January 2026

I’d like to start my piece this month by wishing you all a Happy New Year and I do hope that you had a merry and peaceful Christmas to conclude 2025.

The Committee and other volunteer members have been working hard putting together the Annual Report which has since been published on groups.io to all members. I do hope that you have been able to find time to take a look and see how well the Club has done over the past year.

A couple of events concluded the year. The Reading Toy Run was once again well attended by members of TVAM, with many of you giving up your time to marshal the run and carry out the all-important road closures. Thank you to all those that took part to help the run of over 1100 bikers to get the presents to the Barnardo’s children.

Our monthly meeting in December saw 108 bikes at St Crispin’s on 21st December. This is a great number considering it was so close to the big day and thank you those that attended.

As we head into January and February, we’re often faced with some of the poorer weather conditions in which to ride our bikes. These winter months can be particularly tricky due to the lower temperatures that we traditionally see. Riding in lower temperatures or wet conditions is not something that we should shy away from. After all, we live in England and can find ourselves riding in rain at any time of the year. Key to a good riding performance is smoothness and therefore we need to ensure that our concentration is not taken away from that and onto feeling cold or wet.

The first thing that we need to do is to ensure that our equipment and motorcycle are well maintained and ready for use. Remember that POWDDERSSS acronym your Observer kept banging on about. Our daily checks on the motorcycle are the most important of all and, whether you use that acronym, another one or can just walk your way around the bike to ensure that everything is functioning as it should, it’s vital that we carry these out with diligence. The final ‘S’, for Self, is key at this time of the year and should include a check on whether you’re dressed appropriately for the conditions.

My advice is to layer up and it’s not unusual for me to wear up to five or six layers on my upper body on cold days and add the waterproofs as an additional layer for the wet. I’d rather be a little warm and take something off than have concentration taken away because I’m feeling the cold. Carrying a set of glove inserts can also be a good way of keeping your hands warm if you’ve misjudged the lowering temperature, particularly if you ride early morning or late evening. Heated grips keep your palms warm, but the back of the hand can still be exposed.

Don’t shy away from these types of weather conditions. Our Observer Corps now take their Aardvark’s with Rapid Training throughout the winter months each year and feedback is that they still very much enjoy the day and the challenge.

Our Observer Health Checks will continue in 2026. These are simply a check on an Observers coaching skills and are carried out around the mid-term of their 5-year revalidations with IAM RoadSmart. These are a requirement of coaching with TVAM and it’s an opportunity to make sure that your skills remain current. Please do embrace your session with one of our assessors and get a date booked up as soon as possible once contacted. The Health Check process was dropped for a couple of years, to enable our Local Observers to move up to National Observers, and is now being pushed again.

I am pleased to say that I had a successful Health Check, prior to Christmas, and I found the experience extremely rewarding.

Whatever you’re planning this New Year, ride safe and have fun.

Barrie Smith
TVAM Chief Observer

Looking Back, Moving Forward
As we enter a new year, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to this year’s annual report. The dedication and effort from our volunteers is truly inspiring, and the report stands as a testament to what we can achieve together.

Reflections on Leadership
Approaching the Annual General Meeting, I find myself reflecting on my first two years as TVAM Chair. Throughout this time, I’ve championed the principles that make TVAM a welcoming and empowering organisation. Our leadership team’s role is to support every volunteer, enabling you to deliver on your commitments and make a real members have a range of responsibilities, everything we do is rooted in these core values.
Accountability is also central to our work. The committee is answerable to the entire membership, and the AGM is a vital opportunity for you to hear what we’ve been doing, ask questions, and challenge our decisions. Your scrutiny and support are essential as we plan for the year ahead.

Opportunities to Get Involved
A healthy organisation thrives on fresh ideas and new energy. That’s why it’s important for new people to join the committee and for existing members to limit their tenure. This approach keeps our team dynamic, prevents the concentration of power, and ensures we remain adaptable. If you’re interested in helping, please don’t hesitate to come forward – even if you see someone else in a role you’d like to try. Simply expressing your interest helps us plan for the future and strengthens the committee.

Keeping Skills Sharp: My Aardvark Experience
On a more personal note, I recently completed my own Aardvark – a one-day coaching and assessment session with Rapid Training, designed to keep Observer riding skills sharp. Like many, I look forward to these sessions, even when the weather isn’t on our side.
On the day, it was bitterly cold – what my wife calls “not a bike day”. I walked out the front of my house. My neighbour Andy came out and said, “I saw you do the twisty foot thing in the road”. He was right, the road was a sheet of ice.
So, I contacted the group and said the weather is below my minimums. No one suggested I should come regardless, we merely agreed to delay for an hour. After the hour, the temperature had come up a little, and I was happy to proceed. My layers of clothing kept me warm all day, and with a little care the roads were enjoyable.
For me, the only limit is the risk of ice – otherwise, I encourage everyone to ride year-round and enjoy the roads safely.
See You Soon
Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. Ride safe, and I look forward to seeing you at St. Crispin’s.

Kevin Dunwell
TVAM Chair