Category: Other

1. An article on First Aid

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 25th Oct 2016

   As a biker, you've experienced the enjoyment and freedom that comes with riding a motorbike. Thinking about giving life saving medical treatment to a fallen biker is probably not the first thing you think about when riding your bike. But having a plan on how to deal with a Road Traffic Accident (RTA) involving a motorcyclist could help to administer first aid or even save a life.

   Let me introduce you to the 5 Point Plan (5PP).

   Point 1 - As a rider get trained in motorcycle first aid.  Motorcycle first aid training, terminology and environment is different than the normal first aid at work.  There are many organisations across the United Kingdom that cover this type of course. 

   Point 2 - Carry a First Aid Kit.  When you are dealing with a casualty that may have sustained a fracture or bleeding wound, not having a first aid kit at your disposal becomes very difficult when one has to improvise.  There is no excuse by not having room on your bike as there are many different types and sizes available to cover all motorcycles.

   Point 3 – Dealing with a Road Traffic Accident or Collision.

   If you arrive on scene or witness an RTA involving a motorcyclist there is a set procedure to follow.  This would be covered in a motorcycle first aid course however I will summarise the main points. 

   Ø  Safety – You are in a high risk environment look after yourself, your casualties and any bystanders.  Call for help 999 on landline, 999/112 on mobile.

   Ø  Check for immediate danger and protect the scene by using other motorbikes, cars or bystanders wearing hi visibility clothing.

   Ø  Check for casualties who need first aid assistance.  Follow current first aid protocols which is Danger, Airway, Breathing, Bleeding or CPR, Defibrillation, Evacuation) on all casualties.  Evacuation means being moved to hospital via ambulance to Emergency Medical Care (EMS).  Some casualties may have hidden or multiple injuries, prioritise and treat.

   Ø  If you suspect major injury ie: Neck, Spinal, Fracture – Do not move them but treat in the position found.  

   Point 4 – This is a contentious issue involving helmet removal.

   Ø  A motorcyclist who is breathing leave motorcycle helmet on and treat accordingly.

   Ø  A motorcyclist who is not breathing, you may need to remove his helmet.  However, it takes 2 people to remove a helmet and only carryout this procedure if you have had suitable training in helmet removal.

   Ø  If your casualty is not breathing normally and you feel that you do not have the confidence to remove the helmet then “CPR Only” may be the only option.  I would rather do something than nothing.

   There are many schemes in the UK which advises not to remove the helmet ie: the crash card that inserts inside the helmet which carries vital medical information for the ambulance personnel.  Some riders have a sticker on the helmet which states “Only to be removed by medical professionals”.  Whatever system you use, this goes back to having some training in motorcycle first aid.

   Point 5 – Don’t forget to “Reassure” the casualty or casualties. This sometimes is forgotten and to be honest, reassuring the casualty is all that is needed prior to the arrival of EMS.

   Remember the 5 Point Plan.  “Training, First aid kit,  Get help, Don’t remove the helmet unless absolutely necessary, Reassure”

   
   

    

   At the request of THE BIKER GUIDE - This article was written by KJ Training Solutions who deliver Motorcycle First Aid courses locally and nationally.  For further information contact [email protected]

   

2. Orange & Black Motorcycle Tours opens US base

   Posted on 9:00pm Friday 14th Oct 2016

   H-C Travel, the UK’s longest established and leading motorcycle tour operator, is excited to announce today the launch of a new US subsidiary to take on key operational elements of its Orange & Black Harley-Davidson® authorised motorcycle tours and rentals programme. David Grist is President and Colorado-based Gary ‘Bear’ Fleshman is Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of H-C Travel Inc.
    
   David Grist, owner of H-C Travel, says “Our company mantra has always been ‘only the best is good enough!’ I am continually looking at how we can improve our tour services to ensure that we offer a unique and unrivalled motorcycling experience for our customers. Setting up a US subsidiary makes total commercial and professional sense for us, and our customers. I am absolutely delighted that Gary has agreed to join us. Apart from being one the best tour guides on the planet, he brings unrivalled touring knowledge and incredible enthusiasm to the company.”
    
   This move will bring several immediate and longer term advantages:

   • Added flexibility in the design and running of Orange & Black guided and self-guided tours
   • Increased responsiveness to meet the wishes of a growing and loyal customer base
   • Improved financial control and enhanced protection from the vagaries of a volatile exchange rate
   • Access to the US motorcycle touring market and stronger US business relationships
   • New opportunities to work with travel trade partners and motorcycle clubs worldwide

   Customers will see immediate benefits:

   • No tour or rental price increases for all 2017 bookings made in 2016
   • Improved on-tour services
   • A new tour, guided by Gary – Legends of the West, in October 2017
   • A new self-guided tour – Tour 49, crossing from Calgary, Canada  into the USA and back
   • Guaranteed 2017 Harley-Davidson® authorised motorcycles for all customers (with the all new Milwaukee-Eight engine on all touring models).

   H-C Travel Inc. is a company incorporated in Delaware and registered in Colorado. H-C Travel Ltd was established in 1994 as a specialist motorcycle tour operator in the UK. Its Orange & Black brand offers Harley-Davidson authorised guided tours, self-guided tours and rentals in the USA. It is uniquely positioned in the UK motorcycle tour market with professional travel industry recognition, ATOL bonding and TTA membership to provide legal and financial peace of mind for our customers.

   www.orange-and-black.co.uk
   
   
   

3. Looking for Motorcycle batteries?

   Posted on 10:00am Friday 14th Oct 2016

   Hardwarexpress stock a full range of Motorcycle batteries to fit an extenisve list of motorbikes, with a very easy to use on-line Battery Finder - Just enter your make and model in the battery finder and the battery you require will be displayed.

   High performance Motorcycle batteries from just £12.99.

   Rnging from conventional 6 volt and 12 volt, YTX range, Yumicron, Yumicron CX and the YTZ range - all of these batteries have very specific characteristics which are designed to meet the different requirements of various motorcycle models.

   

4. We have this lovely email today from Angela @ The Empire Diner

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 11th Oct 2016

   "Just a quick message to say thank you for your advert. 

   We have received great feedback from your listing of The Empire Diner and speaking to the Bikers that have come in lately, it is because they have looked on your site and seen that we are Biker friendly and wanted to check us out, which is brilliant. 

   Thought you may appreciate the feedback too, although I'm sure you already know how great you are anyway!"

   See more on The Empire Diner here

   www.theempirediner.co.uk

   www.facebook.com/theempiredineressex/

   

5. Vikki van Someren – the woman behind The Bike Shed

   Posted on 8:00am Tuesday 11th Oct 2016

   Vikki van Someren is married to Anthony ‘Dutch’ van Someren, the founder of the hugely successful Bike Shed Motorcycle Club (BSMC) in 2011. Since that date, The Bike Shed has not only run annual custom motorcycle shows in London and Paris, it has also branched out and set-up a 12,000 square foot venue in Shoreditch that features a 100 seat café and restaurant, retail space and even a barber shop.  
   
   As well as this venue hosting regular events, Bike Shed’s facebook page currently has over 650,000 followers, 100,000 follow it on Instagram and BSMC is a major player in the custom bike scene with manufacturers such as Triumph, Yamaha and Harley-Davidson keen to be associated with it. And it’s fair to say that without the driving force of Vikki behind it, much of this success simply would not have happened.
   
   Q: What is your role within The Bike Shed?
   VS: “I am listed as a co-founder of The Bike Shed and Events Director. When Dutch started it as a blog many years ago I supported him and let him spend hours writing stories and editing pictures of bikes rather than entertaining his wife! Nowadays I execute his vision for the events that we put on. I never really get involved with the website side of things, I just take Dutch’s vision for events and make it happen.”
   
   Q: Why that role?
   VS: “I have a media and events background and so I use this to co-ordinate all our global events and also everything at the Shoreditch venue. It is a natural role for me.”
   
   Q: What drives your passion for custom bikes?
   VS: “I’ve been riding bikes since I was five years old and was brought up with Royal Enfield, Matchless and BSAs in the garden waiting to be fixed. My mother’s partner was a big biker and I’ve always had a keen interest in bikes. I’ve always been a petrol head, whether it be cars or bikes.”
   
   Q: What do you ride yourself?
   VS: “I have two bikes at the moment, a beautiful Ducati SportClassic in cream and a Honda Dominator that has been customised to a flat tracker style that is my daily commuter. It’s very loud and causes havoc on the streets!”
   
   Q: Can you handle a set of spanners?
   VS: “I have done a basic bike mechanic’s course, but I don’t get that involved nowadays. I just don’t have the time to fettle bikes myself, but I have very strong ideas and generally think I know it all so I stand over someone and direct proceedings! When I have time I will build my own bike – but I think retirement will have to come first as I’m so busy at the moment!”
   
   Q: What would you say to another woman who might be thinking about getting into the custom bike movement?
   VS: “I’d say ‘absolutely, go for it!’ But I’d say that to a man or woman who wanted to get into the scene. Take your test and just do it! It doesn’t matter what sex you are, it’s the freedom and enjoyment of riding a bike that matters. I often speak to people who come here about getting into bikes and I always encourage them to try two-wheels.”
   
   Q: What would you recommend as a good first bike?
   VS: “I’d say don’t go too big as a first bike, get something you are comfortable with to build up your confidence. If you want something customised then a Yamaha SR250 or Down and Out are doing cool bikes. If the rider is small like me, I’m only five foot two, then I’d say get a small, light, bike. At the end of the day, just get onto two wheels, it doesn’t matter what you ride as long as you are comfortable.”
   
   Q: And what about riding kit?
   VS: “I ride in jeans, gloves and boots with a leather jacket if I’m just going home. I never ride without a jacket; my skin is precious to me. I’ll properly suit up if I’m going for a long ride – you need to wear the right gear. In the past I’ve struggled with women’s bike gear as it wasn’t to my style – I don’t like pink stripes – but this is changing and there is now some really cool kit out there! I want functionality but also to look good.”
   
   Q: Does it annoy you when you see kit manufacturers making ‘girly’ riding kit with pink colours?
   VS: “Not really, it’s just not for me. Some women like pink riding kit. I don’t define myself as a ‘woman rider’, I’m just ‘a rider.’ I don’t distinguish between male and female, I just want good looking kit that is functional and safe.”
   
   Q: Is the custom scene helping to encourage more women to ride bikes as it has quite a few strong women figures like yourself?
   VS: “The custom scene is a little less cliquey than other scenes, for men and women. It can be just as daunting for a man turning up at a bike venue as a woman. The custom scene is very open to like minded, creative, people and that makes it quite friendly. I think women are also feeling more confident in themselves lately. It’s all about creating an open and welcoming environment for all.”
   
   Q: Do you have any role models?
   VS: “That’s a big question! I take influences from lots of different people, male and female. I have my favourite racers – Valentino Rossi for one – but I think people are people and I like different elements of people for different reasons.”
   
   Q: What advice can you share with women thinking of running or being involved in a business such as The Bike Shed or within the motorcycle world?
   VS: “Just do it! Don’t over think it, don’t think ‘I’m a woman I need to act differently’, just get out there and give it a go. Bring your gifts because as a woman you have a different set of skills to a man, use these valuable skills. Women make shit happen!”
   
   Q: Do you have a mantra or philosophy on how to live your life?
   VS: “Ride it like you stole it! Ha, I’d say ‘treat people how you would like to be treated.’”
   
   Q: So what really annoys you?
   VS: “The stereotypical vision of women in the motorcycle scene annoys me. I love the fact women are beautiful, sexy, creatures but I want to move away from the stereotypical scene of a beautiful women draped over a bike in order to sell it. If you ride a bike, you ride a bike, it’s not about what’s between your legs. It’s all about who you are as an individual.”
   
   As Vikki’s story proves, the motorcycle world may on the outside appear to be a male dominated industry, but in reality this is far from the case. Just like any business, success doesn’t depend on what sex you are, more if you have the drive and determination to get the job done. And Vikki certainly has this drive, not only in her passion for The Bike Shed’s success, but also her love of motorcycling.
   
   So if you are inspired to take up two wheels by Vikki’s story, what’s stopping you? There are hundreds of motorcycle training centers located throughout the UK and taking to two wheels is much easier and costs far less than you would expect. If you are interested, check out the UK motorcycle industry’s Get On website which has loads of information aimed at those looking at taking their first steps into the motorcycle world.
   
   Finally, and on a slightly less sexy, but practical – not to mention legally important - note, if you are looking to buy a bespoke bike or customise your own machine, you’ll need to think about the security and insurance implications. Specialist providers like Bikesure.co.uk can usually offer you a bespoke policy to suit your bike’s modifications.
   
   You don’t want to spend a lot of money on a customised machine only to have it stolen a week later or find out you’re not covered and can’t ride it. So make sure you can keep it somewhere safe and secure and check with your insurer how any changes to your bike will affect your policy.