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Driving Test 75 years old in 2010
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) publication ‘Despatch’ carries an article celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Driving Test.
It states that introduction of the test in 1935 was radical at the time. With an initial 250 examiners they met test candidates at Car Parks as Test Centres didn’t exist. Nowadays 2000 examiners conduct up to seven tests a day.
Now hold a moment. let’s look at that comment from the DSA. In 1935 no test centres and testing in car parks…..
Let’s now look at the 2010 situation for Motorcycle Tests. The DSA say they have met their targets but in 2010 Motorcycle Training Schools are left ‘with no test centres’ and where do we do the test…oh yes in a car park! A very expensive car park no doubt. Ah! the Good Ole Days….
So whilst the DSA celebrate 75 years of ‘progress’ motorcycle schools continue to close down and for those that struggle on, are faced with travelling up to 200 miles round trip in some instances to find a test centre.
And as for getting a test at these non existent test centres! I called the DSA Booking Centre today and I was told that there were no motorcycle tests available for as far ahead as the DSA system would allow the operator to check. Progress? Oh they said there was a full programme just come up for tomorrow! How can you plan and prepare candidates for that kind of service.
So where have all the examiners gone. For South West Wales in the ‘good ole days’ there were examiners working at Cardiff, Bridgend, Merthyr, Newport, Cwmbran, Monmouth and part time at Llandrindod Wells. But now it is the norm to have just one conducting tests in Newport. Add in the fact that training schools from as far afield as Hereford are also trying to get tests slots in Newport and the situation quickly becomes a joke.
Backlog…What backlog.
So my message to Rosemary Thew, DSA Chief Executive is this. Happy Birthday to you and your test. Have your party, and then pull your finger out and sort out the mess that you, as Chief Executive, are totally responsible for.
How do I get the best Motorbike Lessons in Cardiff?
This is a difficult decision for you to make because until you pay your money and take a chance with a training school you don’t know if you’ve made the right choice or not. So let us put your mind at ease.
You can get valuable information from the Company Reviews left by previous clients, and these reviews show up on the ‘google’ search results.
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) also carry out periodic assessments of Instructors at CBT sessions and then report back to the company.
One of our ‘1st Class’ Instructors was recently assessed and this is the summary of the DSA Examiner’s findings.
“This was a very well conducted CBT. Steve gave excellent demonstrations throughout and kept both trainees involved at all times. Steve has a very pleasant manner and uses his own experiences well to explain things. Steve obviously has a lot of motorcycle experience and used this well both on and off road to warn of potential hazards and problems but still allowed the trainees plenty of opportunity to demonstrate their own abilities. Steve’s use of Q & A made learning both easy and enjoyable for the trainees who both commented through the day how much they were learning and how enjoyable Steve made it for them”.
So spend your money wisely. Give 1st Class Rider Training a call to book your training.
Call us now on 0845 467 0165.
If our lines are busy please leave a message and we will call you back.
Bikers Welcome Again
It has been reported that Bikers are Welcome at The Sloop Inn at Llandog, Monmouth.
Bikers were previously banned but the new owner, Peter Moore wants to stress that Bikers are very welcome.
The Sloop Inn can be found at NP25 4TW or telephone 01594 530291.
What a nice man Peter Moore must be!
Ride Out Reminder. Sunday the 23rd May
A reminder for the Ride Out tomorrow, Sunday the 23rd to Pendine Sands to see the World Land Speed Record attempt…on a lawn mower.
Events start on the Beach today and tomorrow around 2pm with the record attempt taking place approximately 3pm. There will also be an aerobatics display (but surely not on a lawn mower – unless of course it’s a Fly Mo!).
The public will have access to an area of the beach near to the pits (What?… Sand Pits?) from where the run will start before it heads off down the beach. There will also be a Cafe set up in the vicinity.
We are meeting at Hein Gericke-Cardiff Store at 9.15 ish for tea toast and possibly a bacon sandwich before departing at 10am. Remember to use the back door.
The route to Pendine will be North along the A470 over the Beacons at Storey Arms to Sennybridge and the A40 towards Llandovery. Continuing along the A40 to Llandeilo before turning onto the Golden Grove Road towards Carmarthan then on to Pendine. I can smell the seaside chips already !
As Stef and the chums at Hein Gericke are going to cater for us again it would be useful to know how many are coming along on the day. so could you let me know or give the shop a ring on 029 20665151.
See you tomorrow…..come on….you know you want to !
How many Motorbike Training Schools are there in South Wales?
For a City the size of Cardiff there are surprisingly few Motorcycle Training Schools serving the population.
The longest running is Cardiff Motorcycle School who are based at Bevans Motorcycle Dealership at Hadfield Road in the West of the City, using the Cardiff City Stadium Car Park as their main CBT training site.
Centrally based, 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff have been running since 2003, originally linked to the Cardiff BMW Motorcycle Dealership, (Rydale BMW – who have since changed hands and no longer sell BMW Bikes). 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff use Cardiff County Council Road Safety Centre at Maindy Stadium, just off North Road as the main training site. There we have the use of a purpose built training site with Road junctions, Traffic Lights and a full sized roundabout.
Just Ride Away is a newly formed Training Body based at Willows High School in the South of the City.
United Motorcycle Training based at Llanishen Trading Estate to the North of the City also have branches at South Wales Superbikes in Newport and also make use of a training area at Llandow in the Vale of Glamorgan.
These are the main Authorised Training Bodies in the City but the surrounding area is served by Schools at Aberdare, Bridgend, Bedwas, Pontypridd, Merythyr Tydfil and Cwmbran.
A recent closure of a training school in the Vale of Glamorgan has seen a Bristol based company try and fill the Llantwit Major gap left by the closure.
So when it comes to spending your money you want the best value for your cash so it is worth shopping around….and after you’ve shopped around and spoken to the others 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff will be happy to book you in!
If our lines are busy, please call back. Or leave a message and we will be happy to call you.
0845 467 0165
Motorcycle Monthly June issue out now
Motorcycle Monthly June 2010 issue.
1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff have just taken delivery of the June issue of Motorcycle Monthly.
Packed full of bike related articles, competitions, road tests and product reports.
In this issue they compare the New Yamaha Super Tenere against the well established BMW R1200GS.
They also try out Advanced Training with the IAM and in the competitions you have three chance to win an Acumen Tempest Bike Alarm worth £330 each.
All this and the Motorcycle Monthly is still free. This has to be the best Bike Read around.
Get you copy from 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff. Join us on the ride out this Sunday to Pendine and get your copy before we set off.
For full details of the Ride Outs visit www.1stclassriderblog.co.uk
Motorcycle Helmets. EU Safety Rules and Sharp Testing.
Let’s go back to the very beginning.
When a student attends 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff for a CBT. (Compulsory Basic Training) one of the first elements that we cover is the clothing and protective equipment, of which the Safety Helmet is the ONLY legal requirement. We spend a great deal of time making sure that each student is given all advice needed in order to make the right decision about choosing a Motorcycle Helmet.
It’s more than just picking one that matches the colour of your bike or your leathers.
EU Rule
The minimum standard was always denoted by the British Standards ‘Kite Mark’ sticker which was affixed to the outside of the helmet. But now that the UK has come under the EU Ruling the safety standard applicable to the UK is ECE R22-05.
The ’05’ is not a date but the paragraph within Regulation 22 that applies to the safe standard of helmets to be used in the UK.
This can be shown on the helmet in a number of different ways and is not always easy to find. Sometimes shown by a sticker on the outside shell of the helmet. Or this could be shown on a label stitched into the chin strap or a label stitched in the inner lining of the helmet. Always check that is shows ECE R22-05.
I have seen a student arrive for training with his own helmet, which on inspection had a label R22-04. This was bought outside of the UK and would not be deemed legal for use in Britain as it was not up to the 05 needed for UK.
So beware if you buy your helmet on holiday abroad or from the Internet. It must be R22-05 to be deemed to be up to the old British Standard. Also beware of buying a second hand helmet as you don’t know how it has been cared for.
There may be internal damage that is almost impossible to determine….until it’s too late.
Do it up!
To comply with UK Traffic Law, the helmet must be securely fastened. So for some reason with some (not all) young scooter riders who find that riding with the chin strap flapping, undone is ‘cool’, it’s not.
It’s illegal and in an impact the helmet would fly off their head leaving them exposed to any impact. Not so cool !
If you are riding with your helmet undone remember the wording of the regulations state it is an offence of ‘failing to wear a safety helmet securely fastened’. so the law sees it the same as if you didn’t have one on at all.
Fitting
If you buy you helmet from a reputable dealer then they will advise you as to the best helmet for you and help with choosing the correct fitting.
The helmet should be a snug fit but with no pressure points. Remember that the padded inner lining will ‘give’ over time and the helmet may get to feel looser so keep this in mind when trying on helmets to buy.
Care
Look after your helmet. After all it’s the only thing looking after your head. Do not use any abrasive cleaners on it. Warm soapy water would be sufficient. Don’t paint it. You don’t need to with the selection of colours and designs on the market but solvents in the paint can weaken the outer structure of the helmet.
Some helmets have removable liners to be able to be washed but check with the manufacturers information for details of your particular choice.
Make sure that the fastener works and the strap is not frayed or torn.
Something I have never understood, and I have seen it many times, is that when a rider gets off the bike he takes his gloves off and stuffs them inside his helmet for ‘safe keeping’.
Now bear in mind what is or could be on your gloves. Road dirt or they may be wet and damp, if you’ve been riding in the countryside they may be splattered with muck off the road and we all know what that is, and in the winter the roads are covered with salt and grit.
All this on your gloves so the last place you want to put them is inside your lid!
So the EU Rating is the minimum standard. But what is the SHARP rating all about?
SHARP
SHARP is the Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme, and it provides an independent assessment of the protection a helmet could offer in an impact. SHARP uses a 1 – 5 Star rating system. The more SHARP Stars a helmet has the better protection it will give.
At SHARP they purchase helmets for testing from normal UK stock in motorcycle shops and dealers across the country, in a variety of sizes.
They carry out tests at three different energy levels (more than the current EU Testing requires).
Although all helmets must meet minimum legal safety standards SHARP tests reveal the differences in safety performance of motorcycle helmets available in the market.
Chosen at random from the SHARP information leaflet here are ten helmets that have achieved the SHARP Five Star rating.
AGV: GP Tech. A
ARAI; GPX5
BELL; M1, & M4R Carbon
BUELL; Turbulent
LAZER; LZ6
MARUSHIN; 777 Samura
NITRO; N1700VF
SHARK; RSR2
SHOEI; XR 1100
I acknowledge that there are more and also that this is not an exhaustive list. For full details check out the SHARP website.
Just remember…when it comes to choosing a helmet, it’s your head going in it so choose wisely and look after it.
European Motoring
When travelling in Europe be sure to take with you all the essential, legally required equipment. The list applies to cars rather than motorcycles but you risk an on the spot fine if you are found without these items.
The items can be purchased separately from places like Halfords or other similar outlets but surprisingly enough Aldi are currently selling a European Motoring Kit.
It all packs away in a convenient holdall and for just £14.99 is a useful way of getting it all together.
The kit contains 2 Hi Visibility Vests, a universal spare bulb kit (but you may need to check that this complies with your particular vehicle) a warning triangle, headlight beam benders, and first kit and a useful glovebox torch and a GB sticker for the rear of your vehicle.
The only extra needed would be a Fire Extinguisher. A legal requirement in France where it is deemed to be every Citizens Duty to assist in a fire.
So don’t get caught out this summer. Get down to Aldi and check it out.
Be sure to check the legal requirement for the particular country you are visiting and don’t forget, it applies to the countries that your are simply passing through to get to your final destination.
How Much Does a CBT Cost
How Much Does a CBT Cost?
You can expect to pay upwards from £100 for a CBT. The CBT normally takes a day to complete, but check with the training organisation if there would be a charge if you needed further training to complete the CBT on a second day.
With some Training Schools (such as 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff) the cost of the CBT includes the use of the bike. But some training schools will make a charge for bike hire. So check that at the time of booking.
Also with 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff the cost of the CBT includes the loan of equipment such as a Safety Helmet, Motorcycle Jacket, Gloves and waterproofs for the duration of the course. some training schools may charge for this, or not provide it at all.
The DSA guidelines allow up to 4 students to be trained by 1 instructor for the CBT, at 1st Class Rider Training I limit this to a ratio of just 2 students. This makes for a better learning experience for the student and closer supervision by the instructor. Check the size of the group at the time of booking.
At 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff the CBT costs £125 and includes the use of the bike, plus the loan of protective equipment and you are guaranteed a small student group of just 2:1.