IAM’s head of riding standards and advanced motorcyclist, Peter Rodger, is offering monthly motorcycling tips. This month, he is advising on riding in the wind and rain.   

 • Give yourself enough following distance. In the rain you need to see the road surface ahead of you early enough to be able to avoid puddles, drain covers and potholes full of water.
• Lorries often throw up a wall of spray that you can’t see through.  Don’t be tempted to rush into an overtake when you can’t see. Stay further back to avoid the worst of spray until you can see clearly enough.
• Heavy rain creates pools of water across the carriageway. If you see water pooling, avoid it if possible. If you see one too late to avoid it, don’t brake or accelerate in it – ease off the throttle a bit, hold the handlebars firmly and steer straight ahead.
• Remember, braking distances increase in the rain. Slow down, look further ahead and increase your following distance.
• Strong winds severely unsettle your bike and blow you off course. Look ahead at the trees and bushes, and the behaviour of other vehicles to see how the wind is affecting them – it will show you where the worst patches are. Watch for gaps in buildings or trees – such as firebreaks in forests – they often cause strong side winds. Riding past lorries and trucks has a similar effect.
• Wind affects other vehicles too. Large and flat sided vehicles are usually most affected – so give them more room, and plan where you are going to overtake. Avoid spots where they are likely to get blown across your path.  

Rodger said: “Riding in bad weather is more challenging. If the weather is really severe, you need to consider whether you need to go out at all, but if you do, give it more thought. The wind itself is invisible, but its effects aren’t – watch them. Getting both cold and wet will really destroy your concentration, as well as be unpleasant, so make sure you have suitable kit for riding in wet conditions.”  

The IAM has launched a new website, for biking advice and tips, with traffic updates, touring advice by country and all you need to know about events and local groups. Tips cover riding with pillions, in groups and night riding.

There’s also a videos page and you can upload your touring photos and stories - get involved at www.betterbiking.org.uk

Go BSB Racing with Ace!
 
Teaming up with MSV, organisers of the UK's premiere motorcycle race series, BSB, Ace Cafe London has an extra pair of tickets up for grabs as a raffle prize, at the cafe on Friday 12th October, to attend Round 12, the Finals, being held at the famous south London circuit Brands Hatch on Sunday 14th October.
 
Spend £5 or more over the counter at the cafe and receive a raffle ticket. Draw will take place at 10pm.
 
www.britishsuperbike.com
www.msvracing.com

Compass Expeditions is excited to announce that Charley Boorman and his good friend, and manager, Billy Ward will be leading two motorcycle tours within Australia in February and March 2013.

Both tours are of 10 days in length; one ride will start in Sydney and travel via the Blue Mountains, Broken Hill, Flinders Ranges and the Great Ocean Road before culminating in Melbourne. The second ride will begin in Melbourne and cross to Tasmania before crossing back to Melbourne and riding the spectacular Victorian High Country and the Snowy Mountains.

“We are very excited to have Charley lead for both these rides” says Compass Expeditions co-founder Mick McDonald, “Both Charley and Billy are great personable guys that are good fun to be around and to have them leading some rides for us is very exciting, it will be a fantastic experience for all involved” continues Mick.

www.compassexpeditions.com

Today’s Department for Transport statistics confirm that 1,901 people were killed in road accidents in 2011, an increase of three per cent on 2010 figures.  

23,122 people were seriously injured, an increase of two per cent on 2010 figures.   The numbers for fatalities for bus and coach occupants fell by 22 per cent, 10 per cent for motorcyclists and four per cent for cyclists.  

Fatalities for car occupants rose by six per cent and for pedestrians by 12 per cent.   The provisional estimated number of people killed in drink-drive accidents increased by 30 to 280. 

The provisional number of killed and seriously injured because of drink driving rose by five per cent to 1570.  

Drink driving accounts for more than half of the increase in road deaths.  Of the increase in the number of people killed on our roads (51), 30 can be attributed to drink driving.  

Failing to look properly was the most significant contributory factor, reported in 42 per cent of all accidents.  

IAM director of policy and research Neil Greig said: “The increase in deaths and serious injuries because of drink driving is absolutely shocking.  It accounts for more than half of the increase in road deaths.  In 2013, we must see a drink driving education campaign, backed up with enforcement, to put an end to these completely unnecessary deaths.  “With last year’s surprising increase in deaths and early indications from 2012 that a trend could be developing, the IAM urges the new road safety minister to make road safety his absolute priority. Britain has been at the top of the world road safety league, but a combination of public spending cuts and lack of central targets may be putting this in jeopardy. The 2011 figures show that saving lives on our roads can never be taken for granted and with human error still the top cause of crashes, education and training must take centre stage in the future.”  

www.iam.org.uk

Motorcycle Live 2012 is so much more than a display of the hottest new bikes and the latest accessories, it’s a chance to get fully immersed in every aspect of the world of two wheels – and to discover and experience parts of that world you never thought you would!      

Take the FREE Yamaha Off-Road Experience for example. A specially-designed indoor motocross circuit run under the watchful eye of trained instructors, it gives road riders the chance to try off-roading for the first time. 

If you’re already a fledging dirt rider, you can pick up some new skills and improve your technique. It’s a must-try for any adventurous rider looking to broaden their two-wheeled horizon, but don’t take our word for it, here’s what our 2011 visitors had to say…      

“Awesome and exhilarating!!!” – Nicola Ford, 55, Beccles      

"I loved it! Although the experience was free on the day it proved very costly a few weeks later when I went out and bought myself an MX bike!" – Tim Teale, 33, Wilmslow      

“With seeing so many new bikes on display, it was awesome to get a chance to ride one too. The Yamaha guys know exactly what they are talking about and it doesn’t matter how good or bad a rider you are, you leave the course feeling that you had learnt something from the experience.” – Mick Fenwick, 42 , Tiverton      

“It was superb. They look after you, give you all the kit, make you feel welcome and you don’t get treated like an idiot. It’s a great experience, well worth doing and I’d do it again.” – Dave Vaughan, 35, Solihull      

“It was a brilliant experience. I ride on the road all the time but this was my first time on dirt and I really enjoyed it.” – Peter Roberts, 23, Lincoln      

The Yamaha Off-Road Experience is overseen by Chief instructor Barry Johnson (a former Motocross Grand Prix Rider and current Auto Cycle Union Instructor) and caters for all levels of experience - from those who have just the basics of clutch control, through to experienced road riders. All safety equipment is provided.      

It is just one of the exciting live features at this year’s show. The all-inclusive Motorcycle Live ticket gives access to five exhibition halls crammed with all the latest bikes, clothing and accessories and six opportunities to ride a bike**, plus non-stop entertainment from some of the biggest names in biking and the BSH/Streetfighters Custom Xtreme Zone, the Yamaha Escape Zone and the Classic Zone in association with Coventry Transport Museum and entry into the Ramp’d Up Freestyle Motocross Arena**.      

Advance tickets for Motorcycle Live 2012 cost just £16 per adult, £10 for seniors and £6 per child*. To book your tickets, call 0844 581 2345 or visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk and click ‘Tickets’