The Bike Experience

The Bike Experience 2024

In 2024 The Bike Experience has been busy preparing bikes, instructing riders and demonstrating to crowds. The initial stage was the preparation of bikes and equipment, as well as finding a suitable venue that was also affordable. After much discussions it was decided to accept the offer from Silverstone to run the instructional events at the Old Copse Runway.

Public Liability Insurance continues to eat into the fund raised, with PLI being £5700 for the year which was a drop from the previous year (£7500). Over the years the charity has been in operation there has never been an accident involving any member of the public observing or taking part in the charity. However, we are required to have PLI and so it continues to be a significant impact on funds.

The bike were serviced, repaired and prepared for the coming season. The leathers and riding equipment was all checked and the large trailer also serviced. A very good condition second-hand Aprilia Mana was purchased this year, which was thanks to the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights and their generous support.

In order to support the riders we need a team of twelve volunteers. There are four regular instructors, and eight ‘launch crew’. As a charity we have a diverse group of volunteers, for example on any one day we can have volunteers who are/have: paraplegic, amputee, stroke survivor, female stunt rider, autism, transgender, PTSD and ADHD. This diverse group ensures we have empathy and understanding for many of our clients.


MAY
In May we had a pair of back-to-back instructional events, both of which were fully booked for new riders and each had two returning riders. The days were blessed with sunshine and everyone turned up excited and nervous to get on two wheels.

The volunteers arrive at 8am in order to prepare the site, get the bikes out, lay out the coned course, conduct safety briefing and plan the day ahead. The riders then begin to arrive at 9.30am and get signed on, into riding equipment and ready to begin the day at 10.30am.

Throughout the day the riders developed from a basic ‘straight line’ launch and catch, to steering input and figure 8s. Once ready they move to larger coned circuit and are led by instructors around the course, whilst being observed by the main riding instructor of the day. The final stage is to allow the rider to circulate by themselves and re-discover the amazing feeling of freedom and enjoyment.

There were eight riders in total, three new riders and five returning riders. Chris Dabbs, an ex MCN Road Tester, had come back for his second time, but the last time with the charity was over ten years ago. He called afterwards to say how much he enjoyed the day and that the difference in the way the instructional day was carried out was far better than ten years ago. He thanked all the staff and said it had been a truly wonderful day for himself. Tragically Chris suddenly died two weeks later from an infection, which shocked all that knew him, TBE sent condolences to his family and friends.


JUNE
The third TBE instructional event took place on the 11th June. We were back at Silverstone and enjoyed another ‘dry weather’ window. The temperatures were not as high as before, so riders were not quite so baked in their leathers. We had planned to have two days, but hoped for funds did not materialise and the charity had to cancel four events throughout the year.

There were six riders on the day, with three paraplegics keeping the launch crew very busy. No matter the impairment, each rider made progress throughout the day, and everyone was enjoying solo riding around the TBE course by the end of the session.


AUGUST
Another single day. Six riders, three paraplegics who were all new riders and three retuning riders.

As there had been the MotoGP at the track the weekend before, there was time spent ensuring the area was cleared of any debris and metal parts that could have caused punctures. It was the first day of drizzle and cold for a long time, but all riders turned up. Sometimes in the past the charity has had riders pull out if the weather wasn’t lovely and sunny.

Extra focus was put on ‘slow speed’ riding as the area is a car park rather than a race track, so the surface is not as grippy as out on the main track. Despite the conditions, which remained damp throughout the day, everyone progressed and there were no unplanned departures or incidents of riders skidding.

One returning rider was from the May event, and he had purchased his own bike and wanted to get used to it before heading out on track days. He was delighted that he was riding his own bike having not thought it was possible six months before.

SEPTEMBER
There were two back-to-back events in September, once again we were extremely lucky with the weather and enjoyed three more days of sunshine. Last year there had been RAF Odiham as well in September, but due to the fatality during the separate ARD section of the day, all riding at the airfield has been cancelled indefinitely.

There were ten riders over the course of the two days, it was great to see 50% of the riders being women. Due to peoples experience and function, there was a spread of ability in the riding. However all managed to circulate the coned area on their own by the end of the days instruction. This gave them a huge boost in confidence and self-belief, which was readily apparent by the animated conversations happening at the end of the day.


VOLUNTEERS
The volunteers did a fantastic job supporting and instructing the riders, without them the days would not have happened. This charity managed to get four regular instructor volunteers to attend every instructional event, with a further four attending each event as launch crew. This meant the level of attention to detail and competence of volunteers remained extremely high. All four instructors are committed to 2025 events.


DEMONSTRATION EVENTS
TBE was present at the Brit Motor Show this year. A three day event with a static stand which educated a lot of people about the charity. Other events from last year had proved to be costing the charity more money than it raised, and with severe restrictions on the charity funds this year a decision was made to cut back to local events only.


2024 NUMBERS
Due to reduced numbers of events there was a planned maximum of 36 places available over the six events. Of those, 30 places were taken up as there were six who failed to show up or cancelled at the very last moment. This will be addressed in 2025, and a list of reserves for the day will be established.

Riders impairments included - Paraplegia, Leg Amputee, Arm Amputee, Brachial Plexus, Stroke, MS, CP, Spina Bifida, PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury.
Instructor and Volunteer - 35 different volunteers came to the instructional events in support of riders (Fully diverse group as previously mentioned)
Family and Friends - 75 attended with the riders