Biker News - Regularly updated

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  1. RED BULL ILLUME IMAGE QUEST 2010 IS ON!

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    After the spectacular success of the first Red Bull Illume Image Quest, the world’s biggest photography contest for action and adventure sports now returns for a new edition – and you can be part of it!

    With the first contest already resulting in a staggering 2000 international photographers submitting their pictures and the 50 finalist works being exhibited in breathtaking outdoor venues across North America, Red Bull Illume 2010 is set to get even bigger and better.

    Once again, the focus of the brand-new edition is on finding the world’s most outstanding and premium adventure sports images, illuminating the passion, thrilling lifestyle and culture behind each shot and honoring those photographers that brave the planet’s harshest terrains to freeze those precious moments in time.

    The Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2010 calls upon all action photographers to submit a maximum of five images to one or more of the 10 categories listed on  www.redbullillume.com, where they will be judged by an expert panel of renowned photo editors.

    Submission is open from October 1, 2009 to February 28th 2010 – until then check out all the facts and details on www.redbullillume.com  and get ready for your chance of a lifetime to become known as one of the world’s most outstanding action sports photographers!

  2. New Safety Helmet Technology to save hundreds of lives

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    A brain-cooling device for crash helmets could save hundreds of lives in the UK each year.

    The patented invention developed at Sussex University’s Innovation Centre, called ThermaHelm™, performs like an instant ice pack when activated by sudden impact. It reduces brain swelling and the risk of long-term brain damage and extends the critical window paramedics and Accident & Emergency teams have to perform their life-saving skills.

    The advent of this innovation takes crash helmet safety to an unprecedented level and represents the biggest step-change in crash helmet advancement for over 50 years. Although the invention is at prototype stage, it has prompted significant interest from safety helmet manufacturers in Europe and Japan. It is a manufacturer-installed integration within the lining of the helmet and has no adverse impact on the overall integrity of the helmet.

    The development team, led by inventor Jullian Preston-Powers and Riccardo Anzil, believes the brain-cooling device can be adapted for all activities where safety helmet use is necessary.

    The technology has been praised by the Government’s UK Trade and Investment division, which has officially green-lighted the company into the Global Entrepreneurs Programme as a “Technology of Exceptional Potential.”

     Latest Department for Transport figures (2008) show that over 28,000 motorcycle accidents resulted in around 5,500 serious injuries and 500 fatalities in the Great Britain alone. Of these, many involved Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) that could have been mitigated by the ThermaHelm brain cooling device. 

    Jullian Preston-Powers said the concept was acknowledged by the scientific and medical communities, but never before had anybody explored how to build it into a crash helmet. He said: “It has long been recognised that neurological deterioration in trauma victims is dramatically reduced when a hypothermic state is induced. “Medical practitioners have made use of this knowledge by deliberately inducing mild hypothermia in some patients prior to emergency treatment or during surgical operations. It causes the body’s vital functions to slow down, thus reducing the chances of brain damage occurring in the patient.”

    Jullian said that by taking these medical advances and applying the science to the area of Traumatic Brain Injury opened up a world of exciting new life-saving opportunities. “This is a hugely exciting innovation that has the potential to save thousands of lives around the world every year,” he said. “There has been strong interest from helmet manufacturers in Europe and Japan, and we are now working hard to turn that interest into firm licensing agreements that will give riders better fortification against long-term brain damage and death in the event of an accident.”

    The prototype is now undergoing trials and, upon their successful completion, is expected to go into full-time production by May 2010. The ThermaHelm team has had strong support from UK Trade & Investment’s Global Entrepreneur Programme, which attracts some of the world’s best entrepreneurs and early stage technology companies to use the UK as their springboard to global success.

    Derek Goodwin, Head of the Global Entrepreneurs Programme at UK Trade & Investment, saw the potential of the invention at an early stage.

    He said: “We are very impressed with the approach taken by Jullian Preston-Powers in developing his new brain cooling crash helmet technology. We look forward to helping ThermaHelm reach global markets with their innovation and becoming a worldwide life saving advancement applicable to all forms of safety helmets.”

    ThermaHelm has been working on this product for two years from its research base, called Innovation Stream, at the Sussex Innovation Centre in Brighton, East Sussex. The centre is part of Sussex University and has given great support and guidance to the development of the technology.

    The ThermaHelm™ team has been liaising with Bridget Harris at the University of Edinburgh, who is developing a stationary brain-cooling helmet for universal placement in hospital ER and A&E departments in collaboration with Eurotherm – a Europe-wide study to further prove the definitive benefits of brain cooling. 

    How it works

    Two light-weight and non-toxic chemical packs are integrated into the helmet lining. They contain multiple trigger points to allow the chemicals to mix and initiate the endothermic (cold) reaction. One chemical pack contains water, the other ammonium nitrate. A sudden impact will cause a membrane to break, allowing the water to mix into the ammonium nitrate.

    The endothermic reaction is immediate and cools the brain through small veins in the scalp called emissary capillaries. As the reaction is progressive, heat from the head will be continually absorbed. The cooling process lasts approximately 30-45 minutes and will maintain stable brain temperatures during this time. A hot and expanded brain flattens the blood ways, starving the brain tissue of vital oxygen. If the brain’s temperature can be stabilised, the accident victim is much more likely to avoid Traumatic Brain Injury and so increase his/her chances of survival.

    A major benefit of the ThermaHelm ice pack is that the head remains cool without the need to take off the crash helmet, which could aggravate spinal or neck injuries sustained in the accident. Motorcycle helmets should only be removed following assessment by a medic. 

    The benefits of a hypothermic state in trauma victims have been recognised for hundreds of years. In the early 19th Century, wounded soldiers in the Napoleonic Wars who were left out in the cold had a greater survival rate than their counterparts kept warm by camp fires. More recently, doctors have deliberately induced mild hypothermia in patients prior to emergency treatment during surgical operations.

    The ThermaHelm brain-cooling device can be integrated into the manufacture of most standard motorcycle helmets. It is likely to add approximately £150 to the overall price tag. Research is ongoing to see if it is feasible to retrospectively fit the technology into existing helmets.

    ThermaHelm™ branded impenetrable carbon fibre helmets will also be available, and will be competitively priced from £299 to £499.

  3. Brain cooling device could boost battlefield medicine

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    A new device designed to cool the brain in cases of severe head impacts could be used to prevent long-term injuries amongst front-line soldiers.

    ThermaHelm Brain-Cooling Technology could be adopted into military helmets before the end of 2010, helping to save thousands of soldiers from the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury each year.

    Product developers Jullian Powers and Riccardo Anzil of ThermaHelm Limited created ThermaCap at the cutting-edge Sussex Innovation Centre in response to a call for medical improvements in battlefield medicine by the Centre for Defence Enterprise, the research arm of the Ministry of Defence.

    ThermaCap® performs a number of tasks:

    Uses endothermic energy to cool the brain and reduce the lasting effects of traumatic brain injury; and

    Morphine infusion through the dermis through a unique gel layer mixed with anti-bacterial agents which respectively target pain sensors in the brain and blood splatter transfer and other injury site bacterium; and

    Is insulated within the outer surface to keep the cold energy directed into the scalp of the injured; and

    Is ballistic protective (Kevlar) on the outermost layer to prevent injuries from secondary blasts.

    ThermaHelm technology performs like an instant ice pack when activated by sudden impact. It reduces brain swelling and the risk of long-term brain damage and gives medics vital extra minutes to perform life-saving skills.

    The technology has been praised by the Government’s UK Trade and Investment division, which is working with the ThermaHelm™ team to reach international markets.

    The device has been included in UKTI’s Global Entrepreneur Programme and will be promoted through 100 British embassies around the world.

    Jullian Powers said: “We are confident ThermaCap can build on the effectiveness of ThermaHelm to help treat soldiers in action all over the world.

    “It has long been recognised that neurological deterioration in trauma victims is dramatically reduced when a hypothermic state is induced.

    “Medical practitioners have made use of this knowledge by deliberately inducing mild hypothermia in patients prior to emergency treatment or during surgical operations. It causes the body’s vital functions to slow down, thus reducing the chances of brain damage occurring in the patient.”

    Jullian added that by taking these medical advances and applying them to the area of TBI (Traumatic Brian Injury) opened up a world of exciting new lifesaving opportunities.

    The ThermaHelm™ team has been given great support by top dealmaker Eric Van Der Kleij

    from UK Trade and Investment, the Government’s international business development organisation.

    Derek Goodwin, Head of the Global Entrepreneurs Programme at UK Trade & Investment saw the potential of the invention years ago.

    He said: “We are very impressed with the approach taken by Jullian Preston. Powers in developing his new brain cooling technology. We look forward to helping ThermaHelm reach global markets with their innovation and becoming a worldwide life saving advancement.”

    ThermaHelm has been clandestinely developing its inventions for two years from an incubator base at the Sussex Innovation Centre in Brighton, East Sussex. The innovation centre is part of Sussex University and its director Mike Herd has given great support and guidance to the company’s technologies.

    ThermaHelm’s Chief Technology Officer, Riccardo Anzil is also head of new products development at Innovation Stream and the inventor of a seatbelt airbag device designed to minimise the effects of seatbelts injuring passengers in high speed impacts.

    The ThermaHelm™ team has been liaising with the University of Edinburgh, who are taking part in a Europe-wide study into brain cooling known as the EuroTherm3235 Trial.

    How it Works:

    Two light-weight and non-toxic chemical packs are integrated into the cap lining and have multiple trigger points that activate the cold pack.
     

  4. Motorcyclists will face stiffer penalties

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    Motorcyclists at the head of a group of riders will face stiffer penalties for speeding under a crown court ruling.

    Being the lead rider in a group is an aggravating factor making you partly responsible for speeding offences of those behind you according to the decision.

    The ruling can be applied in any future cases where two or more motorcyclists riding together are accused of speeding. The head rider might be only a few mph over the limit, but could be given the same penalty as the worst offender behind.

    Road traffic solicitor Robert Dobson said: "Any crown court decision can be stated in future cases. This is potentially a very dangerous judgement for motorcyclists. Riders in a group change position frequently. If you are riding at the front any group at excess speed, then the very fact you're at the front is an aggravating factor."

    Ken Clark, 49, reached 85mph on his Yamaha R1 while leading a group of three riders on the 60mph A272 near Rogate, Sussex, last June. The speed is within the usual threshold for a fixed penalty of three points and a £60 fine. But Chichester Crown Court ruled he should receive the same penalty as a following rider accused of going 103mph.

    Barrister notes on the ruling given to Clark after the hearing state: `Although his was the lesser speed, [the bench] found it an aggravating feature that he was the lead motorcyclist, was setting the pace and he knew that the other two motorcyclists would want to catch him up and would be speeding to do so.'

  5. Soldier, Soldier, Soldier - 'Lest We Forget'

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    Soldier, Soldier, Soldier

    You off to war did go,

    A brave and much loved person,

    Of whom I did not know,

    You fought a foe you could not see,

    Although beside you he may be, but to you he wouldn't show.

    --------------------------

    Soldier, Soldier, Soldier

    You fought, with your head held high,

    In heat and cold you fought so hard, your valour ever bold,

    Fighting on with a will, that you knew would never die,

    But for what cause is this you risked your life,

    What are the reasons never told.

    --------------------------


    Soldier, Soldier, Soldier

    We may never know my friend, the reason for you not growing old,

    The reason for your Mother, Father, sister, brother,

    No longer, having you to hold,

    The reason for your children, to lie awake at night,

    Crying after losing Dad, because of someone else's fight.

    --------------------------

     

    Soldier, Soldier, Soldier

     

    Sadly now the time has come, you no longer have to fight, for you it is all over,

     

    The enemy sought you out, albeit by bullet or by bomb,

     

    Yet another damned statistic on the press front cover,

     

    And back to this country you will come,

     

    Just like so many, who before you may have done!

    --------------------------

    Soldier, Soldier, Soldier

    You have given your all, to protect others like me,

    You have now returned at last, your fighting there is done,

    Your final journey is now ahead of you, although it may be a lonely one,

    Your work there will carry us forward, and from you, we will learn,

    That with strength of character such as yours, we can travel on.

    --------------------------

    Soldier, Soldier, Soldier

    'Lest We Forget' what you have done,

    We will remember you, each and everyone,

    Past and present you have all fought for us, to make our life ahead a better one,

    God Bless you in your after life, may you be free of all pain and anguish,

    For us our memories of you will never die, and we all will surely cherish.

    Spider!

    Spider!

    (In the Phrase 'Lest We Forget' ¨C the word 'Lest' means 'For Fear That' ¨C We Forget) ¡¡

    I have written this to mark the 100th repatriation of our fallen service personnel through Wootton Bassett on the 20th November 2009.

    But also to remind us of the millions of people who have died or been injured in conflicts around the world.

    Hopefully one day it is the world itself that will Rest in Peace

    *** 

    I have written this to mark the 100th repatriation of our fallen service personnel through Wootton Bassett on the 20th November 2009.

    But also to remind us of the millions of people who have died or been injured in conflicts around the world.

    Hopefully one day it is the world itself that will Rest in Peace