layer Clothing so all you need to do is visit the Members only area of our Website and click on the link which will take you to our online Shop and there you will be able to make your selection and to be proud to show off that you are a member of an exclusive club universally recognised through the RoSPA logo as a club which supports a very high standard of progressive and safe riding. In the meantime have fun and Ride Well Ride Safely! Ride Well! Enjoy! You will be pleased to know that we are already planning for Next Year s Training and Social Events Calendar which will be shortly published on the website and available in an hand out at the next meeting, and wait for it, have allocated Saturday the 9th of June for our 2018 open day, so pop that date in your diary because we expect you will want to Richard Withers - Chairman 2

3 Training Officer s Report The club has had some great achievements in the last few months with 6 members passing their RoSPA Advanced Riding test. For the first timers we look forward to seeing them on the group ride-outs. Riding my summer commute to London its becoming more noticeable that autumn is on its way. Along the back roads towards Oxford leaves are falling from the trees, colours of orange and red are in mixed amongst the various shades of green on the landscape. The nights are drawing in and on bright sunny mornings or clear evening sky the sun is very low. We have been very lucky these past few months as the weather has been mostly dry and warm, very pleasant conditions to enjoy our bikes and the roads. Unfortunately for some, the time for putting the bike away in the garage for the winter is fast approaching. For the remainder, further caution should be at forefront of our planning. Leaves on a wet surface can provide some interesting results if ridden over when leaning the bike around a corner. The surface of the road, especially towards the edges provides little grip during or immediately after a down pour. Riding in low light or dark conditions changes the characteristic of road frequently ridden on and we can easily become complacent. The headlights of on-coming cars can be blinding especially those European built cars with LED lights!!. A very warm welcome to our latest associates : Paul Ball and Ian Cox. I m sure you ll both enjoy your training. RoSPA TEST CONGRATULATIONS: Congratulations to those that have been successful in their recent RoSPA Tests. For those doing the test for the first time, congratulations to Darryl Fletcher, Colin Hodgkinson and Thomasz Sanocki who gained Silver, and to Andrew Gilbert - who gained Gold. Congratulations also to Geoff Allen who gained Gold in his 3 Year Re-Test, and to Graham Manwaring, who retained Gold. I m sure you are all delighted and we look forward to seeing you on the monthly ride-outs. Roadcraft tells us to adjust our position for Safety!! so in the coming months wrap up warm and ride safely Safe riding. Gary Boulter - Training Officer 3

4 EARLY PREVIEW dates - make a note NOW :) Well it s been a busy year as usual with the monthly ride outs and midweek summer ones. Not to mention the courses we have run as well. Most were well attended but unfortunately some were not. Just to remind you all that courses and open ride outs are as they say open to all, including associates. All the courses have now finished for this year and there s only two monthly rides left this year!!! (Where did that year go!) The next one is on the 29th of October and Andrew Freeman is leading it so I m sure that will be a good one. As most of you will know I have been appointed as Events Officer! So I have been trying to sort out next year s calendar and when you look at the year in full, with all the things we do it soon fills up! All being well these dates will be on the website very soon. But most of the dates are now allocated and are as follows :- Slow riding course 14/4/18 Cornering course 12/5/18 Overtaking course 7/7/18 Braking course Open day 9/6/18 Pillion weekend Mid week open rides - 23/5/18 13/6/18 11/7/18 8/8/18 Observer training weekend 3/3/18 Observer weekend 6/10/18 Plus of course the usual end of month ride out for silver and gold riders on the last Sunday of the month. Ride safe. Simon Simon Broom - Events Officer 4

5 Dates for your diary 2017 Group Meetings 2017 The club meets every 3rd Thursday at 7.30pm at the Alan Higgs Centre, Allard Way, Coventry, CV3 1HW. It s a great chance to meet your fellow riders and where possible, the meeting will include a short technical presentation or talk from a guest speaker. Please try and attend as often as possible. Thursday 19th January Thursday 16th February Thursday 16th March - AGM Thursday 20th April Thursday 18th May Thursday 15th June Thursday 20th July Thursday 17th August Thursday 21st September Thursday 19th October Thursday 16th November December - NONE Group Ride-Outs 2017 (open to Silver/Gold riders) Date Sun 29th January Sun 26th February Sun 26th March Sun 30th April Sun 28th May Sun 25th June Sun 30th July Sun 27th August Sun 24th September Sun 29th October Sun 26th November Leader Jane McNeill Gary Boulter Bob Ballinger Tony Cronin Wayne Lord Simon Broom Richard Withers Wayne Lord Gordon McCue Andrew Freeman Bob Ballinger Destination Northampton Circuit Ellan Valley Shakespeare s Route Shropshire Circuit Broadchurch - south coast Grantham + Kawasaki Terry White Memorial Ride Distance 110 miles 210 miles 120 miles 170 miles 280 miles 160 miles Sat 2nd/Sun 3rd Sept Mike Dallaway Pillion Weekend Additional Events 2017 Open Day: Sunday 4th June National BikeSafe Show: Sat 19th August Open & Wed Evening Ride-Outs: Wed 24th May, Wed 21st June, Wed 12th July, Wed 9th Aug. These Events & Courses are OPEN to ALL Braking Course: Slow Riding Course: Sat 13th May / Sat 5th Aug Cornering Course: Sat 24th June Overtaking Course: Sun 13th Aug Observer specific Events & Courses Observer Training Weekend: Sat 1st/Sun 2nd July Observer Training - Part 1: Observer Training - Part 2: For information about the club please contact our Secretary - Wayne Lord Mobile: secretary@coventryadvancedriders.co.uk Website: 5