Category: Other

1. Update on Guy Martins around Britain cycle ride

   Posted on 12:15pm Wednesday 14th Dec 2016

   Guy: "Well it’s not gone quite to plan...

   "I"ve cycled over 11,000 miles this year, including the Tour Divide in America, to and from work most days and I spent three weeks in China in October, back for a few days at work, straight to New Zealand for ten days racing motorbikes, back for a few days at work and then off.

   I badly pulled my achilles tendon on the left side after a day or so but thought I'd just get my head down and work through it. I kept good miles up and got to John O’Groats from Grimsby in 4 days and 8 hours, about 800 miles.
   
   But my leg was getting worse and I thought I could keep going and maybe do the whole lot in 30 days but I knew I'd be jiggered for a long time after and maybe even have serious long term damage, which would mean I couldn’t do the serious cycle trip I've got in my head for next year. So I've put my push bike back in the shed for the rest of the year, giving my leg a chance to recover. I'm back at work and I realise I need to listen to my body more.

   By just manning up I was papering over the cracks. Thanks very much for the support, loads of folk wishing me well and that was mega. It is what it is and like I said ‘Ive got to stop it before it stops me’ and it did stop me."

   See more here

   

    

   Quote of the day/week must be - "By just manning up I was papering over the cracks".

   Wishing Guy and his Achilles tendon well!

2. Toy runs this weekend...

   Posted on 8:00am Friday 9th Dec 2016

   10th December 2016
   Three Amigo's Annual Toy Run

   In aid of the local Childrens ward and disabled children in the care of the local NCH. Bring a toy or chuck a few bob in the bucket. Presents should be unwrapped and new. 13:00 departure.

    

   venue: Meet @ 12:00 from The Commons Car Park, Pembroke, South West Wales, SA71 4EA

   tel: 07515 631 554
   facebook
   
   

   11th December 2016
   Roughleys Toy Run   

   Bring some cheer to those children who are less fortunate than us by bringing a toy to give to them. We will be leaving Tesco's in Stockport at 12 prompt, proceeding to The Rainbow Family Trust in Didsbury then onto The Together Trust in Cheadle, learner friendly route. If you could mark the gifts with either Male/Female, approx age (don't forget there are teenagers in these establishments) that would help so much. 

   venue: Stockport Tesco, (near Manchester) Tiviot Way, Portwood, Stockport, Cheshire, SK1 2BT 
   price: Cash donations are welcome 
   website
   facebook

   12th December 2016
   2 Wheels in Unison

   Annual charity ride to the local hospital children ward. Ride starts at 12.30, returning to The Woodlands by 2pm for refreshments. Also a band on in the evening.

   venue: The Woodlands Hotel, 362 Liverpool Rd, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 1RU
   price: Please bring a new unwrapped toy or a donation to the baby unit.
   tel: 07851 810060
   website: www.taliesinbrotherhood.co.uk
   facebook
   e-mail: [email protected]

   11th December 2016
   Toy Run - Ace Cafe

   The cafe's annual Christmas Toy Run into central London departs at 11am on Sunday 11th December to attend the children's wards of three hospitals:

   St Mary's (Paddington) 11.45am - 12.15pm 
   Royal Brompton (Chelsea) 1pm - 1.30pm 
   Evelina Children's Hospital (Westminster) 2pm - 2.30pm

   As always, any surplus gifts will be distributed to various children's homes and groups. Please bring gifts that are wrapped and labelled Boy/Girl/Age Group. Because of allergies hospitals advise against stuffed toys and sweets - the nursing staff however may appreciate some sweeties!

   On returning to the cafe, there will be prizes for the 'Best Dressed Bike' and the 'Best Dressed Rider' - and a hot cuppa!

   venue: Ace Cafe, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London, NW10 7UD 
   tel: 020 8961 1000 
   website: www.ace-cafe-london.com - www.acecafeevents.com 
   facebook
   e-mail: [email protected]

   11th December 2016
   Cambridge Bikers Christmas Toy Run

   Join lots of other Bikers in a truly spectacular ride to Addenbrookes Hospital taking gifts and toys to those in hospital over the festive period. Previous years have seen three miles of bikers riding into Cambridge with many dressed in costume. Meet at 9am ready to ride at 9.45am. Bacon rolls, tea and coffee should be on offer again. There may be a one way system in place this year to make exiting a little easier.

   venue: La Pergola, Cambridge Road, Harlton, Cambridgeshire, CB23 1HA. A603 outside Cambridge. 
   price: Just bring a toy or gift for someone in hospital. One gift per rider or pillion.
   facebook
   facebbok event
   e-mail: [email protected]

3. Ducati Globetrotter 90th, the final stages, with the places and people that have created the legend

   Posted on 9:00pm Thursday 8th Dec 2016

   • The around the world trip with the Multistrada 1200 Enduro will end up in Borgo Panigale on 15 December
   • The seventh and final globetrotter has departed from the Isle of Man and will cover the remaining 2000 km of this incredible adventure

   Ducati Globetrotter 90th is now in its final exciting phase. Having started in Borgo Panigale on 4 July, the around the world voyage on the Multistrada 1200 Enduro will come to a close on 15 December, with the bike returning to its starting point at the Italian manufacturer’s Bologna-based HQ.
   
   

   The seventh and final globetrotter is Germany’s Timo Schäfer, who began his journey from the Isle of Man on 5 December. During this last stage of Globetrotter 90th, Schäfer will cover the remaining two thousand kilometres of this incredible adventure, which has involved 30,000 km of riding to some of the symbolic sites that have contributed to the first ninety years of Ducati’s history.
   
   

   Timo Schäfer, from Karlsruhe in Germany, is 30 years old. A mechanical engineering student, his first motorcycle was a Cagiva Elephant with a Ducati engine. Today a smiling Schäfer confirms: “Clearly Ducati was my destiny all along!” During the final phase of Globetrotter 90th, Schäfer will stop in the city of Canterbury to meet with Paul Smart, who starred in what Ducati considers the most significant win of its history. On 23 April 1972, the first Imola 200 Miles was in fact won by a young, unknown Smart, riding the standard 750 GT; Bruno Spaggiari crossed the line in second place, with the same bike.

    

   Then it’s on to Belgium, where the seventh globetrotter will visit the Spa - Francorchamps racetrack where, in 1958, Alberto Gandossi won on board the 125 Desmo. Timo Schäfer will then continue on to Germany and once in Bavaria, he will visit the Audi Museum in Ingolstadt that, up until 30 April 2017, will house the "More Than Red - Passione Ducati" exhibition, celebrating the motorcycle manufacturer’s 90th anniversary. Lastly, the return to Italy, and to Monza, where long ago on 30 November 1958, the futuristic Ducati Siluro, with a mere 100cc displacement, set 44 world speed records. There is no doubt that Timo Schäfer’s planned meeting with Santo Ciceri, one of the heroes of that day in the late ‘50s, will be a moving one.

    

   After this, Schäfer will head to Florence to see Giuliano Maoggi, born in 1926 and a living legend for Ducati. In 1956, Maoggi won the 4th Motogiro d’Italia on the Gran Sport 100, known as the Marianna, designed by Fabio Taglioni. Having crossed the renowned Futa Pass, the Multistrada 1200 Enduro will arrive in Borgo Panigale on 15 December, thus concluding the epic Globetrotter 90th voyage.

    

   Before the torch and Multistrada were passed on to the German, the final globetrotter, they were entrusted to Englishman Hugo Wilson. The Brit left Lisbon on 17 November and travelled day and night in all conditions, covering almost two thousand kilometres across Portugal, Spain and France before boarding the ship at St. Malo. Having crossed the Channel, Wilson arrived home, where the Multistrada 1200 Enduro was exhibited at Motorcycle Live in Birmingham, Britain’s biggest motorcycle show. Straight after this, the globetrotter travelled to Silverstone, because it was here that Mike Hailwood won two races in two different classes – both on a Ducati - on the same day in 1960. At Donington, the World Superbike temple, Hugh Wilson relived Ducati’s SBK wins right from the very first race of the first championship, or rather 3 April 1988 with Marco Lucchinelli on the newborn 851 SBK.

    

   Lastly, on the Isle of Man, Wilson met with the seventh globetrotter Timo Schäfer. The baton was passed on here because the Isle of Man is a truly evocative setting. Long ago, on 2 June 1978, during the demanding Tourist Trophy, Mike Hailwood, who was 38 at the time and had already retired from racing, scored a victory with the Ducati 900 SS TT IOM that deeply moved the 300,000 spectators, a feat that Ducati would celebrate the following year with the birth of the legendary 900 Mike Hailwood Replica.

    

   Follow the Globetrotter 90th adventure on the official Globetrotter90.ducati.com site

4. Guy Martin - Cycling Home for Christmas...

   Posted on 9:00am Wednesday 7th Dec 2016

   Guy Martin is currently cycling around the coast of the UK, trying to beat the current Guinness World Record of 22 days of riding the 4,800 mile route around the UK coast line, set in 1984 by Nick Sanders.

   This is Guy’s last challenge of the year, where the aim is to complete the distance by Christmas Day, averaging 250 miles a day and we hope in 'kind weather'.

   Guy says “It’s further than you think” - "It's not the best time of year to be doing it" and proudley shows off his 2017 Calendar, before he head off to the pub for a 'quick pint' before bedtime for an early start on Wednesday 7th December. 

   The programme will be aired on Channel 4 on Thursday 29th December, 9pm. 
   
   

    

5. Third Annual National Pothole Day Announced on 16th January 2017

   Posted on 10:00am Saturday 3rd Dec 2016

   The countdown begins to StreetRepairs.co.uk third annual #NationalPotholeDay
   
   StreetRepairs.co.uk announce its third annual National Pothole Day at a crucial time when more than 89% of reports made by the public on the Street Repairs website relate to potholes.
   
   The combination of the increasing financial burden from pothole damage to the motorist plus recent budget cuts to local authorities means awareness of Street Repair’s free service is more important than ever. 
   
   The service offers a way for the authorities to engage with road users to action any defects which are reported in real time.
   
   Mark Morrell (aka Mr-Pothole) StreetRepairs.co.uk press officer said, “Many millions of our followers and supporters have asked us to highlight the seriousness of this major problem, just take a look at our thunderclap campaign that tells you the strength of feeling from the pothole weary UK public. I use social media to produce mass awareness and continue to highlight this national issue. I can honestly say that the safety aspect alone from the Street Repairs website could save lives. No wonder public sentiment is very high in relation to this major issue.”
   
   The Street Repairs website was launched just over three years ago and in this time has experienced exponential growth due to its popularity with its users. Transparency and clarity is the cornerstone for the website as every report made is publically available via many social media channels including Twitter, Facebook and of course their own website.
   
   Local authorities have the ability to respond to the reporter via Street Repairs by simply logging in and making a reply. It also offers the reporter the opportunity to track their report and receive text alerts for updates.
   
   Mr Morrell continues, “This is a perfect opportunity for the general public to showcase what their roads and communities are really like. We would like as many people as possible to join our campaign by highlighting local issues quickly and easily”.
   
    
   www.streetrepairs.co.uk