Wondering what Christmas presents to get for the motorcyclist in your family?
Try Riders.org - that's Riders for Health - and their shop for a couple of novel ideas:
£10 A fortnight’s worth of fuel for a health worker
£20 A tool kit for a health worker
£35 A helmet for a health worker
£55 A day’s training for a health worker
There you are: fantastic, novel, and potentially life-saving Christmas gift present ideas for bikers!!!
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Saturday, 21 November 2009
Friday, 20 November 2009
Instructor Beware!
This weeks (18th Nov) Motorcycle news reports the case of Ken Clark, who was in court on a speeding charge.
He was caught speeding at 85mph, and would normally have expected a relatively 'mild' fine.
But he was awarded six points, fined, and had to pay £250 costs.
Why? Because he was the lead rider of a group, and although he wasn't substantially exceeding the speed limit , other riders in the group were (allegations of 103mph) - and it was seen that their riding was his responsibility.
This raises, in my mind, concerns over riding instructors being held responsible for the riding of their trainees.
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He was caught speeding at 85mph, and would normally have expected a relatively 'mild' fine.
But he was awarded six points, fined, and had to pay £250 costs.
Why? Because he was the lead rider of a group, and although he wasn't substantially exceeding the speed limit , other riders in the group were (allegations of 103mph) - and it was seen that their riding was his responsibility.
This raises, in my mind, concerns over riding instructors being held responsible for the riding of their trainees.
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Risk & Riders
If you like to read about riding, then this may be of interest:
http://www.writetoride.co.uk/RISK_AND_MOTORCYCLING_161109_v.3.pdf
RISK AND MOTORCYCLES
In the last decade, the risk of motorcycling has become the focus of research and government road safety departments which have identified the need to find solutions to the cause of death and injuries of riders.
A report published in 2006 by the Scottish Executive entitled “Risk and Motorcyclists in Scotland” categorises motorcyclists as “Risk Deniers”, “Optimistic Accepters” and “Realistic Accepters” basing these on the decision of the researcher as to whether the information provided is correct.
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http://www.writetoride.co.uk/RISK_AND_MOTORCYCLING_161109_v.3.pdf
RISK AND MOTORCYCLES
In the last decade, the risk of motorcycling has become the focus of research and government road safety departments which have identified the need to find solutions to the cause of death and injuries of riders.
A report published in 2006 by the Scottish Executive entitled “Risk and Motorcyclists in Scotland” categorises motorcyclists as “Risk Deniers”, “Optimistic Accepters” and “Realistic Accepters” basing these on the decision of the researcher as to whether the information provided is correct.
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Thursday, 19 November 2009
Bugatti Veyron Boat
From here
A US man claims a low-flying pelican caused him to veer off a road and drive his $1m Bugatti Veyron into a salt marsh.
La Marque police Lt. Greg Gilchrist says the man claimed he lost concentration while driving his French-built Bugatti because the bird swooped into sight.
Gilchrist says the driver dropped his phone, reached down to pick it up and strayed into the brackish water in La Marque, about 35 miles southeast of Houston.
Well, I'm just glad it wasn't his fault.
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Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Goodbye, Sir Knight!
We bid farewell to a neighbour.
Well, a neighbour's caravan anyway!
A very rare Coventry 'Knight' caravan, dating from the late 1940s. It's had an interesting life starting off, I understand, as a mobile bank then in later life being used as accomodation for farm workers.
More info on them here here and here, and here if you have access to Google Books.
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Monday, 16 November 2009
I Have Seen . . .
An 'older vehicles' theme this time.
- A 'James Bond' type Aston Martin, in the centre of London. Don't know if it was actually a DB5 or 6 - but it wasn't hanging about. SMERSH on it's tail, perhaps?
- A Moto Guzzi V50, in silver, with the mini-'Spada' three-part fairing. I had a red V50, with a 'California'-style screen & crash bars.
- An NSU RO80. Sadly, this was rather decrepit, and on the back of a lorry. Hopefully, going to a caring place & owner.
Not an older vehicle, but heading West along the M4 late at night, a Bently with the registration 'D11SCO'. John Travolta, perhaps? Or Gloria gaynor?
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- A 'James Bond' type Aston Martin, in the centre of London. Don't know if it was actually a DB5 or 6 - but it wasn't hanging about. SMERSH on it's tail, perhaps?
- A Moto Guzzi V50, in silver, with the mini-'Spada' three-part fairing. I had a red V50, with a 'California'-style screen & crash bars.
- An NSU RO80. Sadly, this was rather decrepit, and on the back of a lorry. Hopefully, going to a caring place & owner.
Not an older vehicle, but heading West along the M4 late at night, a Bently with the registration 'D11SCO'. John Travolta, perhaps? Or Gloria gaynor?
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Sunday, 15 November 2009
Motorcycle-Related Research - Recent Publications
A variety to peruse:
Research Reports published by TRL on behalf of DfT/DSA, all available at: http://www.trl.co.uk/online_store/reports_publications/latest_publications.
• A review of motorcycle training
• Updating the motorcycle test for 2009: exploring the training requirements for off-road manoeuvres
• Passion, performance, practicality: motorcyclists’ motivations and attitudes to safety
A summary findings on the latter report is available on the DfT site at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme2/attitidestosafety/
(Posted & Linked yesterday)
The statistical release Motorcycling Compendium available at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/vehicles/motorcycling/motorcyclingstats2009.
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Research Reports published by TRL on behalf of DfT/DSA, all available at: http://www.trl.co.uk/online_store/reports_publications/latest_publications.
• A review of motorcycle training
• Updating the motorcycle test for 2009: exploring the training requirements for off-road manoeuvres
• Passion, performance, practicality: motorcyclists’ motivations and attitudes to safety
A summary findings on the latter report is available on the DfT site at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme2/attitidestosafety/
(Posted & Linked yesterday)
The statistical release Motorcycling Compendium available at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/vehicles/motorcycling/motorcyclingstats2009.
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Saturday, 14 November 2009
What Type of Rider are You?
Are you one of these:
• Performance disciples: precautionary fatalism: see risk as unavoidable negative of riding but tend not to think about it all the time – emphasis on personal skill and armour as responses to risk.
• Performance hobbyists: cautious attraction: see risk as part of what makes riding fun, but very circumspect about own abilities to deal with risks, leading to caution in behaviour.
• Riding disciples: active management of risks: highly conscious of potential risk in riding, take active steps to manage it by responsible riding behaviour and use of gear.
• Riding hobbyists: personal responsibility for avoiding risk: highly conscious of risk, tendency to avoid potentially risky situations altogether, and to emphasise rider’s responsibility for risks.
• Car rejecters: high awareness and high unhappiness: very sensitive to the risks of riding, and see this as a strong argument against riding.
• Car aspirants: low awareness but high educability: tend not to think about the risks of riding and as a result may not take steps to manage them; but signs that they will take steps when the risks are pointed out to them.
• Look-at-me enthusiasts: blasé confidence: recognise risks of riding in general, but see themselves as relatively safe; plus strong tendency to see risk as part of what makes riding fun, and to engage in risky behaviours.
More here
And more research stuff tomorrow
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• Performance disciples: precautionary fatalism: see risk as unavoidable negative of riding but tend not to think about it all the time – emphasis on personal skill and armour as responses to risk.
• Performance hobbyists: cautious attraction: see risk as part of what makes riding fun, but very circumspect about own abilities to deal with risks, leading to caution in behaviour.
• Riding disciples: active management of risks: highly conscious of potential risk in riding, take active steps to manage it by responsible riding behaviour and use of gear.
• Riding hobbyists: personal responsibility for avoiding risk: highly conscious of risk, tendency to avoid potentially risky situations altogether, and to emphasise rider’s responsibility for risks.
• Car rejecters: high awareness and high unhappiness: very sensitive to the risks of riding, and see this as a strong argument against riding.
• Car aspirants: low awareness but high educability: tend not to think about the risks of riding and as a result may not take steps to manage them; but signs that they will take steps when the risks are pointed out to them.
• Look-at-me enthusiasts: blasé confidence: recognise risks of riding in general, but see themselves as relatively safe; plus strong tendency to see risk as part of what makes riding fun, and to engage in risky behaviours.
More here
And more research stuff tomorrow
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Friday, 13 November 2009
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Carver - Bankrupt
I could make poor jokes about 'lean times' but I won't.
The sad news is that Carver have gone bankrupt.
CEO Willem Verheul said that there wasn’t enough of a market for the 50,000 euro vehicle: “We were hoping to sell 300 per year, instead we only managed 200.” The company will lay off nine employees.
However, the 'technology' arm of the company - invoved with the development of a flying version of the Carver! - is still running.
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Friday, 30 October 2009
Tesco - Every Little Helps [Them]
I don't like shopping. Have to do it occasionally, to how willing. And so, on one of those occasions, happened to 'accidentally' find myself in the beer aisle.
Now, maths isn't my strong point, but it didn't take me too long to work this one out.
And it's not the first time I've seen 'bulk buy' deals which actually cost more!
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Now, maths isn't my strong point, but it didn't take me too long to work this one out.
And it's not the first time I've seen 'bulk buy' deals which actually cost more!
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Monday, 26 October 2009
Hazard Ahead
HAZARD AHEAD BY ANDY HALL
The Hazard Ahead Book contains over 360 pictures of real events on the road. It puts you in the driver's seat so that you can get the get the feel of what is going on ahead and behind you. The pictures comprise text describing the scenes that you see. There are over 20 different subjects and much of what you will be able to put to practice when having driving school lessons.
This book is an excellent training aid and offers the following:
Pictures of actual events
Easy to understand
Grouped into subjects as taught by driving instructors
Wire-bound for easy use
User friendly text
Professionally compiled
Questions at the back of the book
Trade discount for schools and local authorities and for instructors to sell to their pupils
More details here
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Friday, 23 October 2009
Stereo and The Sun
Ill do my best to answer these two from Nikos, but the usual caveat: I'm not expert; use Wikipedia for a more definitive answer!
Ah ha...but does it explain why the sun appears to look bigger when it is closer to the horizon?
My understanding is that this illusion occurs because th esunrise/sunset puts the Sun 'alongside' things we 'know' the size of, rather than the high-noon position where it's 'in space'. False perspective, and all that.
Now, doesn't this second one remind you of something? The 'time to arrival' illusion of the TfL ad?
Are you easily offended, of a quiet nature, or are the young kids around?
If the answer to any of those is 'yes', turn the sound off before playing the next video!
What that shows is 'looming' and also the problems of a 'fixed heading' - no movement across the background until the pilot lifts the plane.
Yes but...rate of change of angle subtended - There must be a stereo image "angle" to this too (ie. depth/distance perception much more difficult for one eyed Gordon Brown compared to Mr Cameron?
There may be some stereo effect - but your eyes are [probably] only a few inches apart - what sort of an angle is involved in looking at an object 50 yards (or more) away? And 100 yards is 3 seconds at 30mph - just the sort of critical distance for you and a driver in a side road.
And three seconds is - coincidentally - all you really have with the Spitfire even when you know where to watch!
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Ah ha...but does it explain why the sun appears to look bigger when it is closer to the horizon?
My understanding is that this illusion occurs because th esunrise/sunset puts the Sun 'alongside' things we 'know' the size of, rather than the high-noon position where it's 'in space'. False perspective, and all that.
Now, doesn't this second one remind you of something? The 'time to arrival' illusion of the TfL ad?
Are you easily offended, of a quiet nature, or are the young kids around?
If the answer to any of those is 'yes', turn the sound off before playing the next video!
What that shows is 'looming' and also the problems of a 'fixed heading' - no movement across the background until the pilot lifts the plane.
Yes but...rate of change of angle subtended - There must be a stereo image "angle" to this too (ie. depth/distance perception much more difficult for one eyed Gordon Brown compared to Mr Cameron?
There may be some stereo effect - but your eyes are [probably] only a few inches apart - what sort of an angle is involved in looking at an object 50 yards (or more) away? And 100 yards is 3 seconds at 30mph - just the sort of critical distance for you and a driver in a side road.
And three seconds is - coincidentally - all you really have with the Spitfire even when you know where to watch!
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Thursday, 22 October 2009
Can the Monkeys Teach?
Thanks for your comments :)
AlistairL has added:
The slight trickiness with your argument is that it undermines any kind of claims about training or coaching, and any kind of book.
Experience is flawed because it is inherantly limited, and any method of imparting experience is also flawed due to limitations in communication.
Yes.
& No.
'Training' (of the road safety variety) is all very laudable - but there's very little proof that it ever does any real long-term good (in reducing crashes and casualty statistics).
So I was quite interested to read this report:
Does Anticipation Training Affect Drivers’ Risk Taking?
Frank P. McKenna University of Reading
Mark S. Horswill University of Queensland
Jane L. Alexander University of Reading
which includes:
Gregersen and Nyberg (2003) considered the conditions under which training might increase or decrease risk taking.
They were examining the effects of two early training programs in Norway, of which one resulted in an increase in accident involvement (skid training) and the other resulted in a decrease in accident involvement (training for driving in the dark).
They speculated that the differences occurred as a function of the method of training.
The skid training involved drivers mastering simple exercises and potentially creating unrealistically positive perceptions of driving skill, which could lead to increased risk taking. In contrast, the training for driving in the dark was designed to demonstrate the dangers and problems of nighttime driving and therefore might lead to a decrease in risk taking.
Now, take that last section: designed to demonstrate the dangers and problems
What's the main benefit of track days for 'training'? We're often told that track days are great because they allow improvement in riding without the risks of road riding.
Now, I'm not suggesting that all training should take place in high-risk environments!
But training must focus on realistic risk identification and management. And it is possible - and easy - to produce that in 'safe' environments - but it requires careful thought, planning, and presentation (and attitude) on the part of the trainer.
But that quoted paragraph also raise my concerns, again, over the 'progress imperative' within much 'advanced' training.
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AlistairL has added:
The slight trickiness with your argument is that it undermines any kind of claims about training or coaching, and any kind of book.
Experience is flawed because it is inherantly limited, and any method of imparting experience is also flawed due to limitations in communication.
Yes.
& No.
'Training' (of the road safety variety) is all very laudable - but there's very little proof that it ever does any real long-term good (in reducing crashes and casualty statistics).
So I was quite interested to read this report:
Does Anticipation Training Affect Drivers’ Risk Taking?
Frank P. McKenna University of Reading
Mark S. Horswill University of Queensland
Jane L. Alexander University of Reading
which includes:
Gregersen and Nyberg (2003) considered the conditions under which training might increase or decrease risk taking.
They were examining the effects of two early training programs in Norway, of which one resulted in an increase in accident involvement (skid training) and the other resulted in a decrease in accident involvement (training for driving in the dark).
They speculated that the differences occurred as a function of the method of training.
The skid training involved drivers mastering simple exercises and potentially creating unrealistically positive perceptions of driving skill, which could lead to increased risk taking. In contrast, the training for driving in the dark was designed to demonstrate the dangers and problems of nighttime driving and therefore might lead to a decrease in risk taking.
Now, take that last section: designed to demonstrate the dangers and problems
What's the main benefit of track days for 'training'? We're often told that track days are great because they allow improvement in riding without the risks of road riding.
Now, I'm not suggesting that all training should take place in high-risk environments!
But training must focus on realistic risk identification and management. And it is possible - and easy - to produce that in 'safe' environments - but it requires careful thought, planning, and presentation (and attitude) on the part of the trainer.
But that quoted paragraph also raise my concerns, again, over the 'progress imperative' within much 'advanced' training.
.
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Do Infinite Monkeys Read the IAM Book?
I like bookshops and libraries. I read loads, mostly fiction, with a sprinkling of 'real' stuff thrown in too, whether it's of the 'How To . . . ' variety (recently I've read about NLP, project management, report writing, and presentation skills) or periodicals such as the BMF's Motorcycle Rider magazine, DIA's Driving, or 'Eureka', an engineering and innovation magazine.
I don’t often get time to visit bookshops, but a few days ago I went to the local branch of Borders, in this case at an out-of-town warehouse-style 'retail park'.
In particular, I was looking for the IAM's new motorcycle book (“How to be a better rider”, written by IAM staff examiner Jon Taylor and motorcycle titles editor Stefan Bartlett), supposedly a radical development of their old (in itself a dramatic development from the original) handbook 'Pass Your Advanced Motorcycle Test' / 'How to be an advanced motorcyclist'.
First reports I've heard (there wasn't a copy in the shop, so I'm still none the wiser!) are that it is distinctly different - and an improvement - in both style and content from the previous book.
The new book is billed as “providing riders in the UK with the definitive guide to defensive riding”.
This set me scurrying for the dictionary - on-line instead of a real book! - to check on the meaning of 'definitive', as that claim concerned me.
The first on-line dictionary I looked at gives (amongst four):
2. Supplying or being a final settlement or decision; conclusive.
3. Authoritative and complete: a definitive biography.
Does it worry anyone else that the book is described as 'definitive' - i.e. 'Conclusive & Complete'?
Isn’t anything that realistically claims to be 'definitive' really going to be exclusive - there must be situations (hazards, risks, experiences, however you like to term them) which will be missed - either because the author(s) didn't think of them or because they had to 'filter' the content to get it down to manageable size? Make a book too big and no-one will buy or read it.
But riding and driving doesn't have those limits, there is no end to what you might face with while travelling. To be fair, the IAM do explain more: “IAM Chief Examiner Peter Rodger said: “The new IAM motorcycle manual is all about guiding principles. It’s not a ‘book of rules’.” Is it being sold as 'the only book you'll need', or will it set limits on its own definitiveness (I probably made that word up)?
The challenge for instructors (or, in the IAM's case, 'Observers'), is to develop the skill of identifying and managing not just the hazards that are 'known about' but the 'new' ones too.
Because, sometimes, it's easy to predict what might be around the next corner - either by small clues ('observation links' - "How can that affect me?"), or because those things quite often happen (e.g. an oncoming driver cutting a corner using some of 'your' lane).
But at other times it seems like those infinite monkeys have been given the day off from sitting at their typewriters (I'm assuming they've not moved onto word processors) attempting to recreate the entire works of William Shakespeare and, instead, have been to told to create pandemonium on the roads by small acts of madness. Because some things you'll see on the roads really are as mad as a box of monkeys.
.
I don’t often get time to visit bookshops, but a few days ago I went to the local branch of Borders, in this case at an out-of-town warehouse-style 'retail park'.
In particular, I was looking for the IAM's new motorcycle book (“How to be a better rider”, written by IAM staff examiner Jon Taylor and motorcycle titles editor Stefan Bartlett), supposedly a radical development of their old (in itself a dramatic development from the original) handbook 'Pass Your Advanced Motorcycle Test' / 'How to be an advanced motorcyclist'.
First reports I've heard (there wasn't a copy in the shop, so I'm still none the wiser!) are that it is distinctly different - and an improvement - in both style and content from the previous book.
The new book is billed as “providing riders in the UK with the definitive guide to defensive riding”.
This set me scurrying for the dictionary - on-line instead of a real book! - to check on the meaning of 'definitive', as that claim concerned me.
The first on-line dictionary I looked at gives (amongst four):
2. Supplying or being a final settlement or decision; conclusive.
3. Authoritative and complete: a definitive biography.
Does it worry anyone else that the book is described as 'definitive' - i.e. 'Conclusive & Complete'?
Isn’t anything that realistically claims to be 'definitive' really going to be exclusive - there must be situations (hazards, risks, experiences, however you like to term them) which will be missed - either because the author(s) didn't think of them or because they had to 'filter' the content to get it down to manageable size? Make a book too big and no-one will buy or read it.
But riding and driving doesn't have those limits, there is no end to what you might face with while travelling. To be fair, the IAM do explain more: “IAM Chief Examiner Peter Rodger said: “The new IAM motorcycle manual is all about guiding principles. It’s not a ‘book of rules’.” Is it being sold as 'the only book you'll need', or will it set limits on its own definitiveness (I probably made that word up)?
The challenge for instructors (or, in the IAM's case, 'Observers'), is to develop the skill of identifying and managing not just the hazards that are 'known about' but the 'new' ones too.
Because, sometimes, it's easy to predict what might be around the next corner - either by small clues ('observation links' - "How can that affect me?"), or because those things quite often happen (e.g. an oncoming driver cutting a corner using some of 'your' lane).
But at other times it seems like those infinite monkeys have been given the day off from sitting at their typewriters (I'm assuming they've not moved onto word processors) attempting to recreate the entire works of William Shakespeare and, instead, have been to told to create pandemonium on the roads by small acts of madness. Because some things you'll see on the roads really are as mad as a box of monkeys.
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