Morecambe Bay Estuaries
Advanced Motorcyclists
April 2015
April 2015
We are the local bike group of the Institute of Advanced Motorists
Visit our website to find out more about us and to join: www.mbeam.org.uk
In this Issue
News from the Chair
Events
We are the local bike group of the
Institute of Advanced Motorists
By joining us you can participate in the ‘Skills
for Life’ training programme which can lead
to Membership of MBEAM and of the IAM.
News
Member Profile
A Superior Ride
Argentina to Columbia (part 1)
Frustrations of a broken biker
MBEAM does Ireland
Women on wheels
Successful training leads to better roadcraft
and safer riding.
We also offer regular meets, social events
(biking and non-biking), ride-outs, meals,
long and short biking holidays, and full and
half-day rides.
See our Contact Us section for details of our
website and Committee emails.
Northern Route
Contact us
Congratulations to the following MBEAM
associates who have recently passed their
Advanced Motorcycling tests:
Toby Bush (F1RST)
Gareth Gregory (F1RST)
Mike Wilkinson (F1RST)
Andy Lancaster
Richard Walker (F1RST)
Michelle Wilkinson
Andy Holt
Lisa Charles
Ian Sisson
Congratulations also to Joe Hurst who
has passed the National Observer test
Welcome to the following new MBEAM
associate members. We look forward to
congratulating you in the next issue!
David Wood
Steve Barker
Andy Blezard
Alec Robinson
Steve Smithson
Joe Ashton
Malc Burton
Simon Burgess
Kath Jenkins
Robert Hewitson
Vickie Hunter
Sam Bonney
Emma Butterworth Phil McBratney
Dougie France
Ron Wareing
Robert Howard-Smith
Welcome to the following new MBEAM
full members:
Mark Valentine
Cover photo courtesy of Chris Granger
ANDY GRIFFITHS
Hi all,
Welcome to the first newsletter of 2015: we're
well into the New Year, the 'riding season' is
just about upon the fair weather riders, a few
more bikes are hitting the roads week after
week so let's hope Mother Nature doesn't perform her usual shenanigans and lull us into a false
sense of security....
Hopefully some/a few/all of you will be attending
the AGM later this month on 13th April at the
Clarendon. Don't worry, no-one will be press-
of road craft I've seen over the last couple of
ganged into a post on the top table even though
months! Topped off perfectly last Monday when
some changes are happening. This will be my
even though the weather was less than clement,
third year in the post of Chair, so by rotation as
White Van Man pulls out in front of an Eddie
is set out on most committees, I will be standing
Stobbart artic, then wonders why said truck
down at the 2016 AGM. Good ol' PJ has already
driver blasts his horn.....
done similar, I'd like to take this opportunity to
Elsewhere in our hallowed little publication
thank him immensely for his sterling work - I
should be my report from the Ireland trip I led
only found out myself a while back he's been on
last year, and the usual drivel from my alter-ego
various IAM committees for twenty plus years
at Northern Route, alongside various other con-
so definitely deserves time away! So ….. if you
tributors . Speaking of which, don't be shy, if
think you can offer the good ol' HMS MBEAM a
you've led a run or even attended one, how about
new idea or two, why not think about joining the
hassling Astrid into putting your musings into
committee, you don't need to stand for an offi-
print for the next newsletter? I'm sure she'd
cial position and anyone is welcome to the meets.
appreciate it.....
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed how the
weather tends to bring out the worst in road
Andy
users? I have been amazed at the poor standard
Chair— MBEAM
We meet twice a
month from April
to October and
once a month
out-of-season.
Venues
Committee Meetings:
Clarendon Hotel
76 Marine Road West,
Morecambe, Lancs,
LA4 4EP
Breakfast Meets:
Torver
Torver village hall(on
the A593 next to the
Church), Torver, Cumbria
Staveley
Wilf’s Café, Mill Yard,
Staveley, LA8 9LR
Glasson Dock
Lantern O’er Lune Café,
West Quay, Glasson,
Lancaster, LA2 0BZ
Sunday Breakfast
Meets start at 9.30 am.
We often then depart at
11am for ad-hoc rides.
Please check the forum for any suggested ride-out routes. Ride-outs and trips
are open to full members and associates. Non-members can join us by invitation only (please email one of the Committee).
More details of events are posted on the forum as they become available.
Sunday 5th April
Torver Breakfast Meet
Sunday 21st June
Staveley Breakfast Meet
Saturday 11th April
Day Ride Out
Sunday 28th June
Half– Day Ride Out
Monday 13th April
AGM (7.30pm)
Sunday 26th April
Staveley Breakfast Meet
Sunday 3rd May
Half-Day Ride Out
Sunday 10th May
Glasson Dock Breakfast Meet
Monday 11th May
Committee Meeting (7.30pm)
Saturday 16th May
Day Ride Out
Sunday 24th May
Staveley Breakfast Meet
Sunday 7th June
Torver Breakfast Meet
Monday 8th June
Committee Meeting (7.30pm)
Sunday 5th July
Glasson Dock Breakfast Meet
Saturday 11th July
Day Ride Out
Monday 13th July
Committee Meeting (7.30pm)
Sunday 19th July
Staveley Breakfast Meet
Sunday 26th July
Half-Day Ride Out
Sunday 2nd August
Torver Breakfast Meet
Saturday 8th August
Day Ride Out
Monday 10th August
Committee Meeting (7.30pm)
Sunday 16th August
Glasson Dock Breakfast Meet
Saturday 13th June
Day Ride Out
For full details of the above events and more see the forum: www.mbeam.org.uk
HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY MBEAM!
Revised policy on the use of Flip Front
helmets:
The IAM position is that all riders involved in
any form of motorcycling for the IAM
(including associates, observers, examiners
and staff development of any kind) be required to wear flip front helmets in the fully
down position (locked) at all times that the
motorcycle is being operated (including stationary on a road or other place where a
collision may possibly occur). This is regardless of any certification allowing it to be worn
open whilst moving. This policy was revised
Dec 2015 and does NOT apply to ‘P/J’ rated
helmets where the chin guard can be locked
in the open position thus rendering the helmet an ‘Open Face’ model.
The newly-worded policy is in the Standards
section of the Policy Library in the members’
area of the IAM website.
Morecambe Bay Estuaries Advanced
Motorcyclists (MBEAM) was founded on
the 17th April 2005 having started life in
December 2000 as the bike section of the
Morecambe Bay Advanced Motorists.
Congratulations to the following members who have been involved with
MBEAM from the start:
Phil Butler
Andy Griffiths
Rod Chapman
Nick Edwards
Gareth Roberts
Marc Proctor
Gill Crabtree
Pauline Crierie
Clive Pollard
Judith Hunter
Colin Dodds
Ian wood
Reg Walker
Steve Ingle
Bob Bryne
Paul Worden
March 14th: First MBEAM ride out of the year saw 11 members ride the Cumbria Ring.
BOB BRYNE
How did you first get interested in bikes?
Back in 1970/71 when I was 15/16 all my
mates had motorcycles so I developed an
initial interest in them then. My best mate at
that time was given an old rusted up James
100cc (I think). We rebuilt the engine in his
Gran’s shed, freed up the wheels and various
other seized bits. Once we got it going,
really wanted a motorcycle but I couldn’t afford one and this friend only wanted £25 for
the scooter. It was a bit tatty and my Dad,
who had a car body repair shop at the time,
re-sprayed it for me. It looked really nice
when it was finished. I practised my road
and riding skills in the Holiday Camp until I
turned 16, when I could venture out on to the
road. I obviously didn’t practise hard enough
though, the first day on the road, on my 16th
birthday, I knocked down a motorcycle policeman, but that’s another story!
A few months later the scooter developed a
fault that I couldn’t afford to fix, which
brought an end to my initial foray into motorcycling.
whilst we were under 16, we used to ride it in
the grounds of Heysham Towers Holiday
Camp. The Camp was owned by the father
of another friend who let us use the Camp’s
roads for riding on outside the holiday season. It was just round the corner from The
Old Hall pub in Heysham and is now long
gone, most of it was demolished to make way
for new houses.
Just before I was 16 a friend had a cheap
scooter for sale, a Vespa Sportique 150. I
Fast forward to 2001. I had just turned 46
years old and had just completed 10 years
studying with the Open University to gain my
Honours and Masters Degrees. My studies
with the OU had taken up most of my spare
time and I was now wondering what to do
with all the spare time I had on my hands.
Maybe this was the mid-life crisis that you
hear so much about, I don’t know, but after
many years of not being remotely interested
in motorcycling I suddenly decided my next
challenge was to take my motorcycle test
and buy a bike!
What was your first bike?
Not counting my brief foray into biking back
in the 70s, my first ‘proper’ bike was bought
the week after I passed my test in 2001, a
Honda VFR 800.
What has been your best biking moment
to date?
This is a hard one, there are many. I have
taken several advanced motorcycle tests
since 2001, including various Observer tests,
each one I regard as an achievement and a
great moment.
What is your current bike(s)?
That’ll be my current dream bike, a BMW
R1200GS Adventure, the latest water cooled
model with all the gizmos.
What is your dream bike?
I sometimes lust after some of the old classics one often sees at the motorcycle meeting places, but I think I’d find them too much
hassle to maintain. After years of tinkering
with cars I’m now just happy to have a new
bike and pay someone to service it!
As I tend to replace my bike every 3 to 4
years, and I would never buy something I
didn’t like or enjoy, I would say my dream
bike is whatever I am riding at the time.
Then there is going on tour with like-minded
people. Whilst the tour itself cannot be considered a moment there are many moments
during each and every tour that could be considered to be up there with one’s best biking
moments. I’ve not done a great deal of touring but each and every tour I’ve done, be it
one of the several tours of Scotland and
Wales, or the one I did in Southern Ireland
with MBEAM, I have thoroughly enjoyed.
As an Observer, hearing that my latest Associate has passed their test is another ‘best’
biking moment. No, I can’t choose a best
biking moment, you’ll just have to accept that
nearly every time I go out on the bike is my
best biking moment!
What has been your worst biking moment
to date?
Oh, this is easy, it was in May 2006, the moment my four week old K1200S, with 1000
miles on the clock, hit a truck that decided to
pull a sudden ‘U’ turn in front of me without
any indication. The bike was written off and I
got to spend one week in Peterborough hospital. It was nearly 2 years before I could get
back on a bike again.
What is your favourite local road/
journey for biking?
This is another hard one. In this area we a
blessed with good roads:
Devil’s Bridge to Sedbergh
Kendal to Sedbergh
Hawes to Sedbergh
Settle to Ribblehead
Kendal to Penrith
Kendal to Appleby
The Lyth Valley
The whole of the Trough of Bowland
The whole of Cumbria (off the main roads)
How can you choose a favourite from that
lot? They are all brilliant!
Where is your favourite brew stop and
why?
It has to be Devil’s Bridge, especially midweek. On a fine day, whatever the time of
year, there are nearly always other bikers
present. Over the past few years I’ve
made some good friends from all over the
county, and beyond, who congregate there
regularly. I’ve also managed to recruit a
few members to MBEAM whilst there!
Where in the world would you like to
visit on your bike, (that you haven’t already?
I often fantasise about doing an epic trip
like the one Chris and Chloe did (S. America to Canada, as featured in this issue), or
even a Round the World trip. Of course,
these are hardly likely to happen so I’ll
have to settle for something more achievable.
Other than Southern Ireland I have never
ridden abroad on the bike. I would love to
do a tour of the Austrian and Italian Dolomite passes. I went over a few of these
several years ago in a car, I’d really like to
go back and do them on the bike. A bit
further afield, I’d like to tour the Cape region of South Africa.
If you could never ride a bike again,
what would you do instead?
I haven’t a clue. Should this ever happen,
sure I’d find something to occupy my time. I
might even surprise my wife and take up
dancing! She’s often dropped big hints that
she’d like to learn to dance like what they
do on Strictly Come Dancing!
If you would like to submit a Members Profile
(please do!), please contact the editor at :
[email protected]
IAN SISSON
Mirror check, indicator, cover rear brake
with right foot,...all that goes out of the window when you set off astride a Brough Superior! On the other hand POWERED is
extremely relevant, as petrol leaks are common, oil leaks are a given, lights and horn
are prone to failing, and good brakes are on
every Brough rider’s wish list!
My love affair with Broughs started 50 odd
years ago when, as an apprentice at
Gilkes in Kendal and the proud owner of
an old James 197, Iwas entranced by a
SS100 which belonged to one of the engineers working in the office there. He soon
helped me locate my present 1150
Brough Superior, which was in bits in two
tea chests in an attic in Windermere! I was
able to purchase it for £22 and 10 shillings...about the going rate then.
Fast forward to present day...the price
may have crept up but the spec remains
more or less the same as supplied to the
Nottinghamshire Police Force in 1935, ie a
Jap v-Twin side valve 1100cc engine, rigid
frame, Monarch forks, Lycett Super Aero
saddle, Norton gear box with hand change
on the tank, Registration BAU 9.
It really is very smooth to ride, with plenty
of low end torque...20 miles an hour in top
gear...no problem!
The other Brough, which I bought about 8
years ago is a Matchless engined 1000cc
SS80,guarenteed to do 80 miles an hour
Ian with Dave Rees his observer with the SS80 and petrol tube sidecar
at the time. It doesn’t now! The engine is
from a 1936 SS80 supplied to Scotland
Yard, while the frame and the rest of the
bike is 1938, supplied to the Sheffield Police Force originally.
The Brough Superior Club has nearly all
the original Works Record Cards for the
3000 or so bikes manufactured between
1920 and 1940. About 1000 bikes still exist, now scattered around the world.
The sidecar was ‘mated’ with FAU 9 a couple of years ago. Its called a ‘petrol tube
sidecar’, as you could store an extra couple of gallons in it’s substantial tubular
chassis, essential for when petrol stations
weren’t round every corner! It’s great fun
to ride except that my wife and I had to get
used to being called ‘Wallace and Grommet’!
SS80 engine
Although Brough riding skills are somewhat
different compared to my Triumph Sprint GT
the feel good factor on the open road remains the same, and much of the IAM philosophy applies. You just have to treble the
2 second bubble when riding the Brough!
Ian’s 1150 Brough Superior now approaching it’s 80th birthday
PART ONE
6 chains, 6 front sprockets, 4 rear sprockets, 8 oil filters, 20 litres of 10w40 Castrol,
2 batteries, 1 idle regulator, 1 drowned
bike, 2 jump starts, 8 pairs of tyres, 2
punctures, 2 new indicators, countless
bulbs, 2 water pumps, 1 clutch cable, 2
steering head bearings, 4 spark plugs,
hundreds of cable ties and miles of duct
tape, oh and 2 rear shocks! In 2013 Chris
Granger completed an epic 27,000 mile
trip travelling from Buenos Aires to Vancouver. Here he recounts travelling
through South America.
worth of riding experience between us and
the mayhem of Argentinian roads took us by
shock. However once we left the chaotic
streets of Buenos Aires and worked our way
south, we sampled mind-boggling isolation,
the bitter cold and the strong Patagonian
winds, dry desert and remote break-downs,
(the infamous F650GS side-stand switch
strikes again!). With a potential 450km in
each tank, we tested the fuel ranges to the
limit, recording every petrol fill-up, be it from a
barrel or from the pump.
Proper Preparation Prevents P$ss Poor Performance’, that’s my moto. As a boy scout in
a 34 year old Architects body, tasked with
planning and organising two people & two
bikes for an 18 month trip from Buenos Aires
in Argentina to Vancouver, Canada, I was in
my element!
While saving every penny we had, my wife
Chloe & I also prepared ourselves by enjoying 18 months of lectures, talks, meetings,
youtube videos on changing a tyre, (while up
to your knees in sand!), which all helped us
to (hopefully) be forewarned and forearmed.
With 8 months to go before departure, the
most difficult of decisions was made - we
finally settled on and began preparing two
F650GS’s (those with a soft spot for the DAKAR may understand why). Finally ready to
go, we set sail, destined for Buenos Aires.
Ahead of us was the impending 12 month/
14 month/ 18month…. well, who knows how
long it may be…. journey to Vancouver.
Starting in the metropolis of Buenos Aires
wasn’t easy; we only had a few months’
After our first, and only, time of running out of
fuel on the west coast of Argentina, we became religious in knowing how much we
were consuming in any given situation. Having established the bike’s economy, we now
knew that at 4000rpm (60mph/100kph), we
could do 25km/litre (15miles/litre). Thankfully,
other than the minor issues suffered by most
bikes - bulbs, fuses and the on-going general
maintenance – everything else performed to
plan at this point from the minor to the macro.
So ……… nine months and 20,000 miles
later, we had tracked our way through
Argentina, Chile and Boliva, up to the northern tip of Peru and quite simply, THE MOST
awe inspiring landscape and stunning offroad riding yet.
and turn.
The Carratera Austral (Chile) and Ruta 40
(Argentina) were ice breakers. We cut our
teeth in Patagonia but as we moved to northern Chile and Argentina the roads got better.
The Andean range from Patagonia to Bolivia
was crossed a dozen times while zig-zagging
between Argentina and Chile but this was just
Couple this with my antithesis, Pieterjan
Nouwynck, (AKA Piete), from Belgium.
While leisurely cruising down the Death
Road in Bolivia, we ran into Piete riding the
unconventional up-hill route. A man on a
(simple) mission, Piete was travelling from
A, (Santiago, Chile) to B, (Bogota, Colombia) dealing with life as and when each card
is dealt. We happily agreed we should meet
up in Cuzco where we could pursue our
common endeavours together, heading
north through the mountains of Peru.
breakfast… a Sunday Roast (with all the trimmings) was due to be served in Peru!
After nine months of riding we had grown in
confidence. By the time we crossed into Peru, we could appreciate how much we had
come on. Mayhem no longer daunted us and
we were now versed in looking out for other
drivers on the wrong side of the road, cutting
corners, or trying to push us off the road. In
Peru, aside from the terrible drivers, there
were amazing roads – within a matter of
hours we could race from the bitterly cold
high passes at 5000m, down to the sweltering heat in the valleys of Ancash or Cajamarca, crossing rivers and negotiating narrow rocky roads with sheer cliffs testing our
nerves. The bikes and riders relishing each
dusty, rocky - and sometimes painful - bump
Piete, 6ft 3in and purring along on his
(Chilean bought) 150cc Honda Bros looked,
unconventional! The little bike dutifully carried
its master and fully packed rucksack each
day with little complaint. Armed only with the
essentials, no map, no gps, but an emergency role of duc-tape (not yet used!), Piete was
the complete opposite of us! However, like us
Piete had embarked on his journey with only
a few months’ worth of riding experience and
was out to prove the doubters wrong, proving
that anyone on any bike, without sponsors,
back up team or even a tool kit, can ride
through (part of) the Americas. Fortunately
his chain had only fallen off twice so far!
On entering Peru from Bolivia, all tastes are
catered for - Cuzco is abuzz with the wonder
that is Machu Picchu and the Incan Empire,
Nasca is over-run with tourists fascinated in
the remarkable lines cut into the landscape,
and on the Pacific coast, the waves slake the
thirst of every surfer who samples its delights.
Then there is the Cordillera Blanca range,
the back bone to northern Peru. The highest
peaks in South America outside of the Andes with 23 peaks over 5000m, it is permanently snow-capped, hence the name.
These grand summits feed lofty turquoiseblue lagoons and wild, raging rivers. The
mountain range is a prime destination for
hikers and a Mecca for international climbers
who travel the world in search of something
different.
Best of all, these mountains and their distant
high passes are also just as accessible to
motorcycle riders in the search of something
special. Flanking the peaks are endless valleys, canyons, white cascading rivers and
isolated hamlets. Food is available but accommodation is scarce and the villages rarely have 24hr electricity, making for long days
in order to reach a town with a hot shower
and a bed.
Peru definitely has it all - from Ayacucho in
the south to Chachapoyas in the north days, weeks, even months of riding will never satisfy even the most committed rider,
and even then you are just left wanting
more!
HIS - BMW F650GS DAKAR
Starts well when cold and rides well if ridden
well, but can be hot to the touch! Liable to slip
into neutral and could do with a clean more
often. Minor scratches, first viewer will buy!
HERS - BMW F650GS
Sometimes a poor starter but always first to
the finish line. Has been known to leave a
naughty stain on the ground when parked
The adventure continues next newsletter. If
you can’t wait more information can be
found at:
www.ccgadventures.worldpress.com
SARAH GALVANI
When I walked away from a high speed motorway accident in May last year I thought I'd
be back in the saddle by the end of the
MBEAM ride out season at the latest. In
preparation I bought a replacement bike in
July/August, a white BMW F800 GT with less
than 400 miles on the clock. Dave rode it
home for me as niggling pains and swelling
in my left wrist and right ankle remained. But
by the end of September, I was ready to take
it (and me) for a test ride. In between times i
had watched with envy as Dave headed out
for off roading courses, MBEAM ride outs
and other bike involved activities.
I was a little anxious, but not really as a
result of the accident. I'd lost count of the
times people had asked me if I was nervous
about riding again and I was beginning to
feel I should be nervous but I wasn't. Given I
didn't do anything wrong and I was simply in
the wrong place at the wrong time, I figured
I had nothing to be nervous about in terms
of my riding skills. For me, it was more the
excited anxiety about the handling of a new
bike, some concern about how my left wrist
would cope and the fact that I had a cheap
and cheerful helmet on which wasn't the
Shoei that helped save my life several
months earlier.
Friends in and outside MBEAM had kindly
offered to ride with me on my first ride out
post accident, but it was just Dave and me
for this first venture. I led the way through
twisty lanes and hills near our home in New
Hutton before turning left on to one of our
best very local roads, the Oxenholme to
Kirkby Lonsdale road. I began by taking it
very steady but the bike handled beautifully
and I was soon up to national speed limits,
realising how much I’d missed the physical,
mental and emotional freedom that riding
offers. After passing through Old Hutton,
past the wonderful Kit Ridding Farm Shop
and Cafe, the road continues through Old
Town and Kearstwick before entering Kirkby
on the western side of town. We arrived at
an empty Devil's bridge but were soon
joined by one other biker who was heading
for the south coast from Scotland and trying
to beat the pursuing rain.
After a brew we headed home a different
route. I arrived back happy but slightly sore,
well aware that for this 40 mins of riding I'd
sat back, off my left wrist, for most of the
journey and only used my newly functioning
left fingers for the necessary gear changes.
Five days later they X-rayed my wrist again
and found a previously undetected broken
scaphoid bone. With tears in my eyes, I
SORN-ed my new bike in October and it
has sat loved but unused in the garage ever
since. 30th December 2014 saw the bone
graft operation on my wrist and physio for
ankle and hand began in February 2015. I
intend to be back on my bike for the 2015
season although it looks like it will not be
before June unfortunately.
ANDY GRIFFITHS
Okay, the MBEAM Ireland run was last September, so a quick refresh of the
memory.....those that came along will know
the story, but my dad did Ireland in 1949 and
I did the same run exactly 50 years later but
the other way round. He diarised his run and
so do I every time I go over, so this time
there's a different 'take' on my Ireland trip
musings. The first part of each day is from my
entries in the diary, the second is extended
explanations of amusing (?) bits...
Sept 18th
Good run up but lots of road works - Kendal
to Cairnryan took 3 hrs. Angela rode up with
us (Zoe and I) so we met John, Anne and
Andy at the port then rode together from
Larne via Carrickfergus, Belfast, Portaferry
to Strangford. Arrived @ 4pm* staying and
eating at the Cuan** - so far so good, @
220miles.
*As per my usual trips, we stopped at a filling
station after ending up on the wrong side of
Strangford Lough otherwise we'd probably
have arrived @ 3pm...no-one complained
(except for Angela, understandable though
as you did need to wipe your feet on the way
out of the toilets....). So Sarah, the cuisine en
route was to the usual standard although
decidedly better at the digs!
** Food was to the usual awesomeness, we
would've also won the pub quiz if we'd entered....US students are thick as pigsh$t!
Sept 19th
Arrived at Navan @ 3pm after doing the
A2 Mourne Coastal Route. Newcastle was
pleasant, also excellent views along the
coastal road*. Boring bit along A/M1 then
cross country from Ardee to the town. Still
happy bunnies, @ 96 miles.
* The views would've been stunning, but
those of you who are Zoe's friends on
Faceache will probably have seen the pic
below of her, Anne and Angela with the
Mourne Mountains in the background.......well, the bottom is visible, the
tops were shrouded in clouds.....we did do
a bit of the mountains, the roads were
great even though it was murky. Still, another reason to go back.....
Sept 20th
Left Navan @ 10.30, then Trim and cross
country to Athlone via Edenderry* (belting
coffee shop), Tullamore & Clara. "Bimble
rather than get there" was the ride pace
today so all sorts of minor back roads and
only one U-turn! Arrived @ 3pm, safe parking and everyone's still speaking to me, @
92miles.
* As Zoe was the only pillion on this run, it
was her job to coffee-shop spot / pay tolls
etc. This she did exceptionally well, with
the occasional punch in the kidneys or bellow 'HONEY - THERE'S ONE' and a hand
would fly out in a random direction best
known to herself....hey I was looking forward at the road......
Sept 21st
Long day. Left Athlone @ 10.30 and arrived
in Ballina @ 6pm after the Connemara National Park (A59) and the Wild Atlantic
Way.* Clifden, Westport, Bangor. Awesome
scenery, roads okay on the whole** and the
weather couldn't have been better. Everyone whooping and hollering, @ 205 miles.
*2.5k kms of road that literally follows the
west coast of Eire from Cork up to Donegal
- highly recommended although don't take
John with ya…..
** he decided it was a good idea to create a
'Rooster Tail' with his KTM along the gravel
carpark on a photo-shoot stop.....('Kin hooligan).
Sept 23rd
Sept 22nd
Zoe's burpday - she got a cake and a rousing out-of-tune chorus with her breakfast.
Left @ 10am, round Sligo bay* then off to
Donegal via more of the WAW and Bundoran (still a dump). Stayed in a brill S/
catering house just out of town and Greg
(owner of the Atlantic B&B and the house)
gave us a lift into town later**. Scenery,
roads & craic still good, @ 100 miles
* At Strandhill beach, herself decided to do
an Eric Morecambe-esq jig / dance / run
along the sand - it's on camera if anyone
wants...naah, didn't think you would....
** We actually got Angela to stay with us
after 10.30pm, the dirty little stop-out.....
Brekkie at the Atlantic* then Ballyboffey,
Lifford, Strabane, Limavady,and the A2
Coastal Route to Coleraine. Time pressing
on, so cross country to Ballymena, arrived
in Larne @ 3pm. Boarded on time and good
sailing - only rain of the run back in Scotland. Said our goodbyes on the boat as
Anne and Andy stayed in Stranraer that
night. Pannier flew off the BM** on Dunragit
climb, otherwise an uneventful run back.
Everyone enjoyed the run and still friends,
@ 290 miles/just under 1000 all told.
* For those of you who've stayed there before, yes, they still serve the smiley faces on
the breakfasts.....
** The off-side pannier decided to stay on
the A75 instead of returning - must like
Scotland - the clasp had basically worn
away (but I think herself's crap broke it - her
stuff was in that one....), luckily it bounced
well and Angela managed to retrieve it before the artics ran over it....
So...all in all a resounding success! I've already had one of the travellers ask when the
next run is, so hopefully it'll be around a similar sort of time....ah go on, y'all know you
want to......
when I changed gear. Another challenge as
there was a steep hill to go over on the way
home, with no streetlights, the dark was
very dark and the gear changes many. After that I decided I needed to have lessons
and did a Direct Access course as I was too
old to wait for years to get on a bigger bike.
Tom the instructor was very patient and
eventually I passed.
ANGELA YOUNG’S POTTED
HISTORY ON A BIKE
My first proper bike was a 600 BANDIT,
bought straight after I passed my test. I was
In the early 90s I was working in Cheltenham alongside an American whose husband was a spy (well he worked at GCHQ
– much the same thing). They both had
Harleys and I now realise what a nightmare the deep gravel on my drive must
have been when they came to visit I
went to see them when they moved back
to Denver and they took me out on the
back of the bikes up into the Rockies.
That was it - I came back determined to
learn – and set myself the challenge to
be riding by my 50th birthday.
due to meet up with friends in Applecross to
go on a trip to St Kilda. A good opportunity,
I bought a Honda 125 from the local paper – I I thought to get some miles of experience. I
knew nothing about bikes but it seemed to go took the rural route on the way up from
OK and was very cheap! It was an interesting Cheltenham visiting various relatives. One
ride. The first time I visited a friend who lived of the great joys of being a parent is to emup a very steep hill, I didn’t know how to stop barrass one’s children. My son was not hapand fell off on the grass in front of her house, py about my latest escapade so I thought I
her family still remind me of that. It was not
would call on him at University in Newcastle. Initially mortified by my appearance at
his door in black leathers (I could fit into
them then) on a shiny black bike, he soon
discovered his mates were impressed by
him having a Mum who was cool. (Never his
view although he enjoyed the Kudos for a
while)
an elegant landing. On the way back in the
dark I discovered that the lights went out
My instructions in Scotland were to go over
the pass turn left on the other side and the
farm where we were meeting was a couple
of miles along. My preparation for the journey was not thorough, just a few notes and
a tank map to follow. I turned left from the
A896 and headed up to the pass. Ok to
begin with then round a blind right hander I
saw what I had let myself in for. About
100yds ahead on a steep gravely incline a
car was stationary with its doors open and
its occupants out watching golden eagles. I
lifted my visor and yelled ‘Novice Biker can’t
stop!’ Thankfully they shut the doors and I
draining away. At that point I was on Morecambe prom on August Bank Holiday and
met up with the MBEAMers. Bob was very
persuasive and the cash back offer was
good so I came home and signed up
straight away.. The best £80 I ever spent.
However old age was creeping up and long
days on the SV were taking their toll. I was
thinking maybe it was time to give up. Bob
to the rescue once again. He had seen a
bike in Southport which he thought I might
squeezed past. As I approached the top
with those scary hairpins where the road is
vertical on the inside I discovered that the
gravel up there is the size of small rocks and
is liberally scattered over the road. By the
time I got to the top there was thick mist so I
didn’t see the view, but parked up for a while
to let my heart rate settle. I was very relieved to reach the other side and on the St
Kilda trip tried not to think about the return
journey I had to make. In fact it was a glorious day no one else on the road and I rode
very, very slowly, enjoying the view In fact it
was so quiet I came round a bend to find a
dozen red deer around a stag with enormous antlers standing not more than 10 feet
from the road. A great sight.
I sold the Bandit when I moved North and
bought my nephew’s SV650. I found I was
riding less and less and confidence was
like. F650GS, factory lowered. 5 minutes in
to the test ride and I was hooked. It’s light,
easy to handle and being upright ,much
kinder on my joints. I still absolutely love it
with 22k on the clock and many more to go I
hope. I have ridden in Scotland many times
now but have yet to revisit the Pass of the
Cattle. Is it as bad as my memory tells me?
Maybe this is the year to find out!
Editors note:
MBEAM ladies, I am planning to include a
women’s related article each newsletter
so if you have any ideas or want to submit an article please email:
[email protected]
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED...
Well, where to start as we're well into 2015
already.....the eclipse has happened (t'is
relevant, read on...), Devious Agency up to
their old tricks again not to mention almost a
different name, Blood Bike riding at
night.....ooh it's all happening so if you're not
out on the bike read on.....
Now - a natural phenomenon that had
freaked people out over the years....why do I
mention it? Well, during the last eclipse ('99 I
think), the DSA as was actually cancelled all
tests for the duration due to light/
weather because they weren't sure how they
would be affected.....now, surely if people
are at a standard to drive on their own a
slight change in light shouldn't be an issue??? Oh well.......
Staying with them (now the Devious Agency...), I spent 1/2 an hour trying to use the
Online Booking System last week, only to
have a message flag up that I needed to
contact them via phone! Long story short,
the .Gov website shat itself and wouldn't let
me in....rang DVSA and a further 1/2 hr later
I managed to get the test requests sent even
though I'd been told the last time I rang
the call centre that it had to be OBS only
and no longer via phone. Quite timely
actually - the following eve I went to a
local Driving Instructors meet and the
new top bod from DVSA was there....boy
did he get it - both barrels, then I reloaded. He agreed the .Gov site is
crap, he's going to a meeting with the call
centre manager next week and will raise
the issues - hasten to add I'm not the only
one that's had this sort of problem apparently.
He also mentioned new time/work schedules that would mean that out of 7 tests
per day I'd get 3.....first and last 2 taken
for examiner travel time.....then he went
to on to say they are training a new examiner for Cumbria (correct, we don't
have one at the moment, they travel
up from Preston area). He seemed a bit
put out when I told him that Carlisle to
Kendal will still take more than 20 minutes
and he looked a little surprised when I
said I know exactly how DVSA work as
I've been in the job for over 25
years...must've been my youthful good
looks & charm that fooled him.....yeah,
right!
Now...their change of name......they nearly
had the Vehicle and Driver Standards
Agency (VDSA) until someone pointed out
the implications.....now, I'm not going to
make any comments about STI's
but........heh heh
Okey dokey, enough about those goons, I
was on call for the Blood Bikes the other
evening...nowt new there some of you will
say....when I almost had another head-on
- this time with a biker! Position 3, looking
through a left hander and this clown, twoup I hasten to add, is pretty much heading
straight towards me taking the 'racing' line,
i.e overhanging the centre-line. It was
roughly a year ago I was knocked off on
the A65 but this time I did have a chance
to get out of the way and made it back in
one piece, not like the many pieces poor
old Boris was in. Someone at BBHQ
names all the bikes - at the moment I'm
riding 'Paula' (Abdul....I wish....). Boris was
the RT1150 that met the untimely end on
the front of a Seat car. Now, bear in mind
this was @ 9pm, the question begs to be
asked: how does that idiot ride when it's
daylight........
Okay, the weather's starting to improve,
more bikes out and about....just bear in
mind the roads are still covered in crap!
No, I've not chucked the FJR up the road
again, but I've had a couple of 'micro
climate moments' recently, the last one
was on the A684 Tebay road. Oot for a
run one quiet afternoon, not going daft on
the BM, slight downhill left hander
and suddenly I'm on the 'wrong' side of
the road. Again, I know that road like the
back of my hand, have ridden and driven
it since with no adverse handling so the
only thing I can put it down to was a combination of surface, weather and familiarity breeding contempt......it might be better, but still be careful out there....
Until next time
Andy - Northern Route"
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