January 2019
 
Dates For Your Diary
 
 
Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of every month at Liddington Village Hall, opposite the church
      
  

February  11th
 
Geoff Brown Severn Freewheelers Blood Bike Group

  

 
Skillshare
Next date is 6 April 2019 at Three Trees Farm Shop, Chiseldon
 
BikeSafe Lyneham 
3 July 2019
Supporting to Police with tutors at MOD Lyneham
 
Calne Bike Meet
27 July 2019
 
 
                     
 
Monthly Ride-Outs
Remember that monthly Bike Ride-Outs take place on the 3rd Saturday of every month. Check the Forum for details
Do you have a topic you would like discussed, or know of an interesting speaker?  Please contact Monica!
 
 
Congratulations

Congratulations to the following members who have passed their Advanced Tests recently:  
 
 

Eddie Ruskin; Car retest  - Gold.  
 
 
 
 
Merchandise
Don’t forget that we have a range of clothing available to purchase. We also offer a range of books, such as Roadcraft, Motorcycle Roadcraft and the Highway Code, and these are available at discounted prices.

For more information visit the Merchandise page of our web site at www.wiltshireroadar.co.uk.
We are always looking for more articles, ideas and news for the newsletter. Have you been somewhere interesting recently that would make a good story? If you attend any group events then take a camera and send us your pictures!

Please forward all contributions to newsletter@wiltshireroadar.co.uk
 
 
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Notices
 
Happy New Year

The Committee wish all memebers a very Happy New Year and all the best for a safe and fun 2019. 
 
You will recall from the AGM we are focussing on promoting the Group this year and we all need to help with this.  If you have any ideas then please let any of the Committee know and we are always on the lookout for people to take on projects or join the committee.
 
We hope to have some promotional material by the March meeting for all to distribute to raise awareness.  Please all do your bit to promote our Group and the benefits of advanced driving and riding.
 
 
 
 
 
Skittle Mania - Annual Meal
In Lieu of the January meeting we had a fun evening with 24 of us playing skittles and feasting on a rather spendid buffet at the Cross Keys Pub in Rowde.  The competition produced some interesting results with some reverting to brute force whilst others skillfully won by an accurate and more delicate approach.
 
We plan to do the same next year.  Many thanks to Mary Southgate who organised the event and kept us all in good order and policed the skittle cheaters!
 
Bike Trip- Milau Bridge Southern France - May Bank Holiday Weekend
Dear Riders
As some of you are aware, that in addition of my affection of Italian Mistresses, otherwise known as my Ducati’s, I also have an unusual fondness of bridges. Don’t worry it has been noted those of you who prefer the Bavarian Frau and Hinckley Babes….  But some of you are probably now bored of hearing me talk about my desire to combine my two desires with a trip to the Millau Bridge in France…..
Here is a chance to combine yours!!!
This cable-stayed bridge spans the gorge valley of the Tarn near Millau in southern France. In a Franco-British partnership, it was designed by the English architect Lord Norman Foster and French structural engineer Michel Virlogeux. As of November 2018, it is the tallest bridge in the world, having a structural height of 343 metres (1,125 ft)… and I think it still is!!
I am therefore writing to you all to invite you for a long weekend ride out down to the bridge for lunch and back home…. With a few refreshments and more lunches, dinner and sleepovers in between…
The plan is to all meet on Thursday 2nd May at 21:30 at Portsmouth to board the Brittany Ferries sailing to Caen, France, that departs 22:45 for an overnight sailing to Caen. Sleeping cabins included!
Our typical itinerary is as follows:
We will arrive in Caen on Friday morning at around 07:00
Friday will be the most demanding of our rides, approx. 5 hrs total ride: From Caen ride down to Tours where we take lunch. From Tours we ride down to Vichy where we will stay overnight. Hotel TBC
Saturday
Ride down to Milau bridge for Photo shoot, then down into the valley where we will overnight… again Hotel TBC
Sunday
We return to Tours or Saumur via Viaduc de Garabitand, a wrought-iron railway viaduct across the Truyère river, constructed by Gustave Eiffel in the 1880s. We will stay overnight in Tours or Saumur both magnificent cities situated on the Loire River  … once again hotel TBC.
Bank Holiday Monday
Back to Caen via Pegasus Bridge to catch the 16:30 ferry arriving into Portsmouth the same day at 21:30
Pegasus Bridge is also known as the Bénouville Bridge after the neighbouring village, it was, with the nearby Ranville Bridge over the river Orne, later renamed Horsa Bridge, a major objective of the British airborne troops during Operation Deadstick, part of Operation Tonga in the opening minutes of the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944 during the Second World War. A unit of glider infantry of the 2nd Battalion, the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, British 6th Airborne Division, commanded by Major John Howard, was to land, take the bridges intact and hold them until relieved. The successful taking of the bridges played an important role in limiting the effectiveness of a German counter-attack in the days and weeks following the Normandy invasion.
In 1944 it was renamed Pegasus Bridge in honour of the operation. The name is derived from the shoulder emblem worn by the British airborne forces, which is the flying horse Pegasus.
Costs
All costs are per bike and It is assumed each motorcycle has rider and Pillion
Brittany Ferry Costs (Return Fare)            
£289/couple including overnight Cabin on Thursday evening
Hotel    
Searching through Booking.com, I am assuming a budget of £85 per couple per night.
3 nights = £255.00 per couple
Fuel      
approx. £150 Budget for 1300 miles.
Other   
Lunch, Dinner and the occasional drink of your choice
This will be a great weekend, and I’m happy to make all the formal arrangements on your behalf if you would like to come along. All I ask is for deposits as required.
Please let me know if you can make it, and please let me know before Saturday 9th February with deposit of £100, as I will be making appropriate reservations that same weekend
Please do not hesitate to contact me on 07774 143 462 or stuart.gore@jardiniers.co.uk for further information 
Kind Regards
Stuart
 
Skillshare  - We Need Your help
 
Skillshare will take place in 2 locations again this year.   6 April, 1 June, 3 August and 5 October at the 3 trees Farm Shop in Chiseldon and 4 May, 6 July and 7 September at the Haven Cafe near Salisbury. 
 
All Members please do you best to advertise this; we did not get the message out well  last year and turn out was poor.   A concerted effort from us all to promote the group and this FREE sklills session will help to boost our profile so ask your family, friends and work colleagues to come and have a go.  Details and the ability to book in are on the website.
 
Grateful if all tutors look to see if they can come and help  - without you it simply will not work
 
Ride Out Reports
 
November 2018
 
On a  Crisp and birght morning a group of 8 Bike members set off for a trip to the Steel Horse Cafe near Abergavenny in Wales.  True to form we did not take the most direct route (only one u turn before you all start to abuse the leader's poor navigation) and popped up via Gloucester (interesting roads around the East of Gloucester to get to the A40).  It shows the gorup ride policy works as we did not lose anyone in the myraid of multi lane and very busy ring roads with confusing signage and not much speed discipline from other road users.  We rode on  some lovely roads to reach our lunch destination which is a bikers cafe with a friendly atmonsphere and a great menu. 
 
 
Lunch in The Steel Horse cafe
 
 
 
A nice ornament in the Cafe
 
A more direct route home via Chepstow, taking in some excellent B roads and skilfully picking our way through some wet autumn leaves saw us over the old Severn bridge and back towards Wiltshire just as it was getting dark.  A great day out.
 
December 2018
 
A smaller group braved a cold and grey day for a short trip from Marlborough to Loomies Moto cafe near Winchester.  Following B roads and sweeping A roads we arrived just as our hands were getting cold for a welcome bacon buttie and tea; some of us also had cake but it was cold so this was acceptable.  There had been a litlte light rain on the way but nothing to dampen our enthusaism for riding and the freedom of the road.
 
 
 
Ready for the ride home
 
 
Full of tea and cheer we set off in search of more winding roads to take us home.  The rain was a little more determined as we set off, becoming downright belligerent not long after we left the comfort of the Cafe.  A great challenge to ride in such conditions and our training held us all in good stead.  We split up to our own homes around Devizes feeling like a small band of Brothers of the December Ride out . Kit hung up to dry (it took a full day) and more tea I was able to reflect on the trip - we know we can ride in heavy rain.  And it is true no matter how good your kit some rain does get through,but why is it always the crotch which gets damp first!!
 
 
Geeks Corner - How Many Are we?
 
Membership overall
113

Car Members
50

Bike Members
58
 
Dual membership
5

 
64 with tests - 43 member plus 21 tutors
 
49 with no test
 
Communication 

RoADAR Roadshows - Last workshop with RoADAR HQ 23 Feb Silverstone
 
RoADAR HQ are conducting their last RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders workshops.
 
The aim of the half day workshops is to share best practice, network with our fellow groups and colleagues, discuss our achievements over the past 12 months (including talking about what’s next); there will be a forum where members can discuss various topics to allow HQ to hear your ideas and views.
 
The workshops are free to attend and are open to all subscribing full members
 
The workshop shall take place from 9:30 – 12:30 on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at  Silverstone

Book your place
 
To book your place or for more information, please click the following link: www.rospa.com/events/roadar-roadshows/  and complete the booking form. If you have any questions or queries please contact furtherinfo@roadar.org or call 012 248 2099.
 
Spaces are limited and issued on a first-come first-served basis.
 
RoSPA has the final decision on attendees. 
 
Committee minutes    These are available from the Group Secretary if any member wishes to see them. If you are interested in reading the minutes, then please send a mail to the Group Secretary whom will promptly forward them onto you.
 
Committee membership  Always on the lookout for willing volunteers to help run the group and maintain its high standards. Just for info, the committee meets once a month. However, the mix of the committee is very strongly biased towards bikers; there is only one car representative now on the committee. Any car drivers want to change the balance?
  
Forum

Please all Members use the Forum on the Website which can be used for any purpose but particularly coordinating events, hints, tips and general conversation.  It is easy to register on the website so please do log on and chat away.
      
 
Test results 
 
Reminder to let the Membership Secretary and your tutor know when you have taken your Advanced Driving/Riding Test and result. This is so our database is kept up to date; there is no need or pressure at all to have the result published on the website or in this newsletter if you wish to keep your result confidential.

  
 
RoADAR Head Office facebook Page
 
Reminder of the page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/161699161113584/ or type in RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders in to your facebook.
 
 
 
Membership Secretary: Mr Gary Franks
Hon Secretary: Mr Peter Genet
secretary@wiltshireroadar.co.uk
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