Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists (IAM)

Hi,

Institute of Advance Motorcyclists
Rockingham Forest Group February Ride-Out

The group met for the second ride-out of the winter months. The venue had
been arranged for Tesco's car park, Corby, 8:30 a.m. After a couple of
phone calls it became apparent that some of the group had convened at the
Asda car park and had reported passing another group in the B & Q car
park. The Tesco group travelled in Convoy to Asda and then on to B & Q.
Unfortunately, the B & Q car park was empty except for one elderly
gentleman who wanted to know if we were the Triumph owners club, who had
arranged to meet there for their nine o'clock ride out. He joined us as we
went back to Tesco's to see who else had turned up. After a short break
for coffee and roll-ups, the group eventually departed Tesco's carpark at
9:15 heading north towards Rockingham. The old gentleman with the even
older Triumph, Stan as we came to know him, accepted our invitation to
ride part of the way with us hoping to meet up with the other Triumph
riders.

The group was led by Mike, our chair, and comprised two senior observers,
four group observers and eight associates, plus Stan. Normal group ride
rules were observed by all riders, except Stan who had not been briefed.
The route had been planned to take in some "technical" features, including
a couple of five-way roundabouts, some NSL dual carriageway and a
particularly "interesting" blind T-junction on a one-in-three gradient. In
retrospect, this was perhaps too ambitious for the group, some of whom
had not attended the training session the preceding Wednesday evening.

The trouble started on the five-way roundabout when, according to group
ride rules Terry, the convoy leader, attempted to park at the second exit
to direct the rest of the group along the indicated road. His manoeuvre
proved to be a little too abrupt for Mike (group chair) behind him. A
nose-to-tail collision ensued causing both riders to drop their bikes.
Fortunately no lasting damage was done by the collision, although the
resulting scuffle left Mike with a nasty gash on his chin. Thankfully our
guest rider, Stan, was able to step in and prevent an ugly incident from
developing. Mike has since had the fairing plastic re-welded and tells me
he will have the stitches out of his chin in time for the next committee
meeting. (It should be noted that Terry has given notice of his intention
to leave the group to devote more time to his police career, we wish him
well).

Leaving Mike and Terry to wait for the ambulance, the rest of the group
pressed on. Leaving the 30 m.p.h speed limit and embarking on the ring
road, the group spread out a little. Group A (let us call them) attempted
to keep up with Stan with the intention of explaining our policy on speed
limits. Group B were content to make safe progress to the next way-point.
Group C apparently became confused over the directions and headed back
into Corby.

Groups A and B met up at the East Carlton Country Park where it had been
agreed with the park-keepers that a slow-ride of the Park lanes would be
followed by a machine control session. Unfortunately, this had to be
abandoned after three of the first five riders fell off on the wet leaves
that were coating the paths. First aid was administered to machines and
riders. Our new friend the Guest rider Stan, proved to be very resourceful
in this respect with a plentiful supply of gaffer tape, steel wire and
sterile dressings to hand. Once the patching up was completed, it was
found that the wayward group C had arrived from one direction and PC Terry
had cuaght us up from the other. The coincidental arrival was fortuitous
as Terry was able to explain to Group C's police escort that despite the
appearance, they were not attempting to block the road, nor was any
un-licensed demonstration under way.

By now it was nearly noon and only twenty of the planned 150 miles were
behind us. A breakfast break had been scheduled at the Little Chef so the
group set off along the main westerly route towards the by-pass. Arriving
without incident at the Little Chef, we were able to meet up with the
Northampton group who had arrived a little earlier. The main conversation
was around the injuries and damage suffered by each group in getting this
far. The rumour that the county had implemented their major disaster plan
was rife, although later found to be false.

After the traditional bacon bap and roll-up, both groups went their
separate ways, and then re-rendezvoused back at the cafe so that the
associates from Corby could re-join their group and the newbies from
Northampton rejoin theirs.

It was at this point I became worried about old Stan. He appeared to have
been drinking, his face was several shades redder than when he joined us
that morning and he was giggling uncontrollably, sometimes bending double
and clutching his stomach, as if about to vomit. In between these fits, I
asked him if he was o.k.. He replied that everything was alright, and that
he had just remembered an old joke. I let it lie at that point as I was
called away to help untangle two bikes whose panniers had become
interlocked while leaving the car park.

The trip back towards Corby passed without incident, that is until the
first bend. Several plastic road cones had been dislodged from their
position occupying the line around a right hand bend. In swerving and
braking to avoid these cones the first senior observer high-sided his BMW
and was catapulted into the air. Fortunately a thick hedge broke his fall
and he was unscathed from this incident. His injuries were actually caused
when the second senior observer, in attempting to avoid the prone BMW,
mounted the pavement and ran him down. Our commiserations to them both and
we wish them a speedy recovery from their injuries. Our thanks also to the
Northampton air ambulance service for their speedy response. Our thanks
also to the Royal Air Force who had to scramble a rescue helicopter to
deal with two similar unfortunate incidents suffered that morning by our
colleagues in the Northampton group.

It was only another hour or so before we were on our way once again, this
time with a police escort of four handsome Pan-Europeans which drew much
envy from most members of the group. Behind these was a BBC Northampton
news team. "Top cover" was provided by the Northants Constabulary
surveillance helicopter. (Incidentally, I have received news that copies
of the police video can be made available at a nominal cost, apparently
there is much demand for them). The trip back into Corby was made at a
steady rate of progress, providing plenty of opportunity to admire the
scenery and views. It was perhaps this degree of inattention that caused
our two group observers leading the ride to collide with the machines of
the police escort who had stopped at a major road junction. To be fair
though, it had not been explained to us that even with two-tone sirens and
flashing blue lights, police riders and drivers are still expected to
comply with traffic signals.

It was getting dark and foggy when the convoy reached the Tesco car park.
Some ice was apparent too so there was little resistance to the Deputy
Chief Constable's suggestion that we secure our machines in the car park
and accept his offer of a lift home in a bus which was able to commandeer
for this purpose.

Has anybody seen or heard of Stan, by the way? The last thing I remember
him saying was that he hadn't had such a good laugh in ages and he'd love
to come out with us again. He told me he never passed his test on a bike
and I think he might benefit from one of our fixed-length courses.
************************************************** ***********************

Part 2

Rockingham Forest Group of Advanced Motorcyclists
Report on "Motorcycle Maintenance Evening"

February's second associate training evening was given over to a motorcycle maintenance class, presented by special guest speaker, Nick Davies of " Nick's Hot Wheels and Tuning Laboratory" of Corby.

The session began with an introduction covering the basic construction of the motorcycle including frame construction, suspension, steering geometry and engines.

Routine maintenance was next, including checking tyre pressures, chain tension and lubrication, brake adjustments, oil level, battery electrolyte and lighting checks. The points were illustrated using Nick's own excellently-preserved vintage Honda.

Following a brief refreshment break in the bar, the attendees were divided into teams of three for the practical tasks.

Removing a wheel.

Team A started with the front wheel of the Honda. Removing the split pin and lock nut were straightforward. After several heavy blows had failed to shift the spindle Nick had to step in to point out that the clamp at the fork-bottom also had to be released. This was done using an allen key of nearly the right size. The spindle had then to be carefully filed back to shape prior to removal, due to the mushroom effect at one end resulting from the hammer blows.

As the wheel was removed, the necessity for propping up the rest of the bike became apparent. The need to do this without trapping one's fingers was also underlined when some over-enthusiastic pumping of trolley-jack handle trapped Nick's finger against the frame. The damage turned out to not as bad as was feared at the time. Nick tells me the nail will soon grow back.

Putting the wheel back on is, of course, the reverse of the above. The allen-headed bolts securing the fork-end clamp were damaged either during removal or replacement and could not be tightened properly. The locknut was tightened properly but the split pin could not be found. Nick showed how a length of wire could be employed as a "get-you-home" measure. (I am sure he will enjoy a wry smile reading this use of his own words!)

Chain Tension
With the front wheel back on and the bike on the centrestand chain tension may be checked and adjusted. Team B needed no help to locate the locknut assembly and commence the tension check. It was while Nick was pointing out likely signs of rear sprocket wear that the rear wheel was accidentally set in motion, trapping another finger of his already-injured right hand. Fortunately it appears that no bones were broken and no skin-graft will be required. As with Nick's misfortune concerning the trolleyjack, it appears that this nail too will soon grow back. (Just out of interest, can anyone remember re-tightening the lock nut? I fear that in the excitement this may have been overlooked, and might account for the events which followed.)

Checking Fuses

The fuses on this model of the Honda are located under a panel close to the headstock and secured by two allen bolts. Team C located the fuses and removed the panel. The various sized fuses are colour-coded, so there was really no excuse for getting three of them back into their wrong sockets and blowing them when the ignition was turned on. When Nick returned from having first-aid applied to his injured hand, he was able to demonstrate how a makeshift fuse can be fashioned using the metal foil from a cigarette packet.

Without naming names, it was while removing the foil from the cigarette packet that one of our associates dropped some cigarettes on he floor. And it was while bending to retrieve the cigarettes that this individual grasped the handlebars of Nick machine causing them to swing to one side, trapping one of Nick's un-injured fingers in the headstock assembly. This really was a freak accident for which nobody should held responsible but which sadly caused the loss of yet another fingernail for Nick.

Changing Headlamp Bulb

It was Team A's turn once again. With Nick standing well out of the way on the other side of the room, the headlamp bezel was removed, the lens detached
and the bulb removed from its socket. We were all reminded of the dangers of the workshop when the still-hot bulb scorched the fingers of the associate handling it causing it to fall to the floor and shatter. During this minor confusion someone accidentally stood on the headlamp lens assembly, causing it to break The retaining bezel was also bent out of shape. This was regrettable, as it turned out that Nick was not equipped with a spare bulb, lens or bezel but as he had not far to go, he would ride home using the sidelights.

Changing Engine Oil

As time was running out, Team B were excused the actual task of changing the oil and had to be content with a verbal run through of warming up the engine, draining the oil, refitting the drain plug and refilling via the filler cap.

Minor bodywork repairs

Nick explained that due to the impracticality of applying filler and paint outside of a workshop environment, this would not be attempted during this session. Anyone interested in techniques would be welcome to book a visit to the Hot Wheels workshop for a conducted tour. Samples of Wet and Dry abrasive, fibreglass filler, paint and thinners were on hand and passed around. The flammability of the latter was inadvertently demonstrated when a cigarette was brought too close to the opened container. Happily the damage to the bike's upholstery and paintwork was only cosmetic and Nick escaped this incident completely uninjured.

Footnote

As I am sure most of the group are aware, Nick was involved in accident on the way home from the group meeting. It appears that a combination of mechanical failure and Nicks injuries combined to cause him to lose control of his machine. In the resulting spill he sustained further injuries involving his remaining good hand and both knees. His motorcycle was damaged beyond economic repair and has been written off by his insurance company.

This is a salutary warning to all of us that motorcycling is a hazardous past-time demanding total concentration. Even Nick's extensive experience of track and road riding failed to protect him on this occasion.

I have been in touch with Nick who assures me he will be up and about soon. I was able to express my thanks and those of the group for the success of the motorcycle maintenance evening and extend our invitation for a repeat session later in the year. Sadly, it seems that Nick's existing commitments to family and business affairs mean that he will be unable to make any extra pledges of time for the foreseeable future.

Courteny Fish
Associate Training Officer

**********************************

STS

[Worldlife]

That's the funniest read I've had for ages STS...

It deserves Seaview's mass laughter smilies but these will have to make do

[seaviewuk]

Bloody Hell!!!

I ain't reading that.

I have actually got a life to live