Test passes for the Training Team.

I'm very pleased to report that Brian Walls and Peter Harrison both passed their Senior Observer tests with IAM Staff Examiner Graham Buxton on the 25th July.

Graham was impressed with their demonstration rides and very happy with their approach, briefing, observation and debriefing of the candidate associate (played by Graham himself!).

Congratulations to Brian and Peter, and thanks to all members of the Training Team.

Recent passes

Bob Brown is doing DAM proud with photos of our recent test passes!

For those of you who don't see the photos on the DAM Facebook page, here's our latest successes....

Well done to all and thanks to the Observers for their efforts.

Yvonne Golightly

Mark Richardson

Denis Coleman

Rod's Ride Out. 24th July.

Hi folks, not a bad turn out on Sunday 24th, eighteen in total. 


At my suggestion of Kendal there was some dismay, but I took the old dales adage "the wind'll keep the rain off", on this occasion it held true. 


We went out bound via Richmond, Redmire, Askrigg and stopped for coffee loos etc at Hardraw cafe, then on to Sedburgh. 


From there through to Kendal for lunch stop / walk about. 


After lunch the homeward leg took on the A685 to Tebay and Kirbey Stephen. From Kirby Stephen we went through Barras/Kaber turned right over the moors to Tan Hill, more coffee and loos, Phil and Dot muttered veiled threats if I hadn't have stopped! 


Last bit now to Reeth then left up over the moor road and down Sturdy House Lane to Ravensworth and on to Scotch Corner then split for home. 


Quite demanding riding at times on the exposed moorland sections, but then we are advanced riders TeeHee. See you all soon - Rod

Bike for sale.

FOR SALE

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE T100 LIMITED EDITION 2010

BLACK £5,900.00 ONO

596 dry miles, fitted with alarm/immobiliser, Triumph quick release longhaul screen, centre stand, rack, (knee grips, fork gaitors) Oxford heated grips Oxford Tank Bag. Also included over seat panniers 
Taxed End of May 2013. Garaged


Tel: 07887868548/01642 782638 (Eve & W/Ends)

Chester Weekend - The view from the Front...

Imagine for one moment if you can?  You are on your bike, the weather’s good, the roads are clear, twisty and fast – within the speed limit of course. All is well. You look in your left mirror and there, behind you, in staggered formation, are seven other bikes and riders – perfect.

Roll back 28 hours and the scene was slightly different.  

The weather threatening rain, a group of eight DAM members, some of whom had never ridden in such a large group, departed Bowburn Hall fearing the worst the weather could bring; a straggling snake weaving its way through the countryside. 

Experience levels from low to very high we stuttered along in loose formation from Darlington to Thirsk then York and Wakefield, stopping for refreshment at Squires and a pee at Holmfirth, dodging most of the showers and skirting the rain that had wreaked havoc in the north only hours before. 

From Holmfirth we crossed the Peak District to Chapel en le Frith and on to the Cat and Fiddle. From there, taking great care to maintain the correct speed through the notorious speed cameras  – points don’t always mean prizes, past Holmes Chapel and Joddrell Bank’s radio telescopes and on to Chester. 

Sounds great!  But I left out the bit about getting lost twice, several U turns and reroutes – not always my fault (some blame must be laid at the feet of Maude –my GPS lady!) and not to mention the sightseeing trip around a large roundabout on the A54. No please Phil, don’t mention it again!!!  (This group leading thing has more to it than I thought!) I forecast 5-6 hours and we finally rocked up 8 hours after starting out.  Still we arrived reasonably dry and more importantly, safe.  Job done!

One Ruby Murray, a few real ales and a bit of rain later (well a lot of rain really – fortunately all overnight) we set off for home trying to avoid the rain and so going via Liverpool, Southport and Preston in order to cross the Pennines on the A59. 

No great panic in Liverpool but not exactly inspiring riding either, then on to the coast near Southport and the roads got better, even if the landscape is a bit flat! Preston on Sunday – a nightmare – what’s it like on weekdays?  Once past the M6 the road improved as did the views and in fact our group riding! No longer a straggling snake, now, on more open roads and at a slightly faster pace, we were becoming more used to riding together, positioning and thinking as a group rather than 8 separate riders. 

By this stage, having had few pointers from the more experienced, the less experienced (including me) felt a bit more comfortable and had a little more trust in the other group members.

Bolton Abbey station, our next tea stop, was planned in advance but what I didn’t know was that it cost £1 just to get to the platform where the café and most importantly the toilet were – bloody cheek - still we soon got over that – well most us did eh Phil?  The setting was quite nice and they have a large collection of Tilley lamps –amazing how many people remember using Tilley lamps in their youth and not so youth!  Would they charge us £1 to leave? The question was asked but no, it was free to go and you could come back again anytime today if you wanted – our tickets were proud to announce that they were valid for 24 hours.  Whoopee!

The final leg now, the weather was better and so was the riding; the only downside being the 30mph “Sunday drivers”!!!!!  Is it me or are there more of them about these days?  Things would be different if I could fit two 30mm cannons in the Pan’s fairings.

We were home mid afternoon and in double quick time the bikes were washed and left out to dry, just in time to catch the heaviest shower of the weekend! Well at least we stayed dry indoors!

On more than one occasion I was fearful of the weekend going pear shaped but in the end we all seemed to have a nice time and I learned loads from the experience of leading the trip, such as:

how difficult it is, how rewarding it can be, don’t trust Maude the Sat Nav lady, don’t start out without a good map, have an idea what to do if the road gets blocked or you get re-routed (we did) and don’t panic if it gets a bit out of shape! Most importantly - keep safe, stop and take stock if necessary and Relax, Relax, Relax.

For me at least, despite the pressure of being at the front, the weekend was good fun and a nice way to spend a couple of days on a bike. I hope it was the same for the rest?

Next year?                                                          Where’s that map?

DAM smart

DAM all set up at Bikewise with our volunteers kitted out in their BW12 tee shirts.