Biker News - Regularly updated

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Category: THE BIKER GUIDE®

  1. The Motorcyclist’s Guide to Britain

    Posted on

    The Isle of Man TT race is by far the most well known and most dangerous motor sport event in the world. Stretching over 37 miles of closed public road, the skill and bravery of the riders is nothing short of extraordinary with speeds up to 200mph.

    Mainline Menswear are celebrating the event which is boasting its 107 year history where thousands of racing fans flock to the island every year for the week-long competition.

    We asked the team at the Isle of Man TT what the most exciting thing about the event is:

    “The Isle of Man TT race is unique in that it is a time trial race that covers 37.73 miles of public road. Riders are faced with the varied experiences of running through narrow towns and villages as well as the wide open expanse of the island’s mountain section. Fans can get close to the action, sitting on hedges as riders pass at speeds of up to 200mph.”

    IoM-Bike

    Britain is home to some of the most spectacular and challenging roads in the world. See the full article for Mainline’s top roads for the ultimate motorbike enthusiast.

    THE BIKER GUIDE® asked the visitors of the site to compile their favourites, which included:

    ◾The Hardknott Pass
    ◾Bala to Trawsfynydd in Snowdonia
    ◾The Applecross Pass in The Highlands
    ◾The dark hedges at Armoy in County Antrim
    ◾…and “Any road that can be driven so long as I have my bike!”

    Read the full article here

  2. Top biking routes in Britain and why?

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    One of my favourite routes is the Woodhead Pass (A628), which is not far from Manchester and crosses the Pennine chain of hills through a wood cladded road within the Peak District National Park and ultimately leading to South Yorkshire.

    Woodhead Pass, over the ReservoirThe trick here is to get up early to experience the awesome scenery, atmosphere and lovely views at their best, with less traffic and to avoid the snarl of traffic around Hollingworth and towards Glossop.   At the end of the M67 motorway you take the A57 road towards Glossop.

    At the crossroads I always smile as I pass the sign on the right to Broadbottom and then enjoy the ride down the hill with the backdrop of the Peak District National Park in the distant. Stay on the road for the A628, rather than take the right to Glossop and the Snake Pass (another popular road with Bikers) and keep an eye out for the signs to the village of Hadfield on the right; Hadfield is probably better known to people as Royston Vasey, the fictional town featured in the cult BBC dark comedy series 'The League of Gentlemen'.  

    One of the main reason I love this road is the many Reservoirs, which in the morning are so tranquil, flat and glass-like. There is a few mile stretch of Reservoirs, which are part of the Longdendale chain, starting with Bottoms, past the mammoth Torside, which the road crosses and ending at the Woodhead Reservoir. From here the road climbs to the summit at Salter's Brook Bridge with open countryside all around. Admittedly it is maybe not the best road for twists and turns, however I love it as it is not far from the city of Manchester and the scenery can be stunning!

    Lindisfarne Causeway, Holy IslandWhilst working at THE BIKER GUIDE®, some clients in Northumberland had mentioned that Bikers stay with them as they want to visit The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, with a varied history which dates from the 6th century, as an important centre of Celtic Christianity at the monastery and the place where it is said the Vikings first came to our shores. Accessible by a causeway at low-tide and cut off from the rest of the world by fast-moving tides twice-daily, I liked the idea of riding over a road chasing the tides and I wanted to visit… So a trip was planned, with a ride across the causeway as a must do!

    We left our accommodation early as we had to cross and return before 11am, otherwise we would be there until the evening. Just off the main A1, you ride through country lanes until you reach the causeway and then it is a single lane road raised over the sand to the island for a most enjoyable three (ish) miles. 

    For our final top biking route in the UK, we asked our visitors to the website and we have the following; The Hardknott Pass in the Lake District, Bala to Trawsfynydd in Snowdonia, the Applecross Pass in The Highlands, the dark hedges at Armoy in County Antrim, the single track road that takes in the coast of the Isle of Mull and this… ‘Anywhere and everywhere so long as I am riding’.

    When riding, our top safety tips are to read the roads all around you, presuming (I am sorry to say) that others have not seen you and that vehicle indicators are not always correct (!), make sure you are visible on the road, with your headlights on, wearing hi-viz gear, etc… and when riding take regular pit-stops to stay alert, refresh yourself and to enjoy the scenery, your surroundings and a have much needed cuppa.

    Article by Sharon Rollisson-Slaughter, THE BIKER GUIDE®

  3. Helmet Number Plates are to be introduced...

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    UK motorcyclists will need to display a front number plate, under new laws passed by the British Government.

    Helmet number plateMotorcyclists will need to apply to the DVLA by 31st April 2015 and purchase an envelope-sized sticker (at a cost of £29.99) – which they will need to attach to the front of their helmets. The UK’s top traffic cop, Ian Dumbass, said bikers have been getting away with speeding offences for far too long, claiming that 69% of bikers caught speeding by traffic control and speed cameras escaped a fine because of the lack of front number plates. 
     

    Will you buy a sticker or run the risk of a £1,000 fine?