Government proposals of £7million funding for new bike-friendly areas fail to address a fundamental issue of cycling road safety: potholes and deteriorating road surfaces reports the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA).

“The government’s own figures state that 100 cyclists a year are killed or seriously injured due to accidents caused by poor or defective road surfaces. This is the issue that needs to be addressed”, said Howard Robinson, RSTA chief executive.

Under the proposals the government will provide £6.5 million funding for a range of projects to improve road safety and help create more bike-friendly areas in 8 cities including Bristol, Leeds, Cambridge, Birmingham, Norwich, Manchester, Newcastle and Oxford. In addition, it will also provide £0.5 million to support the Cycling UK Big Bike initiative to get more people cycling safely.

“Cyclists are amongst our more vulnerable road users. For them, the continued deterioration of local road surfaces can result in death or serious, life-changing injuries”, said Robinson. “Initiatives to get more people cycling are to be welcomed but the government needs to invest in the provision of a well-maintained road network that is safe to for them to use.”

Robinson points to the latest Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey that found to restore the local road network to a satisfactory condition would cost over £12.06 billion and it would take 13 years to address the backlog of potholes. Produced by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) the survey found that such is the rate of deterioration a sixth of local roads could be unusable within five years.

“Before making headline grabbing announcements the government should provide real levels of investment in road maintenance to ensure that cyclists have a safe road surface to cycle on”, said Robinson.

All around the UK custom bike builders are putting the finishing touches to their masterpieces. It's just six weeks until KICKBACK opens its doors and unveils over 60 customs and modified specials that have made it to the Finals of the 2018 National Championships.

If you haven't entered yours yet, simply email good photos of your build to [email protected] before the cut off date which is 4th April 2018.

The KICKBACK Motorbike Show is hosting the 2018 National Championships for Customised Motorcycles, there are seven categories in the competition which are:

Freestyle (sponsor needed)
Young Builder of the Year (supporting emerging talent) (sponsor needed)
Best Modified Triumph (sponsored by Bonnefication.com)
Best Modified Sportsbike (sponsored by MH Products)
Best Modified Classic (sponsored by Butchered Classics fb group)
Best Old School Chopper (sponsor needed)
Best Cafe Racer Style (sponsored by Anti Gravity Batteries)

The judging for the 2018 National Champs will take place on the Saturday 7th April with the Awards Ceremony on Sunday afternoon. The judging panel includes previous Champions and Award Winners plus special guests and selected media.

There's also a full professional stunt show for you to enjoy, trade booths, Invitational Showcase (for non-competition show bikes), coffee, food and licensed bars. You can park for free and bikes can park up right by the main entrance.

You can buy tickets here:

The whole event is indoors and tickets are valid for both / either days.

You can pay cash on the door or...

Cheaper tickets and more information available at TheCustomShow.com

One of the Isle of Man’s leading sidecar drivers, Michael Jackson, will make his debut at the Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy, this year, with the Manxman contesting the two Sidecar races.

Joined by passenger Harry Payne, Jackson, who won the 2017 ACU British Formula Two Sidecar Cup, will compete in the two three-lap races on a newly acquired DMR chassis built by 17-time TT winner and fellow Manxman Dave Molyneux. The outfit will use a 600cc GSXR Suzuki engine.

Having secured the Wirral 100 Championship in 2016, Jackson and his MJR team made a huge impression on the British F2 Sidecar Championship last year. With Callum Crowe in the chair, Jackson won the Cup competition by a comfortable 66 points having done the double at Donington Park, Anglesey and Cadwell Park with another victory, his seventh in total, being taken at the final round of the season.

In total, Jackson stood on the podium nine times during the 14-race campaign and only failed to finish once all season. And as well as winning the Cup, the former trials rider finished seventh overall in the main F2 British Championship where he was only beaten by Pete Founds, Steve Ramsden, Conrad Harrison, Lee Crawford, John Lowther and Sean Hegarty.

His reliability and consistency was key to his and Crowe’s overall success, which is sure to pay dividends on his first appearance on the 37.73-mile Mountain Course. Payne, meanwhile, has scored strong results at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough and was originally lined up to partner Molyneux at last year’s TT before he opted for multiple winner Dan Sayle instead.

With strong results behind them, Jackson and Payne are the latest high profile sidecar pairing to make their TT debuts with the duo certainly having the potential to secure top twenty finishes in both races.

Are you ready for an adventure? There are so many different forms of travel: backpacking, cruises, long-term travel, etc. No two trips are the same, and each trip will provide you with unique memories and exciting adventures that you can share with your friends and family back home. Whether you are taking a trip to see family and friends for the holidays, or want to explore new countries across the world, traveling can be an enriching and memorable experience.

We have all spent hours looking at pictures of gorgeous beaches, luxury resorts, and cool road trips. Before you book, know that travel isn’t always Instagram-worthy. Flights may be delayed, you might run into scams, and you may dip into your budget more than you had originally planned. A battle with food poisoning or lost luggage can certainly put a damper on your trip. Luckily, travelers before you have gone through similar experiences and know how to avoid snafus while traveling. Do not worry; with proper planning, and the following travel tips from travel experts, you can make the most out of your travels and experience the vacation or trip of a lifetime.

Enjoy the next 50 tips for traveling, including flying, taking a road trip, traveling with children, and traveling overseas. 

Tips for Planning Your Trip and Booking Accommodation

1. Get the Best Deals on Hotel Rooms

In order to score a great deal on a hotel room, you may have to be patient, be flexible, and do your research. Travelers have many different strategies and tricks for getting the best hotel room for the lowest price. For example, booking 24-48 hours may get you a lower rate, as you’re booking during the hotel’s cancellation time frame. If you sign up ahead of time on websites that alert you of price drops, you will get an instant notification when the hotel is available at the best price. Checking in at the end of the day, and discreetly asking for a corner room, will also give you the best chance of getting an upgrade for the same price.

Check The Dates Of Your Trip For Public Holidays

Different countries have different religions and holidays that may affect your travel plans. In some cases, the rates for accommodation may be higher, or hotels will book up fast. Other holidays may affect the hours of popular tourist sites or local businesses. In some countries, religious holidays may affect the sale of alcohol. On the other hand, visiting a country or city while they celebrate a big holiday can be very enriching and make your trip more special. Plan your trip accordingly, and know what to expect when you arrive during a holiday season

Arrange Everything at Home Before You Go

If you and your family are traveling and leaving the house unoccupied, you will need to make certain arrangements to keep your pets and house safe. Alert your neighbors that you will be leaving, and let them know how long you will be gone. Hold mail or newspaper deliveries, or arrange a neighbor to bring in deliveries while you are away. You have many options when it comes to caring for your pets: you can hire a pet sitter, leave them with a trusted friend or neighbor, or drop them off at a kennel.

Learn a Few Local Phrases

If English is your native language, you may not have a lot of trouble navigating big cities or popular tourist destinations. Learning a few phrases, like thank you or other greetings, will show that you are making an effort to respect the local culture. Learn how to pronounce the name of the street where you will be staying if you need to hop into a taxi outside of the airport or at the end of the day.

Rise and Shine

If you have popular tourist attractions on your bucket list, set your alarms. Check the attraction’s hours online and get in line before the attraction even opens. Once the afternoon hits, you may find yourself waiting in long lines with big tourist groups. Seeing the attraction when it’s not crowded will help you make the most of your experience.

Know That Not Everything Goes As Planned

Even if you have your itinerary and budget planned to the last minute, you may have to improvise on the spot. Flights could be delayed, weather could cancel your cruise, or your accommodation may not be as glamorous and relaxing as you think. No matter what happens, remember to relax and have a good attitude. These surprises may end up making your trip more memorable, in a positive way! Be open to itinerary changes and delays. When you have to find a last-minute restaurant or make up plans on the spot, you may end up with a more enriching experience. 

Read the full article here - www.your-rv-lifestyle.com/travel-tips.html

Article supplied by Your RV Lifestyle

The Trident & Rocket 3 Owners Club (TR3OC) is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic Triumph and BSA triple motorcycles at the 2018 Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts. TR3OC is organising a spectacular display of both road and racing triples together with associated memorabilia.

Tridents are the most successful production racer ever at the TT, winning five consecutive production classes on the Island.

Visitors to the Isle of Man during the Classic TT will be able to see a comprehensive collection of motorcycles including the rebuilt ‘Slippery Sam' courtesy of the National Motorcycle Museum as well as the first Triumph Trident to be raced around the famous Mountain course in 1969 - the Hughes Triumph that was ridden by Martin Carney.

A dozen more notable race bikes will also be displayed as well as a selection of artist John Hancox’s pen and ink drawings. John is a Technical Illustrator whose work can be seen every time a Triumph Trident's parts manual is opened.

Along with the racing legends, the display will feature a definitive collection of road bikes. Starting with a 1969 Aquamarine T150 together with UK and US examples of various bikes, including Hurricane, Rocket 3s T150Vs and T160s.

The Trident model that completed a 24 hour sponsored ride around the TT Course for the Manx Grand Prix Helicopter Fund will be on show together with the obligatory collecting buckets as well as a replica Travelling Marshal’s Trident and an original Marshal's bike that was ridden by Travelling Marshal Des Evans. The Martin Russell Parallelogram will also be on display.

There will be a closed road parade around the TT Course on Saturday 25th August with many of the display bikes taking part. The lap will see Des Evans reunited with his Travelling Marshal’s Trident for a lap of the 37 ¾ miles while Ian Martin - TT star Guy’s father - will be riding his BSA Rocket 3.

On the morning of Sunday, 26th August, the display will temporarily de-camp to Jurby Motodrome where the Vintage Motorcycle Club’s Isle of Man section host their annual Festival of Jurby event. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the world’s greatest display of Vintage and Classic motorcycles - not only on their paddock stands but also spreading the instantly recognisable aroma of Castrol R on the Jurby racetrack.

Commenting on the anniversary TR3OC event co-ordinator Ian Bradshaw said:

“None of the above would have been possible had it not been for the input of the Isle of Man Government, Department for Enterprise’s Motorsport Team and the Isle of Man section of the Vintage Motorcycle Club as well as everyone who has allowed their bikes and memorabilia to be displayed. I hope everyone interested in Motorcycles takes the opportunity to enjoy what is the display of a lifetime.”