Month: November 2023

7Ws Exploring the Winding Roads of Wales: Training Weekend

Posted on | by Salli Griffith

Wales, with its rugged landscapes, dramatic coastlines, and winding roads, is a paradise for motorcyclists seeking an adventure of a lifetime. But what makes a
motorcycle trip to Wales even more thrilling is combining it with advanced training to sharpen your skills and enhance your riding experience. On this trip, we enjoyed a journey through the heart of Wales, exploring its picturesque landscapes and the advanced motorcycle training opportunities it offers.

Wales, one of the countries that make up the United Kingdom, is a hidden gem for motorcycle enthusiasts. Its diverse topography provides an incredible backdrop for riders, with rolling hills, dense forests, and breath-taking mountains serving as the perfect canvas for a memorable journey. The coastal roads, offer some of the most scenic routes, while the mountainous terrain provides challenges that can test the skills of even the most experienced riders.

Advanced Motorcycle Training

I feel that it’s crucial to invest in advanced motorcycle training to improve both your enjoyment and the safety for you and other road users. TVAM Advanced training can enhance your riding skills, making you a safer and more confident rider. Taking your riding skills to the next level.

  • Enhanced Safety: Advanced training hones your hazard perception, braking, and cornering skills, which can significantly reduce the risk of accidents on unfamiliar roads.
  • Improved Confidence: Gaining expertise in advanced riding techniques increases your confidence when navigating challenging terrains.
  • Better Control: Advanced training focuses on fine-tuning your control over the motorcycle, making you a more capable rider in various conditions.
  • Fuel Efficiency: Advanced riding techniques often result in improved fuel efficiency, allowing you to go further on your journey.
  • Quickness: It’s not always about the speed, but your line, what you see and the information taken in and used. IPSGA – this system will change biking for you!


Now that you’ve sharpened your skills through advanced training as an Associate, it’s time to hit the open road in Wales. Here are some must-
visit destinations for motorcyclists:

  • Brecon Beacons: The Brecon Beacons National park offers some of the most thrilling riding experiences in Wales. Its winding mountain roads, steep ascents, and breathtaking vistas make it a mecca for motorcycle enthusiasts.
  • Snowdonia and Bala: This stunning part of North Wales provides a mix of challenging mountain roads and serene coastal routes. The journey through Snowdonia is an unforgettable experience.
  • Elan Valley: A hidden gem in Wales, the Elan Valley is an oasis of tranquillity with pristine lakes and peaceful roads surrounded by rolling hills.

So did I benefit from the trip? Oh hell yes!

My experience was one of self-discovery, learning about my limits and stretching them by enhancing my skills, humbling myself before some of the most gorgeous winding roads I have ever experienced. I not only had a great time, but I managed to make a lot of new like-minded friends with similar hobbies and interests, we had some great laughs and learned a whole lot at the same time!

I need to make a few special mentions.. firstly Simon, thank you for organising and making sure that none of us got too hopelessly lost by partnering us up with TObs and Observers. To the people I had the pleasure of riding with, Tom, Andrew and Conrad, with a wealth of knowledge and skills I definitely came home a more competent and more confident rider. With my test booked, I am certain that I am ready to become one of TVAMs next advanced riders!

In conclusion, this trip to Wales offers the perfect blend of skill enhancement and adventure. With TVAM advanced training under your belt, you can confidently explore the picturesque landscapes and challenging terrains that Wales has to offer. Whether you’re navigating mountain passes, winding coastal roads, or off-road trails, this experience promises to be a memorable chapter in your motorcycling journey. So, rev up your engines, gear up, and embark on a thrilling adventure in the heart of Wales.

I am ready for next year! My advice.. book early, it’s well worth it!

Troy Rahme, TVAM Associate

    A few messages from other members who attended…

    Jim…

    I broke down at Crossgates. The bike wouldn’t start and looked like the battery just died. Anyway, my colleagues Martin Cragg and Malcom stayed with me, and Chris Brownlee came along to assist, we got the bike running on jump leads but it wouldn’t run off the leads.

    There was a snag on the breakdown recovery meaning I couldn’t arrange anything at 6pm that night, and so after trying to use Chris’ battery (yes, he took the battery off his bike to try on mine), he then knocked on a random local’s door who kindly allowed us to hide my bike in their back garden overnight. Chris then pillioned me to the hotel.

    I got recovered the next day, but would like to thank everyone who was incredibly supportive and patient with me in my predicament. It’s another one of the many great reasons to ride with this club, and I can’t thank them enough.

    Sidenote: If you have a “6 Wheel” or multiple vehicle breakdown policy, check that they’re all on record for the breakdown operators to see.

    Moon…

    I renewed my TVAM membership after it had lapsed in 2017 because I believed I had hit a skill level plateau and was eager to enhance my riding abilities further. After spending the weekend riding with Sid, Gary (GSZ), and Sigurður, I received invaluable constructive feedback. Each of the three rides was distinctive and enjoyable, and I learned a great deal from each
    experience. I even proactively sought more critical feedback, which was delivered in a highly professional manner, and I found it extremely beneficial. I firmly believe that it’s the critical feedback that sets you apart and helps you shine above the rest.

    The 7Ws event was not just a fun weekend away; it also provided me with a substantial amount of homework to work on, which I am genuinely excited about. I’m eagerly looking forward to future training sessions and social ride outs, with the hope that they will help me enhance my skills to the level where I can be considered a Trainee Observer.

    Danny…

    Overall an superb trip where I got to meet some fantastic like-minded people riding through some amazing roads.

    As an Associate I can definitely see the point of IPSGA because around Reading I can’t experience the same type of bends and open roads.

    Andy…

    The Elan Valley dam was much higher than last year with a huge volume of overflow. We were fortunate with no major breakdowns and our Observers did a good job of making use of lots of rest stops to keep the fatigue levels down.

    Andrew…

    Yes. The standard of riding was good and improved over the weekend as Associates and Green Badge holders took on board advice from the Observers.
    From an Observer’s point of view it’s always good to see such a step up in progress and I would recommend it to all.

    Salli Griffith

    First published in Slipstream November / December 2023

    MC Piston Rally – Santander, September 2023

    Posted on | by Salli Griffith

    A friend of mine got in touch last year…….”Do you fancy joining me and some friends on a pre 1980 motorcycle rally based in Santander?”

    The answer was yes, what are the details? Well the details, other than send hundreds of euros to sign up, were sparse. Whatever, we sent off the money and booked a Brittany Ferry to Santander.

    Choice of bike was simple, my 10 plate GS was too young so a Sunbeam S7 or Suzuki GT750. Easy decision other than I had never done more than 40 miles in one go since buying the GT three years ago, and Portsmouth is 75 miles away from home. However, all went well on the trip south, indeed the bike ran trouble free for the whole trip.

    On arrival at the Hotel Santemar all change, everything was so organised.

    “Here is your goody bag, what size polo shirt would you like? Here are all the tulip guides for the rides, and here is a book of vouchers for the dinners and pitstop meals on the ride-outs. Oh, and the bikers’ bar is out there in the sunshine.” The hotel was to a very good standard and beer was about £3.50 a pint, result!

    In simple terms approximately 200 bikers from all over Europe had ferried, ridden or trailered their bikes to Santander for a week of riding, with an option to sign up for a 2 or 3 night trip into the Picos mountains.

    Each day there was a route of about 100 miles organised and the culmination of the rally was a 320 mile day of ‘5000 curves’, er, that is a long ride on any bike.

    Bike-wise all makes were represented, I spotted and chatted to 2 other Suzuki GT750 owners as well as a 500 and 380, there were lots of Spaniards on 2-stroke Bultacos and Ossa bikes, and scores of British 4-strokes.

    The organisers back-up capability was tested when a Norton Commando in our group blew out a spark plug which hit the following rider! The head thread was all but gone, some aluminium foil was used to get some purchase on the worn thread. The bike was ridden back to the hotel and once there the organisers arranged for a mechanic to take it away. It was brought back in the morning suitably helicoiled and ready for the long ride. Happy days.

    The 5000 Curves ride was a great day out in the mountains and indeed there were thousands of curves, with pit stops including a wholesome lunch.

    During the late afternoon the forecast rain arrived and one of our group dropped his bike on a roundabout covered in diesel, just 2 miles from the hotel. Sadly he broke

    a shoulder and 6 ribs and that was only doing about 5mph!

    We finally arrived back at the hotel in the early evening to have our course cards checked and stamped, and were then presented with a large tankard that was quickly filled with a much-needed beer.

    In conclusion bookmark and keep an eye on the MC Piston website and consider making plans for next year. You will have a great time riding, make lots of new friends – oh, as long as you have an old bike!

    www.mcpiston.com

    Dave Tilton

    First published in Slipstream November / December 2023

    From the Chair (November/December 2023)

    Posted on | by Barrie Smith

    I’m writing my piece this month having just returned from Wokingham where I have been moving our stored items from one storage facility to another. Ably assisted by Adrian Ellison, Nick Edgley and Ed Butterfield, the four of us managed to move everything across in just under two hours and managed to avoid the brunt of Storm Babet. I have to say a huge thank you to these three and particularly to Ed for the use of his van to move everything across.

    In September we were advised by St Crispin’s that we would no longer be able to store anything at the school. This includes everything that we need to actually run a St Crispin’s meeting and we will now have to transport all of these items for each meeting. The reason we had to move our storage facility, was because we could not actually access our previous store on a Sunday. Going forward we’re going to need a few volunteers that, on a rotation basis, would be happy to collect all of the St Crispin’s items from the store in a large car or small van and deliver them for the meeting. Afterwards, they will then return the items to the store and ensure they’re put back into storage neatly. If you feel that you would be happy to volunteer to do this on a rotation, please let Nick Edgley know and he can let you know more about what’s required.

    For those at St Crispin’s in October, you will have seen that we had a visit from Santa Clause himself. We of course know him as Steve Harris, who is the Chief Marshal of the Reading Toy Run. Steve and his team do an outstanding job of organising the official road closure and all of the marshals to enable the Toy Run to go ahead. As he said, TVAM provide the vast majority of the huge number of marshals that are needed and he’s once again looking for our assistance. The event this year is on Sunday 3rd December and, regardless of your membership status in TVAM, you can sign up to be a marshal for the day. Please email toyrun@tvam.org if you can offer your time on that day to ensure that the Toy Run can go ahead and get the toys to those children.

    Adrian mentioned last month that the end of October marks the end of the TVAM financial year. The Committee, Social Team Leaders and various other volunteers are currently collating facts and figures and writing reports ready for the Annual Report to the Club membership. This is the start of probably the busiest period for the Committee in the Clubs calendar, as the Annual Report has to be prepared in November and sent out in December, ready for the AGM in January. The Club has had another really good year and you’ll be able to read and hear about that in the next couple of months.

    The AGM is an opportunity for change on the Committee. As part of the Clubs rules, an individual can only stay in the same ‘Officer’ post for a
    maximum of five consecutive years. After this, they are obliged to step down although they can stand for another Committee position if they wish. Adrian mentioned in his ‘From the Saddle’ piece last month that he has decided to step down from the Chief Observer role at the AGM in January. In fact, each of the Officers of the Club stand down at each AGM and have to be re-elected into post by the membership if they wish to stand for another year. Adrian has decided not to stand for re-election which leaves an opening for that role.

    At the AGM I will have served as Club Chair for three years and I have decided that I would like to throw my hat in the ring to stand for the Chief Observer position. I see the position as a great opportunity to uphold the excellent standards of training within TVAM and IAM RoadSmart.

    This clearly means that there will be an opportunity for the Club to have a new Chair. All Officer positions have to be filled at the AGM, so if you would like to stand for any position then please do make a member of the Committee aware and they can let you know what each position entails. Formal paperwork will be issued for nominations prior to the AGM by Ian Gaitley our Club Secretary.

    So this is effectively my last ‘From the Chair’ piece for Slipstream, as we don’t have a Slipstream in December and Adrian will write his final piece in January. I feel that holding the position of Chair of TVAM for the last three years has been a great honour. To stand each year and to be elected by the membership is humbling. I hope that I have served you, the membership, well and helped to move this great Club forward.

    All that is left for me to do in this piece is to wish you all a Merry Christmas in December. Have fun, stay safe and I look forward to seeing you all in 2024.

    Barrie Smith
    TVAM Chair