Category: Other

1. The favourite Motorcycle event of 2016 is... The

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 1st Jan 2017

   On THE BIKER GUIDE facebook group people have been voting for their favourite Motorcycle event they attended in 2016. The winner is MT Heads Rally with 102 votes! 

   In 2nd place is You've Been Nabbed 25 with 90 votes | 3rd place - Caveman Bash with 59 votes

   Here follows the rest of the results...
   
   The Underworld Rally - Avernus MCC - 54 votes
   Rally with a Chalet - 41 votes
   Tiger MCC Soggy Moggy Rally - 41 votes
   One Aim Rally - 37 votes
   Tees Riders Rusty Nut Rally - 36 votes
   Perverts in Leather Rally - 26 votes
   Drink Drop and Doss - 20 votes
   Kamikaze Run Rally - Mobile Chaos MCC - 19 votes
   Cumbria Custom Show - 18 votes
   Stormin' the Castle - 18 votes
   Big Barn Rally - 18 votes
   Raganock - 17 votes
   OGRI - 16 votes

   
   Roughleys Bike Show - 15 votes

   Bulldog Bash - 15 votes

   Twisted Sprockets - 13 votes

   Farmyard Bikers Party Helmsley - 13 votes

   Woz Wolf - 10 votes

   Isle of Man TT - 10 votes

   Chase the Ace rally - 9 votes

   Dead End Rally - 9 votes

   Adventure before Dementia - 8 votes

   Kent Chrome & Cruisers - 6 votes

   The North Manchester Custom & Classic Bike Show - 6 votes

   Bum in the Mud Rally - 6 votes

   Rat & Survival Rally - 5 votes

   Buttstock - 5 votes

   Classic TT - 5 votes

   Moddey Dhoo Mcc Xmas Party Isle of Man - 5 votes

   Calne Bike Day - 5 votes

   Dragon Rally - 5 votes

   GPO Rally (Barrel Bikers Mcc) - 5 votes

   Oddballs - 4 votes

   Rat Pack Rally - Bridgerats MCC- 4 votes

   Reading Toy Run - 4 votes

   NW 200 - 4 votes

   Prescott Bike Festival - 4 votes

   Over The Edge Rally - 4 votes

   Motorcycle Live - 4 votes

   St Ives Festival of Motorcycles - 3 votes

   Cernunnus MCC Mabon Rally - 3 votes

   Oxleathers Summer nulls up - 3 votes

   Pheasant plucker - 3 votes

   Cowpat Rally - 3 votes

   East Leeds Lions - 3 votes

   Rock & Blues Custom Rally - 3 votes

   Manchester Bike Show - 3 votes

   Yorkshire Rock and Bike Show - 3 votes

   Copdock Bike Show - 2 votes

   Redskin Rally - 2 votes

   Calstock Bike Show - 2 votes

   End of the Road Rally - 2 votes

   No Bull - 2 votes

   Into the Valley - 2 votes

   Barfly Rally - 2 votes

   Billy Goat Rally - 2 votes

   Kent Custom Bike Show - 2 votes

   Matlock Bath Protest Ride - 2 votes

   Twats Rally - 2 votes

   Thunder in the Glens - 2 votes

   Distinguished Gentlemans Ride - 2 votes

   Also
   Twister Iron The Happening
   Scottish Road Rally (Ariel Owners Club)
   Snowjoke
   Fat Skeleton Blues and Bikes
   The Archers Rally
   Rorkes Drift rally
   Norsemen mcc one day bike show
   Medway Natives MCC Broken Arrow
   Drove t drink
   Cock Out Rally
   Heart and Soul Rally
   The Lee Rigby memorial ride
   Firebird Rally
   Blackpool mag rally
   Penmarlam Caravan & Camping Park - Bike Weekend!
   Wsm show bikers/trike
   The Kilt Ride
   TRF ICENI weekend
   Wakinyan Rally
   Ace Cafe Reunion, Brighton
   
   

   Thanks to all that voted. 
   
   The above results are from a poll ran during November and December on THE BIKER GUIDE facebook group. 

2. DVSA sets out proposals to improve motorcycle training

   Posted on 11:00am Friday 30th Dec 2016

   The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has launched a consultation asking for views on proposals to improve motorcycle training.

   Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users. They account for around 1% of traffic on Great Britain’s roads, but 21% of deaths or serious injuries.
   
   The proposed changes aim to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured by making sure new riders are better prepared for the realities of riding on modern roads.

   The main points are

   Improving training
   Improved instructors and training schools
   Skills and knowledge to ride safely

    

   Karen Cole, Director of Safety and Training for the Motorcycle Industry Association, said:

    

   We’re delighted to see DVSA has launched this consultation. We’d urge anyone interested in motorcycle training to respond.

   Have your say on the proposals by 17 February 2017.

   Read more here

   

3. How to be a part of the community?

   Posted on 1:45pm Thursday 22nd Dec 2016

   A few of us have seen or know about the hit American TV programme Sons of Anarchy and while they make joining a motorcycle club seem exiting and exhilarating, most of the times its actually just about friends creating a community. So if you feel like changing something in your life, you may feel joining a community which may bring some prosperity into your life. Motorcycle communities can be the best groups to be with.  
   
   There are thousands of different official motorcycle clubs which don’t tag as outlaws or what you see on TV. Joining a Motorcycle community is pretty simple really. You will usually be required to fill out a membership form and pay a small fee in order to join one of these communities. There are most often no other entry requirements, however each club will vary with rules and regulations. Clubs may also have additional benefits to its members; this may include special discounts that have been organised with companies such as insurance providers or motorcycle retailers.

   Unofficial Communities

   Some unofficial motorcycle communities contain an extremely larger number of motorcycle riders. These communities nowadays are mostly centred on internet groups, message boards and forums. These communities do not have any official legal standing in most situations and are most likely not have any official presidents or secretaries. It’s really simple in regards to joining these communities and may just take a simple message. In the majority of cases there are absolutely no fees associated with these communities. 

   There are lots of events and tours, that are really interesting and worthwhile to attend and at THE BIKER GUIDE, there are various Motorcycle Tour companies such as:

   -          H-C Travel: The longest established motorcycle touring company operating in the UK, with tours to countries such as Tibet, Australia, and New Zealand, etc...

   -          EXtraMILe bike tours: With tours running through Northern Spain, Spain & Portugal and long weekends across various other locations in Europe.

   -          Magellan Motorcyle tours: offering accessible and affordable motorcycle tours across Europe and further afield, some locations includes France, Germany, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia

   As well as tours, clubs and communities offer good bonding activities, which include coffee stops at cafes, pub lunches and even get together’s at casinos where you can find the best casino deals, BBQ’s and social parties.

   Joining a community is a really enjoyable thing to do, it will definitely make you feel your part of something and you will be well looked after.
   

   Instead of sitting at home or having a pint on your own at the pub, if you have a motorcycle license, then join a community now, where you will be given some of the best days of your life and you will most certainly look back and cherish the memories you have created with these communities. 

4. Message from John Surtees CBE

   Posted on 10:00am Tuesday 20th Dec 2016

   First of all let me wish everyone a safe and peaceful Christmas and New Year: 2016 has seen its ups and downs however everyone at the Henry Surtees Foundation deserves a pat on the back for the sterling work achieved during this very busy year raising not just funds, but awareness too.
    
   My sincere thanks also to the faithful sponsors and supporters as without them we would not be able to continue to run our two biggest events, and more importantly fund the numerous life-saving work throughout the country.
    
   2017 will see another great step forward for the foundation with many plans afoot (watch this space for more details!)
    
   Kind regards,
    
   John Surtees CBE
   Edenbridge, Kent

   

5. The You've Been Nabbed rally is moving to a new venue for 2017!

   Posted on 9:00am Monday 19th Dec 2016

   It will be held at The Royal Cheshire Showground, Flittogate Lane, Tabley, Knutsford, WA16 0HJ on 5th - 7th May 2017 

   The You’ve Been Nabbed rally is the main annual showcase/fundraising event of the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD).

   The new rally site has hard-standing on two sides so it should not be as vulnerable to being churned-up in wet weather as the old Astle Park site was on two recent occasions. The new site is also much easier to secure, though our traditional professional security company will still be providing cover on the site.

   There are three separate marquees, each boasting live on-stage entertainment, disco and licenced bar. Unlike many other events the marquees are liberally furnished with tables and chairs (because creature-comforts are important!) though wide clearways are maintained to allow easy access for wheelchair users.

   The event also has excellent toilet facilities throughout the site that are constantly maintained and hot showers are also available on site.

   The huge ‘Adult’s Only Marquee’ plays host to eight live bands over the weekend, with a full-blown world-class stand-up comedy road show on Saturday afternoon, filling the marquee with laughter for four solid hours and there are ‘exotic dancers’ on Saturday night, and a well-stocked bar offering a comprehensive range of canned beers, wines and spirits much cheaper than pub prices (and cheaper than most other rallies too).

   The ‘Family Marquee’ plays host to six live bands, over the weekend, and an excellent disco plus a smaller bar offering a comprehensive range of soft drinks, canned beers, wines and spirits (also at low prices).

   The ‘Real Ale Marquee’ plays host to nine very diverse music acts ranging from solo singer/songwriters to duos and outright legends, with a bar offering a vast range of traditional real ales and ciders that would put many a real-ale festival to shame.

   When you consider that canned beers and spirits are very reasonably priced at £1.50 and the real ales and ciders are just £2.50 per pint, you can see why the NABD has an excellent reputation for not treating bikers as ‘cash cows’. When you add to this the surprisingly eclectic range of live music and other entertainment on offer you can see why this event has become universally recognised as the best-value-for-money rally in the UK.

   In addition to the huge amount of marquee-based entertainment the YBN rally features an iconic Bike & Trike Show (this year sponsored by Back Street Heroes magazine) running throughout the afternoon from 12 noon until 6:00pm showcasing an enormously diverse range of machines from the sublime to the idiosyncratic with 12 highly coveted trophies up for grabs. Please note, all Bike & Trike show entries must be ridden in.

   The Custom Bike & Trike Show takes place within a huge circuit-style arena formed by the marquees and more than 50 assorted trade stands with 10 catering units offering a wide range of cuisines, a shooting range, and a 24 hour ‘Holy Joe’s Café operated by the Cheshire branch of the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA).

   The hardest things to describe about this event are the marvellous party atmosphere and the wonderful level of camaraderie amongst the 3,000+ people in attendance. To understand these things you just have to attend.

   It is a common misconception that you have to be an NABD member or a disabled biker to attend this superb event but in truth everybody is welcome. This is a fully inclusive event and we don’t care how you get there, whether by bike, trike, car, van, campervan, train or Shanks’s Pony; just so long as you get there.

   The proceeds from this event are essential to the continuing existence of the NABD so come along, bring your friends; help us to celebrate 26 years of the NABD in style and party with a purpose!

   The You’ve been Nabbed rally has earned itself a fine reputation as the undisputed best-value-for-money weekend event on the UK motorcycling calendar, with tickets costing just £30 in advance, or £35 at the entrance to venue, for a weekend that is absolutely bursting with entertainment and activity.

   Of course, weekend camping is included in the price of the ticket as is motorcycle and trike parking. Car parking does cost extra, though it is free for people who have a blue disabled parking badge.

   The cost of car parking for people without a blue badge has been halved to ten pounds for 2017 in response to many requests from event regulars; however, cars without blue badges will have to remain in a designated car-parking area and will not be permitted onto the camping areas at any time.

   A full list of prices is available at www.nabd.org.uk

   The entrance to the showground is on Pickmere Lane adjacent to the junction with Flittogate Lane. Less than 1.5 miles from Junction 19 of the M6 motorway (turn right at the Windmill Pub 100 yards from the M6 roundabout and follow Pickmere Lane (B5391) to the showground entrance on the left just after Flittogate Lane).

   www.nabd.org.uk

   Regular updates will be posted on the website and at www.facebook.com/YouveBeenNabbed26

   The NABD is a registered charity, established in 1991, that helps and supports disabled motorcyclists.