24th August 2007

HBAMs WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

CONTENTS & Quick Jump

1. CHARGE OF START - THIS SUNDAY!

2. HERTS POLICE COURSE

3. A CHARITY RIDE

4. OBSERVER CORNER

5. TEST PASSES

6. 'INTERESTING' WEBSITES

7. HAVE YOU IMPROVED?

RIDES

CALENDAR

WHERE WE MEET

CONTACTS/EMAIL ADDRESSES

1. SUFFOLK COAST RIDE, SUNDAY 26th Aug

This Green Badge Ride, led by Simon Rixon, on August Bank Holiday Sunday IS STARTING FROM BALDOCK.

This is a 100 miles run each way from Baldock to Snape Maltings near Aldeburgh for lunch on the Suffolk Coast . A mix of A roads and B roads, this is quite technical route so will good for those who enjoy technical, tight, twisty roads, and lots of them. The ride is being run by two people from the senior observer team and will be quite progressive so it will be quite a long and demanding day. There'll be a coffee stop on the way out in a classic English Suffolk village. Snape is very pretty, sitting on the River Alde as it snakes eventually out to the sea, and has a selection of pubs and cafes for the lunch stop.

2. HERTS POLICE COURSE

Advanced Motorcycling Course
 

Herts bikers are being encouraged to polish up their riding skills
 

With more people turning to motorbikes as a method of beating congestion, Hertfordshire Road Safety officers are concerned about the number of accidents involving bikes resulting in death or serious injury.
 

Motorcyclists in the county still represent less than 2% of the total traffic on the roads, but more than 20% of the total casualties.
 

Hertfordshire County Council's Road Safety Unit offers a course in partnership with Hertfordshire Police instructors, to help motorcyclists improve their riding skills and safety.
 

"It is important for motorcyclists to realise that they are extremely vulnerable road users. Not only are they at risk for their own actions, but also from the actions of other road users," said County Councillor Stuart Pile, Executive Member for Highways, Transport and Rural Affairs.
 

"This training, under the Bikesafe banner, provides motorcyclists with essential road handling skills that could mean the difference between life and death."
 

The course, which starts on September 4 at Hertfordshire Police Headquarters, Welwyn Garden City, includes four evening classes based on the system used by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and RoSPA Advanced Drivers Association (RoADA) - plus an on-road assessment ride.

The course fee, which includes all textbooks and the practical assessment, is £40. Concessions are available for students and people who are retired, unemployed or receiving benefits.

Go to www.hertsdirect.org/roadsafety for an online booking form, or telephone 01992 556817 for more information.
 

3. A CHARITY RIDE

via Tony Clarke
Ride in aid of Headway on Sunday 30th September. The Cambrdigeshire Boundary Ride is similar to last year - a distance of about 170 miles if you follow the guideline route. We raised over £3000 last year and want to do better this year.

Controls will be open form 9am to 4pm and those who have not registered in advance can start at McDonalds, Sawston, Webbs Yamaha at Eye or the Motel at Soham bypass between 9am and 10.30am. There are also three unmanned controls. The entry fee is £10 in advance and £15 on the day, plus £5 for a pillion. Provided riders are taxpayers, we will be able to recover tax under gift aid. £10 will become £12.80 and £15 will be worth more than £19.

More details and entry and sponsorship forms are available on our website - www.cambsiam.org.uk
 

4. OBSERVER CORNER

2006/7: 13 NEW HBAM Observers for the IAM Year (April 2006 to March 2007).

5. Recent HBAM IAM Test Passes, well done

2006/7: 41 HBAM passes for the IAM Year (April 2006 to March 2007).

14 Passes so far this IAM year.

6. WEBSITES OF INTEREST:

Check out HBAM ever growing list of links that my be of interest to you:

http://www.hbam.org.uk/statichtml/links.php

Road Pricing:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/MCNroadpricing/

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/bikesinbuslanes/

This is a good one if you think you have a good knowledge of the highway code:

http://www.learnerstuff.co.uk/theory-test/mock-theory-tests.htm

Would you know what to do in an emergency? St John Ambulance will be running "Emergency Aid for Motorcyclists" courses on 22nd September in Bedford.
http://www.motorcyclingmatters.org/events/st-john-emergency-aid/

Have a say:

http://www.motorcyclingmatters.org/blog/

Local News:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/6248142.stm

7. HAVE YOU IMPROVED? - TAKE A RETEST.

A major challenge is to re-take your IAM Test, called The Driving Assessment, you can not fail or have your Green Badge taken away, but the Assessment, that only costs £25, is better than a re-test, because it's exactly the same as your original test but with corrective feedback during the ride, from the Examiner, are you willing to see if you've improved - OR NOT!

Take a look at & download the application form from here: http://www.hbam.org.uk/newsletters/newsletters/IAM_driving_assessment.pdf

I'VE HEARD THAT THE FIRST OF THESE 'RE-TESTS' ARE FILTERING THROUGH NOW - WELL DONE!

WHY NOT APPLY NOW FOR A SPRING 'RE-TEST' AND GIVE YOURSELF SOMETHING TO WORK ON DURING 07?

2006/7: 5 'IAM Assessments' (retests) for HBAM for the IAM Year (April 2006 to March 2007).

RIDES:

CALENDAR:

WHERE PLACES ARE:

HCC, HATFIELD CRICKET CLUB, ASCOTS LANE, HATFIELD

ST. MARTINS PARISH HALL, KNEBWORTH, corner of St Martin's Road and London Road.

Baldock Services - A1/A507 Radwell, Baldock, SG7 5TR, located just off on the A1(M) Juction 10

Bourne End Services - A41 Service Area, Bourne End, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 2SB

CONTACTS:

Bye, bye 'til next time, Peter

Produced by Loose Cannon Productions in association with Dermot McCarthy proof-reading services.

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