Category: Random

1. National Motorcycle Museum Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage Grant Refusal

   Posted on 1:00pm Thursday 5th Nov 2020

   The National Motorcycle Museum applied for a grant from the above fund which was established by government to “provide funding support to organisations across the heritage ecosystem that were financially sustainable before COVID-19”.

   On Saturday 31/10/20 we received an e-mail from the Heritage Lottery Fund (who are partly responsible for administering the scheme) that our application “did not meet the criteria for the programme, and the board has decided not to award a grant through the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage”.

   We cannot begin to describe what a bitter blow this news was. We had applied for funding in the under £1 Million category in order to help retain all of our expert team of people, as well as preserving the museum collection of British motorcycles as the largest in the world. These are some of the things that have now been put in jeopardy.  

   Readers may be interested to see those organisations who have been considered worthy to receive some of the £1.5 billion of funding support on offer by visiting- www.artscouncil.org.uk/publication/culture-recovery-fund-data 

   All the team here at the museum want to thank everyone who has given to our own Covid-19 raffle and appeal since its launch in July. Everyone can be assured that the funds raised so far will go directly towards us reopening the museum for a limited number of days each week sometime early in 2021.

   However, we are still a long way short of our £500k target, and this huge setback lends even more importance to our current appeal which includes the chance to win one of the three bikes shown in the image.

   For more details of how you can help, visit www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk/appeal-raffle/   

    

2. How to make money when betting on biking

   Posted on 10:00am Friday 30th Oct 2020

   Motorsport continues to blaze a trail as one of the most popular sports in the world and few vocations are as entertaining and thrilling as bike racing.
   
   With competitions and races taking place all over the world and in many forms, bike racing continues to be one of the most popular punts for sports fans and sportsbooks alike.
   
   Key to the appeal of bike racing betting is the sheer excitement that comes with every race. With bikes racing at speeds of up to 200mph, the margins for error are so small and with the added element of danger associated with every race, it makes compelling viewing.
   
   As a betting vocation however, biking is not always the easiest for punters to earn big money from so read on for a guide on how to profit from biking betting:
   
   Use Trusted Bookmakers
   
   The surge in sports betting popularity has led to more bookmakers than ever emerging within a congested marketplace.
   
   Doing prior research on any bookmaker you choose to use is always recommended and opting to bet with a reputable sportsbook is key.
   
   Adequate security measures should always be met and look out for companies that are registered with their relevant gambling commission.
   
   Embrace Bike Betting Variety
   
   Whilst the essence of every bike race is the same – first racer past the chequered flag is the winner, the formats within each race takes place is interchangeable.
   
   Here are some of the best bike betting options available to punters:
   
   Moto GP – Perhaps the most recognisable format of bike racing is Moto GP. With races taking place at circuits all over the world, Moto GP is a global brand that dates back to 1949. A traditional Moto GP season contains 20 races – with fiercely competitive races taking place on a weekly basis.
   
   Bets can be placed on simple markets such as the race winner, all the way through to which driver will crash out first – adding to the market variety punters have when Moto GP betting.
   
   Superbikes – The direct competitor to Moto GP is the Superbike World Championship, which is also competed all over the world on a weekly basis. Most Superbike races take place on road based circuits and it has been a staple of the motorsport calendar since its launch back in 1988.
   
   Speedway – When it comes to thrills and spills, few bike disciplines are as engaging as speedway. With leagues taking place in the UK as well as Poland and Scandinavia, speedway pits racers against each other in a series of heats before a Grand Final in each event.

   The unique scoring system and innovative way in which a speedway event is run makes it a godsend for punters as straight win all the way through to individual race accumulators can be bet on.
   
   Enjoy the Uncertainty

   As mentioned, few sports are as unpredictable and unaccountable as bike racing. With racers speeding around courses at incredible speeds and a variety of external factors such as weather and track conditions, anything can happen.
   
   Every racer will feel that they can win a specific race if things go their way and in competitions such as speedway and superbikes, with the mechanical make up on every bike being the same – most races are an even playing field.

   Picking a long odds winner within the bike betting sphere is far more commonplace than when betting on car racing for example – so accept that things may not go your way every time and seek out value in every bet you place.

    

   
   
   article supplied

3. Biking and Gaming – It’s More Common Than We Think

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 27th Oct 2020

   One would think there are absolutely no similarities between biking and gaming, but in actuality, both are much more common than what is apparent.
   
   Interestingly, bikers can learn a great deal from gaming. Naturally, there’s a clear difference between the two acts; if you are a biking enthusiast, you will find yourself out on the road being all adventurous, but if you are a gamer, you are likely to be glued in front of a screen as you strive towards victory.
   

   However, when it comes to biking, you are prone to injuries and what not, but for gamers, their injuries are limited to their characters on screen. However, there are a few similarities between the two of them, and there are quite a few things that both gamers and bikers can learn from each other.

   Both Require Metal Stimulation and Alertness

   When you all are decked up in your biking gear and are ready to begin your ride, it’s not just physical energy that you require, but also a great deal of mental stimulation. You have to focus on the road, keep your eyes open, and your mind alert.

   Similarly, when gaming online, your mind needs to be on the top of its game. Whether you are playing shooting and battles games, or say online gambling, mental stimulation is very important.
   
   Experience Is Key
   
   You know how when you are new to something, a hobby, for instance, and you need to take it slow so that you get the hang of it? The same applies to both biking and gaming. Inexperienced bikers and gamers often strive to do more and achieve beyond their experience, and while some do get lucky, others end up taking a fall. Take online gambling, for instance. It needs you to give it some time and learn all the tips and tricks before you become a pro at it. There’s a way with online gaming to get the hang of it.
   

   When it comes to biking, you need to start slow, take a learner’s course, learn all the basics, and then you will be able to ride properly on the roads.
   
   Breaks Are Absolutely Important
   
   Biking and gaming both are the kind of activities that require your utmost attention and focus. However, it is a natural human tendency to feel a shift in focus after some time, which is why breaks are very important in both these activities.
   
   Given the competitive streak that both of them have in common, you are likely to find gamers stuck to their phone or computer screens for hours, and similarly, bikers often go on long road trips either for leisure or to win a biking marathon.
   

   In both cases, breaks are an absolute must in order to relieve yourself from mental and physical fatigue.
   

4. Predictions of wintery weather are bad news for local roads

   Posted on 1:00pm Monday 26th Oct 2020

   Weather forecasts of freezing air to sweep over the UK by the end of October could prove to be bad news for those local roads that have not be well-maintained believes the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA).
   
   Weather forecasters WXCHARTS are predicting that Artic air from a north-westerly direction will sweep over the UK and see temperatures drop to freezing lows of 0C by the end of this month. Meanwhile, the Met Office has also predicted that north-western parts of the UK could see snow falling by the end October.
   
   This is bad news for those highway authorities who have failed to properly maintain their road networks and for the motorists who use them as the freezing temperatures could result in more potholes.
   
   Potholes are caused by water or snow freezing in cracks in the road surface. The expansion of ice results in damage and breaking up of the road surface which is made worse by repeated freeze-thaw cycles. The late start to the preventative maintenance season in some authorities due to Covid-19 led to smaller programmes being completed this year, with many unable to carry out all their planned, preventative maintenance. This is likely to lead to more expensive reactive patching over the winter.
   
   “Cold icy weather has a detrimental impact upon roads resulting in more potholes where planned proactive maintenance has not been carried out, particularly where budget has meant smaller programmes than required by carriageway asset lifecycles over a number of years ” warned Paul Boss RSTA chief executive.
   
   Boss called upon the government and local authorities to work together and invest the necessary funding to carry out planned programmes of road maintenance rather than expensive reactive pothole repair: “Patch-and-mend defies economic logic”, said Boss. “It costs only £3 to £5 per m2 to surface dress and maintain a road but costs on average over £50 per m2 to repair potholes. The expensive, emergency patch and mend repair of potholes is not a sensible use of highway budgets unlike the implementation of planned programmes of maintenance.”

    

5. Gamers Can Show Bikers How to Ride Safer and Better

   Posted on 10:00am Wednesday 21st Oct 2020

   At first sight gamers and bikers have almost nothing in common other than the odd video game title that channeled Sons of Anarchy, like the woefully bad Ride to Hell: Retribution, to the far more playable Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned.  

   Anyone who wants a true biking experience in the form of a game should check out Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned

    

   The reasons for this divide are obvious. Gamers are required to be in front of a screen in order to do their thing, while bike enthusiasts are out on the open road, with the wind in their beards and the smell of glory in their nostrils as they head to their regular Sunday meet or ride out. 

   However, despite all this, there are some pointers bikers can take from online gamers, many of which, if taken seriously, can help prevent riders getting into one too many unwanted scrapes. 

   'Tilting' While Gaming or Biking Can Be Bad News 

   Tilting is not good. No, we are not talking about leaning into a corner or dropping your bike in the parking lot. Tilt is the technical term used by gamers to describe someone who has lost their cool, to the detriment of the atmosphere within the game and equally to their chances of winning. 

   In many online games, where the slightest lapse in concentration can lead to victory slipping through a player’s fingers, there are many reasons as to why keeping your cool is so key. Some games that come to mind include chess, Call of Duty and poker, with the latter especially being an arena where letting emotions take over leads to exits from tournaments of all ability levels. 

   The takeaway for bikers is that riding with a level head is always the way to go. This means ignoring that idiot car driver revving his engine for attention at a set of traffic lights, or the boasts of a fellow rider who is egging you on to go faster. 

   As is the case in the world of gaming, it is the thinking man’s rider who will always come out on top in the end.  

   Gamers have to remain calm and collected at all times, just as the best riders in the world do on race day

   Going Up a Level Before You Are Ready 
   
   Newcomers to any pastime or hobby always fall into the same trap of wanting to run before they can walk or, in the case of wannabe riders, wanting to ride a Harley before they even know how to mount a 50cc scooter. 

   The same occurs in gaming, with poker players often playing high stakes before they are ready, and battle royale players trying to enter expert gaming lobbies before they even know how all the buttons on their controller or keyboard work. 

   When it comes to this issue, the plight of inexperienced gamers should act as a reminder to riders that nothing can replace experience, aside from a fully accredited training course. 

   Knowing When to Take a Break 

   Gaming can be an all-consuming affair, with many players only too happy to dedicate huge portions of their life to contest the games they love. 

   However, there comes a time during a long gaming session that the body begins sending messages, telling the person in question that it is ready to head out for a breath of fresh air or let some steam off with a quick jog. 

   More and more, gamers are beginning to heed the warnings of experts who say they should partake in things like yoga or meditation in order to relax their minds and bodies. 

   The same applies to those men and women who spend long hours in the saddle. Road and engine vibrations, as well as temperature fluctuations take their toll, and when fatigue hits on a long road trip, it's always best to take a rest. 

   Every rider, no matter how hardened they are, should take a note from a gamer’s book, and get themselves practicing their downwards dog position. 

    

   Article supplied