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New BMW, Teddies and Stuff.

The New BMW s1000RR

The New BMW S1000RR has been launched. I received an invitation from Riders of Cardiff but the weekend found me in Plymouth so I paid a visit to an Old Friend, Peter Cramp of Ocean BMW.

The launch was pure drama.  Meet at the Mayflower Steps I was told.  So to the Mayflower Steps I went on a dark wet windy night.  There I was met by a stranger who handed me a torch (A BMW torch at that).  You’ll need this for when you get off the boat.  Please climb aboard.

A boat??  So with forty other equally confused looking potential BMW punters! we set off from the Mayflower Steps, (not to seek out new lands) but for a bumpy 20 minutes across the Ho!

We stepped ashore at a dis-used Naval Store Yard where we were greeted by Fire Eaters, and Jugglers and supplied with Christmas Cake, Mulled wine, Christmas Cake, more juggling, Christmas Cake and just one more piece of cake for me please.

Then in out of thnew bme cold for more Christmas Cake and for the unveiling of the New BMW.  Photographs were not allowed but I managed to get this picture on my  phone before eating some more Christmas Cake.

It looks just like this, only the real bike had a young lady with hardly any clothes on, stood by it.

The new S1000RR is a new concept for BMW.  It comes a long way from the old boxer engine.  Gone are the pots, gone are the BMW ‘either love em or hate em’ indicator buttons, gone is the shaft in favour of a chain.  Gone is the Christmas Cake so I’m off now too.  Oh yes, I got this photo before I left.

bm Now for the technical stuff:  It’s shiny and it goes fast but I can’t fit on it!

The Teddy Run.  Thank You.

Last weekend we did the Teddy Bear Run to the Children’s Casualty Unit at the Heath Hospital in Cardiff.  A total of 17 bikes went along, and we delivered over 100 teddies to be handed out to kids who find themselves in the Casualty Unit over Christmas.  This is a fantastic amount and I want to give a heartfelt thanks to all who came along, and also a big thank you to those that couldn’t make the run, but delivered teddies to Hein Gericke in advance.  They were all delivered safely to the hospital staff, who were very grateful for your efforts.

This picture shows just a few of the teddies who made it!  Thanks again.ted1

So I hope that we can make someones Christmas a little happier.

Now all that remains for me to do…is to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year.  For all of you who have joined me on the ride outs through the last year, thanks for your company and I look forward to riding with you in the New Year.

If you haven’t joined us yet……Come on…You know you want to.

Have a 1st Class Christmas.  Now where is that Christmas Cake.

December 14th, 2009 | Andy Smith | 2 comments | Continued
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Teddy Hospital Run & a Group Riding Warning

S5000350 Hi Chums,

For those of you who will be joining us on the Teddy Bear Run to the Heath Hospital….if you haven’t bought your cuddly toy yet then here is an idea that will give a double benefit.

I was at Ikea today (yes…I know… we all have to go…) and they have a range of cuddly toys from just 39p upwards.  So for a couple of quid you can fill a big bag of Teddy’s.

If you do, at the moment, for every cuddly toy purchased, no matter what the price, Ikea will donate 1 Euro to UNICEF to aid Children throughout The World.  So make your pound go even further, all aiding Children less fortunate than they should be.

If you can’t make the run, please remember that you can drop your Teddy off at Hein Gericke and we will make sure it gets to the Children’s Casualty Unit.

Now for a bit of a Group Riding Warning which may have a far reaching effect on our 1st Class Rider Ride Outs, as well as your own riding, if you are riding with a mate or in a group no matter how small!

Have a read of this.  I recieved this in an email so have no details of the Court ruling other than that given here but the petition is active with over 1200 signatures so far.

Whilst we at 1st Class Rider Training would never condone the example given of Ken Clark riding at 85mph in a 60mph limit, I am sure I do not need to explain how this could be applied to any kind of group riding activity, including our own tours, ride outs or even motorcycle training.  I would urge you to take a few minutes to read this and sign the petition and pass it on to anyone else you may think it may effect.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Lead-Biker-Fined/

Motorcyclists at the head of a group of riders will face stiffer penalties for speeding under a Crown Court ruling.

Being the lead rider in a group is an aggravating factor making you partly responsible for speeding offences of those behind you according to the decision.

The ruling can be applied in any future cases where two or more motorcyclists riding together are accused of speeding. The head rider might be only a few mph over the limit but could be given the same penalty as the worst offender behind.

Road traffic solicitor Robert Dobson said: “Any crown court decision can be stated in future cases. This is potentially a very dangerous judgement for motorcyclists.

“Riders in a group change position frequently.

“If you are riding at the front any group at excess speed, then the very fact you’re at the front is an aggravating factor.”

Ken Clark, 49, reached 85mph on his Yamaha R1 while leading a group of three riders on the 60mph A272 near Rogate, Sussex, last June.

The speed is within the usual threshold for a fixed penalty of three points and a £60 fine.

But Chichester Crown Court ruled he should receive the same penalty as a following rider accused of going 103mph.

Barrister notes on the ruling given to Clark after the hearing state: ‘Although his was the lesser speed, [the bench] found it an aggravating feature that he was the lead motorcyclist, was setting the pace and he knew that the other two motorcyclists would want to catch him up and would be speeding to do so.’

December 3rd, 2009 | Andy Smith | 0 comments | Continued
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Christmas Teddy Run. 12th December

S5001119 I have now been able to arrange a date for the Christmas Teddy Run to the Children’s Casualty Unit at The Heath Hospital, Cardiff.

Saturday the 12th of December.

Meeting at Hein Gericke, Cardiff store on Wellington Street, Cardiff for ‘tea and toast’ before a 10.30am departure to the Children’s Casualty Unit at the Hospital.

This is not the Children’s Hospital but the Children’s Casualty Unit who deal with any children unfortunate enough to find themselves needing emergency treatment over the Christmas period.

Please bring a Teddy (or 2.. or more).  There is no need to wrap them and nothing too big please.

I can’t guarantee that there will be a child there when we arrive !!  In fact I hope not…., but the Staff know we are coming and will gladly accept the  Teddies from us.

It is believed that if a child gets attached to a toy whilst in hospital, it aids the recovery process if they can then take the toy home with them.

So we want Teddies of a size that is easy to handle, not too big and cumbersome that it will get in the way of any treatment the child is undergoing.  It is hoped that the Teddy will be a welcome distraction for the child from any treatment which they may find unpleasant such as stitches or injections.

So please support this event and if you can’t make the actual date of the run on the 12th you can deposit your Teddies at the Hein Gericke store in advance,  and we will ensure the safe arrival at the Hospital.

So come on….You know you want to…..  It’s Christmas…come on you know you’ve GOT to…

I’d like to add a big Thank You to James and Alan at Hein Gericke for letting us in early on Sunday morning and for the excellent catering that they put on for us before our soaking on the way to the NEC Bike show.  A few of us braved the elements to go and see the promo girls….I mean new bikes.

November 30th, 2009 | Andy Smith | 1 comment | Continued
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Hein Gericke- Ear Plugs & Ride Outs

Hein Gericke Ear Plugs Day.

The date for taking of the the Ear Plug Impressions will be Saturday the 21st of November.  The venue will be at the Cardiff Hein Gericke Store.

For those of you who don’t know where it is, it is situated just opposite the Old St. David’s Hospital onWellington Street in Canton at the junction with Cowbridge Road West.  (If you don’t know where St David’s Hospital is…..well it is opposite Hein Gericke of course!!).  The post code for your Sat Nag is  CF11 9BE

There is plenty of free parking at the rear of the store.  If you don’t know where the rear of the store is….. it’s around the back from the front.

The session will start from 10am and each set of impressions take about 20 minutes to complete.  So for those who are waiting there will be free tea or coffee (or both if your caffeine intake needs a kick).

The standard ear plugs will be done for the discount price of £85.  They also do the ‘InEarMonitor’ plugs which incorporate a speaker and connection for MP3 players etc.  These will be done on the day for a reduced fee of £180 (a discount of over £15 off the normal retail price).

Please note that the impressions will be taken by, and plugs provided by Minerva Hearing Protection.  1st Class Rider Training nor Hein Gericke will not be responsible for the production, sale or supply of these plugs and you will be dealing solely with Minerva.

Don’t underestimate the importance of ear protection when you are riding. So don’t miss this opportunity of getting your ears protected at this great discount price.

So Come on….. you know you want to… ‘Pardon’…. I SAID… COME ON YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO….

Now that this date is confirmed I will need to know how many of you will be coming along on the day.

If you could place a comment on the blog as Lee from minerva visits the Blog and can view the comments so he will have an idea of numbers.  Cheers

Ride Out to the NEC.

The NEC, Bike Show Ride out arranged for Sunday the 29th will also start at the Cardiff Hein Gericke Store.  You know where it is….it’s where you got your Ear Plugs.

The store will be opening in advance of their normal hours to let us in for a cuppa and maybe a slice of toast before we depart.  Staff will be there to welcome you from 9am, for a 9.45 departure.

Park at the rear and use the rear entrance as the window shutters will still be down.

Remember, 1st Class Riders enjoy a good discount at Hein Gericke – get a voucher from me.

So come on…you know you want to….

November 11th, 2009 | Andy Smith | 5 comments | Continued
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Next Ride Out. NEC Bike Show 29th November

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Hi Chums.  All still Riding?  All getting Wet? Well come and get wet on the next ride out to the Annual Bike Show at the NEC at Birmingham on Sunday the 29th of November.

Hopefully the meeting point will be the Hein Gericke store in Cardiff, for a 9.30am departure. (to be confirmed…) Did you know that 1st Class Rider ’students’ will get a 20% discount on purchases at Hein Gericke.  Get a voucher from me & Happy Shopping!

This ride out will take us up the A465 to Hereford for a stop at the Golden Arches on the way into Hereford before travelling cross country to Worcester and joining the M5 -M42 for the final run into the NEC.

So come and see whats new in bikes, clothing, kit and all those shiny bits and pieces that you just know you can’t live without. It’s always a great day out.

What’s This Ear?

The up date on the Ear Plugs is that we have managed to get the price down from £99 to £85 and apparently it’s ‘buy one…get one free’.  You buy the left one for £85 and you get the right one for nothing.

The impressions take about 10 minutes to take and the plugs get delivered to your door within approx 10 days.

I have the choice of 2 dates and we will go with the majority so please let me know your preference as soon as possible.  A venue will be set as soon as we can pick a date. The choice is;  Saturday the 21st or Wednesday the 25th of November.

December Ride Out

Our usual Christmas Trip to Bethlehem would be due to be made on the weekend of the 5th of December but unfortunately I can’t make this date.  (This is the date of the Christmas Fayre at the Old School in Bethlehem) and your Christmas cards (1st Class stamped only) will be given the Special ‘Christmas Greetings from Bethlehem’ hand stamp to give your Christmas Cards that special touch. So if anyone wants their cards done then that is the time to go…but you will have to find your own way.  (I’ve heard that following a Star from the East works!)

So as this date is so close to the NEC trip I wanted to do something else a little bit special for Christmas.

It is hoped that I can resurrect or Teddy Bear Run to the Children’s Casualty Unit at the Heath Hospital in Cardiff.  All I would ask is that everyone attending buy a teddy (or 2..0r 3.. or – You can get a bag full of teddys for about a fiver from Ikea)  Big or small it matters not.  It is hoped that we can ride to the Hospital and hand our teddys to the staff to be given out to any child unfortunate enough to find themselves in Hospital over the Christmas period.

It has been proven that if a child becomes attached to a particular toy whilst in hospital it aids the recovery process if that toy can be taken home with the child.  Obviously the NHS can’t fund such a thing so I’m asking you to dig deep and go to the shops to pick your favourite teddy.

So if you haven’t joined us on a ride out yet, or haven’t been for awhile then this could be the one to get you back out on your bike.

The date will be confirmed and for this one I would need to know how many will be joining me so I can let the hospital know, and to make the necessary arrangements.

Come on… you know you want to…..

November 7th, 2009 | Andy Smith | 9 comments | Continued