April 2020 - TVAM

April 2020
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tvam.org Slipstream April 2020 3
CONTENTS 4 Roll of Honour 5 From the Saddle 6 What is a T-Run? 8 Unusual Maintenance 12 5,000th Member! 14 What3words
16 The Science of Being Seen pt3 18 India by Bullet 22 Club Courses 2020 24 TVAM Calendar 32 Team Meets 33 Club Contacts
FROM THE LAPTOP
Yet to get out on the bike this year - damn that virus!
Letters to the editor
questions, see what’s
tvam.groups.io like our facebook
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Having said I’ll see you all in April after my trip to Nepal the world turned upside down! I should have been writing this piece whilst enjoying views of the Annapurna mountain range but instead I’m sitting at my desk in Slough contemplating four walls!
These are very strange times indeed, especially when we are usually looking forward to the main riding season, planning rides, weekend trips and holidays abroad. COVID-19 put a stop to all that! We have cancelled as far ahead as we are able to look with the calendar of 2020 events, but with all this uncertainty you will have to keep checking on the groups.io calendar and main group for the latest news. Some of our weekend and more extended trips have already been cancelled or postponed going into June to avoid acquiring unnecessary costs. I have no doubt that a lot more rides and indeed courses will be cancelled going forwards, but, as I said, keep an eye on posts in groups.io and on the calendar there.
For those who were due to lead rides and T-Runs I would be grateful if you could pitch new dates later on in the season when we are able to see more clearly, please contact me with any changes to recorded events so calendars can be altered - [email protected] or [email protected]
Whilst you are all sitting at home perhaps you are contemplating a bit of self-servicing on your bike, have a read of Nick’s piece on page 8 before you get started. My poor bike hasn’t seen the light of day since the end of October last year. I did finally let it see the Optimate last week and it charged up no problem - phew! Now disconnected until further notice (outside shed with no power).
For Associates we have a piece explaining T-Runs, those all important rides organised by our local teams for your benefit. Once all this is over and dates have been set in stone, get out there and make use of them, every T-Run will welcome you with open arms and you can gain so much from them.
Meanwhile, enjoy the articles on these pages. How about letting us have a picture of you servicing, cleaning or otherwise giving your two-wheeled friend some tlc in these very surreal times. My touch-up paint for my horrendous yellow wheels has just arrived - strangely called ‘light leaf green’!
Keep washing your hands and stay safe!
Slipstream Editor
Test Passes Associate Observer F1RST Pass Kyriakos Chrisostomou Barrie Smith
Martin Beukes Jacob Farthing Andrew Holdaway Matthew Hubbard
Jasmine Little Mick O’Neill Keith Pitcher Julian Saunders
Roll of Honour
Test passes celebrated at the March St Crispin’s meet
Oil your chain, not your back wheel!
www.chainmate.co.uk [email protected]
Roll of Honour FROM THE SADDLE
Although this article from me every other month is titled ‘From the Saddle,’ it appears that it may be some time before we can get out on our bikes again.
I was thinking back to February St Crispin’s when we took the unusual step of cancelling the observed rides and social rides that Sunday due to the bad weather. It’s always a difficult decision, especially when making it in advance of the day, to judge whether or not we should go ahead. Of course, we’re all ‘thinking riders’ (aren’t we?) so we might be able to leave the decision to individuals. We also have a duty of care, however, and we need to ensure that those coming to the meeting have a reasonable expectation of whether they’re going to get a ride or not. I think we made the right call that day and there are no badges for attempting to ride in inappropriate conditions.
That decision, however, has become somewhat insignificant given the scale of decisions we had to make in March to suspend all riding activities and all face-to-face meetings and events. Of course, with the country in lockdown mode and only essential travel permitted those decisions have now been overtaken by advice from the Government, and from IAM RoadSmart. We are continuing to review our activities in light of their advice, and we expect this situation to continue for some time. We will continue to try and provide updates on a rolling basis.
So, what to do?
Some teams have transferred their regular meetings to an online meeting. Different technologies are being used and it’s good to see the Team Leaders swapping notes on what is working best. Some teams are using the sessions to discuss learning opportunities and I’m looking forward to a session on Saturday on off-siding and positioning.
The events team is rescheduling on a rolling basis to try and have a full calendar of events ready for the time we can get back on our bikes.
Why not start to plan those trips you’ve always promised to do? There’s help available from others in your local team or in TVAM, so if you’re stuck then just ask for help on groups.io. Like you, there are others stuck at home looking for something constructive to do.
Take a look at that Advanced Riding Course material you’ve always meant to catch up on or take a more measured approach to re-reading Roadcraft, or Full Control... Don’t forget we have an online knowledge quiz available – there’s a link to the quiz from groups.io (https://tvam.groups.io/g/allmembers/wiki/ home) and yes, the results are anonymous!
Lastly, please take a minute to check that those you know are safe and well, including those in the club. A couple of emails or phone calls are an easy to way to stay in touch, especially if you haven’t heard from someone or if they haven’t been active on groups.io or in your local team.
I do hope that we’ll be able to get out riding in the near future, particularly as the weather is looking so nice, and in the meantime please continue to follow the guidelines and stay safe.
Best wishes
6 Slipstream April 2020 tvam.org
WHAT’S A T-RUN THEN? TVAM runs are often categorised as an (A), (B), (B+) or (C) run. But there’s also a category of run aimed specifically at Associates – (T) with the title T-Run (Training Run), along with the name of the team that is hosting it.
As an Associate you will be working on developing your skills with the support of your Observer. And with the current riding restrictions in place you will, no doubt, be using this time to catch up on the theory in your Advanced Riding Course material.
Once riding activities resume, one way you can combine a good day’s social ride with some training is by attending a Training Run (T-Run).
A T-Run is a combined observed and social ride that contains an element of coaching and would usually be a whole day event. Each regional team will normally host one T-Run each year and all of these are open to all Associates throughout the club. This means that Associates have access to at least 7 T-runs over the year.
The first part of a T-Run provides an opportunity for an Associate to ride with an Observer on a group social ride and receive feedback on their riding in a less formal manner to a normal observed ride. Observers will deliver verbal feedback rather than filling out a Run Report Form (RRF). Lots of T-Runs provide two sessions of informal observed riding in the morning, usually with a different pairing of Associate and Observer.
A T-Run is usually broken down roughly as follows;
1. Initial meeting for group briefing and allocations of Associates to Observers.
2. Observed rides of 35-50 miles on a mix of roads.
3. Re-group for a debrief between the Observer and Associate, maybe have a drink, re-fuel, etc. and the re-allocation of Associates to a different Observer.
4. Further observed rides of 35-50 miles on a mix of roads.
5. Re-group at a designated lunch stop for a debrief between the Observer and Associate. Have something to eat as well as a chance to chat with other Associates and members.
6. Social ride, of approx. 50-75 miles, where Associates can put input into practice and for
Observers to enjoy a social ride. Associates can ask for an additional observed ride if
they wish to.
There are different options for the way the observed rides are offered. Some Teams prefer for this to be a ‘lead run’, with a run leader and back marker, whereas others prefer a ‘starburst’ approach, setting off and meeting at
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an agreed time and location, enabling the Observer to manage the route on which they wish to take the Associate.
Whichever option the Team uses, it will certainly be a great day out and a fantastic way to obtain input from other Observers.
Contact your local Team to find out when they are holding their next T-Run. And keep an eye on groups.io and the calendar to see when other groups are holding theirs.
And Observers and Trainee Observers – don’t forget you’re also welcome on all T-Runs!
T-Runs are an excellent way to develop your skills and practice them in a safe social run. Have fun and enjoy your development.
Barrie Smith TVAM Training Team
Quite a few of the T-Runs are being moved around from their original dates due to the Corona virus and our present non-riding policy, so do
watch the calendar to keep a check once we are back on the road again. Full Members note that more often than not you are also welcome to
participate in these runs, you should always be open to maintaining and improving your standard with an observed ride even though they are primarily for Associates. Editor.
How many of you have ever actually looked at the section of your bike’s owner’s manual titled “Service schedule”? At best, you’ve maybe glanced at the long list, noted the intervals, and made a note to drop your bike off with your dealer or independent mechanic at the specified mileages. The problem with this hands-off approach is that you risk a lot of important stuff getting missed, and suffering the reliability and financial consequences later on.
Whether it’s listed in your manual or not, the official maintenance schedule for your particular model of motorcycle will be defined by your manufacturer. They will have dictated what needs to be done at what mileage and time intervals in order to ensure reliable operation of the machine, or at least to ensure a minimum of warranty claims. The obvious, common stuff will be things like checking and lubricating pivot points (levers, sidestands, foot pegs), checking that no nuts or bolts have vibrated loose, and changing the engine oil. This stuff is easy to do and doesn’t take long, so it’s relatively cheap and makes the customer feel like they’re looking after their bike. Without this work, you’d notice significant degradation in your end-user experience of the product, followed by serious, and easily observable technical faults, such as your engine exploding.
See, long-term reliability and performance isn’t always a priority for the original manufacturer. If you’re a good little customer, you’ll be swapping your bike for a new one every 24-36 months anyway, so any long-term issues won’t crop up under your ownership. If the second or third owner experiences problems, who cares? Those riders aren’t really their customers, so their experience isn’t as important.
Of course, this short-sighted view is why I’d never want to own a BMW or KTM out of warranty but might consider giving Honda, Yamaha, or Suzuki my new-bike money one day. And if no-one wants to buy your used bikes, then suddenly the PCP business model collapses, and your ‘subscribers’ can’t afford your expensive new bikes anymore. But making the maintenance schedule entirely comprehensive would likely hurt new-bike sales. Servicing costs are a significant consideration for many buyers, so Ducati has worked very hard to reduce the frequency with which their bikes need taking in for maintenance. Initial purchase costs can easily be dwarfed by running costs if you’re not careful.
Ask an experienced mechanic what you should be doing regularly to keep your machine at peak performance and you’ll likely be listed a number of things that aren’t on any manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. For example, suspension. Triumph, credit where it’s due, instruct their dealers to change the fork oil as part of regular servicing. Fork oil degrades over time, affecting damping performance, but isn’t considered a service item at all by many manufacturers.
Unusual & Infrequent Maintenance
After 33,000 miles, what was left in my V-Strom’s forks resembled muddy hot chocolate.
Of course, shock absorbers degrade at the same rate in the same way, and stock units on most bikes are usually not rebuildable. In order to return like-new performance, you’d have to replace the entire shock absorber every 16,000 miles or so. No manufacturer wants to put that on their maintenance schedule, as OEM shock absorbers are hellishly expensive. I once asked a BMW rep at a trade show what their solution was for people wanting to get the suspension on their R1200GS refreshed. With an entirely straight face, he told me that it would never come up because at 18,000 miles I’d naturally be trading the bike for a new one anyway.
Staying with suspension for a moment, most modern bikes have complex linkages designed to allow short-stroke shock absorbers to support a wide range of wheel movement. These linkages are usually slung low in the chassis, often placed directly in front of the rear wheel, and get absolutely pelted with rain and salt. What’s more, there’s frequently very little grease pumped into those bearings from new, and after just a few thousand miles of wet-weather use can often by at risk of seizing up and acting against the movement of the suspension.
Because of the torque being applied to these moving parts, it’s rare for a suspension system to seize solid - you simply get metal-on-metal grinding that quickly turns into expensive damage. In the meantime, you’ll experience added stiffness to the ride, but odds are it’ll be so gradual that you won’t notice until it’s too late. Dismantling these linkages can be a very involved job - on a Yamaha FJR1300 you even have to remove the exhaust system - making it very expensive in terms of labour hours.
In a dry climate, with a bike that’s only ridden in nice weather, you could probably go for years and not have a problem. But I’ve taken apart linkages on both my
Yamaha T-Max and Suzuki V-Strom when they had relatively low mileages, only to find that I’d caught the problem just in time. One of the linkages on the T-Max was completely seized at less than three years old, and the bearings all showed tell-tale signs of rust. This premium scooter had a full dealer history when I bought it, but nowhere in the maintenance schedule are suspension linkages mentioned at all. But worst of all is when stuff is on the service schedule, but lazy mechanics don’t do it because
Aftermarket shocks can be serviced every 16k miles; stock units can only be replaced.
After a few harsh winters, the running gear under your bike will be in dire need of some TLC.
Unit 1, 125 Reading Road, Wokingham , RG41 1HD
Tel: 01189 780089
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it’s too much work. Depending on how honest your mechanic is, you might still be paying for the work, but I have strong evidence to suggest that my Triumph dealer never checked the valve clearances during my Street Triple’s 12,000-mile service, despite charging me for the work. “Everything was fine, nothing needed adjusting, that’s 3 hour’s labour please.” I can almost understand the logic; if you’ve checked dozens of engines and they’ve thus far been in-spec at the 12k mark, then it’s very tempting to assume that they’ll all be fine. But you can’t officially not do it, or the manufacturer will blame your dealership if there’s an engine failure under warranty. So you tick the box and move on to the next bike on your to-do list.
Steering head bearings are a similar story. Buried under fairing on many bikes, and requiring hours’ of work to get to even on unfaired models, checking, re- greasing and adjusting them must be a task that’s tempting to ignore. And how would the customer even know, one way or another? Steering head bearings can fail at any time, even if well maintained, and are considered a wear item. No warranty claims, no proof, no problem!
The next problem you have is detailed service records, or the lack thereof. If you’re taking your bike back to the same main dealer, or a dealer with access to a shared records system, you might be OK. They’ll be able to look up what was done last visit and therefore know what is required this time, be it an annual service or something mileage-based. If you’re relying on a different dealer or a mechanic that simply doesn’t keep those kinds of detailed records, you’ve got a problem. You’ll have a stamp in the book showing when the last service was completed, but no details of what work was completed. So the mechanic will ask you what needs doing this time, and unless you’re like me and keep track of individual service items yourself, you’ll have no idea.
Is it time for the brake fluid to be changed? The fuel hoses to be swapped? Are you due a valve check or not? Some items are time-based, others on mileage alone, some a combination. Asking a mechanic to “service” your bike is like asking an artist to paint you a picture - you’re going to need to be a lot more specific. Asking for a “basic service” usually means changing the engine oil and filter, maybe an air filter, a check of the brakes, followed by a quick once-over to make sure nothing external is leaking or otherwise obviously broken. Do that same thing every year or every mileage interval and you’ll probably avoid catastrophic engine failure and maintain basic safety, but long-term reliability and performance will suffer, and you could be storing up some big, expensive repair bills for the future.
Some independent dealers might list “bronze”, “silver”, and “gold” services, along with what each one entails. All will be generic, none will be model-specific, and even if you follow a sort of minor/major cadence there will be plenty of things that
Getting to the steering head bearings is no mean feat, even on a naked bike…
My approach is to meticulously document everything
Unit 1, 125 Reading Road, Wokingham , RG41 1HD
Tel: 01189 780089
Bike sales Helmets Leathers Textiles Boots Gloves
Performance & OE parts Servicing Diagnostics
Tyres MOT
get missed from the official schedule - not to mention the unwritten list of other stuff that really should receive regular attention. The only thing you can do is educate yourself by talking to experts, asking hard questions of your mechanic, and keeping your own records and schedules. That way, you can be in control, can be sure that your bike is being properly maintained, and avoid some really nasty surprises further down the road.
Here are a couple of tips and best practices I’ve developed over the years:
• Keep detailed service records of exactly what was done and when. Ask your mechanic or service writer for a full breakdown when you pay the bill.
• If using an independent mechanic, do your homework and get hold of an itemised service schedule for your bike. If they are true professionals, they won’t mind looking at the previous work notes and official service schedule before talking to you about what they recommend needs doing based on your bike’s history.
• Use forums and owner’s clubs to find out if there are any model-specific maintenance pieces that should really be added to the manufacturer’s list of service items. Discuss these items with your mechanic, with a view to seeking their advice - no mechanic wants to think that their experience is valued less than “wot I read on the internet”, so be diplomatic.
• Find a mechanic you can trust and stick with them, making sure they understand that you’ll be using their services again. If they’re going to have to pick up the pieces of any corner-cutting, they’ll be less likely to cut those corners in the first place.
• If you intend to keep the bike for the long-haul, let your mechanic know. The advice they would give to someone looking to keep a bike short-term might well differ from what they would tell someone who wants to still be relying on the same machine in 50,000 miles.
• Have any particular maintenance tasks you think are frequently overlooked, or maybe a particularly clever way of logging everything? Send me a message and let me know!
Nick Tasker Any useful maintenance or servicing tips for your fellow members whilst we are forced to look at our bikes rather than ride them? Criminal I know, but necessary, except for those of you volunteering for delivery services of any kind during this crisis. Editor
Member number 5,000Member number 5,000 Keith Pitcher from Reading
Quite a milestone in our history.
We are very glad to welcome Keith to our club and know that he will enjoy his journey once the present situation is over, when he and the others who joined during March will get a chance to experience all that our great club has to offer.
We’ll see you all hopefully before too long.
Editor
What3words essentially points to a very specific location. Its developers divided the world into 57 trillion squares, each measuring 3m by 3m (10ft by 10ft) and each having a unique, randomly assigned three-word address.
For example, the door of 10 Downing Street is slurs.this.shark, while the area across the road where the press congregate is stage.pushy.nuns. It was born out of company founder Chris Sheldrick’s postal- related problems growing up in rural Hertfordshire.
Mongolia has adopted what3words for its postal service, while Lonely Planet’s guide for the country gives three word addresses for its points of interest. Mercedes Benz has also included the system in its cars and what3words is now being used in 43 languages with more in progress.
Emergency services recommend its download and use to make finding someone in need a much easier task.
How to use what3words after downloading the app From helping people find you, to navigating to businesses and meetups with friends.
Find a 3 word address 1. Tap the search bar, enter a street address or place name, then select the correct search result. 2. Zoom in, switch to satellite mode and drag the map to find the exact location you want. 3. Tap the square you need to see its 3 word address displayed at the top of the screen..
View your current 3 word address 1. Open the what3words app, wait for the blue dot to stop moving and tap ‘Locate Me’. 2. The 3 word address will display at the top of your screen. The location accuracy is dependent on your device’s GPS signal. It will be more accurate when you are outside with a clear view of the sky.
what3words - an essential app for your phone
Search and get directions 1. Enter the 3 word address in the format word.word.word into the search bar. Remember to add in the dots. 2. Select the correct 3 word address. 3. Tap ‘Navigate’. 4. Get directions with your preferred navigation app.
Share a 3 word address 1. Find a 3 word address, or select one from your saved locations. 2. Tap ‘Share’ and select the app you want to use. To remove the default sharing explainer text, go to ‘Settings’ and tap ‘Share Settings’. Tap to toggle ‘Explainer Text’ off. Here you can also change other sharing settings including language and location information.
Save a 3 word address 1. Tap a square to select it, then tap ‘Save’. 2. You can save to an existing list, for example, Favourites. 3. To save your location to a new list, tap ‘Add a new list’ and give your list a name, eg, parking spots. 4. Once you’ve saved to a list, you can add a description by tapping ‘Add Note’ at the bottom of the screen.
Scan a 3 word address 1. Tap the scan icon in the search bar at the top of the screen. 2. Point your camera at the what3words address. Make sure it sits in the scanning window. 3. Hold still for a few seconds, giving it time to scan the address. 4. Tap the correct address. This particular feature currently works in 19 languages.
Download the app now for apple/android or for more information go to www.what3words.com
SMIDSY there’s more than one driver error
Thanks to decades of ‘Think Bike’ style campaigns which in essence tell drivers to “look harder” or “look longer” for motorcycles it’s not surprising that most riders believe that the SMIDSY results from poor driving skills and specifically from “not looking properly”. This advice and these beliefs have arisen from ‘post-hoc’ analyses of crashes. That is, they tell us WHAT happened and we find that out by starting at the end point of the collision, and working backwards till we find the error. It’s pretty straightforward in the case of the SMIDSY; the driver didn’t see the bike.
But post-hoc analyses don’t tell us two things:
• how OFTEN the crash occurs - in fact, with 30+ million active drivers and between 1 and 2 million active motorcyclists in the UK, serious collisions are remarkably rare - just over 2000 in total in 2017. The vast majority of drivers see the vast majority of bikes - we just notice the ones who don’t see us.
• WHY the driver failed to see the bike - for that we need to start at the other end of the crash and ask why an everyday interaction went wrong.
Last time I talked about the ‘looked but COULD NOT SEE’ issue, where the motorcycle is simply not where it could be seen. But what about those events where reconstruction suggests that bike was actually in a place it could be seen?
In fact, there’s a chain of perceptual events to be completed between the driver looking and the bike being seen. The ‘Looked But Failed To See’ problem can result from a breakdown at any of the stages:
• firstly, the driver has to look - if he / she doesn’t look, the driver will not see the motorcycle
• secondly, the bike has to be where it can be seen when the driver looks - if not, the bike is not visible and the driver cannot see the motorcycle
• thirdly, the driver has to look and perceive the motorcycle - if the motorcycle is not perceived, the driver will not see the motorcycle
• fourthly - and this one is hot off the press, straight out of a paper published late in 2019 - the driver
PART THREE
has to look, perceive the motorcycle and then retain that knowledge right through the manoeuvre - if the driver forgets that he or she saw the motorcycle, the manoeuvre will be performed as though the driver did not see the motorcycle
• fifth and last, if the driver perceives the motorcycle, the driver has to assess speed and distance correctly - if the driver misjudges either, the result is likely to be a faulty decision to turn and an unsafe manoeuvre
The proportions of the different errors may surprise you.
‘Did not look’ falls into the smallest segment of the chart, and includes collisions where drivers are using mobile phones. An IAM report entitled ‘Licensed to skill: contributory factors in road accidents: Great Britain 2005 - 2009’ looked at over 700,000 items of official crash data from the UK and found that ‘driver using mobile phone’ was the cause of 0.8% of fatal crashes, and just 0.2% of all injury crashes. I should point out that these are crashes involving ALL vehicle types, and that given the huge increase in smartphone use the figures may be outdated, but the inference is that the crash rate between motorcycles and drivers using a phone is almost certainly much lower than most riders believe.
In fact, the three main factors are:
• the driver looked but the bike COULD NOT be seen - between one-fifth and one-quarter of all collisions
• the bike was visible, and the driver ‘Looked But FAILED to see’ - around one-third of all collisions *
• the bike was seen and the driver ‘looked, saw but MISJUDGED speed and distance’ - around one- third of all collisions
(This total is likely to include the newly proposed ‘looked, saw but FORGOT error’).
From our perspective as riders, it’s important to understand that each error is different, with different causes and different possible solutions. Treating them all as a ‘driver didn’t look properly’ issue has held back our understanding of collisions between cars and motorcycles for over forty years. It’s time to move our understanding and our strategies for dealing with these crashes forward.
Kevin Williams / Survival Skills Rider Training www.survivalskills.co.uk (c) K Williams 2020 the Science Of Being Seen - the book of the presentation £9.99 plus P&P and available now from: https://lulu.com/spotlight/SurvivalSkills
The ‘Science Of Being Seen’ is a presentation created in 2011 for Kent Fire and Rescue’s ‘Biker Down’ course by Kevin Williams. Biker Down is now offered by over half the nation’s FRSs as well as the UK military, and many deliver a version of SOBS. Kevin personally presents SOBS once a month for KFRS in Rochester. He toured New Zealand in February 2018 delivering SOBS on the nationwide Shiny Side Up Tour 2018 on behalf of the New Zealand Department of Transport. Find out more here: https://scienceofbeingseen/wordpress.com
Bullets, Camels, Elephants & Tigers
Part 1
Having spent a lazy summer swanning around the Cotswolds, John Stevenson was getting bored. Patrick White, who was recovering from a serious illness, was also bored, having not been on a bike for nine months. Both wanting to extend their biking horizons, we braved an adventure north – all the way to Birmingham. The destination was that bikers adventure park, The NEC Bike Show.
Without the use of maps, compass or satnav, we explored the show, narrowly avoiding bankruptcy at the likes of BMW, Norton, Ducati, Brough etc., until we found an oasis of calm and a very friendly welcome at the Indian Rides stand.
Narendra, the founder, and his wife Gopika asked us if we had ever thought of going to India. John replied “Yes, it is somewhere I have always wanted to go,” whilst Patrick, looking horrified, said “You’ve got to be joking!”
Fast forward to early February 2019. Patrick, having been encouraged, maybe bullied, by John agreed that - although it was pure madness - they should just do it. By the end of February having, in true Indian style, negotiated a good deal for the tour, flights were booked with British Airways and deposits paid. At this point it seemed like a good time to do some extensive research into what we were actually letting ourselves in for.
The Tour was to last 15 days, but as we considered ourselves to be “gentlemen of leisure”, we added a day on the front and several days on the back. When planning and booking we worked out a strict budget, but over the following months that gradually fell by the wayside. The months from the end of February to the departure were filled with obtaining visas; having lots of jabs; getting International driving licences; a long search for a map of Rajasthan; endless shopping trips and searches on eBay for suitable biking gear; enough first aid kit to equip a small ambulance plus large quantities of Deet for the expected mosquitoes.
Then one day we found ourselves at Heathrow Terminal 5. Having checked in the luggage, we settled down at Costa in the departure lounge and said “Well there’s no turning back now!” The big positive was that we knew that we were going to have excellent biking weather.
10 hours after buying some ‘Scottish medicinal mouth wash’ in the Duty Free at Terminal 5, we looked out of the aircraft window to see New Delhi rushing up towards us out of the smog. A car from our hotel collected us from the airport and gave us our first taste of Indian driving and traffic. India, having been part of the British Empire, had all the familiar infrastructure: driving on the left, pavements, roundabouts, pedestrian crossings, traffic lights, English road signs, only you just ignore all that. The police just stand and watch the ensuing chaos.
After checking into our hotel we went for a climatisation walk - a circular tour of the area around the railway station. We were in awe of the volume and variety of traffic, which included cars, lorries, bicycles, scooters, motorbikes, ox carts, Tuk Tuks, cycle rickshaws, dogs, cattle, goats, pedestrians and handcarts. It all appeared totally chaotic. The deafening cacophony of horns and engines which continued 24/7 almost made you forget that the air was over 40C and heavy with pollution.
Contrary to all the scaremongering, the smell was no worse than most other cities. To get a real flavour of Delhi we took a ride in a Tuk Tuk across New Dehli centre at rush hour – until you have experienced that you don’t know you are alive. We also rode the Metro, which was so modern, efficient and clean we thought we had been transported to another planet.
That evening we enjoyed our first ‘real’ Indian curry followed by a good night’s sleep. The next morning we were collected from our hotel by Indian Rides and whisked some 4 hours away in a mini bus to Mandawa and our hotel, The Mandawa Haveli. It was essentially a town centre manor house of historical and architectural interest, and we felt that we were now experiencing true India. Parked in the front courtyard were our trusty steeds for the next 15 days; 14 new Royal Enfield 500cc Bullets in British Racing Green. Wow, let the fun begin!
That evening over dinner and a few bottles of Kingfisher, we got to know the rest of the tour group which consisted of us, 4 other Brits (3 of whom were IAM members), 1 Dutchman, plus 3 French couples and of course Narendra, our tour leader. As well as this there was the support crew of 2 with their minibus for our luggage and a variety of Royal Enfield spare parts. These two guys we renamed Hudson and Jeeves as we could never remember their proper names and when we did remember we couldn’t pronounce them.
Now the serious riding began but first a safety briefing and bike check: Check 1 engine starts; Check 2 horn works; Check 3 – just ride! The first day of riding covered many aspects including ignoring everything we learnt back home, riding on road surfaces that were so bad that it proved England does not have any pot holes, just minor surface imperfections. We rode through rivers, deep gravel, sand and unmade roads, all while negotiating regular Indian traffic - which appeared to be complete chaos - plus avoiding cows, camels, pigs, dogs, oxen, monkeys, and of
The Mandawa Haveli.
Hudson and Jeeves
course, pedestrians, Tuk Tuks, rickshaws and thousands of scooters. In spite of all this, it was some of the best fun we have ever experienced on bikes and did wonders for our observation and filtering skills.
The following day we left Mandawa and headed for Bikaner, covering another good mix of road types and avoiding herds of camels. We were now really loving the Bullets, the big 500cc single, thumping away, exhaust burbling, plus the popping and banging on the overrun. We stopped off for a tour of the Fort of Junagarh then on to Bikaner, where we stayed in an ancient palace which now served as a 5 star hotel.
After a good breakfast of traditional Indian or European fare, we were back on our Bullets heading for the golden city of Jaisalmer, on the edge of the Thar desert. Dinner in the open roof-top restaurant watching the sun set on Jaisalmer Fort was spectacular. The fort looks like a giant sand castle rising from the sandy plains.
The next day started with a tour of the fort and the town, then more riding but this time out into the Thar Desert. After an hour or so our hotel for the night appeared as if like a mirage. It was a tented complex surrounded by huge sand dunes. Our next test was to access the site up a rather large and steep sand dune. Narendra filled us with confidence while we all waited at the bottom and watched him ride straight up as though it was a tarmac road. We then attempted to emulate him one by one, resulting in no one getting much further than halfway without the assistance of several locals pushing. Having proved we cannot ride bikes on sand dunes and any prospect of competing in the Dakar Rally completely dashed, we all transferred to camels.
That night we were entertained by local gipsy dancers and musicians, and slept under the stars only to discover, the following morning, that we were just as bad at riding back down the dunes.
We negotiated many roads that were covered in sand, some several centimetres deep, but the Bullets
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never let us down and we couldn’t believe how versatile our bikes were, coping with everything thrown at them and proving you don’t have to spend any more than about £4,000 to have a brand new bike that is great fun and full of character.
Later that day, arriving at our destination, Pokaran, we found our hotel to be a converted fort, complete with battlements and a large outdoor swimming pool. Could this get any better?
John Stevenson & Patrick White
Next month: 3 forms of transport - Bullets, trains, and elephants
From Bullets to camels.
COURSES FOR TVAM MEMBERS 2020 (lockdown dependent) ABC - Advanced Bike Control - 4th July Experience some advanced machine control on the runway at RAF Odiham, taking home enhanced riding skills, and the biggest grin you can squeeze into a helmet. Cost £25. You will need to ensure that your bike is in good condition - particularly tyres, suspension and brakes. If you have any questions email Chris Caswell on advancedbikecontrol@ tvam.org or book via the webshop BC - BikeCraft - Look out for future courses in 2020 The great thing about TVAM is we get out and ride our bikes. To add to that great practical experience join us for a participative theory day. BikeCraft can add to your information to help make you a better biker. Have you ever wondered: What’s the best way of overtaking? What does the system really mean and how do I get the best out of it? Get answers to these questions and many others. Cost £15 includes the course CD and workbook. For course details and questions email [email protected] BMC - Bike Maintenance - Look out for future courses in 2020 This excellent course is hosted by Phil Ryan and his team. Cost £10, to cover materials. You will get a half day (10am to 2pm) of hands-on experience of basic maintenance and repair procedures. For any questions, or to book a place, email [email protected]. Pre-booking essential via the web shop. CBB - Class of Better Biking - Look out for future courses in 2020 If you are an Associate in your first half-a-dozen rides and you still don’t feel completely fluent in the language of TVAM, this theory and discussion hour is for you. Learn about the subtleties of the system of motorcycle control, how to make a workable riding plan and what the run report form is really telling you. Email [email protected] with ‘Class of Better Biking’ in the subject line to book a place. RLBM - Run Leader and Back Marker Course - Look out for future courses in 2020 For full members – this tailor-made course, consists of theory and practical sessions, giving you the skill, knowledge and training necessary to run lead or back mark a TVAM social run. A mentor will also be allocated to you. Book via the web shop. For further information please email [email protected] LLR - Look, Lean, Roll (there will in all probability be further cancellations) Farnborough - 10th May/14th June/12th July/9th August/13th September/11th October Greenham - 23rd May/27th June/25th July/22nd August/26th September/24th October Run by a renowned team of TVAM members and Observers, the aim of this half-day event is to enhance cornering and bike-handling skills, within a controlled, off-road environment. Cost £39. Just do it! For further information please email [email protected] or register interest via the webshop AP - Advanced Plus Our new name for what was an EAR. Passed your Advanced Test a few years ago or looking to improve your skills towards an IAM RoadSmart Masters? Book a session with an Observer who will help you brush up your skills. Email [email protected] SR - Slow Riding Every St Crispin’s the Slow Riding Team are on hand to run a session out on the tennis courts, to help you master an essential skill and to build your ability to control your bike at slow speeds. Book in with the Training Team desk on arrival. BH - Bike Handling Barrie Smith runs a session on St Crispin’s Sundays helping you to handle your bike when you are not on it, to get comfortable manoevering it, getting it on and off the centre stand and anything else you may struggle with. Book in with the Training Team desk on arrival. Biker Down - www.facebook.com/BikerDownBucksMiltonKeynes for latest courses First aid and accident scene management for bikers. Aimed at motorcyclists of all ages and experience. This free course offers the chance to learn practical skills to help avoid being involved in a crash, as well as essential first-aid training and advice on what to do should they find themselves first on the scene. www.facebook.com/BikerDownBucksMiltonKeynes PRC - Pillion Riding Course - Look out for future courses in 2020 To help both riders and their pillion passengers achieve safer and more enjoyable riding together. It is aimed at full TVAM members and their partners, especially those with little or no experience of riding with, or as, a passenger. The course includes both theory and practical sessions covering: legal aspects; bike adjustments; passenger briefing; getting on and off; effect on bike performance; communication; clothing; do’s and don’ts – and more. Cost £12. Register as either rider, pillion, or both by emailing [email protected] or please register interest via the web shop.
ABC, BC, BMC, LLR, PRC & RLBM CAN BE BOOKED THROUGH THE WEB SHOP www.tvam.org
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APRIL 2020 ALL RUNS, TRIPS AND CLUB MEETS CANCELLED THROUGH APRIL. PLEASE CHECK THE GROUPS.IO CALENDAR FOR CANCELLATIONS MAY 1 GOING FORWARD. PLEASE CONTACT ORGANISER FOR MORE UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON ANY FUTURE TRIPS. FOR RUNS THAT HAVE BEEN CANCELLED RUN LEADERS MAY LIKE TO RE-BOOK FOR DATES LATER IN THE YEAR - PLEASE CONTACT [email protected] or [email protected]
MAY 2020 SATURDAY
2 SAMS FIRST SATURDAY RUN (B) Social ride for the first Saturday of each month. Details will be published via the calendar on groups.io
SUNDAY
3 GNATS FIRST SUNDAY RUN (B) Social ride for the first Sunday of each month. Details will be published via the calendar on groups.io
SUNDAY
3 WAGS MONTHLY SOCIAL RUN (B) Social ride for the first Sunday of each month. Details will be published via the calendar on groups.io
SATURDAY
9 MORNING RIDE TO CHICHESTER (B) Meet at the café at Blackbushe Airport, Camberley GU17 9LQ at 8.30am for departure at 9am. 100 mile round trip via Alton, Steep and Harting Hill to The Boat House Cafe, Chichester Marina Cafe for coffee and cakes. Returning to the Blackbushe Cafe at around 1pm. Run leader James Boxall - [email protected]
SUNDAY
10 WAGS FULL MEMBER RUN (B) Social ride for the second Sunday of each month for Full Members from all teams. Meet 10am for 10.30am departure at Tot Hill services , Burghclere, Newbury, RG20 9BX . Progressive ride to Goodwood airfield for light lunch, baguettes and sandwiches + chips. 70 miles to fuel stop so 140-150 miles in total. Run leader Keith Miller - [email protected]
TVAM Calendar SOCIAL RIDES, T-RUNS, TRACK DAYS AND OTHER EVENTS IN 2020
St Crispin’s Sunday - Monthly Meet - Observed Ride Every 3rd Sunday of the month. Meet 9am at St Crispin’s School, Wokingham (see p32 of Slipstream for map). All those currently involved in observed runs will be allocated an Observer. Slow riding skills practice is available. Social runs available for full members start at 10am if run leaders are available on the day. If you are willing to lead a run please email [email protected] or contact Alan Hudson at [email protected]
Send details of any runs or events to [email protected] or [email protected]
Social Runs St Crispin’s Track Day/Training Run Events Green Team
By supplying your details for entry on these pages you are agreeing to them being publicly available.
SUNDAY
10 WOBMOB SECOND SUNDAY RUN (B+) A brisk, progressive run heading south for brunch. Meet at Premier Inn car park, Oakdene Road, Winnersh, Wokingham, RG41 5UA (alongside the Winnersh roundabout) at 8am for briefing before departure. Approx. 110 miles with a fuel stop. Back around 1pm. Run leader Keith Yallop - [email protected]. Please email Keith if you are attending.
WEDNESDAY
13 MID-WEEK DAYTIME RUN (Short ride to place of interest) Ride to Sywell Aviation Museum. Meet at the H Café in Berinsfield, OX10 7LY for a 9.30am departure. Contact Ken Jeddere-Fisher at [email protected] for details or to join the Midweek Runs mailing list.
SUNDAY
17 ST CRISPIN’S SUNDAY - OBSERVED RIDE See top of page 24 for meeting details.
SATURDAY
23 LAMBOURN RING BREAKFAST RUN (A) Enjoy breakfast at the Bushe Café then a spirited brisk morning ride around the Lambourn area of about 100 miles stopping for a break midway. Meet at the Bushe Café, Blackbushe Airport, GU17 9LQ at 8am for an 8.45am departure. Please come with a full tank of petrol and in time for the briefing at 8.30am. We’ll be back in Reading area around 1pm. Run Leader Dave Parsons 07525 654203
SUNDAY
24 VIRGIN’S VOYAGE (C) Specifically for Associates who have not been on a group run or need more practice in group run situations. Marked run procedures explained and shown. Observers and buddies will be available to assist. Run will be around 80 miles with stops for refreshments. Meet at McDonald’s, Benson, OX10 6LX at 10am. Please register with Mimi [email protected]
SATURDAY
30 BREAKFAST AT THE SEASIDE (B) 120 mile round trip with Breakfast stop at Lepe Country park return to Basingstoke for 2pm latest. Meet at the former Little Nellie’s Diner, Newbury Rd, Kingsclere, RG20 4TA at 8am for an 8.30am departure. Run Leader Mark Spittles 07753 931570.
SUNDAY
31 T-RUN (T) HOSTED BY GNATS A day especially for any TVAM Associates to come out for a day involving a couple of informal Observed Runs combined with a social run. More details to come.
SUNDAY
31 COTSWOLD AIRPORT RUN (A) A skilled and progressive ‘A’ run from Reading to the AV8 Café at Cotswold Airport, returning back to Calcot. Enjoy a great lunch on the terrace whilst watching all manner of aircraft take off and land. The return leg just gets better with lots of flowing open roads and spectacular views through the North Wessex Downs AONB. Meet at McDonald’s car park in the Forbury Retail Park, Reading RG1 3DH at 9am for 9.30am departure. Run Leader Matt Goren 07712 268326.
JUNE 2020 SATURDAY
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
WEDNESDAY
10 MID-WEEK DAYTIME RUN (Short ride to place of interest) Please can anyone lead a run to a place of interest for this date? Contact Ken Jeddere-Fisher at [email protected] for details or to join the Midweek Runs mailing list.
SUNDAY
14 WAGS FULL MEMBER RUN (B) Social ride for the second Sunday of each month for Full Members from all teams. Details will be published via the calendar on groups.io
SUNDAY
14 WOBMOB SECOND SUNDAY RUN (B) Social ride for the second Sunday of each month. Details will be published via the calendar on groups.io
FRI - SUN
Associates Tour
ASSOCIATES TOUR IN WALES (T) Meet at The Evenlode, A40 Eynsham, Oxfordshire at 10am and arrive back at Evenlode, Eynsham approx 4pm on the Sunday. Join the WAGS Observers for a great weekend of fun training on the wonderful roads of mid Wales. Staying at Y Talbot for 2 nights - fantastic food and wonderful showers! Cost is £160 per person for dinner bed and breakfast - sharing. £195 for single occupancy. A couple of places left. Book in the TVAM Webshop. Any queries - contact Mimi - [email protected]
SATURDAY
20 BREAKFAST RUN TO BILLY’S ON THE ROAD (B) Meet at former Little Nellie’s Diner, Newbury Rd, Kingsclere, RG20 4TA at 9am for 9.30am departure. Fab ride to Billy’s on the Road Diner at Billingshurst. Offering a large selection of breakfast dishes. Taking in some lovely roads along the way. Approx 110 mile round trip. Finishing around 2.30-3pm at Conkers Garden Centre, Basingstoke. Run leader Ian Colville.
SUNDAY
SATURDAY
27 T-RUN (T) HOSTED BY CLAMS A day especially for any TVAM Associates to come out for a day involving a couple of informal Observed Runs combined with a social run. More details to come.
SATURDAY
27 BREAKFAST RIDE TO CHOPPERS CAFE (B) A short run of 75 miles or so to a coffee and a fatboy breakfast stop back by midday. Meet at the former Little Nellie’s Diner, Newbury Rd, Kingsclere, RG20 4TA at 8.30am for a 9am departure. Run Leader Mark Spittles 07753 931570.
JULY 2020 SATURDAY
SUNDAY
5 GNATS FIRST SUNDAY RUN (B) Social ride for the first Sunday of each month. Details will be published via groups.io
www.tvam.org Slipstream April 2020 27
SUNDAY
5 WAGS MONTHLY SOCIAL RUN (B) Social ride for the first Sunday of each month. Details will be published via groups.io
WEDNESDAY
8 MID-WEEK DAYTIME RUN (Short ride to place of interest) Ride to Nuffield Place. Meet at the H Café in Berinsfield, OX10 7LY for a 10.30am departure. Contact Ken Jeddere-Fisher at [email protected] for details or to join the Midweek Runs mailing list.
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
12 WOBMOB SECOND SUNDAY RUN (B) Social ride for the second Sunday of each month. Details will be published via groups.io
FRI - SUN
reen Badge Tour
GREEN BADGE TOUR IN WALES (T) Join the WAGS Green Team for a great weekend of fun riding on the wonderful roads of mid Wales. Staying at Y Talbot for 2 nights - fantastic food and wonderful showers! Cost is £160 per person for dinner bed and breakfast - sharing. £195 for single occupancy. Availability for extending your stay by 1, 2 or 3 nights contact Wendy Dance - [email protected].
SUNDAY
SATURDAY
25 CALNE MOTORCYCLE MEET/CLASSIC SHOW ON THE STREETS OF CALNE (B) A morning ride or a full day out plenty to look at and plenty of places to eat and drink finished with some overtakes on the A4 back home. Meet at the former Little Nellie’s Diner, Newbury Rd, Kingsclere, RG20 4TA at 9am for a 9.30am departure. Run Leader Mark Spittles 07753 931570.
SUN - SAT
SC OT
TISH BORDERS TRIP THE SCOTTISH BORDERS TRIP Opportunity to explore the borders in Scotland including Edinburgh and Trossochs. Staying at the Buccleuch Arms Hotel in Moffat near Dumfries. This Scotland border tour will show you this beautiful area. Day trips will be arranged from Moffat. Twin room sharing £42 per night B&B - (Single occupancy is double the cost) Trip total £252 B&B plus meals and fuel. Motorcycle garage £5 per night. Only 12 places so book early - See TVAM Webshop or contact Tony Mayes [email protected]
AUGUST 2020 SATURDAY
SUNDAY
2 T-RUN (T) HOSTED BY RAMS Come and join the RAMS T-Run. All Observers, Trainee Observers, Associates and Full Members welcome. Two informal observed runs in the morning for Associates/ TObs, also available to Full Members. After lunch there will be a marked social run back to Calcot ending 4.30pm approx. Meet at Sainsbury’s Calcot (near NEXT entrance) RG31 7SA at 9am for a 9.30am departure. Total run 100 miles. Please let either Ness Turner (07909 888953) [email protected] or Mel Hakhnazarian (07971007448) [email protected] know if you can join us.
F U L LY B O O K E D
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
FRI - TUE
7-11 DAVID JACOBI MÜLLENBORN TRIP (B) The trip is designed to give novice travellers to Europe an opportunity to experience riding on the continent in the company of more experienced riders who can help guide you. We also need experienced Run Leaders and Back Markers with TVAM Run Leader Course qualification to help with all the rides. Chunnel + 4 nights half board £340 based on sharing at the wonderful Hotel Müllenborn. Petrol, breakdown cover, food on the road and laps of the Nürburgring will be extra. Deposit £70 per motorbike payable if selected. Any questions please email Guy Lipscomb at djgermanytrip@tvam. org. Please book in web shop - tvam.org/webshop
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
9 WOBMOB SECOND SUNDAY RUN (B) Social ride for the second Sunday of each month. Details will be published via the calendar on https://tvam.groups.io/g/allmembers/calendar
WEDNESDAY
12 MID-WEEK DAYTIME RUN (Short ride to place of interest) Ride to the Oxford Bus Museum. Meet at the H Café in Berinsfield, OX10 7LY for a 10.30am departure. Contact Ken Jeddere-Fisher at [email protected] for details or to join the Midweek Runs mailing list.
SATURDAY
15 LUNCH IN WILTSHIRE (B) With some great roads in between. Approximately 130 miles round trip finishing at Sutton Scotney around 3pm. Meet at the former Little Nellie’s Diner, Newbury Rd, Kingsclere, RG20 4TA at 8.30am for a 9am departure. Run Leader Mark Spittles 07753 931570.
SUNDAY
SEPTEMBER 2020 THU - TUE
3-8 WAGS IN FRANCE WAGS will be heading off to the lovely town of Lamballe in Brittany to explore the fantastic sights and roads of France. Sailing on the evening of Thursday 3rd September from Portsmouth to St Malo and spending 3 nights in one hotel before returning on the overnight sailing on the Monday from Caen to arrive in Portsmouth on the Tuesday morning. This is a fantastic weekend for any TVAM member with a choice of rides on the Saturday and Sunday and if you are an Associate, plenty of Observers to give you some feedback! Have fun whilst improving your skills! Contact Mimi Carter Jonas - [email protected] for any information.
F U L LY B O O K E D
Check the latest calendar at https://tvam.groups.io/g/allmembers/calendar
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
6 T-RUN (T) HOSTED BY WOBMOB A day especially for any TVAM Associates to come out for a day involving a couple of informal Observed Runs combined with a social run. More details to come.
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
WEDNESDAY
9 MID-WEEK DAYTIME RUN (Short ride to place of interest) Ride out from H Café in Berinsfield, OX10 7LY - 10.30 departure. Possibly rain check for earlier 2020 run - watch this space Contact Ken Jeddere-Fisher at [email protected] for details or to join the Midweek Runs mailing list.
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
13 SHUTTLEWORTH CHOPS & PROPS (B) Meeting at the café at Blackbushe Airport, Camberley GU17 9LQ then head up to Old Warden near Biggleswade where the NCC Bedfordshire Custom Show will be taking place. Plenty of custom, classic and hot-rod machinery to enjoy. Returning to Blackbushe by 5pm. Exact timings will be published nearer the date. Run Leader David Woodhead - 07801 598 550
TUE - WED
15-23 THE PICOS & SALAMANCA TRIP We are heading to the lovely Picos de Europa area in northern Spain but extending to capture the delights of Salamanca. 3 nights in the Picos + 2 nights in Salamanca + 1 in Suances - mostly half board + ferry both ways. Option to ride through France if desired. Only 26 spaces. Accommodation and ferry per person - Rider & pillion (shared room) £895; Solo rider (shared room) £1,020; Solo Rider (Single room) £1,315. Go to the web shop to book your place. For full details contact Darren Robinson and Raj Joarder - [email protected]
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 2020 SATURDAY
TVAM Run Ratings A: Skilled/progressive for confident riders on all types of road. Aimed at smaller groups. B+: More progressive pace for the confident, focused rider. Overtaking permitted. B: Medium paced, relaxed ride. Overtaking permitted. C: Leisurely pace - NO overtaking within the group. Suitable for first timers or those looking for a slower pace. T: Team Training Run - observed/social ride with an element of coaching run by each of the local teams O: Off-road
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
SATURDAY
10 T-RUN (T) HOSTED BY BAR Meet at former Little Nellie’s Diner, Newbury Rd, Kingsclere, RG20 4TA at 9am for a 9.30am departure. Led by Ian Colville this training run is open to all Associates, Observers and Full Members. Heading to Billingshurst with briefing stops en route and a great venue for lunch. A marked ride on the return finishing at Conkers in Basingstoke around 3.30pm.
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
WEDNESDAY
14 MID-WEEK DAYTIME RUN (Short ride to place of interest) Ride out from H Café in Berinsfield, OX10 7LY - 10.30 departure. Possibly rain check for earlier 2020 run - watch this space Contact Ken Jeddere-Fisher at [email protected] for details or to join the Midweek Runs mailing list.
SUNDAY
18 ST CRISPIN’S SUNDAY - OBSERVED RIDE See top of page 24 for meeting details. Chris Arnold Memorial Ride 10.30am from St Crispin’s - 100 miles to finish at Loomies on some of Chris’s favourite roads. Run Leader Mark Spittles 07753 931570
SEE THE GROUPS.IO CALENDAR FOR A FULL 2020 ITINERARY https://tvam.groups.io/g/allmembers/calendar
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CLUB MEET - During lockdown there is no monthly meeting
Monthly meetings are held at 9am on the 3rd Sunday of each month at St. Crispin’s School, London Road, Wokingham, RG40 1SS. Observed rides for Associates and first time attendees, social runs for Full Members.
LOCAL TEAM MEETS - Many have gone online during this period - contact your local team
Basingstoke (BAR) When: First Monday of the month Where: Jekyll & Hyde, Hartley Wespall, Turgis Green, RG27 0AX Time: 7.30pm
Camberley (CLAMs) When: 1st Tuesday of the month, every other month Where: The Bee, School Road, Bagshot, Windlesham, GU20 6PD Time: 8pm (Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec)
Great Northern (GNATs) Meet 1: Saturday before St. Crispin’s - check with
[email protected] for location Meet 2: After each St. Crispin’s for coffee at The Farm
Café, Ashridge Manor Garden Centre, Forest Road, Wokingham, RG40 5QY.
Meet 3: Rideout first Sunday of the month.
Reading (RAMs) When: First Tuesday of the month Where: Fox and Hounds, Theale, RG7 4BE Time: 8pm
Slough (SAM) When: First Saturday of the month Where: Jenners Riverside Café, Ray Mead Road, Maidenhead, SL6 8NP Time: 9am - Contact [email protected]
Wantage & Newbury (WAGs) When: Second Wednesday of the month Where: Ye Olde Red Lion, Green Lane, Chieveley, Berkshire, RG20 8XB Time: 7.30pm
Wokingham & Bracknell (WOBMOB) When: 3rd Tuesday of the month Where: Binfield Social Club, Binfield, West Berkshire, RG42 4HP Time: 8pm
Green Team (Full Members) Meet 1: Last weekend of the month - see Slipstream or web calendar for social run information. Meet 2: Wednesday following St Crispin’s at The Crown, The Street, Swallowfield, RG7 1QY at 7.30pm - Contact [email protected]
Thames Vale Advanced Motorcyclists meet at St. Crispin’s School, London Road, Wokingham, RG40 1SS
every 3rd Sunday of the month at 9am
Coppid Beech Roundabout
el d
OBSERVER RELATED CONTACTS Aardvarks Simon Whatley [email protected] Allocations Peter Browne [email protected] Assessments Andy Wedge [email protected] Bike to bike radios Chris Brownlee [email protected] Cross Checks Simon Whatley [email protected] Cross Check link www.tvam.org/cross-check-request Observer Health Checks Andy Wedge [email protected] Observer Interest Andy Wedge [email protected] Observer Training Chris Brownlee [email protected] Run Reports Chris Brownlee [email protected] Test Passes Peter Browne [email protected] Trainee Observer Coordinator Hev Smith [email protected]
Observer Forum (mailing list): Observer Group https://tvam.groups.io/g/observers
LOCAL TEAM CONTACTS TEAM LEADERS ([email protected]): Quarterly meetings - Tuesdays 28th July, 24th November. Held in Binfield Basingstoke (BAR) Steve Dobson and Dennis Lutley [email protected] Camberley (CLAMs) James Bates and Doug Brown [email protected] Great Northern (GNATs) Gary Jackson [email protected] Reading (RAMs) Vanessa Turner , Andy Boudier [email protected] Slough (SAM) Ally McCulloch [email protected] Wantage & Newbury (WAGs) Keith Miller [email protected] Wokingham & Bracknell (WOBMOB) Andy MacWalter, Ian Gaitley [email protected]
SOCIAL CONTACTS ([email protected]): Basingstoke (BAR) Mark Spittles [email protected] Camberley (CLAMs) Caroline Harvey [email protected] Great Northern (GNATs) Gary Jackson [email protected] Reading (RAMs) Vanessa Turner, Andy Boudier [email protected] Slough (SAM) Ally McCulloch [email protected] Wantage & Newbury (WAGs) Keith Miller, Mimi Carter Jonas [email protected] Wokingham (WOBMOB) Andy MacWalter and Ian Gaitley [email protected]
TVAM Affiliate No. C1330
Slipstream editor and designer: Salli G - [email protected] Editorial team: Kathy Drogemuller, Nick Tasker, Robin Hennem
Copy deadline: 3rd week of the month. To ensure your article or information is included please inform the Editor - slipstream@tvam at the earliest opportunity,
issues are planned well in advance of print date which is the first Friday of the month. Advertisement sales: [email protected]
TVAM enquiries: 0118 402 4800 TVAM Website: www.tvam.org
© 2020 Thames Vale Advanced Motorcyclists. The views expressed are not always those of TVAM or the IAM. The editorial team reserve the right to edit submissions. Slipstream is published by Thames Vale Advanced Motorcyclists.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written permission of the publisher. TVAM is a charitable company limited by guarantee and it is a group within the IAM.
TVAM CLUB CONTACTS President: Vice Presidents: Sir Stirling Moss OBE FIE Nigel Fowler 1996, Richard Tickner 2005, Nigel Taylor 2010, Charon Willis 2016
Committee ([email protected]): Who are they? Photos on groups.io Chairman Andy Slater [email protected] Chief Observer Chris Brownlee [email protected] Secretary Adrian Ellison [email protected] Treasurer Paul Taylor [email protected] Membership Secretary Dave Simmons 0118 402 4800 [email protected] Slipstream Editor Salli Griffith [email protected] Events & Promotions Phil Donovan [email protected] Green Team Leader Alan Hudson [email protected] Committee Meetings: These are held at James House, Mere Park, Dedmere Road, Marlow, SL7 1FJ Next Meetings: (M - Marlow / S - via Skype), 14th April 2020 (S), 12th May 2020 (S) - all meetings normally on second Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm and alternate monthly between Marlow and Skype meetings.
Special Roles: Advertising Salli Griffith [email protected] Advanced Bike Control Chris Caswell [email protected] or [email protected] Bike Maintenance Phil Ryan [email protected] Bike Craft Di Woodcock [email protected] Café and Stopover Database Keith Miller [email protected] Advanced Plus (previously EAR) Mike Walden [email protected] Events Diary (non-run events) Phil Donovan [email protected] Girl Torque Alie Ball, Salli Griffith [email protected] Groups.io Support Andy Wedge, Chris Brownlee [email protected] Incident Reporting Training Team [email protected] Leaflet Supply Phil Donovan [email protected] Look Lean Roll Karen Joy [email protected] Membership Development Peter Dowlen [email protected] Merchandise (to order items away from St Crispin’s) [email protected] Midweek Runs Ken Jeddere-Fisher [email protected] Offroad Riding Clive Marsden [email protected] Pillion Rider Course Alan Hudson [email protected] Red Zone Mel Hakhnazarian [email protected] RideOn Training Team [email protected] Run Leader & Back Marker Course Issy Griffiths [email protected] Social Run Co-ordinators Salli Griffith /Phil Donovan [email protected] St Crispin’s Sunday Runs Alan Mossman [email protected] Tea & Coffee Bar at St Crispin’s Roger and Marianne Lindsay [email protected] Thruxton Skills Days Pat Coneley [email protected] Toy Run Steve Harris (volunteers for Dec Toy Run) [email protected] Track Skills Days (Training) Dave Hepworth [email protected] Webmaster Steve Dennis [email protected]
Website: TVAM Website www.tvam.org The website gives you access to the web shop for booking courses, trips, training and track days. TVAM Groups.io Groups.io is the system used by TVAM to share details of news, events and much more. You will automatically be added to the system when you join TVAM so you can get involved in the conversations with other members. There are local team and special interest groups available for you to join also. Get involved and find out what’s happening.
Correspondence Address & Telephone: 23 Comet Way, Woodley, Reading RG5 4NZ 0118 402 4800
Registered Office: Thames Vale Advanced Motorcyclists is a charitable company limited by guarantee, and is a group within the IAM. c/o Durrants Accountants, 24 Wellington Business Park, Dukes Ride, Crowthorne, Berkshire, RG45 6LS. Registration Number: 03556042. Charity Number 1069767.
MAGELLAN MOTORCYCLE TOURS
WITHOUT THE HASSLE RIDE THE WORLD
Guided, Self Guided and Custom Motorcycle tours across Europe and the Americas

April 2020 - TVAM

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