Happy New Year to all my biking chums.  I hope you still managed to get out and about a bit between the showers, or should I say downpours, over the Christmas break.

I want to say a big THANK YOU to all those who supported the Teddy Bear Run to the Heath Hospital just before Christmas.  Over 400 Teddies and Cuddly Toys were delivered.  Thanks and Well Done to you all for that.

Here is news of the next ride out.  Sunday the 15th of January.  Meeting at Caerphilly Mountain Snack Bar – The Mountain Monster on the A469 on the top of Caerphilly Mountain.

Meeting at 9am for a 9.30am departure.

We will be aiming for the Bleddfa Forest area and then Knighton for a lunch stop.

We did a run up there recently and were hoping to stop in the Hundred House Inn (Pictured here) but despite having had an email to tell me they were open again for business we found it closed when we got there.  So we will try again, but if not the Horse & Jockey Pub in Knighton has always been very welcoming.  ( an idea of numbers in advance might be useful so I can let them know we are coming if there is going to be a gang- if you could let me know).

Knighton is a quaint little Border Town, where half the town is in Wales and half the town is in England.  Also the ancient Offas Dyke runs through the land nearby.

We’ve had a busy year with the training side of things and I will soon be publishing a calendar of events for this year.  I’ll let you have dates of future Ride Outs, Advanced Courses, and Euro Trips etc.

I’ve now got an excellent team of instructors who are all either Serving or retired Bike Cops or Highly Qualified RoSPA Diploma Holders and Advanced Tutors so all your training and riding needs can be catered for.  Hopefully you be able to meet some of them at these events through the year.

We are looking forward to a busy 2012 as the Bike Licence Laws are due to change in 2013.  We are looking to be putting more emphasis on our Advanced Training and Euro Tours over the next 12 months.

Incidentally 2013 will be our 10th Birthday.  It was in 2003 that I set up 1st Class Rider Training, originally working on my own after working for a few other schools in the area so 2013 will be an important one for us.

So keep an eye out for our Blog Posts throughout 2012.  You can also follow us on Facebook. Just click the link on the right to log straight in.

So I hope to see you on the 15th.  If you haven’t been with us before, then you will be very welcome.  If you haven’t been for a while then please come along and say ‘Hello’ again.

Join us and get your free copy of ‘Motorcycle Monthly’ and your copy of  the latest bike glossy ‘Gear Up’ mag.

It’s all good stuff.  1st Class in fact…

Come on……. you know you want to……….

Anyway… the next ride out will be on Sunday the 18th of October.  It’s bike show season again so this ride out will be to the Stafford Classic Bike and Motor Mechanics Show at the Show ground at Stafford. Over 1000 bikes from the 60′s 70′ and 80′s on show plus accessories, auto jumble and clothing.  Adults £10 on the gate or £9 if tickets  purchased in advance on line.

Meeting at McDonalds Golden Arches Restaurant at Coryton Interchange, junction 32 of the M4 for an 8.30am departure.  Please note that this is an earlier time than usual as it’s a bit of a longer ride.

Launch of Our New Training Site, at the Cardiff County Council Road Safety Centre.

1st Class Rider Training are pleased to announce the date for the official launch of our New Site for Motorcycle Training in Cardiff.

Thursday the 29th of October will see the Lord Mayor of Cardiff officially open the New Cardiff County Council Road Safety Centre at Maindy Stadium, Crown Way, Cardiff.

Since 1st Class Rider Training was established we have been fortunate to work closely with the staff at the Road Safety Centre and we have enjoyed their hospitality using Briardene Road Safety Centre as our Training Base in Cardiff.

The move to Maindy stadium will see the opening of a luxury suite of offices and training rooms with computer simulators and lecture facilities.  We are also able to make use of SID, the portable Speed Indicator to fully prepare our students for the speed related elements of the Part 1 Motorcycle Test.

The new training area is made up of a large ‘Dexterity Area, and mini road system with authentic signed junctions, bends and a full sized roundabout.

Secure on site storage for our motorcycles allows us immediate access to these new facilities and for when we have finished work……there is a swimming pool and a fully equipped Fitness Suite! (no…you won’t find me in there…)

1st Class Rider Training on First Class Machines on a First Class Training Site…. 1st Class !

Coming to France?

There are still a few spaces left on our next Cross Channel jaunt in November.  Please see the previous post for details if you are interested or give me a call on 07545567273 or by email.

Come on ….you know you want to.

It was well attended with about 18 bikes leaving the Riders Staff Behind to set off into the glorious Sunshine along the Wye Valley.

The Ducati section of the showroom on the first floor is all but finished, but my only criticism is that you have to walk around the bikes to get to the cafe!  Come on Kevin, leave us hungry folk a clear path to the food.

Kevin has invited ’1st Class Rider Training’ to set up a notice board at the shop to keep ‘non internet’ customers informed of events, training, ride outs etc, so watch out for that. In the future it is hoped we will use it for a base or starting point for our Advanced (and Back to Biking )Bike Courses

Thanks also to the Ride Out gang for your generosity again.  You made donations towards the NSPCC totalling £50.  This follows on from the donations of £45 from last months ride out.  This money has been passed on and will be put to good use by the NSPCC, who need urgent funding to keep the ‘Childline’ service running.

Thanks again.

FRANCE is Calling.

Last week the French Authorities let us in and more importantly let us back out again (just- with split second timing at the Ferry Port).  The War Graves Tour was a very moving experience (and a fast moving experience too at times).  Some fantastic roads, excellent company and some amazing sites to visit.

I’ve added some photos and they can be viewed by clicking on the ‘photo stream’ at the top right of this blog page.

The next trip across the Chanel is in early June to Normandy for the 65th Anniversary of the D Day landings.  There are still a few spaces left so just check out the blog a few pages ago for details.  Please let me know as soon as possible if you wish to be added to the list.  There is a lot going on over there on that weekend.  so join us for a bit of riding, a bit of looking , a bit of eating and a bit more riding.

Accommodation is getting hard to find so if you want to join us please book a room with me soon.

Also watch out for another trip ‘abroad’ for August.

Dates for the next Advanced Course and the Slow Maneuvering & Emergency Braking Day will be published soon.

AIR ‘BAG’ JACKETS.

Since I published the blog post on the subject a few weeks ago.  I must admit it was a bit tongue in cheek I guess but I’ve since received a comment (posted under the Air Jacket blog page) which is well worth reading. I don’t know who posted it as it was only signed with an email address but I must say well done to you, and thanks for letting us know.

WHAT ELSE

Dates for the next Advanced Course and the Slow Maneuvering & Emergency Braking Day will be published soon.

NEW BIKE TEST.

It’s in!  Effective from Monday the 27th of April.  It seems not DSA U Turn this time.  What a mess it is too.

NEW TRAINING SITE FOR 1st CLASS.

Currently we use the Cardiff County Council Road Safety Centre at North Road.  (Most people know it as they did Cycle Proficiency there as a kid…or they use to sneak into The Plaza Cinema, which was next door – but long since gone)

But the Road Safety Centre is moving, and we are going with them.  Shortly a new Road Safety Centre will be opened at Maindy Stadium. The building is under construction and the Training Area and Mock Road System has been laid inside the Cycle Track.  The date is to be confirmed but is expected to be early June. Exciting Times.

Also we are still in talks with Martin at RealWorld Motorcycles at Aberdare with a view to starting CBT, Direct Access and Advanced Training from his Showroom in the Aberdare Valley.

Also some staff changes.  I have taken on a few new instructors recently and welcome on board to Steve and Jeff (both serving traffic cops) and to Simon who has over 18years of Direct Access Training and was running his own training school when the CBT/DAS schemes were introduced.

Sadly we has lost one of our long term instructors who has decided to move on and I wish him all the best.  I give a great big ‘thank you’ to him and his wife for the tireless support that they have given.

So with changes to the test, changes to the test booking system, changes to our home location and staff changes 1st Class Rider is ready to face these challenges and whatever else the Double Standards Agency has to throw at us.

Big Changes, Lots Going On.  Join us.

‘Better to have a Bad Day on the Bike….than a Good Day at The Office’.

Come on, you know you want to.

Cheers for now.