I hope the Guvnor's don't mind me sharing this with you:

""This is just to advise you, as a fellow motorcyclist, of a few changes to BikeSafe in Gloucestershire this year.

We are very conscious of the demands made on people wallets in these financially turbulent times, so we have reduced the cost of a 2-day BikeSafe course in Gloucestershire to a nice round £20.

Of this, £10 goes the the Motorcycle Industries Association (MCIA) who administer the scheme, & in fact they have to pay 20% of that fee, so no one is making a fortune here.

The remaining £10 pays for the lunches on both days, & tea & coffee on the first day, so again, it's not swelling our personal holiday fund.

This reduced rate does mean that we no longer include a copy of "Motorcycle Roadcraft" or an up to date Highway Code; we do recommend that attendees purchase these books, but having made that recommendation, we leave it at that.

As in the previous 2 years, we will be using Gloucester Fire Station on Eastern Avenue as our venue, & we have five courses scheduled.

April 17th and 24th (2 day workshop)
May 8th and 15th (2 day workshop)
June 12th and 19th (2 day workshop)
July 3rd and 10th (2 day workshop)
September 11th and 18th (2 day workshop)

If you haven't been on a BikeSafe course, but "have been meaning to do something about it", well now's your chance.

If you have a relation/friend/colleague who you think would benefit, please encourage them to come along.

I admit to bias, but anyone who is contemplating joining the IAM or RoSPA motorcycling schemes will find the these 2 days will lay the foundations for their further riding education.

The link below should lead you to the national site, which includes on-line booking; I understand that some people are experiencing difficulty in booking on-line, & I have drawn that to the attention of the MCIA team, but if you ring them up, they will "process you" there & then.

Regards,

Pc 520 Martyn HILLIER.
BikeSafe Co-ordinator,
Gloucestershire Constabulary,
Operations Centre,
Bamfurlong Lane,
Cheltenham,
GL51 6SQ
Tel Direct (01242) 24 7030

E-mail Martyn.Hillier@Gloucestershire.pnn.police.uk

I'm sure myself and other members of J4R who are IAM members as well would highly endorse a 2-day BikeSafe course, and at £20 , a real bargain for your safety

As plasma usually says "Ditto" Well worth doing and a good introduction to advanced motorcycling. I hope it will then help you to then go on to do your "skills for life" training with C-CAM or SAM.

Les.

Just booked mine for the May slots....£20.........BARGAIN!!!!

Hi

Well done Ruggie

Gotta say £20 is an absoloute bargain, lunch aswell . I would say to any riders on here that see this you gotta give it a go!!!!! I think you'd be mad not too!!

Like Plaz says we highly recommend this course to all riders

Im thinkin of doing it myself to get lunch 2 days on the trot for £20 thats a bargain in itself

Regards Strongbow

This motorcycle roadcraft book mentioned, I've found 2 copies online.
Which one is the book to go for, 1 has a green cover (1996) & the other one is blue.

You can borrow my copy of the one that comes with the IAM course if you want to or join CCAM and the IAM as it comes all in with the Advanced Rider course.

Don't forget the Hein Gerike open day with free observed rides run by the CCAM guys. That'll be a good introduction too.

In fact, do 'em both!

baz, i had a copy of a book called " how to be an Advanced Motorcyclist which came with my skills for like package when i did it , it was to supplement my course , its on amazon for under £10
its also a really good idea to refresh every now and then with reading the highway code book,
if you get the chance try the skills for life or this bike safe , i hope to be popping over to chelt to hein gerike open day

Hi

I have got the police riders handbook you can borrow if u like. Yeah get yourself on both matey you wont regret it

Never know I might even take you out too

Regards Strongbow

Did my first stint of Bike Safe today.

I didn't realise that today was all 'classroom' stuff. I was in someways pleased as when I left the house this morning at 8am the weather looked like it was going to be horrid ...although it turned out ok.

Learnt some bits and remembered some bits...also got a few valuable tips, unofficial of course , from some blokes in uniform.

Good job it was just 'classroom' as Mike the Bike had a problem with his ride! Hope you get it sorted for next week Mike when the real road stuff comes out to play

Worth doing....yes!

The other half and I were at the same Bike Safe today also.

We may well be members of CCAM and other clubs and have quite a few years experience - but you always learn something and we recommend it. The day was a presentation of the book mentioned above which I've read a few times - but presented by two experienced Police Class1 riders, this brought home a number of points and there were lots of heads nodding sagely.

Someone else at the course today has vastly more experience of lots of road vehicles with almost the full set of IAM qualifications under his belt (car, bike, HGV) so its really for everyone. Do it. Best 20 quid you'll spend.

Hi

Sounds like you guys had a great day, like you say Greg whats £20 gotta be done in my eyes.

Regards Strongbow

well done guys ....

Day two done yesterday

Just the two of us with the Observer...Dave from RoSPA...we did our morning ride-out towards Stroud, Cirencester then Bibury (forgot how nice Bibury was) for a coffee and chat.

For some reason Dave said I did a 'solid' ride which apparently means good Might have been something to do with the £20 I dropped on the floor (Not really)

Then onto Burford, Stow and then back to Gloucester via Andoversford and Birdlip (Sunday lunch at the Air Balloon smelt wonderful )

A good day that unfortunately finished with the news of the Police Biker having an accident on the Brockworth Bypass. As Martyn Hillier said, no matter how much training you have it can still go wrong. A worthwhile day nevertheless.

Best wishes and a speedy recovery to the Police Biker.

Well done rugster , it isn't till you actually do a course that you really find out how much better and safer you can ride , glad it went well ...