Images of high-viz gear, disciplined formation riding, courteously acknowledging other bikers (including fist-bumping the delivery guy on the scooter next to you at the traffic light), directing traffic at intersections during events and thanking cagers for their patience, do not exactly fit the popular image of “hairy-arsed bikers”.
While probably best known for the ThinkBike stickers pasted on the back bumpers of countless vehicles or seeing the ThinkBike Marshals escorting cyclists and runners during mass-participation events such as 702 Walk the Talk, the 947 Ride Joburg, the KFM Gun Run and the international Hotchillee Cape Rouleur cycle race, it is the ThinkBike Road Safety Campaign that is the reason why ThinkBike Marshals exist.
The ThinkBike Road Safety Campaign has been running since 2006 and is aimed at increasing the awareness of motorcycle safety and promoting responsible motorcycling as a lifestyle. The road safety campaign is managed by the Motorcycle Safety Institute on behalf of ThinkBike Marshals who self-fund and support the campaign by providing marshalling services to cycling, running and bike events.
According to the authoritative Union Cycliste Internationale Guide to Road Events “… motorcycle marshals are a key element in the success of a cycling event – any organiser taking the safety of everyone with the necessary seriousness and care, must be able to rely on competent and experienced marshals.” And while not for a moment attempting a comparison to the fantastic response of the F1 Medical Team and the marshals who pulled Roman Grosjean out of the fire at the recent Bahrain GP, ThinkBike Marshals would like to believe that their extensive training and pre-event planning enable them to react efficiently and effectively to emergency situations. The Grosjean incident proves why event organisers should insist on using trained and experienced marshals.
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KTM 890 DUKE
You can’t say that KTM isn’t prolific but, when motorcycles are as good as they generally always are from the Austrian manufacturer, who are we to complain?
ZONTES 310V
A while back, we covered the Zontes ZT310-X1 as part of the small bike feature. There was no way we could not help but be impressed by nearly every aspect of the bike, be it equipment, performance, frugality, price, comfort, looks or quality. It was clearly a bike that was punching way above its weight.
27/08/1939 – 20/12/2020 PETER WILLIAMS Obituary
Britain’s Peter Williams, often acclaimed as the finest GP racer/engineer of modern times, passed away quietly on December 20 in his sleep, after a long illness. He was 81 years old.
Peter Williams Engineer
Williams and the magnesium alloy wheeled ‘Arter’ Matchless. Note the front and rear disc brakes that Williams also helped develop for motorcycles. Despite the front one being tiny by today’s standards, it was still an improvement over drum brakes.
Great Bikes? Yamaha V-Max
Some bikes earn reputations, be it for speed, looks, wayward handling, whatever. Some bikes are spoken about in hushed tones, generally tones of awe or fear. Some bikes achieve greatness, some have it thrust upon them! Some we forget.
The Franskraal Tour
Much selling and buying of motorbikes happened in the Yell household over Christmas. It was with great sadness that I finally decided to sell Sir Galahad (my 30-year old Honda Africa Twin XRV750) and buy a half share in a bike more suitable for Annette to ride as well. We’d been talking to her ex editor’s husband, De Wet, about the possibility of buying his tricked-out 2008 Suzuki DR650 for some time, and struck the deal as soon as Sir Galahad was sold.
MV Agusta's Timur Sardarov Russian Relaunch
Exclusive interview with MV Agusta’s russian owner, its president/ceo timur sardarov, who purchased 100% of MV Agusta equity in december 2019
Think Bike Giving Back To Biking
[I’m always ready to acknowledge those among us who give of their time freely to help others. I’ve been aware of the ThinkBike initiative for many years but never really understood how it worked. So, when Quinton van Eeden reached out to me and asked if I would like an article explaining ThinkBike, the work they do and the volunteers who do it, it was the perfect opportunity to learn more about this body of men and women who do so much to make motorcycling safer for all of us. Ed]
The Custom Builders - Part 3: Reconstructed
I first became aware of Theunis from Reconstructed custom workshop a few years ago, when he arrived at a Triumph Day in Modderfontein with his radical Rocket 3 custom. It drew a lot of attention and comment, which was exactly what Theunis was aiming for from his first build.
Magni MV Italia Yesterday Once More
There’s certainly no company more entitled to produce a retro model using current MV Agusta hardware than Moto Magni, whose founder the late Arturo Magni was the architect of the historic Italian marque’s remarkable haul of 75 road racing World Championships in 26 years.
Carola Trier's Extraordinary Journey
In his authoritative biography of the first woman to open a studio, Reiner Grootenhuis delved into her personal papers to tell the harrowing story of her time in a prison camp during World War II.
Finding New Momentum
Overcoming obstacles caused by the pandemic, the virtual version of this popular festival still achieved its goals.
THE BENEFITS OF DOING NOTHING
Every day in the modern world poses an increasing number of problems and opportunities in our lives. There are so many existing and new oppor-threats, that we simply don’t have enough time to address them all. We are all busy, and if we slow down for even a second, we feel guilty because “there is so much to do.” But if you stop for an interval of time and do nothing, you might find it has its benefits.
Crash Landing
Twelve years ago, Troy DellOrfano, 58, had a devastating mountain-bike accident that left him considering euthanizing himself. He found new life, thanks to a dedicated Pilates teacher named Denise Hart.
The Last Days of Extreme-Sports Superstar Dave Mirra
Rising from a Louisiana Bayou, America's most unlikely energy project will change the natural gas market.
How To Ride Off Road... In Your Garage
Your local singletrack just got a lot closer to home!
10 Most Asked Q's
Having spent the year listening to questions from e-mtb riders from right across the country there’s a handful of questions that keep popping up time and time again. And so in this article we’ll set out to give the answers to the 10 most commonly asked things about e-bikes in year crazy year that was 2020.
How I Re-Learned To Love The Bike
With the changing of the clocks, the turning of the weather, and the run-up to Christmas in full swing, it feels like winter is upon us.
The Year That Wasn't But We Made It Happen Anyway
How did that happen? Will our grandchildren believe us? Filter out the almost overwhelming doom and gloom from the most miserable year in recent memory, and there’s actually quite a lot to be cheerful about – if you ride a bike.
Shudy Camps Bike Meet
Far, far back in the mists of ancient time (well, the late eighties anyway), there used to be a bike show/rally in the little (barely 400 people live there) village of shudy camps in cambridgeshire.