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Issue 222
The Journal of the Edinburgh and District Advanced Motorcyclists
July 2014
“I’m sure I left
the Blade here
somewhere”
focusing the mind!
Rennie Ritchie: Bikes,
Cars & Flying Jackets
Seahouses Run
Heads Up Everybody
Aberfoyle Weekend
www.edam.org.uk
Welcome to Twistgrip
Phil Holt – Editor’s Note – July 2014
In this issue…
June has been a busy month of riding and events. My thanks to
Dave McCutcheon for organising so many great events. It would
be good to see as many members as possible attend these (note
to self: don’t arrange client meetings in the evenings).
I mean, what could be better than gathering around the Steading car park on a warm summer’s
evening for a suspension masterclass or testing the latest in rider safety devices; the HUD. More
about this on page 17.
It makes my job as editor much easier when so much is happening. David Betts continues to
arrange and plan some excellent runs and I recommend them to you. If you haven’t been on
an official run for a while, now is a great time to check the upcoming runs on Facebook and
the Edam website.
Excellent contributions again from Fraser and Elliot who are proving to be my main reporters in
the field. But everyone is encouraged to contribute and help me make each issue better than
the last.
I hope you enjoy the July issue and as always I welcome your feedback and suggestions.
Phil
In this Issue.....
Aberfoyle Weekend - P3 • There’s nothing like red eyes for focusing the mind! - P5 •
Rennie Ritchie: Bikes, Cars & Flying Jackets - P7 • Word from the Chair - P9 •
Seahouses Run - P11 • Motorsport Moaning - P13 • Peter Woollven’s Peeblesshire run - P15 •
MashUp - P16 • Heads Up Everybody - P20 • Classifieds - P21 • Calendar of Events - P23 •
I Don’t believe it! - P24 • Congratulations and Welcome - P25 •
Why not contribute a story or photos for next month’s issue? Any contributions or errata
please send to editor@edam.org.uk
Issue 222
2
July 2014
Aberfoyle Weekend - 16-18th May
Elliot Beattie
Bob Crawley organised
another excellent IAM M/C
social weekend at the Rob
Roy Motel, Aberfoyle, and by
serendipity, this occasion was
used to mark the retirement
of Rennie Ritchie as Scottish
Staff M/C examiner. David
Coia ( Scottish M/C RGC0
had collected donations
from Scottish IAM groups &
individuals, and presented
Ren with a very handsome
flying jacket – just the attire for
driving his Smart roadster with
the lid off.
Fraser, Ian Carter and I met
up at sunny Dreghorn on the
Friday afternoon, collected
Steve Middleton on the M9
and had a excellent ride over
the Duke’s pass to arrive in time
for beer o’clock.
By Saturday, there was a
weather front lurking over NW
Scotland.
Bob Crawley & pals decided
to head south east for the day,
but we assembled a group of
Issue 222
9 bikes who would chance a
northerly route.
A drizzly ride back over the
Duke’s pass was less fun than
the afternoon before, but by
Kilmahog, it was dry, so on
to Killin, and along the north
side of Loch Tay. Interesting
observation link on this stretch
– freshly fallen branches
3
on both sides of the road.
Rode along pondering this
for some while until I caught
up with the culprit – a giant
earthmover on a low loader
that had become wegded
under a tree near Aberarder,
blocking our carriageway.
Stephen & I got past easily,
and then sat at Kenmore for
some while, as the others had
got snarled in the ensuing
traffic jam. The original plan
had been to ride around Loch
Rannoch and visit Rannoch
Station, but black clouds
westwards, diverted us east
to the Tummel Inn for coffee.
Slight snag – it was 11.00 but
they didn’t open until 12.00. A
discussion through the window
persuaded the proprietor to
abandon the hoovering, get
the coffee machine switched
on, and open early whilst we
relaxed in the sun. Then on to
July 2014
Pitlochry, and the back roads
to Glenshee and a brisk run
down the A93 (the hooligan
in me loves this stretch) to
Braemar for a cloudy alfresco
lunch. Then off to Aboyne,
and the South Deeside road
to do Cairn o’ Mount. The fog
was really thick at the summit,
and there was no view from
the viewpoint carpark for
our Polish riders. However,
John misjudged the sharp
left hander on arrival at the
viewpoint entrance, and gave
us an excellent demonstration
of how to perform the
equivalent of a handbrake
turn on a Fireblade to avoid
an oncoming car, to make
up for the disappointment. It
was amazing how many cars
Issue 222
were “saving energy” driving
through the fog without lights
on!
This was a superb weekend
(weather aside), and lets hope
BC organises another in 2015.
We descended more carefully
and left the fog behind. The
plan was tea at Tibbermore,
but refuelling at Scone
(clubcard points!), we agreed
with the rain starting, we would
just head home via the A9.
The Rob Roy Motel is fantastic
value, with excellent dinners,
breakfasts, rooms, and a lively
bar.
I arrived home just ahead
of the 3rd group, who had
been to Ballater, but retracted
their (soggy) steps back over
Glenshee. Bob’s group arrived
back with sunburn!
Sunday morning the rain was
back, so we just headed home
to meet the sunshine at Stirling.
4
Many thanks to the “Saturday
chums” – Fraser Quin, Steve
Middleton & Stephen Hannah
of EDAM, Alistair Gordon of
Inverness AM, Alex Smith of GN,
John Lennox of BGAM, and
guests Alan Harrop, Grzegorz
Nowak & his partner as his
pillion.
About 265 miles, (3 petrol stops
for a Fireblade) but what else
were we going to be doing?
July 2014
There’s nothing like red eyes for
focusing the mind!
Fraser Quin
Driving home after the ERS
workshop last month at 10.30
in the evening, home by 11.00,
I got to thinking about riding
at night. I personally really
enjoy it. It’s that feeling of
being cocooned within your
bike and gear, surrounded by
blackness, with a tunnel of light
ahead of you. The odd barn
owl swooping eerily across the
carriageway, very comforting.
From the point of view of other
traffic it’s reasonably safe as
you can see them coming
miles off, even on back roads,
and knocking your full beam
on certainly lets them know
you’re there. Being the anti-car
type that I am, I counted at
least 15% of the cars coming
towards me as having 1
headlight out. That’s a lot.
Issue 222
I digress as usual, the reason
I wanted to write this was just
to raise my personal pros and
cons of night time riding and
to recount a recent nerve
dangler.
In summer, night riding is
wonderful;
• It’s warm, especially if you’re
a cissy like me and will still
pop the heated grips on.
• It’s quiet; naturally there are
fewer cars on the road, even
on the bypass.
•Y
ou can ride some distance
with full beam on so you
aren’t really going to hit
potholes as they show up
as big dark shadows on the
road.
5
• Camera vans go to bed
early!
• You see cars coming from
afar and so can ensure you
alter your riding to defence
mode to ensure they see
you.
• You can become all
contemplative and poetic
as you are swept along in
a cathartic haze of tunnel
vision down that Karuakesque road trip. Ahemm.
Of course all the things that
make an evening ride a nice
experience can come back to
bite us.
• As a car comes up behind
us, flash a brake light to make
extra sure he has seen you.
At that time of night he/she
July 2014
will be half asleep and on the
phone.
• Your tunnel vision created by
the headlight beam means
there’s a lot of blackness on
the fringes of our vision.
• On low beam potholes are
less visible especially on the
left hand verge.
• Animals come out at night,
and I’m not only referring to
chavs that steal motorcycles.
• It’s easy when it’s quiet to be
going too fast into a corner
as you don’t have the 100
yard view you have in the
daytime.
• You may want to consider
wearing hi-viz even though
you look like a cross between
a lolly pop lady and a traffic
cone.
You have to ride slower, but
that’s not a bad thing, is it?
This brings me to my last point.
Riding down the A1, the quick
route home, and let’s just say
making progress, the gantry
signs stated “High Risk of Deer
on the Road”. OK, I thought,
full beam on most of the time,
good peripheral vision, drop
speed 10 mph or so, that’ll do
it. Passing Dunbar and ASDA
on the left and accelerating
hard out of the roundabout,
2 red eyes at the side of the
road caught my eye. The sort
of red eyes that would scare
you sh****ss if you were walking
alone.
they won’t they eyes. They
did. It sprinted into the road
and stopped dead centre
of my headlights. It then
looked left and right like in a
comedy routine, and took off
right, crossing the opposing
carriageway to safety.
So what was I doing? Well I
was sitting stationery on the
A1 at 10.45 in the evening with
a big grin on my face. Why?
Well two reasons. For me this is
what biking is all about, being
comfortable on the bike,
being in touch with nature
and yourself and being able
to control my own destiny,
at least where no cars are
involved.
Having read HTBABR, and
ridden with countless good
riders over the last few years,
I was fully aware of what was
behind me so knew I could
stop safely, even on the A1.
I was going at a speed that
allowed me to stop should the
inevitable happen, i.e. sharing
the road with a large Roe Deer.
I was concentrating hard,
even though very relaxed, due
to the impact poor visibility
affords us. When planning a
ride we must remember to
plan for what might reasonably
be expected to happen. And
so it did, and so did I. As the
overhead gantry had already
warned me about deer 10
miles earlier, had I hit it, it would
have been nobody’s fault but
my own.
So I backed right off, moved to
the far right of the carriageway
and fixated on those will
Issue 222
6
July 2014
Rennie Ritchie: Bikes, Cars & Flying Jackets
Rennie Ritchie
IAM Member (Sept 1983); IAM Examiner (May 1986); IAM Staff Examiner
(August 2006) – IAM Examiner “Retirement” (May 2014)
Cars, bikes, trucks etc., have
been a passion of mine since
as long as I can remember with
my parents reminding me the
only way they could get me
off to sleep at times was a wee
run in the car… which like my
push chair was fitted with a
steering wheel for my use.
One of the main reasons for
joining the polis in 1975 was
in furtherance of the hope I
could at some point get into
the Traffic Department. I was
very fortunate to achieve
this goal in 1982 leading to
Advanced Car & Motorcycle
courses, Articulated lorry and
Double Decker bus courses as
well as many associated motor
vehicle courses from Accident
Investigation to Vehicle
examination.
I had an inkling to join the local
IAM Group but felt I had to get
my Class 1 certificate before
asking them if I could join…
only to find 3 months back from
my Tulliallan Driving course I
was designing and running
some observer training with
my local IAM Group - a great
bunch.
My IAM involvement was part
and parcel of my daily Traffic
Patrol and “the Department”
worked very much along the
Education, Engineering and
Enforcement lines trying to
prevent rather than detect.
Regular chats with IAM House
Issue 222
led to Ted Clements (Ch.
Examiner and a gentleman)
inviting me to take on the
Motorcycle tests for my area in
May 1986. This quickly evolved
to encompass car tests as
well. A number of very busy
IAM years followed with more
tests be undertaken personally
than I was latterly allocating
to all the examiners covering
Scotland.
delighted to accept the
offer of the Motorcycle Staff
Examiner in August 2006,
formalising the work I had
been doing informally up
to this point. Dropping from
a full wage, which funded
Although my “work” saw me
move in and out of “Traffic”
duties I always had the IAM
involvement to ensure I kept
my standards up during the
spells I was out of Traffic….
I never knew who was
watching. 2005 came along
rather quickly and contract
completed I was able to
spend more time with my
IAM involvement and was
7
July 2014
most of my IAM involvement,
to the pension would have
meant curtailing some IAM
involvement so the opportunity
to get a few pennies to fund
my IAM involvement, from the
IAM was wonderful.
My passion for Advanced
Driving / Riding and the original
ethos of the IAM, remains but
changes with the IAM mean I
find the company position and
new direction not completely
aligned with my own.
I have had a great team
to work with over the years
(Examiners, Observers, Groups’
Committees et al) and
together we have risen to all of
the challenges set by Chiswick.
We have managed to get folk
to move towards the THINKING
Rider, rather than just following
some rules; run Skills Days and
Evenings at Knockhill; set up
and operated a successful
Regional Training Team; taken
the lead with the launch of
the IMI National Observer
Award… to pick out just a few
milestones.
The Scottish RTT m/c are now
carrying out missionary work
raising the standards, delivering
centralised and localised
training throughout Scotland…
with minimal financial support
from the IAM. Let’s hope the
apparently ongoing RTT review
looks favourably on all the
good work being done to
promote improved training
standards.
However the time and financial
commitment required to keep
up this level of involvement
meant time for friends and
family was suffering. Combine
Issue 222
this with some changes of
direction in the IAM and it
seemed a fine time to step
back and let others take over.
I have been so fortunate
to meet some great folk
through the IAM with many
“candidates” and examiners
ending up as good friends.
Whilst I may be stepping back
from the examiner roles I have
undertaken I certainly have no
intention of stepping back from
the friends I have made over
the years and look forward to
seeing more of them, without
various IAM commitments
constraining my time.
When I was told a collection
had been held with a view to
getting me a “retirement” gift
I was taken aback, but even
more taken aback when I
was told how much had been
collected. I thought about
a replacement Motorcycle
Helmet; Pair of Boots; Gloves
etc., but all of these items
do wear and have a limited
useful life. I wanted to have
something to keep to remind
8
me of my friends and their
generosity… so I advised David
Coia of my long standing
desire to get a genuine Irvine
WWII pattern flying jacket
(most folk know I feel cold
and wear a fleece most
months of the year). So it is
now with humility and extreme
gratitude I write to thank you
for your friendship over the
years and for your generosity
contributing to my retirement
gift. You can be assured my
jacket will be put to good use,
and worn regularly, whether I
am wandering about on cold
and windy days or out in the
convertible Smart Roadster or
the MG Midget.
Best wishes and safe riding/
driving. Keep it Safe, Smooth
and Progressive…
Rennie
19th May 2014
July 2014
A Word from the Chair
Fraser Quin, Chair
It’s been a few weeks now since the AGM and I have been
pondering what my raison d’etre should be as Chair. So, I think that
my occupancy of the Chair will be taken up with four main goals.
They are:
1. To make EDAM more friendly and accessible to members and
hopefully increase participation in EDAM events. In effect, to
give it a more “club” feel.
2. To assist EDAM in increasing numbers through new Associates and through retaining members
when they have passed their advanced tests, hence point 1 above.
3. To improve relations with other groups, particularly our neighbours, through the sharing of
events, training and activities.
4. To assist in the smooth transition to the larger regional groups, which is an inevitable
development for IAM and therefore by default EDAM.
There will be many in EDAM who think that our only aim is to encourage advanced riding.
Clearly that is the main goal, but the way you go about something is just as important as the final
outcome. There are those outwith IAM who see us as a bunch of lecturing old farts who think we
know better than them, and indeed there are many in IAM like that. Even EDAM is not immune
from such people.
EDAM, however, doesn’t have to be like that. Yes, we will deliver advanced riding training and
observing, but we will offer more. Friendship, a social events calendar, extensive runs throughout
the year, camping weekends, guest speakers and experts visiting EDAM and even European
holidays. Some of these events, like weekend runs, will be formal EDAM events, others like a trip to
Europe will simply be lads and lasses from the “club” heading off for a blast in the Alps.
I recently attended the Aberfoyle social weekend for IAM members and friends. The acrimony
amongst some was almost palpable and to be honest spoiled my weekend. I don’t understand
past politics and to be honest don’t want to, but if we are to successfully merge with other
groups, then we will need to build relationships and in some cases bridges. I will try.
Finally, and by far the most contentious issue is that of the so called “super groups”. IAM’s view
is that there are too many groups, many of which are too small to be viable, cannot raise
committees and struggle to get along. The idea therefore is to merge neighbouring groups into
larger units where 1 committee will oversee all IAM operations within that region.
What this does NOT mean is that local groups lose their autonomy. There will still be locally
managed observer teams, local rides, local social events and local decision making as each
“old” group such as EDAM will naturally put people forward to the new single committee.
Contentious? Yes. Will it be painful? Maybe. Is it necessary? Yes, I believe so.
Issue 222
9
July 2014
A Word from the Chair (cont.)
What I would suggest to EDAM members is to not fear change but to embrace it. The more
EDAM are proactive in this process the more we can influence outcomes to the benefit of all IAM
members not just EDAM. My least favourite word in the dictionary at the moment is parochialism.
To be introspective occasionally is good, to be parochial is a recipe for……..OK, let’s not get
carried away.
Ultimately, EDAM may well be called something else and we may be subsumed into a group
with The Borders, Forth Valley, and Fife (????). There’s one thing for sure however. If there’s any
suggestion of merging with car groups, I’m out of here! 2 wheels good, 4 wheel tedious.
Fraser
Recommend a Friend
If you recommend a friend to purchase a Skill for Life, advise secretary@edam.org.uk and if your
friend then purchases a SfL and joins EDAM, EDAM will send you a £10 Two Wheels voucher
as a Thank You.
This offer expires 31-12-2014.
Issue 222
10
July 2014
Seahouses Run 8 June 2014
Mario Alonzi
Created and led by David
Betts with eight bikes in total
despite the weather forecast
for torrential rain with the
possibility of thunder and
lightning moving northwards
throughout the day.
Warm sunshine followed us
from Dreghorn through the
Scottish Borders via various
roads chosen by our trusted
leader, a mixture of the A68,
A697 and the A6089 bringing
us into Kelso and Sainsbury’s
car park for a quick stretch of
the legs.
From Kelso down the B6352
towards Town Yetholm and
then on towards Wooler on
the B6351 where I had to
take a double take when
passing through “the other”
Kirknewton, the route testing
the skills of the fearless, the not
so seasoned and the associate
(me), a great practice run
before a pending IAM test.
Onwards and Southwards on
the A697 continuing down
towards Morpeth and seeing
very interesting looking castles
and villages before taking
the coastal route northwards
towards Warkworth and
Seahouses.
The Coastal road leaves
Morpeth on the B1337, joins the
B6345 for a while, has a brief
spell on the A1068, then runs
along the B1339 and B1340
to Seahouses. On arrival into
Seahouses the rain began
spitting so it was a quick dash
Thanks also to Elliot Beattie for
keeping a watchful eye on my
performance. After coffee at
the Wooler Milk Bar and Cafe a
very young rider kindly allowed
me to sit on his bike which he
had carefully parked alongside
mine.
This run also coincided with
a Honda Goldwing day out
of which we passed many a
colourful custom job with two
and three wheels with a variety
of sounds blasting from their
sound systems.
Issue 222
Elliot suggests that Mario tries something smaller!
11
July 2014
Seahouses Run 8 June 2014
Continued
to the chippy for a sit in Fish Tea
which was much appreciated
by this time. Having acquired
free one hour parking for all
bikes and with rain clouds
looming overhead it was
straight back on the bikes and
hoping not to get caught up in
a fleet of Goldwings that were
departing the car park before
us.
Homeward bound passing
Bamburgh heading inland
crossing over the AI and the
B6349 back in the general
direction of Wooler again.
At Duns it was good to get
out of the rain and grab a
last coffee before the group
split for the last spurt home.
David decided to go “over
the top” on the B6355 to
Gifford via Longformacus
for the shorter windier route
while Elliot lead the rest of us
on a straighter longer route
through Westruther to rejoin the
A68 and back to Edinburgh.
Apologies for the lack of
photos for the later part of the
run but I didn’t fancy bring out
the camera in the rain when
soaking wet.
From Wooler we spent some
time on the A697 (a different
bit) as far as Coldstream and
then the A6112 up to Duns for
an unplanned fuel stop for me,
Doh! Always fill up when the
group fills up. Needless to say
the heavens did open up after
a short while slowing things
down slightly but thankfully the
roads were not too busy at all.
Issue 222
12
July 2014
Motorsport Moaning - Bye Bye Mel!
Julio Ryder
Now I feel really guilty. After
my complaints to BT they have
ditched Mel from MotoGP. She
was to have been our celebrity
guest at Knockhill on 15th July,
but she has withdrawn from all
motorcycle related stuff. Poor
old Mel, such a nice wee girl,
and clearly multi-talented. Her
only failings were to know nowt
about bikes and to squawk
a lot. I shall miss her. Now for
Heuwens.
Oh yee of little faith. There
you were saying he knows
nothing and that Tom Sykes
wasn’t going to romp away
with the Crown when he
bangs in a couple of double
wins for good measure just to
restore normality. Lorenzo also
got cracking even though he
never looked like winning, so
my predictions on all classes
of racings top three remain
intact. I’m not even mentioning
that bloke as he is starting to
annoy the hell out of me.
This month’s piece, however,
must concentrate on road
racing. The tragedy of losing
Simon Andrews at the NW200
and the sheer exhilarating
drama of the IOM TT. Musing
about Andrew’s was quite
depressing as a couple of
us could see this coming a
mile off. He was the most
crash-prone rider around and
maybe it was only a matter of
time. No young rider deserves
that however, but his family’s
attitude to racing and biking
was exemplary. No hysteria, no
recriminations, just pride in a life
lived properly.
So to happier times and the
TT. Not. As we go to press
there has been 2 fatalities and
several serious injuries, but God
help us all we love the racing.
Yer man Dunlop always terrifies
me. He rides the course like
he owns it and when he’s off
the bike looks like he wants
to kill everybody around
him. Although he is clearly
mellowing with age!
His superbike, superstock and
senior wins on the clunky (can
I hear bearings going?) old
BMW was monstrous and he
Simon Andrews will be sadly missed. A favourite with TT fans.
Issue 222
13
July 2014
literally looked unbeatable,
INTIMIDATING and just about
in control. He was almost
overshadowed, however, by
Mighty Bruce Anstey’s 132.257
mph average speed and new
lap record. Almost. You have to
say though that the BMW was
a beast and Dunlop may well
have been the only man able
to tame it.
And then came the 675
Triumph Daytona R Triple. What
a result for the team and for
Triumph and for GB. If it can’t
be a Norton, then it should be
a Triumph. Anstey was again
immense in second, finishing
less than 1.5 seconds behind
Gary Johnson on his Smith’s
Triumph 675 Daytona. I suspect
there will be more 675 Triples
in the paddock next year.
However, looking at Edinburgh
Triumph’s FB page after the
win, there was nothing on
it about the 675. How very
strange?
Sorry, I just get carried away.
One of the most exciting things
about this year’s TT was the
emergence and solidifying of
the next generation of riders. I
love McGuiness, but his years
are numbered (stating the
obvious). With Dunlop leading
the way we’ve got Johnson,
Jessop, Hillier, Cummings and
many more coming into form.
This is going to make the next
few years very tasty, but only
if they’re all on BMW. Did I
mention the war?
Next time its back to BSB, WSB
and GP. By then I will also have
all the gossip from the IAM skills
evening at Knockhill.
Julio Ryder
Copyright, 2014.
Ed -”I can see the
compliants coming in now.
Keep it clean Julio.”
Without wishing to become too
xenophobic and roll out all the
anti-German jokes about the
war, what about BMW’s plans
for the bike? Made in Germany
by Polish…….oh sorry, ancient
history. Assembled in India by
children. Sorry. Anyway it’s to
go to the BMW museum along
with Dunlop’s leathers and
helmet, and stand alongside
the last BMW to win. 1939, and
that rider was basically in full
Nazi regalia and gave the
Nazi salute on the podium.
Did you know they’ve even
left the swastika on the jacket
in the museum? All we need
now is Dunlop with a little Hitler
moustache and Goebbels
glasses.
Issue 222
14
July 2014
Peter Woollven’s
Peeblesshire Evening Run - 29-05-14
Elliot Beattie
14 bikes turned up at Dreghorn
for a trip into the civilised
Borders – Peebleshire!
Peter briefed us all on drop off
marker system, and I pulled the
short straw (aka tail rider) but
when we got to Gorebridge,
to head south on the A7, a few
railway enthusiasts just had to
divert through Gorebridge to
Issue 222
see how the Borders Railway
works were progressing. Once
rounded up, we rejoined Peter
at Middleton layby, to take the
Moorfoots road to Innerleithen.
Sheep & lambs all well
behaved. Then onto Traquair
and the back road along the
south bank of the Tweed to
Peebles to Tweeddale car
park where the Peebles Hot
15
Hatch club seemed to be
meeting. I was impressed by
the guy doing a “Dukes of
Hazzard” routine of getting
out the driver’s window. Final
leg was to Stobo, Broughton
& back to the Leadburn Inn to
see the sun set and warm up
with a cup of coffee. Thanks to
Peter for organising a 60 mileish
evening out in dry weather.
July 2014
MashUp - June 2014
An assortment of news and announcements from EDAM members,
associates, friends and countrymen!
Your feedback
on the ‘new’
format
TwistGrip
Help improve our website!
Thanks for all the positive
feedback and words of
encouragement. Some of the
highlights:
I’m very interested to hear the thoughts of our members before
I embark on a redesign of the Edam website
(http://www.edam.org.uk). I am hoping to start the process
within the next few weeks, so please have a think about what
you like or don’t like about the current site. What features
would you like to see, what content might be missing or easy
to find? Do you regularly use the site? If not, what is the reason
for that? How can it best complement other channels, such as
Facebook?
“This looks great.”
- Elliot Beattie
Please send your ideas, feedback and general thoughts to
editor@edam.org.uk
“May I congratulate our
new editor for his new and
refreshing approach; building
on all the hard work of our now
esteemed leader and previous
editor.”
- Alan Brown
Prize for the best suggestion!
Ed -”Elliot will think of something.”
“Enjoyed reading this month’s
TG.”
- Sylvie Smith
“Superb, superb, superb.”
- Fraser Quin
“Bloody marvellous….. I
like it Phil, it’s an excellent
magazine.”
- Keith Wilson
“Great looking and great
content of the first new edition.
Thanks!”
- Clive Teague
Issue 222
16
July 2014
MashUp - June 2014
Continued
The System of motorcycle control
By Alan McAslan
I’m a keen You Tube fan,
and my advanced journey
started with watching https://
www.youtube.com/user/
advancedbiker
One of the Borders guys did
a great series of videos with
L&B’s finest - Here’s the resume
in action, sounds like there’s
been a few tweaks over the
years....https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=D4wgJ0iFZDE
I saw this a couple of years
ago, and as a new Observer,
this encapsulated advanced
riding for me, so I memorised it.
Today, as all days, I will ride my
motorcycle according to the
system of motorcycle control,
which is a way of approaching
and negotiating hazards, that
is methodical, safe and leaves
nothing to chance.
To do this will require me to
apply concentration and
alertness at all time, in order
to ride my motorcycle, safely,
smoothly progressively and well.
I will, formulate my riding plan
upon what I can see, what I
cannot see, and what I might
reasonably expect to develop.
By riding my motorcycle to the
system of motorcycle control,
I will at all times observe, plan
and anticipate to ensure
maximum machine stability in
response to all changing road
and traffic conditions.
Bob Cawley sends his thanks
As posted on Facebook, but
worth mentioning again here in
case you missed it.
“A big thank you at all
who kindly sponsored the
motorcyclists who recently
rode from John O’Groat’s
to the Mull of Galloway.
My personal thanks to the
Issue 222
outstanding members of the
IAM in Scotland listed below
who joined me on this charity
event. As a result of their efforts
a grand total of £4454.09 was
raised for Marie Curie Cancer
Care”.
Bob Crawley
17
July 2014
MashUp - June 2014
Continued
New Facebook group set up
to help combat & report on
Motorcycle theft in Edinburgh
There’s been an alarming
number of bike thefts over
the past few months reported
by members. To help fight
back against these idiots a
Facebook group has been
created. Lend your support
by joining the group and
promoting its message to as
wide an audience as possible.
http://www.facebook.com/
edinburghmotorcyclerecovery
Wordpress site no longer
available –
bookmark the new site
The old Wordpress site at
http://edamlive.wordpress.com is no more.
Please bookmark the correct URL in your browser:
http://www.edam.org.uk
Issue 222
18
Visorcat are
going to be at
the BMF Kelso
show in July
So EDAMers who have not
seen a Visorcat yet will be able
to try one out for themselves.
And they will be able to pick
one up for £25.
Visorcat is available online
at www.visorcat.com to IAM
members at a permanent
discount of 15% - just enter
discount code IAM.
This product was developed
and tested with the help
of IAM members, most of
them EDAMers, before it was
launched in February last
year – and it has received
the coveted ‘IAM Likes’ road
safety accolade.
July 2014
MashUp - June 2014
Continued
IAM Driver & Rider Skills Day
David Stringer of IAM has been
in touch to announce that
they will be running a Driver
Skills Day on August 26th and a
Rider Skills Day on August 27th
at Croft.
New booking arrangements
will apply to both events, and
reservations for either can only
be made by phone through
Chiswick. Booking will open at
10 am on Tuesday 24th June
2014. It will NOT be possible to
book before that date. Once
booking opens it be very
much first come first served,
particularly for the Rider Skills
Day, which experience shows
is likely to fill very quickly
indeed. The same is true of the
afternoon session for the Driver
Skills Day. Call the IAM Support
Team on 0208 996 9600 or 0845
126 8600.
Groups may reserve multiple
places for their members if they
wish, but payment in full for all
such places will be required
at the time of booking, and
details of the attending
members must be submitted
a soon as possible thereafter,
and without fail by the end of
July.
The information for the Driver
Skills Day also has information
about the Skid Car which has
been present on previous
events, but we still await
final confirmation of their
attendance in August.
Please note that we did not
succeed in keeping the noise
down on the previous Rider
Skills Day so that the cost of
circuit hire has risen sharply
and sadly the price for this
particular event will rise as well,
to £149. Against that, there are
60 places on offer as against
40, and those who attended
the first event in May thought
the additional cost was still
well worth it for the day they
enjoyed.
One for the diary - East Fortune
Slo Mo day Sunday 10th August
A chance to practice your Slo
Mo Skills & exercises from IAM
Full Control under supervision of
Rennie, Roddy Benzies & Wigit.
Cost £20 and only 6 places
remain available.
To reserve a place and pay,
please contact Elliot Beattie secretary@edam.org.uk
Message
from Elliot:
PAY UP OR ELSE!
as soon as possible, or be
disappointed!
Issue 222
19
July 2014
MashUp - June 2014
Continued
Heads up Everybody!
By Fraser Quin
Dave Vout of Bike Systems
came all the way from Stoke
– on – Trent, and drove back
the same night, to present
their Heads up Display (HUD)
system to a group of sceptical,
cynical, crusty, bearded
advanced riders.
As you can see from the photo,
that screen is going to cause a
hell of a lot of wind resistance
and wave around like a
flag………oh stop! That’s what
you see in the HUD unit to the
left of your left eye.
You can just and so see the unit
in the helmet above. It used a
bracket to attach to the upper
and lower rims of the open
face helmet. The visor still shuts
easily and the position of the
unit is easily adjustable.
I assumed that having a unit
the size of a small matchbox
would be obtrusive and affect
observations. Not a bit of it.
It’s like sticking your finger
(careful) in the middle of your
eyes, you just look through it.
So too when I tried the HUD,
I was aware of the unit but
immediately just looked straight
around and through it. It sits to
the left of the eye, not in front
of the eye. So what’s on it?
Well you can see in the photo,
you get gear, time, revs and
Issue 222
speed. At 24 mph that girl is
not making enough progress
on that road! It’s debatable
what is or is not needed on
the screen as I see no need
for revs at all. My backside
tells me when it’s time to
change gear. Gear indicator,
maybe as some bikes don’t
have them. Speed, maybe.
Clock, well OK. I personally
think what’s to come is more
exciting however. There will
be a built in sat nav coming
via i-phone App, and an
integrated camera to either
just film, or film with telemetry
(sorry officer!). The kind of
money they are talking about
makes it significantly cheaper
than most good sat-navs, and
then you get the camera, the
HU display, and no doubt more
developments as they come
along.
All this is wired into the bike
with a CPU under the seat and
20
with the HUD itself weighing
30g, the whole system can’t
be more than 250g. What this
avoids by being attached to
the bikes power source is all
those batteries running flat,
e.g. phone, camera, etc.
Everything will run without
worry, and I presume that there
will be unlimited (within reason)
camera storage space on the
CPU rather than the 1 hour you
get with other camera systems.
Whether or not you think this
is a useful addition to rider
safety depends on your
own perceptions about the
hazards of riding a bike. Would
I buy one? Yes I would, but
only when the all singing all
dancing system with camera
and fully operational sat-nav
system comes into play. Just
under £300 doesn’t sound a lot
for all that given that my satnav alone costs £500.
July 2014
Wanted or for Sale
Your Classified Section
Please contact editor@edam.org.uk if you have something
Ross Lyon has a full brand new,
packaged, set of EBC brakepads to fit
R1200 04 to 09 - he bought them for his
old GS but is pretty sure they’ll fit the
R1200 range. £40.
Complete set of BMW R1200GS vario
panniers and topbox, complete with 2
keys. Slight dent in exterior of offside
case but otherwise completely intact.
Panniers were fitted new to my 2010
R1200GS which met with a sad demise
when torched by vandals last month.
Panniers were not on bike at the time of
vandalism. Best offer over £400 secures (A
good offer of over £400 could see a 2010
GS model BMW tank bag thrown in
although part of the tank velcro fitting
is missing as the fitting, not the bag,
was on the bike at the time) Contact
David Betts, davidbetts@aol.com with
any offers or for more details.
Also has a Haynes manual covering
R1200 Twins 04 to 09 (again for the old
bike, which being a BMW, the book has
hardly been used!! :-o). £5 for the book.
Contact Ross: rosco.lyon@gmail.com
Issue 222
to sell or buy
21
July 2014
Wanted or for Sale
Your Classified Section
Please contact editor@edam.org.uk if you have something
StarCom1 Advance comms sys +
StarCom1 Bluetooth Module BTM-01,
StarCom power filter FLT-01, + Midland
two way radio and 2 headsets, plus all
leads.
GIVI Panniers V-35 Monokey side system,
with optional frame mounting. The
panniers are spec’d with the G730
brushed silver lid panels. Complete
with the PLX1102 and 1102 fitting
kit for Honda CBR600F 2013 model.
These panniers barely used and in
immaculate condition.
Asking £200.
Also, Techno Tec HID H4 head light set,
col 6000k cool white boxed as new, this is
a pair not a single unit!
Cost £600 new, will sell for £200
without rack/frame or £250 with
rack/frame. Photo below illustrates
Panniers (no top box).
£50.
Contact Eric Donaldson:
01333 311928.
Issue 222
to sell or buy
Contact Phil Holt: 07717 723 733
22
July 2014
Calendar of Events
26th June Byroads of Carnwath, Evening Run, Dreghorn, 7 pm.
28th June ALL SCOTLAND IAM run to Holy Island and surrounding area,
Dreghorn, 10 am.
5/6th July Kelso BMF Show, Kelso Show Ground (Tea at Bob’s).
15th July Knockhill Skills Day. By Booking Only. editor@edam.org.uk
DATE CHANGE:
24th July
By roads of Haddington, Evening Run, Dreghorn, 7 pm.
26th to 27th July This run is now rearranged for the 27th instead of the 26th. It will be to
Portpatrick in Southwest Scotland to ride the roads of Dumfries and
Galloway. This is a slightly longer run at 270 miles. Departure point and
time Dreghorn, 08:45 for 09:00
10th August SLO-MO Day East Fortune. Booking only, £20.
9/10th August Classic Bike Show, Ingliston, Edinburgh (must have beard).
16th August
EDAM Official Run, Dreghorn, Route TBA.
13/14th September Scarborough Road Races. TBA. Interest to editor@edam.org.uk
20th September EDAM Official Run, Dreghorn, Route TBA.
21st SeptemberAnnual Miss Laidlaw competition. Charles Letts carpark, Thorniebank
Industrial Estate, Dalkeith, EH22 2NE.
This is a slow speed control competition on bikes loaned by Two
Wheels and a quiz. One competition is for EDAM full members, and
the 2nd competition is for 2014 EDAM associates.
Top 3 from each competition do a practical riding assessment to
decide final placings. Prestigious Trophies & valuable Two Wheels gift
vouchers to be won.
Tea, coffee & bacon rolls expertly provided Bill & Jill Fulton. A good fun
morning!
4th October ALL SCOTLAND run to Loch Rannoch and surrounding area.
Kinross Services, 10 am.
19th October 2nd Associates/Observers Day Tour. Dreghorn, 9.30 a.m.
Associates and Observers only.
13th NovemberEDAM Motorcycle Quiz. Thurs 13th Nov, The Steading, 7.30-10.00.
Teams of Three or Four, Prizes!
Issue 222
23
July 2014
I don’t believe it!
Editor’s Rant - July 2014
Here we are in the sixth month of the year and the roads are
finally dry and clear of nasty salt. Pity then about the state of the
surfaces on many of Edinburgh’s roads. You don’t need to go too
far before you end up clattering over a pothole (despite my best
efforts to avoid them) and, let me tell you, on a Fireblade that is
not much fun.
The Beatles famously wrote about “four thousand holes in
Blackburn, Lancashire”. Well having ridden there and here I can
state categorically that the roads around our fabulous capital
are substantially worse. In fact, these hazards are everywhere: on
bends, junctions, hill crests… just waiting to catch you out just ask Keith Greig!
In fact I’m so angry about this issue that I’m seriously considering
dedicating a web page to
Edinburgh’s finest examples
and spreading the word as
much as possible by social
channels. And it would seem
I am not alone in this pursuit.
According to the website
http://www.potholes.co.uk/
this issue costs motorist £2.8bn
per annum. And for many
unfortunate motorcyclist they
damage more that just their
vehicles.
It is possible to make a claim for damage resulting from potholes
and this page explains the process:
http://www.potholes.co.uk/claims/how_to_claim
In the meantime, safe riding and send me your pothole photos for
my ‘rogues gallery’!
Issue 222
24
July 2014
Congratulations and Welcome
Test Passes:
Andy Kordiak (examiner, Wigit, observers Fraser Quin & Ian Carter)
Peter Wallace (examiner - Wigit, observer Peter Woollven)
Caroline Gilroy (examiner Bob Crawley, observer Dave McCutcheon)
Alan Barrie (examiner Wigit, observer Dave Alexander)
Leszek Stelmachowski (examiner Wigit, observer Elliot Beattie)
Sandy Dickson (examiner Bob Crawley, observer Keith Wilson)
John Anderson (examiner Bob Crawley, observer Ken McLeod)
Martin Williamson (examiner Bob Crawley, observer Elliot Beattie)
Observer passes:
Brian Green requalified as a Group Qualified Observer with
Keith Wilson.
Congratulations to Nigel Harper who qualified as Group Qualified
Observer with Keith Wilson ( 29-05-14).
Written test completed 27-05-14
New associates:
Mr Neville Henderson - West Lothian
Martin Williamson - Midlothian
Peter Bowman - East Lothian
Mr Craig Harrower - Midlothian
Gary Brown & Mark Duffy - both of Bonnyrigg Midlothian
Our warm welcome to new member John Beatson, who has
recently re-joined IAM. John is recently back in the saddle after
a 10 year break from biking.
Issue 222
25
July 2014
Committee Meeting
Special thanks to our contributors, your committee and
introducing our new proof-reader: Steve Middleton.
The next committee meeting is
Will be held on 25th August 7.30 pm at the Steading.
Please note that this is booked for 12 people, so if non committee
EDAM members wish to attend - please notify Elliot Beattie
(secretary@edam.org.uk) well in advance. If any non committee
attendees wish to raise any issue it will be under AOCB. Again,
please advise Elliot beforehand, otherwise you will only be able to
observe proceedings and will not be able to contribute.
A Special Thank You to Our
Contributors
My special thanks to this month’s contributors for their stories
and photos:
Fraser Quin
Elliot Beattie
David Bett
Mario Alonzi
Rennie Ritchie
Alan McAslan
Julio Ryder
Your
Committee
Chair
Fraser Quin
chairman@edam.org.uk
Vice Chair
Ross Lyon
Chief Observer
Keith Wilson
Secretary
Elliot Beattie
secretary@edam.org.uk
Treasurer
Peter Woollven
Associate Secretary
Tom Charge
Membership Secretary
Stuart Richardson
I hope I have not missed anyone, apologies if I have! - Ed
Webmaster
Phil Holt
Editor/Publicity
Phil Holt
editor@edam.org.uk
Events
Dave McCutcheon
bu
rgh & Dist
ri
ist
an
cl
adv
TWISTGRIP
ce
Access the new website at: www.edam.org.uk
•
• Ed
i
ct
EDAM
s
n
Committee
Keith Greig, David Wilcocks,
Stuart Richardson,
David Betts, Ken McLeod,
Fraser Quin
d M
cy
otor
Issue 222
Scottish Charity No SC023692 Affiliated to the Institute of Advanced Motorists
26
July 2014