squirrel_hunter
12-07-15, 08:35 PM
Well it was the National BikeSafe (http://www.bikesafe.co.uk/) event yesterday at Castle Combe circuit. I've been going every year for the past 5 I think, its a bit of fun for £30. Basically the first bit is an assessed ride with the Police, and following that a 15 minute track session. I've done it on a Blackbird, SV650, ER6, and a GSXF750, but this year I decided to do it on the bike I wanted to take last year, my TZR.
I get down to the circuit in plenty of time for my ride and have a wonder about. John McGuinness was wondering around also, having a few photos with the fans. I'm not a celebrity spotter or anything but it was nice to see a biking legend in the flesh, though he is a lot smaller in real life then he is on the telly. And from all accounts from other riders who had spoken to him, a thoroughly nice chap. There were a few stalls and some of the big manufacturers where there, it looked like some were doing test rides also. There was also a Moto Gymkhana there which looks interesting.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/squirrel_hunters_photos/Project%20Garage%20Find/BIKESAFE110715%203625_zpsok7titns.jpg
Anyway the time came for my assessed ride. I found my Police officer and another rider, a chap on a GS and out we go. Its not a long ride, maybe 20 miles or so. One pupil goes in front with the Police rider behind assessing their riding, halfway round there is a little debrief and the pupils swap for the ride back so both get assessed followed by a longer debrief at the end. The point to the assessment is basically looking to get advanced riding techniques out there and reduce the accident figures, all very good.
Our debrief was more of a chat, really informal and story swapping. Our Police rider is involved in a case where a young chap took a bike out for a test ride, videoed himself doing 150mph+ out on the road and then decided it was a good idea to post it on YouTube... But enough of that it was time for the nerves to kick in as I headed over to the noise testing.
Castle Combe has a very strict 105db limit, I'd no idea what level my Martin77 pipes come in at. However I got the feeling it was going to be ok when the tester looked up at the bike and started smiling. Apparently I was the only 2 stroke all day, and he used to have a 350lc so I had a good feeling. 101db, sticker on the windscreen and off to pit lane after a short wait for the recovery truck to come past as someone ran out of talent on their second lap.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/squirrel_hunters_photos/Project%20Garage%20Find/BIKESAFE110715%203689_zpscq98gnzh.jpg
We were all given a little safety talk about the track, cornering, braking, and flags before the wait for our session. Once we get the go ahead an instructor leads the group round for the first lap to show them the track and to warm the tyres up before getting under-way at our own pace. Now I'm not the best of riders and I wasn't going to push it, I was going to ride at my own pace and I'm glad I did. For some reason I didn't feel like I had much grip and got a couple of front end twitches so was happy just to take it easy. The rider in front of me on the opening lap however had a slightly different idea... He took to the escape road at Bobbies Chicane followed by the grass on the exit of the Bybrook Chicane. Thankfully I think he pulled into the pits on the next lap.
Anyway I overtook a couple of riders and a few overtook me. There was a R1 and GSXR that stayed behind for a couple of laps before coming past, I think they stayed behind for the sound. Like I said I've ridden BikeSafe a few times and I've never seen people photographing my bike before. As I was coming off the track the marshal's at the pit demanded I gave the bike another rev and I got comments such as 'they need to make that smell into an aftershave'!
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/squirrel_hunters_photos/Project%20Garage%20Find/BIKESAFE110715%203738_zpsuz91pel1.jpg
All in a good little day out. If any of you get the chance next year give it a go, but who knows what I'll be riding then...
I get down to the circuit in plenty of time for my ride and have a wonder about. John McGuinness was wondering around also, having a few photos with the fans. I'm not a celebrity spotter or anything but it was nice to see a biking legend in the flesh, though he is a lot smaller in real life then he is on the telly. And from all accounts from other riders who had spoken to him, a thoroughly nice chap. There were a few stalls and some of the big manufacturers where there, it looked like some were doing test rides also. There was also a Moto Gymkhana there which looks interesting.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/squirrel_hunters_photos/Project%20Garage%20Find/BIKESAFE110715%203625_zpsok7titns.jpg
Anyway the time came for my assessed ride. I found my Police officer and another rider, a chap on a GS and out we go. Its not a long ride, maybe 20 miles or so. One pupil goes in front with the Police rider behind assessing their riding, halfway round there is a little debrief and the pupils swap for the ride back so both get assessed followed by a longer debrief at the end. The point to the assessment is basically looking to get advanced riding techniques out there and reduce the accident figures, all very good.
Our debrief was more of a chat, really informal and story swapping. Our Police rider is involved in a case where a young chap took a bike out for a test ride, videoed himself doing 150mph+ out on the road and then decided it was a good idea to post it on YouTube... But enough of that it was time for the nerves to kick in as I headed over to the noise testing.
Castle Combe has a very strict 105db limit, I'd no idea what level my Martin77 pipes come in at. However I got the feeling it was going to be ok when the tester looked up at the bike and started smiling. Apparently I was the only 2 stroke all day, and he used to have a 350lc so I had a good feeling. 101db, sticker on the windscreen and off to pit lane after a short wait for the recovery truck to come past as someone ran out of talent on their second lap.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/squirrel_hunters_photos/Project%20Garage%20Find/BIKESAFE110715%203689_zpscq98gnzh.jpg
We were all given a little safety talk about the track, cornering, braking, and flags before the wait for our session. Once we get the go ahead an instructor leads the group round for the first lap to show them the track and to warm the tyres up before getting under-way at our own pace. Now I'm not the best of riders and I wasn't going to push it, I was going to ride at my own pace and I'm glad I did. For some reason I didn't feel like I had much grip and got a couple of front end twitches so was happy just to take it easy. The rider in front of me on the opening lap however had a slightly different idea... He took to the escape road at Bobbies Chicane followed by the grass on the exit of the Bybrook Chicane. Thankfully I think he pulled into the pits on the next lap.
Anyway I overtook a couple of riders and a few overtook me. There was a R1 and GSXR that stayed behind for a couple of laps before coming past, I think they stayed behind for the sound. Like I said I've ridden BikeSafe a few times and I've never seen people photographing my bike before. As I was coming off the track the marshal's at the pit demanded I gave the bike another rev and I got comments such as 'they need to make that smell into an aftershave'!
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/squirrel_hunters_photos/Project%20Garage%20Find/BIKESAFE110715%203738_zpsuz91pel1.jpg
All in a good little day out. If any of you get the chance next year give it a go, but who knows what I'll be riding then...