Converts take to social media to share their enthusiasm

Facebook is buzzing with comments and pictures from the 400 people who had their first taste of dirt riding over the weekend.

The four day long Motorcycle Off-Road Experience was held between 13th - 16th June at Brake Hill Farm in Brigstock, near Ketting.  It was organised by the members of the Motorcycle Industry Association’s off-road group, to provide people with the opportunity to try off-road riding for the first time.

This attracted people from 38 different counties plus London.  Some were road riders, but quite a few had never been on a bike before.  Despite this, most managed to progress to a full motocross trail by the end of each session, with the help of expert trainers, including 3 times World Champion Dave Thorpe.

Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki and Yamaha provided bikes, kit and trainers for a heavily subsidised fee of just £15.  The AMCA ran the trackside element of the event with overall project management and communication provided by the MCI.  Other off-road organisations also attended to provide a comprehensive induction into all off-road options. These included the sporting body ACU and the Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF), which works to preserve the use of green lanes and offers a gentler form of recreation for motorcycle off-roaders.

The weather was windy but mostly dry and with so many people turning up early for sessions, it was easy to bring the start time forward one day when rain threatened.

The MCI contact centre managed the registration and booking process and is in the process of surveying all participants to see how they will be pursuing their interest in off-road riding.  93% agreed to be contacted by manufacturers and trainers post event.

Howard Dale, General Manager of Kawasaki and Chair of the MCI’s Off-Road Group says the response was incredibly positive: “I’ve never seen so many happy faces in one place.  People were buzzing after their first taste of off-road riding.  It was the same among all those involved in running the event too. This level of cooperation within the industry is unprecedented, and the ‘feel-good factor’ for everyone involved over the past four days has gone off the scale and importantly many of those attended are determined to pursue further training or buy a bike!”.

Comments from facebook:

Young drivers must be allowed to gain early motorway driving experience, according to road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

With a green paper on learning to drive due to be published later this month, the IAM are calling on the government to ensure that any new system includes allowing supervised L drivers onto our motorways.   Motorways are our safest roads and many countries including Australia and the USA already allow their use by learner drivers, often with few restrictions.  

Allowing supervised learner drivers on the motorway would help them avoid some of the most common mistakes such as driving too close and centre lane hogging.    Very few drivers on the motorway today have had any training on how to use them – they learn by building up experience and from their mistakes – this is far from ideal.   Learner drivers are already a safe group on normal roads.  While motorway lessons may not be mandatory, a relaxation would allow those who are most likely to use their local motorway the chance to build up some life saving experience and knowledge.  

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “Human error is the main contributory factor in 71% of injury crashes on motorways and surveys suggest drivers often lack confidence on motorway use.  This measure, plus widely available refresher and modular courses on motorway driving should be encouraged to help everyone use them from a position of knowledge and confidence.  The outcome should be fewer incidents, fewer injuries and fewer delays.”

Most people in their middle age had started out on motorcycles when British bikers rode British bikes.

There were more brands of British bikes on the roads than any other in the world. Most bikers these days hardly remember them, and view them as museum pieces that only get polished and rode on a sunny Sunday afternoon. 

Our Motorcycle Solicitors haven’t just decided that motorcycle accidents are where the market is, it is something that is in their blood. It is something that they are passionate about, and something that they could not imagine their lives without. All our motorbike solicitors have chosen a career to assist fellow bikers get what is rightfully theirs after an accident.  

The roads out there are a jungle, if not a battlefield between those who think they own the road and those who just want to use the road. On the roads there are aggressors and bikers. It’s no good trying to tell us how you felt threatened by the presence of a motorcyclist.

We aren’t big enough to be aggressors, and that is why bikers are always on the lookout for cars making life threatening and sometimes silly maneuvers.   Motorcyclists injuries can mean dents in their legs and heads that can take years to repair, not to mention the damage to their motorcycles. This is where our bike riding solicitors understand what you are going through.  

The car driver and other road users are a threatening menace to us motorcyclists; intentional or not. As you may be able to gather from this web page, there is a different mindset between the driver and us the motorcyclist.  

Our basic instinct is one of survival. On the roads, the biker is bottom of the food chain, and we know it. People in cars treat juggernaut lorries with respect, because they know that they may come off worse in a collision. Car drivers seem to treat bikers with complete contempt, and that is the difference in understanding between a motoring accident lawyer and a motorcycle solicitor.  

It is that understanding that allows us to put together a case that reflects the problems that bikers experience on the roads. It also assists our motorcycle solicitors in presenting your case successfully to a judge who may not be a biker himself.  

Motorbikes and cars are two entirely different modes of transport and to that extent they must be treated differently. So it is essential that when you have a bike accident that you choose a motorbike solicitor.  

We will say, “We are bikers, we understand, come and talk to us, it costs you nothing”  

www.thebikerguide.co.uk/motorcycleaccidentsolicitors.html

Breast Way Round originated in Scotland as an idea to raise money for Macmillan Cancer and also raise the profile of female bikers at the same time.

This took the shape of a 450 mile run over 3 days up the west coast of Scotland. This has now blossomed into an annual event, now in it’s 6th year, in which around 150 bikers, primarily women all wearing bright pink hi-viz vests and mow-hawks on their helmets, joined by a few men wearing decorated bra’s set off on their 3 day, 450 mile run.

So far it has raised a staggering £212,000 for Macmillan and it is hoped that in this 6th year the run (and other events happening during the year) will reach a £250,000 total in 2013!

Lisa Moore has taken part in the Breast Way Round since 2010 and had always dreamed of bringing the experience to Northern Ireland. She says; "I have been personally inspired by this ride and having taken part in it wanted to bring this to life for riders in Northern Ireland. It is a ride that is inspiring, the amazing comradeship you feel on the ride creates new friendships that stays with you and it is something I wished that female riders in Northern Ireland could experience too! At a meeting of the Northern Ireland Female Bikers (NIFB) Facebook group I initially explained about the Breast Way Round ride, I told them of my own experiences, how it had inspired me and of the amazing amount it had raised for Macmillan. All of the girls were interested and thought that having a Northern Irish Breast Way Round run was a great idea!"

So Lisa approached Macmillan, who were also keen to come on board with the idea, a committee, with Lisa as Chairperson, was quickly formed and Breast Way Round Norn Iron 2013 (BWRNI) was borne! •BWRNI is a unique event in Northern Ireland; it will have up to 100 motorcycles/scooters/trikes taking part, with all different riding abilities being catered for •It is being held on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August 2013 •The 100 riders will be made up of 80 females, all wearing bright pink tutus, mow-hawks  etc and 20 males who will all be wearing decorated bras throughout the ride •The event is a shared experience and we have riders taking part who are from cross community, the LGBT community and also riders who are disabled •The ride is approx 250 miles, being completed over 2 days. •The run will be stopping at Newcastle, Enniskillen and Derry/Londonderry on Saturday and Portrush, Joey’s Bar and Carnfunnock on Sunday, so as riders can hold collections for Macmillan and have a bit of fun with the general public while dressed up :) •It is hoped that the run will raise £10,000 for Macmillan Cancer Northern Ireland

BWRNI has already found amazing support so far from:

TR Logistics Group and WorkWear Mallusk who sponsored the hi-viz vests

Halliday Citroen, Bushmills who are loaning us a support van for the weekend

BT48 Apart Hotel, Derry/Londonderry who have arranged reduced rate accommodation for the riders

GS Motorcycles in Ballymena who have helped us raise funds and use their premises for photos, etc

The Dunlop family and Joey’s Bar, Ballymoney who have helped us to raise funds and use their premises for photos, etc

If anyone is interested in taking part or you would like any further information at all please contact the BWRNI team, who can be contacted @ [email protected]

Facebook: Breast Way Round Norn Iron

Twitter: @BWR_NI

This year's Ride to Work day is less than a week away and is your opportunity to save time, money and encourage others to take to two wheels and commute on a motorbike or scooter more regularly.

It's easy to get involved - simply swap the car for the bike on Monday 17th June and encourage your friends to do the same! Don't forget non bike-riding friends can get a taste of life on two wheels through the industry approved Get On campaign which provides an accessible route into motorcycling.

www.ridetoworkday.co.uk