registered charity no. 1111635 affiliated to ... - cadam.org is run by volunteers and serves the...

Registered Charity No. 1111635

Affiliated to Group No: 7251

Chelmsford & District Advanced Motorcyclists

Affiliated to Group No: 7251 Registered Charity No. 1111635

43• May/June 2015

ON TWO WHEELS – CHELMSFORD & DISTRICT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS

ON TWO WHEELS – CHELMSFORD & DISTRICT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS

Chairman’s Ramble

Training News

Race School

A Right Charlie

HEAA Motorcycle Show

www.cadam.org

The CaDAM Team

OUR AIMSChelmsford and District Advanced Motorcyclists (CaDAM) is one of many groups across the country whose aim is to improve motorcycling road safety by helping people prepare for, and pass, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) Advanced Motorcycling Test.Our group is affiliated to, but not subservient to, the IAM. However, because we share the same aims, we often seem to speak with one voice.CaDAM is run by volunteers and serves the districts of Essex in and around Chelmsford. As well as helping people to pass the Advanced Test, we run the group as a club, so that once you have passed, you will still want to stay on and take part in our other activities. We provide:Structured instruction to prepare for the IAM Advanced Motorcycling Test. You can choose a course that runs on Saturdays or one that runs on Sundays. These courses are designed to take even relatively inexperienced riders and raise their riding to IAM test standards.

Machine control days to increase your machine handling skills. These sessions are held off the public road, so we can explore your capabilities and those of your machine in safety.Social runs over challenging routes (no motor-ways, thanks!) to interesting places. Weekends away to ride some new roads, normally out of Essex.Monthly group meetings, often with a talk from a speaker on an interesting topic to do with motorcycling.On 2 Wheels – This newsletter, keeping you up to date with what’s happening.Want to know more? Call our general enquiries number 07790 656 687 – or just turn up at a meeting and introduce yourself to a committee member!Future Events – listings and directions can be found on the back cover.

When on a club run, be it an evening or a weekend event, speed limits must be observed. We have no exemption and advanced riding does not need to involve higher speeds. When approaching hazards appropriate care must be taken. On clubs runs you are running as CaDAM and under the IAM banner.

Do not bring this into disrepute. Also the Marker system will be used. Anyone not familiar with this system please speak to one of the run organisers who will run through this for you.

Thanks and safe riding.

Tony Metcalf, Chairman, CaDAM

Chairman Tony Metcalf [email protected]

Vice Chairman TBC [email protected]

Treasurer Chris McEvoy [email protected]

Group Secretary Jon Stansfield [email protected]

Membership Secretary Dean Scrivener [email protected]

Chief Observer Dennis Kitteridge [email protected]

Training Co-Ordinator John Stevens [email protected]

O2W Editor Mark Anstey [email protected]

Webmaster Sam Fleming [email protected]

Committee Member Phil Draper

Committee Member Mick Gowlett

Committee Member Nipper

Committee Member Jonathan Harman

Committee Member Peter Mathews

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Issue 43 • May/June 2015

I have completed my first ever Social Ride as Ride Leader. I was expecting it to be stressful but, I actually enjoyed the whole experience!

Dena and I have been to Aldeburgh before and it’s a nice town right by the sea. One fairly grotty day, I blue tacked my bike SatNav to the car’s dashboard, set twisty route and drove to Aldeburgh.

When we got there, it was quickly obvious, that even on a grotty day like that, there was no where to park by the Sea. On the way out we found a café in a garden centre and that became the destination. They said they would be happy to see us.

Ron and Nipper came and rode the route with me the week before and I fine tuned the route in Tyre. On the day I was surprisingly calm. Obviously nobody knew it was

my ride because there was a good turn out.

I tried to go for boring or mediocre but, unfortunately people said they thought it was OK. Very annoying. Now they will expect me to do another one!

Then came my first proper job as Chairman. On 25 April, John Stansfied and I drove to Surrey for the IAM Spring Forum. This is an opportunity for us to learn something about the future intentions of the IAM and how it may affect CaDAM.

Some of the matters discussed are matters for the Committee to consider as to how we adopt some of the suggestions, so I won’t mention them here.

However, a date for your diary will be Saturday 11th July 2015. The IAM are organising a massive bike meet at the National Motorcycle Museum. There will be various events in the grounds, bike related stands and the museum entry will be free of charge. The charge by the IAM will be £10. The IAM hope to get between 2,000

Chairman’s Ramble

Picture: www.telegraph.co.uk

Aldeburgh

www.cadam.org

and 5,000 bikes there. Watch the forum and O2W for further details as they become available.

The IAM want a new strap line. We had to consider 5 versions that the IAM consultant came up with. We unanimously disliked every one of them; I bet you can’t remember what the current one is?

Some fool suggested “IAM -

because you’re a long time dead”. I told Jonathan to restrain me. Anyway we thought that “IAM – Inspiring Advanced Motoring” was a reasonable stab.

I’ll finish with something controversial. Over the last few years Moto GP has bored me silly. For most of the time it was a long procession of the same

bikes in the same position, following each other round the track until the same person won the race. I fell asleep on more than one occasion. The rest of

the family couldn’t be bothered to watch it any more and BSB was far more exciting.

However, this season is showing some hope of turning into a good one. Rossi is back on form and the racing seems closer but,

I just can’t agree that this last race was exciting. Yes it was more exciting than the past but, I wasn’t leaping out of my seat. It was cold mechanical racing

Special thanks to JH who stepped in with tales of ‘The Special Escort Group’ when the booked ‘turn’ was unable to attend

“IAM – Inspiring

Advanced Motoring”

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with Rossi gaining bit by bit. Then, just as you think you’re going too see some really exciting racing... Marquez falls off! Rossi wins with no trouble. Is it all of the electronic aids that make racing like this? When Giberrnau and Rossi were banging fairings, it was mostly down to the skill of the rider. Now it seems to be down to the electronics.

Worryingly, is this where our bikes are going? Will there come a time when all of the skill has gone out of riding because the dynamic suspension, traction control, anti wheelie and ABS just does everything for you? You don’t even have to use the clutch to change gear on some bikes.

I want to extol the virtues of our new training system. I was trained under the old regime...one Observer to one Associate and you made arrangements between yourselves as to when you went training. You didn’t get to see any of the other members, unless you went on social rides or Group nights. If you were shy and retiring, like me, you might do your training and pass your test without becoming involved and end up leaving the club when you passed. Worse still if you had an Observer you didn’t like, you were stuck with them unless you had the courage to ask the Chief Observer for a change.

With the current system, you are guaranteed regular training. If you

get an Observer you don’t like, or you don’t understand what they are saying, you know you’ll get a different Observer in two weeks time.

But, the most pleasing side effect of the new training system is that the Associates get to know each other, and all of the Observers, and they turn up at group nights and social rides. Hopefully when they pass their tests they will remain members of the club. This can only be a good thing for the future of CaDAM.

My thanks to everybody involved for their commitment.

Finally, if there is any comment that you wish to make concerning the club, please do not hesitate to contact me on: [email protected]

Tony Metcalf.

New member Tracey Philips was selected by Tony, to draw a winning name from the ‘hat’ during May’s Club Night. The lucky winner, Gary Reeve, wins a set of Bullet lights, very kindly donated by BikeViz.co.uk.

CaDAM’s 10th Birthday BBQ

Dunton Skills Day

Sunday 9th August

Saturday 25th July 9:00am at Dunton Test Track£5 for CaDAM Members (advanced bookings)

£10 Non CaDAM guests and LATE bookings

Back by popular demand! Your chance to develop slow riding, braking and steering skills in the safety of Ford’s Dunton test track.

This popular and fun day includes direction from the Observers and lunch and is open to all: Full Members, Associates and guests. See the forum for more information.

Book before 14th June for Member’s discount!

1:00pm at Mick & Jen’s

This year’s annual BBQ will also serve to celebrate the group’s 10th birthday!

Preceded by a social ride, ALL members and guests are welcome. Please see the sign up sheet on the forum and book early for a discount on the price of your ticket!

£7.50 paid in advance or £10.00 on the day

7

Issue 43 • May/June 2015print the way it should be...

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WHEN ONLYTHE VERY BEST WILL DO...

CALL THE PRINT & DESIGN COMPANY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS!

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Currently, the Training Team seems more than capable of handling the Associates that are coming along to Training Sessions, but we continue to work with Trainee Observers to enable us to swell our ranks even further. The summer weather has a mysterious effect on training sessions, and quite a lot more Associates suddenly find the spare time to attend when the weather is good, and it is at these times that we can feel somewhat stretched, particularly with holidays etc.

The latest addition to our Trainee Observer squad is Steve Pearce. Steve is an experienced motorcyclist, who passed his IAM motorcycle test some 15 years ago. He is also a Police advanced Driver, which will endow him with many of the skills required. We are particularly pleased to have him on board, as his decision to join Cadam was based on a recommendation he heard that we are a proper advanced group, rather than a group that bends the rules (particularly speed limits) to suit. Welcome

to Cadam’s Trainee Observer ranks Steve, I hope that you find your work with us interesting, educational, rewarding and good fun too.

At last the three Cadam National Observers have been able to start spending time with our Group Observers, with a view to bringing them up to Local, or even National Observer standard.

As I write I am aware that Dennis, our Chief Observer, is hatching a cunning plan on that very subject, and you may rest assured I will keep you up to speed on this subject.

It seems as though there is always much to be done on the subject of training within Cadam, but this is because of our sincere desire to make Cadam the best. I am confident that we have exceeded all our previous training standards, and I am sure that we must be one of the most conscientious and thorough IAM training groups. Having said that, I am also confident that we have exceeded our other previous achievements in many areas, including social rides, organised trips, Christmas

and Spring celebration dinners, not forgetting Guest Speakers on our Group Nights. Never before have we had such a constant flow of interesting (ok, not always interesting) speakers, and that is largely due to the efforts of Phil D. Well done to you mate. I have been with Cadam since June 2006, the year after it was formed, and I have never seen it in such good all-round condition.

It is not sufficient for Cadam to simply submit Associates for their IAM test because they should pass; we continue our training to a level where the Associate reaches a thoroughly advanced, and therefore safe standard. Accordingly, we have had no test entries for a while even though we have some Associates at a very good standard indeed. There should be some test entries soon, however, hopefully resulting in good news all round.

Training Newswith JS

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Social rides are an increasingly popular part of the Cadam scene, and even on very rainy days we are seeing 15 bikes, and even more when the sun is shining. I am particularly pleased to see regular attendances by some of our Associates on these days, as they are a great way to improve your skills. Remember, there is no pressure to ride at any particular speed, in fact quite the reverse, as we are all encouraged to ride at a

speed that we feel safe and comfortable at. In this way, our social rides are suitable for all, except perhaps those very inexperienced Associates who have not done very much motorcycling at all before joining us in Cadam. If you are in any doubt as to whether you at a standard where you would feel totally comfortable, just ask your most recent Observer.

We asked if some ad hoc training might help out some

Associates who are currently finding it difficult for some reason to attend our regular training sessions, but the response was very limited, and it would appear that our current scheduled sessions are to the liking of everyone. Please bear in mind, however, that this Training Team will bend over backwards to help, and if you would like mid-week training because you can’t make the weekends, do let me know and we will do our best to get it arranged.

“Be Skilful” JS

“Congratulations to Graham Smith who collected his test pass certificate from Dennis – Well done!”

www.cadam.org

Ron Haslam

Race SchoolOn 6th May 2015 Sam Fleming and I went to Ron Haslam Race School at Donington Park. It was a wet and windy day so we were sure to be tested on the track. Neither of us had done a track day before.

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When we arrived at the race school we were both surprised by the size of the school. I was expecting to see a handful of riders and bikes but there was a large reception and kit area that could serve about 30-40 riders.

After we had kitted up we made our way to the briefing room. We started with a briefing about the track. We were told about the flags they used and the cones at the side of the track that represented the breaking point (red), turn in point (yellow) and apex (green).

As it was such a wet day there had been a lot of accidents in the morning session. We were in the afternoon session and the weather was better than it had been, but it was still raining and windy. Ron Haslam came into the briefing room and explained that the cause of a lot of the accidents was using too high a gear in the corners. He said you would expect that using a higher gear means the throttle is less responsive and you are less likely to grab too much of it and cause an accident. However he actually said the opposite of this was true. If you use a high gear in the wet, say fourth in a second gear corner, when you wind up the throttle the bike will jump from 4,000rpm to 14,000rpm very quickly as you will have no feel for it. When that happens it will cause the wheel to spin and you will crash. He said using a lower gear would give you more feel for what the bike is doing and advised us to use second gear in all the corners except for the Melbourne Hairpin where we needed to use first.

The other reason for the number of crashes was due to the Touring Cars there two weeks earlier. Due to their sheer amount of power they lay down a lot of rubber on the track, which has tiny holes in the tarmac that end up being filled with rubber. Therefore we were actually riding on rubber from the cars

www.cadam.org

A Right Charliewhich, when combined with the wet made the track very slippery.

We then went to meet with our instructor for the day. We were doing the Premier Experience so we had an instructor between the two of us and were going to be riding the Honda CBR600RR. In comparison, the Elite Experience has one-on-one tuition and you ride a Fireblade. The CBR600 has ABS and Ron insured us that you could grab the front brake whenever we wanted. Even in the middle of a bend in the wet. He said Leon and him had done a test day for Honda for their ABS system and that he had to go round a corner with his knee down and grab all of the front brake. The ABS system can handle it, although I didn’t want to test it out.

The instructor showed us the bikes we would be using and explained how to use the cones out on the track. We were told that at the yellow cone you are not on the brakes or throttle and that you turn in and ‘drift’ to the apex where you begin to accelerate out of the corner. This felt a bit strange at first but we got used to it after a few laps.

The first session was just about getting a feel for the track. The instructor leads you round the track in all the sessions so you can see where the racing

line is. It was still raining so we didn’t go particularly fast, but we could still feel how slippery the track was. After the first session we were shown techniques for getting the bike down lower and taking the corners faster. These really improved the second session and it was definitely a faster pace. Our instructor said that if we wanted to go faster then just to ride faster and

when we were on top of him he would go faster as well.

During the second session at the Old Hairpin (right hand bend) I nearly high-sided. Coming out the corner I must have grabbed too much throttle and the bike wobbled, then the front wheel went full lock to the left and the back started to come round. Sam, who was behind me, said that I was at a 45 degree angle coming out of the corner. The instructor saw it in his mirrors and was rather impressed that I managed to save it. I have no idea how I saved it, and at the time I was pretty accepting of the fact I was going to hit the deck. I must have got lucky.

By the third session the track had started to dry out and the racing line was certainly dry enough to really go for it. At the end of the third session we were debriefed and given our scores for the day. Both Sam and I got 90%.

It was a great day out and the Ron Haslam Race School certainly lived up to its name. I’m looking forward to going back on the Fireblade and hopefully in the dry.

Chris Metcalf.

http://www.btcccrazy.co.uk/btcc/track-guide-donington-park/

There is a little known document that can be accessed from the training page called “Group Social Ride Guide”. In that document it states ‘Where possible the tail ender should also be a qualified ride leader. If one is not available then the most experienced full member should tail end.’

On most ride outs there is at least one spare Observer and all Observers are qualified to lead a ride. That means if an Observer is available he should Tail End.

The role of the Tail End Charlie (TEC) is to remain at the back and “collect” the “markers”. He also has to deal with any problems that occur on the ride such as breakdowns, accidents and lost riders.

So what’s involved in Tail Ending?

You have to ride at the back and that may mean you are riding with the slowest member of the group. That may be the least experienced/confident person or someone with 13


A Right Charlie

www.cadam.org

mechanical or other problems. This is an important part of the job. We don’t want people driving faster than they feel comfortable with, in an effort to keep up, which leads to them having an accident. So I try not to crowd them by maintaining a reasonable distance behind them so that they don’t feel pressurised. I am more than happy to do that.

More often you have the opportunity to ride faster at the back (within the legal limit). You are always last through the traffic lights, last through the junction and last to overtake. That means that you can have a lot of open road in front of you. It doesn’t mean you are going slow and also you don’t have to worry about other people on the

ride coming up behind you.

The TEC is to pick everybody up that is dropped off by the ride leader under the Marker System.

This is the technique I use as I approach a junction, roundabout etc, and can see a Marker, I drop back a bit so that I am not right at the back of the group. This gives the Marker time to see me and prepare to move off. He doesn’t need to signal to me which way the others went, he is going that way himself.

You can assist the Marker to get away smoothly by indicating, so that he knows that you have seen his directions. Dropping back also slows the

Tail End Charlie, often, but not exclusively, decked

out in an orange hi-viz

traffic down. I will try to slow the traffic, without annoying them too much, to allow the Marker time to move off in front of me.

So on a roundabout I will go more slowly than normal around the roundabout, slow down the traffic behind and discourage them from overtaking me if I can. Again without putting myself or other traffic, including the marker in a dangerous position and not to a degree that will annoy them. I will signal my intention to leave the roundabout as soon as I can.

The Marker is normally on the nearside and will need room to move off, taking the near side. I will take the exit as wide as I can. If it is a Dual Carriageway I will take the overtaking lane and let the Marker have the nearside lane. If it is a single carriageway I will leave at position 3 so that the Marker can use positions 1 and 2.

I will never compromise my safety or that of the associate when carrying out these manoeuvres. If I feel I have annoyed the driver behind I will acknowledge his patience with a wave.

The Marker is entirely responsible for their own safety. If they choose not to go, I will complete my manoeuvre and when it is safe will pull over and let the Marker overtake.

On the odd occasion I have pulled into a lay-by to let traffic pass and the Marker has followed me in. I have also had a marker grab a handful of throttle on a slippery road and snake away about 10 yards in front of a car that was in front of me. Please don’t take risks to get in front of the Tail Ender and here is why... you might knock me off!

All Observers and Ride leaders carry a first aid kit.

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www.cadam.org

Depending on the number of Observers on a ride out the first person on the scene is likely to be the tail ender. So if you pull out in front of one and hurt yourself he will have to deal with it, until the others realise that something is wrong.

To be honest, in the main you’re an ugly bunch, and I don’t fancy giving any of you mouth to mouth resuscitation at the road side. If such an event occurs, and nobody is about, I carry a big rock in my top box, and will finish you off with that. When everybody else turns up I’ll say “he fell off and hit his head on that rock. There was no point giving him mouth to mouth, and his wallet has fallen out somewhere.” I have an honest face so no one will question my story.

If the worst does happen, the tail ender is likely to be on the scene before the ride leader is even aware there is a problem.

If there is a problem the Tail Ender will stay with a member on a group ride until the problem is resolved. For instance a flat tyre. He will either wait while the member fixes it or will agree with the member that he can leave him and continue with the others, if the recovery services have been called or the member says he will sort it out, and will not rejoin the ride. I will always check the member will be OK before I leave him.

On occasion the Marker will give a poor signal and someone will go the wrong way. When the tail ender arrives the Marker should signal the tail ender to stop and advise him of the direction that the person went. The Marker remains at the junction while the Tail Ender goes to find him. The tail ender will not use excessive speed to catch the “lost” member. The “lost” member should stop at the next unmarked junction for 20 minutes. That will give the tail ender time to collect him. They will then return to the junction where the marker is sitting and everybody will continue as normal.

Always stop and mark in a safe place and if there is room off the carriageway that you can use, consider it

17


That is why it is vital that Markers GIVE CLEAR AND UNAMBIGUOUS SIGNALS.

If you want to leave the ride you should notify the Tail Ender and/or the Ride Leader. If you don’t, and he sees you go off in the wrong direction, he will follow you. It’s his job to make sure he doesn’t lose anyone. Similarly if the rest of the group arrives at the destination and you aren’t they will come back and look for you. They wont want to think of you lying in a ditch somewhere while they are having their breakfast.

If you need to leave the ride for any reason pull over and signal to the Tail ender to stop and let him know you are leaving the ride..

The Tail Ender is also responsible for the conduct of the ride. All dangerous riding should be reported to the tail ender (or ride leader). Dangerous riding is when you put yourself or other road users in danger. You may be asked to remedy the situation during the ride. Depending on the issue the Ride Leader can ask the offender to leave the ride. This rarely happens and it is usually only where safety is an issue.

At the end of every ride the Tail Ender should let the Ride Leader know the issue, and the Ride Leader will report it to the Senior Observer.

This is a Social Ride. None of the Observers, or the TEC, is observing your riding for comment, and they will not comment on your general riding. If you are concerned that something you did wasn’t correct, then by all means ask any Observer for advice. They will not mention anything to you unless it is dangerous.

The marker system isn’t just about making sure that everybody gets to the destination. There is a safety aspect. If there is a problem, people at the front can use the markers to get back to the situation. If you have moved, for any reason, they may not be able to find their way back and give assistance. If you are concerned at the length of time you have been left waiting call the Ride Leader or TEC. If I am the TEC I can safely answer my phone on the move.

Have a great time on Social Rides; that’s what they’re for!

Tony Metcalf.

www.cadam.org

HEAA Motorcycle Show

Photographs: Mark Anstey.

19


HEAA Motorcycle Showat North Weald

Whilst the Bikesafe boys were there in force with a great training deal on the table, our secret weapon was 10% off the price of a SFL package and Ron ‘the sizzle’ Priest offering visitors a bacon sarnie!

Photographs: Mark Anstey.

www.cadam.org

An interesting range of machinery was on view: New bikes from a range of manufacturers, some old classics, with two wheels and with wings!

www.cadam.org

21

Despite a rather wet and blustery start to the morning, by 11am the crowds were arriving and the sun came out. There was a moment’s excitement as a freak gust of wind lifted the CaDAM tent, turned it inside out and deposited it six feet further back. It didn’t put Ron off his culinary-stride though!


www.cadam.org

Whilst not all aircraft was air-worthy, some was. The ‘road’ was temporarily closed for two Gnats and inevitably, the reason we were there, the HEAA was scrambled on an emergency call during the event

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www.cadam.org

How to Find Us

June

Sun 7th Training Day

9am Boreham McD

Tues 9th Group Night

True Heroes Racing

7.30pm EPSA

Sun 14th Social Ride

9am Boreham McD

Sat 20th Training Day

9am Boreham McD

Tues 23rd Theory Night

7.30pm Essex Police

Training Centre

Fri 26th-29th North Yorks Trip

Mick Gowlett


9am Boreham McD

July

Sun 5th Training Day

9am Boreham McD

Mon 6th Committee Meeting

7.30pm EPSA


9am Boreham McD

Tues 14th Group Night

First Aid

7.30pm EPSA


9am Boreham McD

Tues 21st Theory Night

7.30pm Essex Police

Training Centre


Ford’s Dunton

Test Track – See Forum


9am Boreham McD

Club Nights

The Sports Pavilion, Chelmsford Police HQ, St. Margaret’s Road. 19:30 for 20:00 start unless otherwise stated. Please refer to CaDAM events listing for dates.

Apologies, but we will need to collect £1.00 from each member present on club nights to cover the cost of hiring the room.

Guest speakers and the occasional raffle are being planned for some of the meetings. For more details or suggestions for future events, please contact a member of the committee.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Your Club Needs You!If you have any suggestions that you feel may benefit the club and its members, then we would love to hear from you. That might include suggestions (or niggles) about training, club nights, rideouts or this magazine.

We are a team of volunteers and it is important to us that the club operates to benefit all members.

If you have any suggestions please don’t hesitate to contact one of the committee at a club night, on a ride out or via the emails listed inside. Better still, why not come along to a Committee Meeting and get involved. With your help we can make riding safer and fun.

CaDAM What’s On? 2015Visit the Forum and Events Calendar at www.cadam.org for more details

of all events listed. Check regularly as events are regularly added or amended. We look forward to seeing you soon.

registered charity no. 1111635 affiliated to ... - cadam.org is run by volunteers and serves the...

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