Milligan

Passed me advanced pre test assessment last Saturday...got the application in for the test, just waiting for a test date now.........

Its common sense to want to improve your safety on a bike by whatever means......how come so many car drivers don't seem to want to buy into the idea?

Urban limits are there for a good reason so thats a good enough reason to stick to them....as for the others........................................................

How much experience/roadtime seperate to the lessons have you got?

Started off doing the advanced training with York advanced motorcyclists last November, might have progressed a bit quicker if it wasn't for snow, ice and working weekends, but this Saturday am doing me pre test assessment. If that goes ok its the test proper next (gulp!)

Point being if there is anyone in the catchement area of Squires at Sherburn in Elmet you could do worse than nip along any Saturday morning (9.30) and check out whats on offer.

I guess a lot of people may have preconceptions about advanced training but you would be hard pushed to find a more friendly, patient, professional and generous bunch than the YAM crew.

Speaking for myself I can only say that the assessments have made me a safer, more competant and confident rider and I would recommend it to anyone.

Its this Sunday and the weather forecast is a stonking one....go on....you know you want to..........

WEEK AND A BIT TO GO AND ITS FORECAST SNOW...COME ON!

Its well worth it, as you go along it creates shedloads of qualified confidence....hard work but anything worth having costs at least that much......

Got straight A's in an IAM assessment yesterday.....All being well the test won't be too far away.....

Could do with some bods for this...Anyone interested?

Finally worked out how to bung pdf's on the Howden Live website, you can now see the intended route for April 10th and get copies of the event poster and sponsorship forms too...ain't modern technology good?......

See what you need at http://www.howden-live.com

Cheers.

I pushed the boat out a bit (a lot!) and got an H2 protec leather jacket from Triumph which claims to be waterproof, windproof and breathable, I can't say otherwise, been out in the cold and rain, didn't get wet, stayed warm.

Also a TFL heat reflective coating that reduces heat absorbtion by 20 degrees (claimed, not been out in the summer yet) It also has massive front and rear vents to keep even cooler. It also looks the dogs proverbials too, mind you, you really need to ride a Triumph as its logo'd up, but if you could find something of similar spec I would really recommend one.

Hi all.

I'm organising a fundraising rideout in aid of MacMillan Nurses on Sunday April 10th.

It will be from the new CO OP carpark in Howden, East Yorkshire, to Newton upon Rawcliffe nr Pickering in North Yorks.

When the route is finalised you will be able to find full details at http://www.howden-live.com.

If you pm me with your e-mail address I can send you an electronic coy of a sponsor form and a poster if you would like one to put up somewhere.

Serious consideration is being given to another ride for the same cause on the same day but setting off from Hunmanby nr Filey to Newton, so if anyone from that neck of the woods is up for something please let me know.

My motivation for doing this is that an old mate of mine, Simon Duffy, who was the landlord of the White Swan at Newton Upon Rawcliffe, died just before Christmas and was enabled to do so at home with his family by MacMillan Nurses. We are from Hunmanby hence the possibility of a second ride on the day.

Please support this, I would really appreciate it.

PS Vicki has ok'd this thread here.

Leather, Probikers.

Anyone out there have a problem with the waterproofing wearing out on their boots where you change gear? I was out for a couple of hours in the rain today and when I took me boots off there was a nice damp patch on my left foot exactly where you change gear. I did have a completely wet left foot back in September after five or six hours in the rain on the Black Rat run but thought I had fettled it with Nik Wax, the liquid stuff you put on and leave to dry. Obviously its worn off, but only a bit given the size of the damp patch, I'll reapply it but does anyone know of anything that will maintain the waterproofing better?

Out to Squires this morning, got properly signed up for the advanced motorcycle malarky with the York lot....so am now an associate of the Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists. Sounds posh but it doesn't really mean much at the moment as all I have done is the theory and a shortish ride with some basics. For all that I have already learned new stuff and putting it into practice already, really looking forward to getting stuck into it properly.

Separate to the advanced stuff got a brief overview of counter steering, scary prospect when you first hear about it, but tentatively tried it on the way home and..and..it works! It was never not going to but its really something to think about getting some training for and learning how to do properly.

Just been up to Squires this morning with a mate who has done the advanced riding test, introduced me to a few of the York based bods and before I knew it I was off on a taster session.

Its only March since I passed my test after doing the das and cbt last November, and after a few initial nerves was really pleased with the feedback, positive and negative, I got on how I was riding. (More positive I'm glad to say)

So much so that I am signing up for the whole shebang starting next week. Anyone else been down this road? At the moment I'm thinking of the benefits as safer riding and lower insurance premiums as well as the buzz of learning new stuff and putting it into practice.

Strange that me other xl jacket still fits fine though???????

Don't know if anyone has had a similar problem to this but I guess its something to be aware of if you are ever buying a leather jacket online.

They do say you should never go on e-bay when you've had a few.....I did the other week and bought a fantastic looking leather/textile mix Buffalo jacket. I sort of regretted it the morning after when I saw the receipt e-mails through a quite potent hangover, but I had been pining for this jacket for ages.

It duly arrived...tried it on...I am an xl 44"...and it would have fitted a medium person, tight under the arms, 2-3 inches short in the arm length, short body length....For all that a great, well made, good looking jacket. Anyway, I got it returned without any hassle and spoke with the people who sold it and they said they had checked out the rest of their xl stock and they were all the same! Suggested I try an xxxl size but I didn't fancy the faffing about involved if that didn't fit and they didn't have any in anyway, shame, great service, great jacket.

Anyway, I was mooching about on e-bay the other day looking at Triumph leather jackets and spotted a second hand one not far from where I live, so I arranged to nip there and try it on with a view to putting a bid in if it was ok. Got there, nice genuine bloke selling it, tried it on, another xl....guess what? Yup way too small again. I can only advise, if you are getting a leather jacket online, to order one, maybe two sizes up from your normal size.

Sods law will dictate that there might be people reading this who haven't had any leather jacket fitting problems, but it can't just be me...............or can it????????????

Fantastic day out! First hundred miles a tad damp, fantastic organisation, not the crowds anticipated along the route but would you stand out in the rain waving at thousands of bikes? Actually....I would.

Went up the A19 to Thirsk and intended to go on the A1 from there up to Catterick but the north exit at Dishforth was closed and headed off into the countryside in the general direction of Thirsk, couldn't see the hills cos of the weather, suddenly............there's the A1 again! buggered if I know how we started off on the right side of it and rejoined it in a different direction from the left????

Got to Marne barracks, great organisation for the dispersal, didn't feel like there were the numbers there could have been....off on the ride, part of it through Catterick garrison, massive place! Took a wrong turn and couldn't find A1 South, finished up going north back to Scotch Corner, bought £5 of expensive petrol and headed off to Thirsk, across to Scarborough to see me mother and then blew everything on four wheels away on the way home.

Stood outside the pub and some geezer we had never seen before pulled up, in a car? Said he had been stewarding on the run and thought there were only about four and a half thousand bikes turned up, there was capacity for twelve and a half....seems a shame despite the weather.....mind you several bike owners who shall be nameless woosed out because of the weather....Fair weather bikers....phuuuttt.

When I can find me usb thingy I'll try and put some pics up.

I'm off....Slot 2.

Didn't you get two go's at it though? I was 1kph short first time and went through at 59 the second.

Anyone going on the EAST YORKSHIRE MAGS FREEDOM RUN May the 1st http://east-yorks.mag-uk.org/campaigns.html. tomorrow?

Hmmmm...no replies...none of you lot ever go anywhere then?

Howden contingent off out this Sunday, most likely scenic route to Pocklington...Millington...Wetwang...Malton...Pickering...decide route back or onwards from there...10.15ish start from Howden...Let us know if up for it...Maybe arrange meet on the way...Shiptonthorpe?...