Happy New Year!
It doesn’t seem as if it was a year ago that I was elected to the role of Chief Observer but with the AGM later this month it must be! The AGM is an important event in the TVAM calendar and provides you the opportunity to elect those who will run the club on your behalf, find out what has been done over the previous year and what is planned for the forthcoming year. I hope that as many of you as possible will attend the AGM, which will be immediately after the normal January St Crispin’s meeting. There’s also the Motojumble sale that morning too, so if you’re after a used bargain or have extra stuff to sell, this is the event for you.
Two key events for Observers in 2019 will be the Observer Day on Saturday 2nd March and the Observer Weekend from 5th to 7th July. The Observer Day is a classroom-based day with workshops prepared by the Training Team on topics of interest to Observers to help keep knowledge and coaching skills up to date.
The Observer Weekend will be held in Llandrindod Wells and, building on the theory sessions from the Observer Day, will focus on keeping riding skills up to date.
Both events are open to all Observers and Trainee Observers and I would strongly encourage attendance at both. There will be more information coming soon so please put the dates in your diaries now.
Winter is traditionally a time when many of us ride a little less due to the poor weather. It’s important not to let those riding skills get too rusty however, so I’d encourage you to take advantage of those days when the weather is good and get out on social rides or observed rides whenever possible.
There are also specific training-oriented weekends coming up. Kicking off with 7Ws in March, there is also the 3Rs at the end of May with a trip to Yorkshire. These events provide opportunities for Associates and Full Members to get away for a weekend and take advantage of informal observed runs – a perfect way to improve skills, get some time in the saddle and enjoy a weekend’s riding on some great routes. More details in the calendar section and on the web calendar at www.tvam.org
And if you can’t get away for a weekend, why not book an Enhanced Advanced Ride (EAR) to brush up your riding skills with a half or full day’s observed riding?
Don’t forget to carry out your regular bike checks (e.g. using POWDDERSS) to ensure everything is working as it should, and keep a check on yourself (using I AM SAFE) to make ensure that you are too.
I hope you have a great start to 2019 and that we all manage to get some good riding.
