Bikers from Shropshire and the wider Midlands area are invited to start the season off in style on Sunday 27th April 2014.

Bike4Life Fest is being held at RAF Museum Cosford in support for two local charities - the Midlands Air Ambulance and Royal Air Force Museum. The event is being run in collaboration with the Safer Roads Partnership and West Mercia Police and this year is being supported by radio station Planet Rock and is set to be the biggest organised biker gathering in the Midlands this year.

The event will feature various trade stands, bike dealers, arena displays, live music at the Planet Rock stage and refreshments with plenty to entertain the non bikers of the family! The popular Bike4Life Ride Out will also be taking place on the same day, and is expected to attract over 2,000 bikers. Leaving from Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, the 23 mile Ride Out will finish at the event at RAF Museum Cosford where all the bikers can enjoy the entertainment on offer at the Bike4Life Festival.

There will be the opportunity to speak to various local clubs and dealers, watch the activities on display in the arena and enjoy live music and food with fellow bikers. One of the main focuses of the event will be the opportunity to speak to The Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists (IAM), Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and other trainers to find out more about further training and additional courses that are out there to brush up on your biking skills.

Vicki Bristow from the Safer Roads Partnership says: “It promises to be a great day out for riders. It doesn’t matter if you’re thinking about buying a bike, just getting started, or have been riding for years and are an experienced biker there will be something there for everyone. Put the 27th April in your diary now so you don’t miss the event!”

With hundreds of bikers already signed up, organisers are expecting thousands will show their support on the day and join in the fun, so, if you’re a biker and you’re not already registered for the Ride Out or just want to find out more visit www.bike4lifefest.com or call the Bike4Life Festival team on 01902 376 252. Find us on Facebook by searching for Bike4Life Fest and follow us on Twitter @Bike4LifeFest.

The festival will run from 10:00am to 4:00pm and visitors of all ages, not just bikers are encouraged to come along. Bikers wishing to participate in the ride out MUST have a full licence as the route to the Museum will travel along the M54 motorway.

Bikers can find out more information on the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity by visiting www.midlandsairambulance.com or for more information on the RAF Museum Cosford visit www.rafmuseum.org. Further details about the Safer Roads Partnership can be found at www.srpwestmercia.org.uk

Gene Vincent Night - Shakin' Up A Storm!
 
Saturday 8th February
9pm - 2am
Entry £10
Sorry No Under 18s
 
Ace Cafe London, hosting the annual Gene Vincent Tribute Night at the cafe on Saturday 8th February, this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 1964 release "Shakin' Up A Storm" and features the renowned and highly regarded Graham Fenton and The All Stars, together with DJ Bill Guntrip on the decks.
 
Graham, who knew Gene, began his rock n' roll career with the Houseshakers, the band that supported and backed Gene on the last leg of his 1969 UK tour. After the Houseshakers, and subsequently the Hellraisers, Graham joined Matchbox to include opening the first concert held at Wembley Stadium, the London Rock n' Roll Show of 1972, and the rest, as they say is history!
 
The evening includes opportunity to win a range of prizes including two pairs of tickets to attend the cafe's forthcoming rare London appearance of Crazy Cavan & The Rhythm Rockers gig on Saturday 8th March along with an Ace 75th anniversary goodie pack and copies of Vintage Rock magazine.
 
To be in with a chance of winning, retain your entry raffle ticket. Draw to be held on the evening.
 
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www.vintagerockmag.com

Check out what's on at the Ace

Lembit Öpik, the Motorcycle Action Group’s (MAG) Director of Communications & Public Affairs, has spoken out against the implied imposition of a mandatory helmet law for cyclists.

The threat has arisen as a result of the Advertising Standards Agency’s (ASA) directive to Cycling Scotland, requiring them to feature cyclists wearing helmets, and refusing to authorise a television advertisement which showed a
rider without a helmet – claiming that to do so would be ‘socially irresponsible.’

Lembit says ‘in 1973, British motorcyclists suffered a hammer blow to their liberty with the introduction of a mandatory helmet law. Over the last four decades we have never wavered from our principled position of opposing this authoritarian regulation. It’s not because we’re against safety; rather it’s because we’re pro-choice. At the heart of any truly free society, citizens have the right to make personal decisions about their welfare and the level of risk they’re willing to entertain. No government has the moral authority to forcibly impose its opinion about what’s best for citizens, because such a move is counter to the very freedoms which democracy exists to uphold. As such, we offer our full support to Britain’s cyclists in opposing the mandatory wearing of helmets. This is a symbolic test of the liberty. A defeat on this would be a catastrophic failure of politicians to respect the personal liberty of the people.’

MAG Chairman John Mitchell adds ‘I have instructed MAG’s Reps to provide whatever support is necessary to assist the British cycling community to successfully resist this ominous legislative menace. The ASA has effectively used its position to censor Cycling Scotland’s right to illustrate cyclists’ liberty to ride without a helmet. They have evidently not got the right to veto the portrayal of a legal activity, but the precedent is extremely dangerous. Their action has reignited an issue which has been quietly smouldering for some time as far as motorcyclists are concerned. Make no mistake, we’re ready, willing and able to take this issue to the politicians, and I have no doubt that
this debate will now extend to bikers as well as cyclists. The Cycle Touring Club, which represents cyclists is firmly against compulsory helmet use, as it feels that mandatory helmet use will reduce the numbers of those people who take up cycling. What unites us all is our belief in personal choice. The very last thing elected politicians who ignore this can expect is an easy ride.’

www.mag-uk.org

British Winter Olympic snowboarder Aimee Fuller takes to two wheels

•22-year old Aimee Fuller - Team GB medal hope for Olympics
•Completes CBT on 125 Duke before Games
•‘Slopestyle’ Snowboarder used to race motocross
•Planning on a 390 Duke and completing full test after Games
•Watch the video of Aimee’s CBT here

Winter Olympic snowboarder, Aimee Fuller, has taken the first steps in getting her motorcycle licence by completing the Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) on a KTM 125 Duke.

One of the country’s most promising freestyle snowboarders, Fuller, 22, will represent Team GB in the ‘Slopestyle’ event in Sochi, Russia, on February 6. Originally from Kent but based in Holywood, County Down, Aimee needed two top 12 finishes in the last two World Cup events to represent her country at the games and did so with 11th and fifth, sitting eight overall in the world standings.

No stranger to bikes or KTM, Aimee began riding on a 50SX and even competed in motocross for a number of seasons from the age of X. Earlier this winter she found time to head to Shires Motorcycle Training (Derby) and complete her CBT as the first stage to obtaining her full licence.

Aimee Fuller said: “I’ve always wanted to get a road bike, but I’ve been so busy travelling and competing all over the world to find the time to do it. Fortunately, I was able to do my CBT with Shires on a 125 Duke. I’ve sold my car now, so once the games in Sochi are finished I’m going to complete my full test and get a 390 Duke.

“Bikes will be a buzz for me when I’m away from the slopes and I’m planning a big tour through Norway in the summer taking in snowboarding, surfing and bikes – as long as I pass my test!”

In 2013, the 125 Duke became the first bike in its class to be equipped standard with a two-channel (front and rear) ABS system and for 2014 it continues to be offered with free insurance* and 0% finance options.**

Incredibly easy to handle, lightweight, torquey, comfortable and perfectly suited to everyday use alone or two-up, the Duke has also been tested and ergonomically designed for extreme manoeuvres and thrillingly fast cornering. The bike is supremely well equipped, robust, extremely economical, inexpensive to maintain and only £3,995 on the road in a choice of orange or white.

Visit www.ktm.com for more information.

Looking for a new motorcycling challenge this year? Well, we have plenty at the London Motorcycle Show at Excel, 14-16 February. Come and see Asian Adventures by H-C Travel on stand A68 (next to Touratech).

For all of our female customers, we have a special treat. Come and meet Tiffany Coates, global bike adventurer, who is leading the World's first even women only tour to the World's highest pass, Khardung-La in India this summer. I'm pretty sure that after speaking with her you'll be hooked on the challenge and want to join her!

And just so you guys don't feel you've missed out, why not come on one of our regular Himalayan tours. We pioneered Himalyan touring in the 1990s, running the first tour to the World's Highest Pass, as well pioneering Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia, Rajasthan and Kerala in India, Thailand, Laos and the Philippines. That experience pays off for our customers in many way, in sometimes difficult conditions, and there's plenty of adventure for anyone!We still have places left on this summer's tours, and we're offering early booking discounts for Winter and Summer 2015 at the show.

www.hctravel.com