March 2025 - Spring is here and things are getting busy! From training and FireBiking to BMF assessments, and a fantastic get together with mates from my biking yoof!

With the weather offering some hope that winter is coming to an end, I was out and about much more than the last couple of months. Here's what I got up to in March 2025.

Training.

David came along on his Ninja 1000SX. David is back to biking after 20 years, and is looking to obtain an advanced qualification so that he can go on to be a Bloodbiker. This is a great idea and a very worthy cause. David had 2 sessions in March, during which he successfully completed the Enhanced Rider Scheme. David will be back again in April.

Tom was up next on his Suzuki SV1000. Tom came down from Scotland for his training. He had a session with me last year and came back for 2 days back to back, and it was pleasing to see him successfully complete the Enhanced Rider Scheme modules. Its fair to say, we had some very mixed weather, and Toms bike even suffered a front puncture, but nothing stopped him from successfully completing the ERS. Great effort.

Mixed weather and punctures to deal with too!

FireBike and BikerDown.

After 2 relatively quiet months with the FireBike, I was pleased to be back out. On the 8th I assisted fellow Team FireBike members Jade, Karl, and Stuart, to deliver a BikerDown event to members of WhiteKnights Blood Bikers. Areas covered was scene management, casualty assessment, first aid, helmet removal and CPR amongst others. Great skills to know, but something you never want to have to use!

Jade discussing Major blood loss.

Jade explaining and demonstrating CPR before the candidates split into groups to have a go themselves.

WhiteKnights BloodBikers. A great charity doing great work.

On a separate occasion I spent the morning with my RoSPA group, Advanced Riders North Yorkshire, ARNY are the only RoSPA motorcycle group in North Yorkshire.

The group was set up in 2011 and has a wealth of experience in guiding riders towards taking the RoSPA advanced motorcycle test. Membership costs just £25 and the group train every Saturday throughout the year (subject to the weather). They also have regular social rides and a yearly membership weekends away. All the FireBike riders have trained with ARNY at some point, and they all hold a RoSPA Gold advanced qualification.

Pre training brew and catch up.

Lots of bikes....although they all appear to be BMWs!

Arriving at the end of training destination.

Local police rider also called in to say hello.

RoSPA Examining.

Only 1 RoSPA test to conduct in March and it was with David on his R1200GS. A very good ride, resulting in Silver pass grade. Congratulations.

IAM Roadsmart.

On the 11th March, I attended an evening of 'Meet the Examiner' at York IAM Advanced Drivers. I attended alongside another Examiner and we were there to answer questions from the members about conducting and taking the IAM Advanced driving test. It was a really enjoyable evening and gave me the opportunity to wear my new IAM Roadsmart polo shirt! Very nice.

Enhanced Rider Scheme Training for Trainers.

On 24th to 28th March I delivered the above course on behalf of Phoenix Motorcycle Training. The 3 candidates, Andy, Karl and Stuart, are all volunteer riders from the NYF&RS FireBike team. The guys put lots of work in pre course and we all had a great week, which was a mix between classroom theory, and on the road scenario training. The course is accredited by the DVSA, and now completed, the guys will be progressing to being registered as post test trainers for the Enhanced Rider Scheme. Not content with just completing the ERS course, they also then had assessed rides for the BMF Blue Riband Advanced Rider award, which they all passed successfully.

Here's a few photos from the week.

ERS Training for Trainers.

Stuart and Karl.

Karl taking me through a POWDDERSS check.

Karl conducting a roadside debrief.

Comms - can you hear me now?.....now?....what about now?

Stuart, Karl and Andy.

On completion of the ERS course, all the guys went on to successfully pass the Blue Riband Advanced Rider Award.

Social rides.

Managed a couple of social rides. Various locations around the region. These photos are from a ride with friends Gary, Ian and Tony, all on BMWs. We headed up to The Lion Inn at Blakey Ridge for an excellent lunch. If you've never been, it's definitely worth a visit. On the day we were there, there were a few very nice classic cars in the car park.

Me, Gary, Ian and Tony.

Just a couple of the classic cars in the car park.

Motorcycle News.

I managed to get another photo in MCN which now runs a new weekly called MCN Pit Stop, which publishes photos from their new Facebook group of the same name. But, I'd have to question the skills of whoever chose the page layout. Initially I thought it was because I had my work badge clearly visible, but on checking the original FB post, Id altered the original image. See below. The first photo is the photo I posted, and if I'm being modest, I think it's a great photo! Me, the Monument, the bike. The next 2 are how it appeared in MCN and the last is the original with work badge clearly visible.

Me, the monument and the bike. Spot on.

The page lay out.....questionable.....

The published photo. A bit of me, a bit of the monument and no bike at all!

The original.

Great get together.

On the evening of the 22nd, I met up with my brother and a group of guys from our teenage biking years, some of whom I haven't seen for over 30 years! We're all now in our 60s, but all except 1 of us is still riding and 4 of them have owned their current bike for over 20 years! John with his R1, Mike R a Goldwing , Rich a CB900 and Chris a Guzzi 1000. Looking at the photo below, it's hard to believe we once 'terrorised' the neighbourhood with our riding antics. No helmets, swapping bikes and racing up and down the street, wheelies, trying to get our knees down.....Great memories! Lol

Here's a photo from the night.

From L to R - Me (1250GSA), my brother Mike, Gary W (GSX1000S), Mike R (1500 Goldwing & 1300 Pan European), Chris, (Guzzi 1000 Daytona & Guzzi 1000 Strada), Gary L (750 Kawasaki), Pete (2017 Fireblade), Steve (Triumph), John (2003 R1), Rich (1979 CB900).

My GSA.

With weather on the up, I managed to cover a lot more miles in March than I managed in February.....nearly 4 times more!

Here's my GSA mileage figures for March 2025.

01/03/25 - 24906

31/03/25 - 26185

GSA mileage in March - 1279.

FireBike mileage for March - 89

Total mileages for the year to date;

GSA - 1932

FireBike 103

Total for the year as of 31/03/25 - 2035

And that my friends, ends March 2025. Thanks for reading and ride safe.

Ian S