BikeWise News: December 2010

BikeWise Mini Bike Club – Next Meeting – Sunday 9th January 2011

The next meeting of the club will be indoor, at the Arriva Bus Depot, Davy Drive, Peterlee - on Sunday, 9th January 2011. (For those with Sat Nav the nearest postcode I can get is SR8 2JF)

If you go to the website : http://www.bikewiseminibikeclub.org.uk/p/where-we-meet.html and scroll down you will see a Google Map of the location of Arriva. If you double click on the green motorbike 'sitting' on top of the venue you can then get directions from your home to the venue.

We ran our first meeting of the year indoors in FREEZING conditions on Sunday 19th December and whilst limited with what we can do due to the size of the premises we had a lot of fun and there was some really smooth safe riding from club members.

We do NOT have hot water on site so you will need to bring hot drinks with you - Flasks or whatever else you might have.

Signing on at 1000hrs for a 1030hrs safety brief / start

Please check your emails / website on the day or ring 0191 375 2136 if there is any doubt about the weather.

Anybody is welcome to come along and see our club members having fun on their minibikes….

The picture below was sent by Paul’s dad, Mick Henshaw and although not one of our club members, it sums up the commitment our riders and parents have to the BikeWise Mini Bike Club. 2010 has been a great year and although these are difficult times we look forward to an even more fun filled 2011

Happy Christmas….

Bob Brown & Mick Alder from BikeWise Training

Well it’s that time of year to wish you all a Happy Christmas…… and Best Wishes for the New Year.

A great year for motorcycling in County Durham – the year ‘started off’ with our annual Easter Egg Run followed by our 16th consecutive BikeWise Show which was held in July – both events were very well attended and ‘showcase’ what BikeWise is all about.

Sgt Iain Rodgers who leads the BikeWise team was delighted to announce that £9200 had also been donated to local charities as a result of the events

Throughout the year the BikeWise ‘team’ have met with motorcyclists and talked about motorcycling and policing issues in our area.

Bob & Mick had another successful year with our own BikeWise Training and many riders who have completed the days coaching have gone on to join the Durham Advanced Motorcyclists and successfully pass their IAM test.

BikeWise Mini Bike Club continues to thrive and it’s great to see the motorcyclists of the future having fun in a safe environment , whilst learning the skills that they will require on the roads in years to come. The first of the original club members are now starting to take to the roads on two and four wheels.

Sadly two motorcyclists lost their lives in Durham this year and our thoughts are with their families at this time of the year…..

2011 is just around the corner, hopefully the snow will disappear and we’ll be able to get our trusty two wheeled ‘friends’ out from under wraps and once again start to enjoy the fun and freedom of motorcycling.

That’s the time to take a few minutes to check your bike to make sure everything is working OK and also to consider a training day to refresh your riding skills.

Two important BikeWise dates to remember are :

Sunday April 24th – BikeWise Easter Egg Run (Register online now by clicking here)

Sunday July 24th – BikeWise 2011

Hope you all have a great Christmas and look forward to keeping you informed of what’s happening in the BikeWise ‘world’ and meeting with you again in 2011.

off-road part of the motorcycle test is to be scrapped……

A controversial off-road part of the motorcycle test is to be scrapped under Government proposals announced this morning.

From the end of next year, learners will have to take just one practical test instead of two, according to Road Safety Minister Mike Penning.

It will be conducted entirely on-road and offered at a greater number of sites across the country than the off-road test.

A swerve exercise in which hundreds of learners have crashed will also be scrapped. The exercise, which currently has to be off-road because riders must reach at least 31mph to pass, will be replaced by a ‘more flexible’ on-road version.

At least £77million was spent on off-road test centres because candidates were expected to ride at least 1mph faster than our urban speed limit.

Speaking to exclusively to MCN, Penning said the swerve and other exercises in the off-road test could be adapted for the road at 30mph.

He said: “The test candidate will have to ride at around 30mph. This 31mph thing was a piece of gold-braiding by the previous administration. As far as my legal advice is concerned, we can do this on the road.”

The news follows an MCN campaign for a shake-up of the test, which has seen bookings halve since its introduction in April 2009.

You can read more about this in this weeks Motorcycle News which is out on Wednesday

BikeWise Mini Bike Club ‘brave’s’ the elements (indoors)

Well we finally made it – an indoor event on possibly the coldest day of the year but it was definitely worth all the time and effort.

Firstly ‘Many Thanks’ to John Graves of Arriva, who have allowed us to use their old bus depot at Peterlee to run some indoor Mini Bike Club meetings and to Councillor Alan Napier, the deputy leader of Durham County Council (photo left), who has been more than supportive of the club in helping us to achieve our objective of securing a premises for the winter months in order to allow the club to run and keep all our members safe.

To all the families and riders and people who assist with marshalling etc a big ‘Thank You’ – yesterdays meeting showed the commitment you have to the club and it certainly makes it worth the effort we at the BikeWise team make, to put on these events.

Although it was absolutely FREEZING…… everybody had smiles on their faces and there was certainly a great Xmas ‘family’ atmosphere. Once engines were started, we were once again treated to some great, smooth, safe riding from our members.

Many Thanks for another fantastic year of safe riding and fun…….. with some notable happenings – Dale reaching his 16th birthday and receiving the first ACE scholarship and taking to the roads on his bike… Katie racing in the Auto 66 club championship on her Aprilia 125 and Kai & James competing in the Scottish Mini Bike Championship.

But really, to everybody who turns up at the club meetings – the riders, the parents and to all those who come along to marshal, take photographs, sign people in, service the bikes and many more things that go into making the BikeWise Mini Bike Club what it is.

Keep checking the website for details of the next meeting which should be early in 2011 – enjoy the photo’s from yesterday and check out new member, 6yr old, Matthew Ward’s ‘Rudolph’ mini bike and also Dave Clement who certainly looked the part as Father Xmas complete with yellow jacket and safety flag !!

Double click on any image to go to the album and view larger pictures

For further details of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club please visit their website : www.bikewiseminibikeclub.org.uk

Next Meeting of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club – Sunday 19th December

The next meeting of the club will be indoor, at a new venue - Arriva Bus Depot, Davy Drive, Peterlee - this Sunday, 19th December. (For those with Sat Nav the nearest postcode I can get is SR8 2JF)

We are going over to the premises tomorrow with the intention of getting it 'sorted' for Sunday. We'll hopefully have a Xmas tree again for our meeting so join in the festive spirit and decorate your bikes (and yourself) - Tinsel, Santa Hats anything to make it a fun day and one to remember, like the previous Xmas meetings have been.

We will NOT have hot water on site so you will need to bring hot drinks with you - Flasks or whatever else you might have. Any cakes/sweets etc for people to snack on will be gratefully eaten (I've no doubt !!)

Signing on at 1000hrs for a 1030hrs safety brief / start

Please check your emails / website on the day or ring 0191 375 2136 if there is any doubt about the weather (Due to the forecast of heavy snow in our region later in the week!!)

Anybody is welcome to come along and see our club members having fun on their minibikes….

What’s happening in the BikeWise ‘world’ – 14/12/2010

Dates for your Diaries : Two important dates to put in your diaries for next year

BikeWise Easter Egg Run – Sunday 24th April 2011 (Click HERE to Register online)

BikeWise 2011 – Sunday 24th July 2011 (provisional date)

An easy way to keep ‘up to date’ is to click on this link : http://www.bikewisenews.org.uk/p/whats-on.html - and then ‘bookmark’ it.

Click on any event within the calendar for further details and link to google maps for map/directions

All motorcycling events we know of are put onto this calendar so that it can be your ‘one shop stop’ to find out ‘What’s On’ in the biking world.

If you know of any events that are not included, please email : durham.bikewise@gmail.com with details and we will include the event on the calendar.

Durham Advanced Motorcyclists

Held their AGM at at Bowburn Hall Hotel on Tuesday 30th November 2010 at 1900hrs.

Despite the appalling weather there was a good ‘turnout’. The committee was duly elected with Brian Clements remaining as Chairman and Bill McCready as Secretary.

Treasurer Tony Seed ‘stood down’ after looking after the ‘books’ and the membership for a lot of years. Other notable names to ‘stand down’ this year were Group Training Officer – John Cudden, Webmaster – Peter Holley and one of the original founder members from 1995 and past chairman – Mike Cope.

These people have put a fantastic amount of time and effort into making DAM the successful group it is today. Their input has had a significant impact on Road Safety within County Durham & Darlington.

Many Thanks to you all, for your help & support over the years, from the BikeWise ‘team’

Tony Seed receives a presentation from Secretary Bill McCready

Group Training Officer – John Cudden

Webmaster – Peter Holley

Founder Member – Mike Cope

Visit DAM’s website for further details : http://www.durhamadvancedmotorcyclists.org.uk/

Wednesday 15th December – North Yorkshire Road Race Supporters Club

Sponsored Riders Chat Night & Buffet

The Mowbray Suite, Golden Lion Hotel, Northallerton, DL7 8PP, Doors 7.30PM Show 8.15PM, £5.00

TV Highlights, Raffle. Please visit : http://www.nyrrsc.net/ for further info and contact details

Saturday 18th December 2010 – Boundary 500’s Annual Santa Ride

The weather forecast is not good as we head towards the weekend so please check the Boundary website for latest information about the ride on : http://www.boundary500.co.uk

All riders to meet in the rear car park of Thornaby Fire Station, Master Road, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees, UK - not later than 10.15am

The event will start at 11am and follow a route that will have been previously circulated. The pace and direction of the Ride will be under the control of Cleveland Police.

All sponsorship monies and forms must be returned before Tuesday 25th January 2011

Sunday 19th December 2010 - BikeWise Mini Bike Club

The Xmas meeting… remember, Tinsel, Santa Hat’s and cake’s !!

Indoor at the Arriva Bus Depot, Davy Drive, Peterlee.

Club members will receive an email confirming the meeting and the time’s etc in the next couple of days.

Come along and see the motorcyclists of tomorrow having fun with their motorcycle’s

More details of the venue / club : www.bikewiseminibikeclub.org.uk

2010 BSB EVO class champion, Steve Brogan, who has visited BikeWise on a number of occasions over the years and who donated prize money from his race at Croft in 2009 to help us purchase a ‘Brogie’ bike for our riders at the BikeWise mini bike club has now done his bit to help a charity close to a lot of people’s hearts – Help for Heroes.

Steve put on his Santa outfit and ran through the streets of his hometown of Liverpool on the 5th December. If you want to support Help for Heroes, click on the Just Giving link at the bottom of this page and show your support
’Hi Guys, Most of you probably already know I'm a big supporter of the Help for Heroes cause! I'm doing a Santa Dash run through Liverpool on Sunday 5th December dressed as Santa :-) I'm looking to raise a minimum of £1,000. Please can you help me achieve this.
This is a very worthy cause for very worthy...people.
Cheers Guys!
Brogie :-)

Please click on http://www.justgiving.com/Steven-Brogan?=nf

Adelaide Insurance – If you have completed a BikeWise Training day then register your details on Adelaide’s website and you could win a prize in their monthly draw (like Mick Alder did...), you might also get a pleasant surprise when it comes to renewing your insurance.

Quite a few people, who have completed a BikeWise Training day are reporting that they have now insured with Adelaide……

You will be able to select BikeWise Training from the drop down boxes and will get a discount as a result of attending your BikeWise Training day..

Adelaide are a specialist Motorcycle Insurer,provide IAM’s Surety Insurance and support motorcycle Road Racing events in Ireland - www.adelaideinsurance.com

Hein Gericke at Darlington (01325-464 664) - are open everyday, have a shop full of clothing and accessories and you will get 10% off any non sale items in the store if you have attended a BikeWise Training day and produce your card (or ACU license for Mini Bike Club members.)
The team of Alison, Sue, Tim & Craig will look forward to seeing you and help you sort out those last minute presents for Xmas. www.hein-gericke.co.uk

*** If you have any ‘news items’ you would like to share with other BikeWise readers, then please forward via email to : durham.bikewise@gmail.com ***

Boundary 500’s Annual Santa Ride – cancelled for this weekend

The Boundary 500’s Annual Santa Ride which was due to be held this Saturday (4th December 2010) – has been cancelled due to the severe weather we are having in the North East at the moment.

The ride has been re-scheduled to Saturday 18th December (subject to weather)

Please check the Boundary’s website for further info : Boundary500 website

All riders to meet in the rear car park of Thornaby Fire Station, Master Road, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees, UK - not later than 10.15am

The event will start at 11am and follow a route that will have been previously circulated. The pace and direction of the Ride will be under the control of Cleveland Police.
The closing date for entry to the event was Saturday 27th November 2010.
All sponsorship monies and forms must be returned before Tuesday 25th January 2011

Entry Forms, etc, can be downloaded from the What’s On calendar – Double click to open and then ‘more details’ for pdf downloads of forms‘

James wins Best Newcomer Award at Scottish Mini Bike Championship

BikeWise Mini Bike Club’s, James Alderson,9yrs travelled from his home at Esh Winning, with his Mam & Dad (Michelle & Stephen) to Queensferry in Scotland last weekend, to attend the presentation evening of the Scottish Mini Bike Championship.

The long journey, in difficult conditions, was well worth it. James, who was competing in his first season of racing finished fourth overall in the Junior ‘A’ championship and also won the Best Newcomer Award.

The picture shows James' receiving his trophy from MSS Kawasaki BSB racer Stuart Easton who had just flown in from the far east after having won the Macau GP.

Well done James… from all the BikeWise ‘team’ – hope this is the first of many trophies

(It was noted that a lot of riders were dressed in the traditional ‘kilts’ for the presentation so it might be that for next year the clan Alderson need to invest in a kilt for James if he is to continue travelling North and raiding the trophy cupboard !!)

Pictures below show James riding his Polini Mini Moto at Round 7 of the championship at Larkhall and Stuart Easton at the Macau GP

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