Category: Other

1. TRL – stress management study

   Posted on 10:00am Monday 12th Jan 2015

   TRL are looking for participants who feel their riding has been affected by stress in the last six months, and who are able to travel to TRL (Crowthorne House, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 3GA) on more than one occasion. They are particularly looking for motorcyclists who ride all year around.

   Here is some general information about the study:

   TRL – stress management study

   Stress is a common occurrence among many people, and may stem from one or various areas of life. However, research shows that stress of different sources can have a detrimental effect on road safety and can result in increased risk to motorists.

   TRL is currently recruiting for a study relating to stress while on the road. They are looking for motorcyclists/ moped riders who have been experiencing high levels of stress in the previous six months. In particular, we are interested in people who feel their riding style has been affected by feelings of stress and stress-related anxiety or worry.

   Participants who are selected to take part in the research will be required to travel to TRL and will be paid a small standard amount to go toward time and expenses involved in participating in the research.

   If you are interested in taking part in this research, please click on the following link to complete a short screening questionnaire containing some questions about you and your riding experience. Please note that completion of the following questionnaire does not guarantee you will be selected to take part in the research.

   www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/128773LLFIC

   The are looking for participants to start on/ around 18th January

   TRL

   The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) is an independent private company wholly owned by the Transport Research Foundation (TRF), an independent non-profit-distributing foundation, limited by guarantee and with no shareholders. It provides impartial research, consultancy, and testing for all aspects of transport to the public and private sectors in over 145 countries.

   TRL strongly believes in evidence-based research and practice, particularly relating to increasing all aspects of driver and rider safety. TRL also helps governmental and private organisations to better understand risk and to create solutions that are proven to help motorists stay safe while on the road. For more information about TRL, please visit the company’s website at www.trl.co.uk

2. A Motorcyclist guide to Europe

   Posted on 4:00pm Friday 19th Dec 2014

   Life changing experiences don't come along very often, however bikers now have the great opportunity to make one for themselves, with a sensational motorcycle trip around Europe!

   Discover all Europe has to offer in a euphoric once-in-a-lifetime adventure around beautiful locations, including a vast amount of inspiring routes along France, Norway, Italy and Switzerland. There is so much to see, and so much open road to indulge in.

   Adventure

   Built for riding, the Stelvio Pass, located in Italy, at 2,757m is the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps, and the second highest in the Alps. With 48 hairpin turns on the northern side, and 12 on the southern side, this ravishing run takes riders through fantastic stretches of Alpine scenery, and many beautiful kilometers of fast and sweeping roads, before arriving at the foot of the pass. Once on the pass itself, each of the turns are numbered with stones, so those on this fantastic journey can count their way to the top, just keep one eye on the road!

   Another fantastic route for bikers is through, Trollstigen, a very motorbike-friendly mountain road in Rauma, Norway, part of Norwegian National Road 63 connecting Soggeberget in Rauma and Valldal in Norddal. It has a steep incline of 9% and eleven hairpin bends up a steep mountain side. Trollstigen was opened for riders on July 31, 1936, by King Haakon VII after 8 years of construction. The road up is narrow with many sharp hairpins, and although it has been widened in the past few years, vehicles over 12.4 metres long are prohibited from driving the road. Bikers can park up for a pit-stop at the car park at the top, and walk for about ten minutes to an iron viewing balcony which overlooks the road, with all its bends and the Stigfossen waterfall, which drops 320 metres down the mountain side. Although Trollstigen is closed during the Autumn and Winter months, and a normal opening season stretches from mid-May to October, those travelling its exceptioanl outstretches can make the most of it during the brighter summer periods of the year. This is a must-ride road, but its just worth remembering to time it right! 

   A trip for those looking to stay a little closer to home in the UK will enjoy this worthwhile trek. The Cat And Fiddle is a road in England running between Buxton, Derbyshire and Macclesfield, Cheshire, named after The Cat and Fiddle Pub, at its summit. Formed by parts of the A537, A54 and A53, it is famous for its stunning scenic views across the Greater Manchester conurbation, Peak District National Park and the Cheshire Plain and for its many bends and corners. It seems to be particularly attractive to motorcyclists because of the frequency and severity of the bends, and is regularly classed as the most dangerous road in the UK.

   For a break from all the hectic travelling, riders can make a stop off at Casino Marbella along a journey across Granada, which is situated in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. As well as the surrounding beauty, there is a genuine buzz around the casino scene. All the top games like poker, which are featured on online casino games at Euro Palace and other sites, can be found at the Spanish city. Only only one hour from the Mediterranean coast, the city of Granada is placed at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, This area is characterised by volcanic rock formations, lava flows, volcanic domes, and volcanic calderas. A great ride through natural beauty.

    

3. 'Tis the season to be jolly!

   Posted on 9:00am Wednesday 17th Dec 2014

   On THE BIKER GUIDE we have lots of jokes and videos clips on a very popular jokes section, including a festive favourite from Harley-Davidson - How bad have you been?

   See the Joke section here

4. Opportunity for bikers in the North West

   Posted on 9:00am Thursday 11th Dec 2014

   Next April, Cornerhouse is going to move from its current location on Oxford Road, Manchester to a new venue around the corner on First Street, named HOME.
   
   It has been there for 30 years, so it is going to be a massive event. To mark the occasion, they are planning a closing party to end all closing parties. It'll take place across all 5 floors of the amazing building - spilling onto the pavements and streets outside!

   It will be called The Storming, and it will feature a blistering line-up of Manchester musicians and DJs from past and present. And they want Bikers to start the whole thing off. Right before the party starts, the Bikers will lead a crowd of people up Oxford Road to Cornerhouse entrance, before everyone breaks inside the building to 'take over'…

   So they are looking for around 1ten Motorcycles to lead the crowd. Fees will be provided and they will cover any expenses. Involvement will also include a free invitation for you and a guest to the official after party.

   The whole thing will be officially approved by traffic authorities, and will be managed by the Cornerhouse.

   If this is something you can help with, then please get in touch with Tom @ the Cornerhouse. For further info, get in touch directly. The event itself is scheduled for Saturday 4th April 2015.

   www.cornerhouse.org

   [email protected]

   0161 200 1526

5. HAYNES PUBLISHING LAUNCHES SECOND HAYNES MECHANIX PROJECT FOLLOWING SUCESSFUL PILOT SCHEME

   Posted on 9:02am Tuesday 9th Dec 2014

   -          Participants challenged to restore a 1969 MG Midget to MOT standard using iconic Haynes Manuals

   -          Haynes Mechanix will run its innovative scheme at Prospex youth club, Islington, for the next 10 weeks

   -          All participants will be working towards Edexcell qualifications in car mechanics and personal development

   London, 8 December 2014: Haynes Publishing has launched its second Haynes Mechanix project following a successful pilot in early 2014.

   The project will see a group of 8 young people aged 15-25 with no prior car mechanic experience challenged to bring an out of commission 1969 MG Midget up to the level to pass its MOT using iconic Haynes manuals as their guide.

   The pilot scheme ran from April to August 2014 and saw the 12 participants bring “Percy” the Volkswagen Polo through his MOT and achieving a City and Guilds Qualification in Employability and Personal Development. Two of the participants are now considering a career in mechanics as a result of the scheme.

   The second edition of the programme will also have an educational aspect with the students working towards gaining a certificate from Edexcell in car Mechanics and another in personal development.

   The ten week programme is taking place at Propex Youth Club in Islington in cooperation with Hyde Housing Association and Draper Tools and is designed to give the participants practical skills in car maintenance while providing a valuable qualification to take into the job market.

   Speaking at the launch event, Haynes Publishing Chairman J Haynes said: “The primary purpose of the Haynes Mechanix educational programme is to give young people belief in themselves. Participants achieve this by developing an understanding of mechanics, and then applying that knowledge in a practical way. In addition to the confidence that comes with developing practical skills, those taking part have the opportunity to gain qualifications that improve their employment prospects while also learning essential life skills.  The pilot project was a great success, and Haynes is currently looking at ways we can partner with more organisations and youth clubs to extend the reach of this programme.”

   Richard Frankland, Youth Services Manager at Prospex said: “It is exciting to be starting this second project to build on the success of the pilot; we hope that this will become a rolling programme for young people in Islington. The MG will be a challenge as it has sat unstarted for a number of years but that makes it more satisfying when they get it working.”

   Clive Richardson, Marketing Director at Draper Tools: “After the success of the first Haynes Mechanix initiative, we were delighted to learn that there was a second one in store. It is such a worthwhile project and we’re very happy to be continuing our involvement with the supply of tools to kit out the workshop. It feels very rewarding knowing that our tools will be used to help young people to acquire useful skills for life and earn a valuable qualification.

   “If the Haynes Mechanix pilot is anything to go by - we’re sure this second project will be a huge success and enjoyed by everyone involved, especially the team of young people. We can’t wait to see their efforts and witness the MG Midget’s transformation.”
   

   About Haynes Publishing

   Haynes Publishing Group is the worldwide market leader in the production, publication and sale of automotive and motorcycle repair manuals. Floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1979, Haynes serves two distinct markets – the DIY customer through its Owners Workshop Manual and the automotive professional repair market through HaynesPro.

   All manuals reflect the same ‘hands on’ and personal approach – the in-house Haynes team takes extensive photographs and notes, describing the process, whilst also telling the truth about how hard or easy the full procedure is. For a car manual, it takes three to six months from the start of a project to the final publication; writing the text alone takes 20 to 30 man weeks.

    

   www.Haynes.co.uk