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TT Legend John McGuinness will be at BikeWise 2016.
Hopefully Batman & Robin have left the ‘Bat Cave’ with not a moment to lose & will avoid the Joker on their travels to BikeWise 2016 on Sunday 24th July.
The Dog Support Unit once again will be putting on a display so you can see the police dogs in action.
DogWise was not able to be run this year so the Dog Support team will be keen to show you the role of our four legged friends within the Police service, as well as giving us a good laugh with the fancy dress they sometimes appear in
There will be a Paws Up stand where you can come and meet some of the team to find out more about the fund, how it can help retired dogs, how you could possibly re-home a retired police dog & of course purchase Paws Up merchandise!
For more info on BikeWise 2016 please visit www.bikewise.org.uk and click on the BikeWise 2016 icon
Jamie Squibb, owner & team rider of Squibb Freestyle is travelling to BikeWise from his home in Devon to perform at BikeWise 2016 on Sunday 24th July.
Jamie rides a Kawasaki KXF450, is a 3X british champion, has ridden all over the world and has been showing off some of the best FMX tricks since 2005.
‘My riding background is I started riding at 6, I raced a bit of mx but not every weekend, I have ridden Enduro and trials, I just generally enjoy being out on bikes. I always loved jumps and by the age of 12 was in the digger building my own at home, from that point it's just progressed to where I'm at today.’
‘My favourite thing about freestyle is the feeling you get when you learn something new and getting to ride at really cool events like Arenacross, with good friends.’
‘The crowds definitely help loads, they make so much noise as soon as you ride in to the arena you can feel the energy and the atmosphere, they cheer super loud for every jump which makes you want to go bigger and bigger.’
To find out more about Squibb Freestyle please click on the link : http://squibbfreestyle.co.uk/
Squibb Freestyle show from crediton media on Vimeo.
 |  BikeWise welcomes back KIMERA for our 2016 show.The band have been regular visitors to the show over the years and are a local rock band from the north east with over 10 years experience covering artists such as AC/DC, Alanis Morissette, Anastasia, Blondie, Bon Jovi, Christina Aguilera, Don Henley, Evanescence, Guns 'N' Roses, Journey, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Queen and many more... If you want to see the band before BikeWise 2016 visit their website at : http://kimeraonline.com/home/4569132306 for gig dates Follow the band via their Twitter feed at : https://twitter.com/KimeraBand or on Facebook at : http://www.facebook.com/KimeraOnline |
Great news… once again our local Darlington based world record holder - Dave Coates will be performing at BikeWise 2016 on Sunday 24th July.
The new car park at the Police HQ is looking forward to having some burning rubber ‘deposited’ on it by Dave 
This is Dave's 21st consecutive BikeWise ( and he doesn’nt look a day older !!) - a fantastic achievement and we are now seeing second and third generations of families enjoying the skills that Dave shows on two (& four) wheels - long may it continue.
Dave will be performing a couple of shows during the day ( times to be finalized and published later on this site ) and he will be available at his van throughout the day for autograph's, photo's and any questions you might like to put to him...
Dave will be using a variety of Yamaha bikes at the show including the new Yamaha MT10 which he has been using around the country with Yamaha’s 2016 MT Darkside Tour
To learn more about Dave, visit his website at : http://www.davecoates.co.uk/
Click on either of the images below to download a BikeWise 2016 poster – please share it amongst your friends, on Facebook / Twitter or at work to let people know when the show is on.
The website will be updated regularly from now to the 24th July with updates about what is happening at the show
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Photos are now online from the meeting of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club’s meeting at Carrville on Sunday 15th May.
Two separate albums are online. Click on the images above to view these albums.
Many Thanks to John Attle for taking the images for one of these albums
March 2008, the BikeWise Mini Bike Club was holding a meeting, indoor at the old Black & Decker factory.
Michelle & Stephen Alderson travelled from Esh Winning to Spennymoor with their seven year old son James to have a look at the club and give James the opportunity to try and ride a motorbike. The photo shows James taking his first tentative steps, riding very slowly around the track when the club took its lunchbreak.
Now after eight years of riding & winning many national titles in different classes of mini bike racing, James steps up to a new challenge with his first race in the Motostar (Moto 3 standard) class of British Superbikes this weekend at Brands Hatch.
James is a great young local talent and last year after finishing third in the national Kawasaki junior cup, his first season on ‘big’ bikes at national circuits was awarded the Minnie Grenfell Trophy by the British Motorcycle Racing Club as their Young Rider of the year. James is the youngest winner of this trophy which has previously been awarded to a motorcycle racing legend – Geoff Duke & current Moto GP star Cal Crutchlow.
The club which was formed in 2007 by Durham Constabulary's motorcycle section with support from Durham County Council has helped a number of other national champions to start in Mini bike racing and currently local riders Rishon Hickey, Charlie Farrer, Jake Hopper, Franco Bourne, Liam Bassett, Andrew Thornton, Owen & Dylan Mellor are all currently competing in various national championships throughout the country.
All club members have the opportunity to compete in a round of the UK Mini Moto championship each year (Thanks to organizer Alan McIntosh for bringing the championship to the NE) as a local round is held at Teesside Motorsports Park with additional support provided by the Durham Agency Against Crime (DAAC)
BikeWise Mini Bike Club (who are authorized to hold their training events by the Auto Cycle Union) are proud to have been able to give James and all its other members the opportunity to lawfully progress with their ‘passion’ for two wheeled motorcycle sport.
Some great riding by our young riders
Many Thanks to all who came along to support the club with signing on, preparing /taking down the track & marshalling the event.
Click on the image to view the photos from the day.
Next meeting is planned for Sunday 15th May, with Teesside on Tuesday 24th May.
Further info on the club at : www.bikewiseminibikeclub.org.uk
The next meeting of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club will be on :
Sunday 15thMay at Carrville Park & Ride, Durham.
Usual start time of 1030hrs with signing on from 1000hrs.
If you can help to set up the track or take it down at the end it would be appreciated.
If anybody can marshal , see the girls at the signing on desk, sign the form and then well tell you what to do :-)
Please check website / Facebook / Twitter if you have any doubt about the weather.
Any cancellation will be posted by 0915hrs.
The next meeting of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club will be on :
Sunday 24th April at Carrville Park & Ride, Durham.
Usual start time of 1030hrs with signing on from 1000hrs.
If you can help to set up the track or take it down at the end it would be appreciated.
If anybody can marshal , see the girls at the signing on desk, sign the form and then well tell you what to do :-)
Please check website / Facebook / Twitter if you have any doubt about the weather.
Any cancellation will be posted by 0915hrs.
Some great riding by our young riders
Many Thanks to all who came along to support the club with signing on, preparing /taking down the track & marshalling the event.
Click on the image to view the photos from the day.
Next meeting is provisionally planned for Sunday 24th April, with Teesside on Tuesday 5th April.
Further info on the club at : www.bikewiseminibikeclub.org.uk
Latest video from the BikeWise ‘team’ in conjunction with Road Safety GB
One of the north east’s most popular routes, used by thousands of bikers every year, the A689 is notorious for its tight bends and hidden junctions as well as the odd sheep and pheasant!
See why so many of us love the A689 but beware of the hazards along the way.
In England and Wales during 2014 the number of serious injuries as a result of motorcycle collisions was at the highest level since 2009.
Based on the most up to date analysis covering 2014 however the total numbers of motorcyclist casualties in the North East however remain amongst the best in the country.
Bucking the national trend across Cleveland and Durham force areas actually fell in 2014 by 17% over 2013 taking it to the lowest number of motorcyclist casualties in ten years.
Despite our relative success however a number of riders across the region have died or received life changing injuries as a result of a collision and given their lack of passive safety any motorcyclist involved in a collision remains extremely vulnerable.
During 2014 the total number of motorcyclists casualties resulting from in collisions in Durham force area was 111 with a further 68 in Cleveland.
To remind riders of their vulnerability and to encourage them to take responsibility we have deployed the motorcycle advisory safety signs across the two force area in addition however many of these signs are also aimed at other road users to remind them to look out for bikes when for example at junctions where in there quarters of collisions the motorcyclist was not the most blameworthy vehicle.
In addition we held a BikeSafe workshop on Saturday providing riders with the opportunity to reflect upon their own skills when accompanied by a police rider and the opportunity to take up advanced riding skills through the IAM, further dates will be released throughout the year and more detail can be found on the BikeSafe website www.bikesafe.co.uk
We have released an article with advice on preparing your motorcycle particularly important when many bikes will have been stood up over winter.
http://www.bikewise.org.uk/news/newspagemain.php?subaction=showfull&id=1457271216&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
Sgt Iain Rodgers said : ‘Officers across Cleveland and Durham will be actively engaging with motorcyclists to make sure they’re machines are fit and appropriate for the road and to remind riders of their own vulnerability, as well as checking over machines we will also urge all riders to take responsibility for their own riding by taking the next step to get some advanced training and reduce their chances of becoming a statistic ultimately we don’t want riders to learn by accident so let’s build upon our positive downward trend and keep our roads amongst the safest in the country !’.
Durham Advanced Motorcyclistswho are the countrys top IAM motorcycle group & have worked closely since their formation in 1995 can be reached via their website - http://www.durhamadvancedmotorcyclists.org.uk/
In addition 48 signs, advising motorists & motorcyclists of potentional dangers have been placed at the following locations :
Stockley Lane; B6301 Dan Castle; B6302 Cornsay Colliery; B6301 Lanchester; B6296 Lanchester dairies; B6296 High Stoop; B6296 High Stoop to Wolsingham; B6296 Wolsingham; A68 Harperley; A68 Hummerbeck; A688 Coundon Gate; A68 west Auckland; A688 West Auckland; B6279 Staindrop-darlington; B6279 Staindrop-Kinninve; A688 Bowes; B6277 Barnard Castle; Startforth; A167 Nevilles Cross; A691 Lanchester; A691 Witton Gilbert; Castleside Healeyfield Lane; Crawleyside; Edmundbyers x 2;
B6278 Stanhope; B6278 Stanhope to MIT; St. johns-langdon Beck; Langdon beck to St Johns; A689 Lane head; Teesdale county boundary; B6277 High Force; B6277 Newbiggin; B6277 Egglestone; A688 Thinford; A688 Tursdale; A177 Shincliffe;
A181 Sherburn Road; Broomside Lane Belmont; A690 Gilesgate; A177 South Road; A690 Stone Bridge; A167 Sniperley; A691 County Hall; Little Thorpe RAB; Bradbury; A691 Leadgate.
Since its inception in 1995, the BikeWise approach to reducing the risks that motorcyclists are exposed to has hinged upon Durham Police Motorcyclists engaging with riders on our roads.
Our success over the years resulted in BikeWise as a casualty reduction strategy being awarded the Highways Magazine Excellence Award, as Road Safety Scheme of the year in 2008. This was followed up in 2009 when BikeWise was awarded the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award.
Since it started in 2008 until the end of 2012 BikeWise Training was delivered to approximately 500 riders by ex -Durham motorcycle officers Bob Brown and Mick Alder.
Many of these riders went on to gain IAM and RoADAR qualifications.
From 2013 officers from Durham Constabulary Motorcycle Section have been successfully providing BikeSafe workshops, and the feedback up to now has been excellent.
BikeSafe is a national police led motorcycle project that is run by most forces throughout the UK. The main aim is to reduce motorcycle related road casualties and by improving skills, knowledge and hazard awareness it will hopefully make riding safer and more enjoyable.
The BikeSafe workshop’s which we run, explore the main issues facing today’s bikers. It also explores the principles of advanced riding through the on-road element. The BikeSafe Durham Police observer will give assessment and feedback which will highlight areas where the rider needs to develop. BikeSafe is about starting on the right path to development as it "Bridges the Gap".
All motorcyclists in possession of a category A, A1 or A2 licence are welcome on our workshops provided they have passed their test, but If you have only just passed your test you would benefit from getting at least a few months of riding experience without ‘L’ plates before attending your BikeSafe workshop. BikeSafe workshops are not aimed at riders who have passed an advanced motorcycle test already.
Most types of motorcycle are welcome ie. Category A1 light motorcycle, Category A2 restricted motorcycle, or category A unrestricted motorcycle. BikeSafe is not suitable for mopeds or 125 cc learner bikes. Category A1 bikes that are not learner and are capable of national speed limits are welcome. Whatever bike you bring it must be in a legal roadworthy condition.
Our 2016 courses are being run between 9am and 5 pm from our new base at Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, Spennymoor Police Office, Wesleyan Road, Spennymoor, Co. Durham DL16 6FB.
The format of the day consists of an interactive presentation by Advanced Police motorcyclists in the morning, followed by an on road assessed ride in the afternoon.
The cost for your BikeSafe Durham workshop is £20. For this you will get the workshop presentation and assessed ride as described, a copy of Motorcycle Roadcraft and the Highway Code, plus refreshments including lunch will be provided during the day.
During your day you will get the option to enrol on an IAM ‘Skills for life’ riding course in the weeks ahead with Durham Advanced Motorcyclists (DAM), and provided you work through their package to test standard then you will receive a £75 refund towards your training from the Durham Road Safety Partnership. You will have an opportunity during your day to speak to someone from DAM about this great offer, and even enrol on the day if you wish.
By providing feedback via the BikeSafe website you will also receive a BikeSafe certificate. Gift vouchers are also available if required.
If you are now ready to ‘Bridge the Gap’ with a BikeSafe Durham workshop, then you can book your 2016 place straight away by clicking the National BikeSafe button above, where you will also find all relevant workshop information. Hope to see you in 2016!
Dates for the 2016 Durham BikeSafe workshops are to be released over the coming months. The next workshop date to be released is Saturday 9th April and this will available to book on the BikeSafe website on Monday 7th March.
There are only ten (10) places on each workshop so please contact BikeSafe and book your place as they will quickly be taken.
The first meeting of 2016 for the BikeWise Mini Bike Club will be on :
Sunday 27th March at Carrville Park & Ride, Durham.
Usual start time of 1030hrs with signing on from 1000hrs.
If you can help to set up the track or take it down at the end it would be appreciated.
If anybody can marshal , see the girls at the signing on desk, sign the form and then well tell you what to do :-)
Fingers (& toes) crossed that the weather will be ‘kind’ to us on the day as its been a long wet /cold winter !!
Please check website / Facebook / Twitter if you have any doubt about the weather.
Any cancellation will be posted by 0915hrs.
