On behalf of the Durham BikeWise team thanks Nick for a great day ... I know just how much time and effort your team have put into organising the event and you deserved the day to be the success it was, even the weather was kind to you.

See you at BikeWise!!

well done for a well organized event, and thanks for the invite.
cooper sunderland bike team.

Mint day.Got on the motorbike course with mates lol:P.Was a scortcher.Get pics on please :).Just a bit devoed about the stunt rider wasnt to good.:(

Sorry to say that the show missed the point for me. How can the organisers allow motorcycles to park on pavements and 'mingle' with pedestrians, wheelchair users and buggies?
Also very dissapointed to see the stunt team pulling wheelies without a helmet or leathers.

Good Luck for the coming weekend... Hope the sun shine's and remember not to work too many hours !!
Enjoy the beer on Sunday night.
Best wishes from the BikeWise team at Durham....

I've been riding for 31 years, all sorts. Didn't mean I was any good at it though.

Free advice from people who ride all day in all conditions sounded good to me. I'd just gottten a MUCH bigger and faster bike and needed to make sure I was doing at least okay. When I'm unsure I like to check it out and what did I have to lose?

Afterwards I recognised that the experience had been positive and I felt better about myself and my riding. I felt safer and more in control of the bike. I felt that I didn't have to ride fast, just quick and by doing what I had been shown I could be safer and have fun too.

The two session course is for me when I have spent some time practising the many things I have learned.

Thankyou.

An observed ride with Stewart was the perfect way to Return back to biking after a four year stint. The ride was scheduled for 1pm from the main Depot. and after a short brief we set off on an agreed course where i could be observed on a variety of roads. Stopping off along the route proved to be usefull where i was given advise on my riding skills. After the ride i have definately gained some valuable lessons on which to rebuild my riding skills.

Thanks agin to Stewart for a great ride out, as advised i will be looking forward to advancing my riding when i sign up on the IAM couse.

Regards,

Mike

Having passed my IAM Advanced test last summer I thought an observed ride with Bikesafe would check if I had retained any of my training.
I was greeted with a grand cup of coffee (from a clean cup!) by Nick Walker followed by a guided tour and informal chat. Then we were out on the road. We had a few stops while out where Nick was able to encourage me to use some very useful techniques that were new to me and by the time the session was over I was confident that I had gained a new skill that with practice would make me a better rider - which is what it is all about!!
Thanks Nick for your time and positive feedback and pointers.
Look forward to seeing you at Ridewell 2009.

As a fairly new rider I was a bit apprehensive about going out with an expert following me (and I was thinking about when my first ticket would be issued for making a stupid nervous mistake!!) but I had no need to worry Nick Walker soon made me feel at ease and after the first stop and debrief I started to relax and enjoy myself.
After taking onboard the constructive comments after each debrief I really felt my riding was improving.
This is an excellent opportunity for everyone to gain some extremely valuable instruction and riding tips no matter how long you've been riding and I thoroughly recommend everyone to try it.
Nick, thanks for your patience, understanding and expert instruction and if you ever have a free slot - give me a call!!

Regards
Paul

Took part in an observed ride with Kevin Keay. I have only been riding for under 18 months and was wanting to see if I was riding safely, especially with a pillion.
This I was able to do. Great course, great observers and some great advice. It was also perfect timing as I also had a day booked with Durham Bikewise 2 days later and took on the tips from this day to that one.
Following comments on both I am now considering going for more advanced either IAM or RoSPa, probably the latter as you also have to keep retesting every 3 years.
Thanks and keep up the good work.

Yesterday I had an observed ride with Steve Darby from Cleveland Police. A quick cuppa and a chat to settle any nerves before we set of and then onto the road. Steve is very thorough as you would expect, in explaining things and pointing out helpful tips. Its good to be assessed by someone who knows and not just have your mistakes pointed out by your mates at the next tea stop! I found the ride to be very informative and on the return leg was definitely riding more confidently. I can thoroughly recommend the observed ride to any motorcyclist no matter how experienced as a way to improve their riding and make it more enjoyable. Excellent!!

Had an afternoon with Steve Derby of Cleveland Police yesterday on an observed ride. Can thoroughly recommend it. He is very thorough, and gives good explanations of the riding skils necessary for the different types of conditions. Every motorcylist should take part in this. I learned so much in an afternoon.... Highly recommended!!!

Had a great albeit very wet observed ride on Thursday 21st Aug with Sgt. Nick Walker. We went to Helmsley on what as best could be described as a shallow river, as there was more surface water than exposed tarmac. I really appreciated the positive comments and the diplomatic way he went through negatives.
Its really strange having to set the pace when you have a Police motorcycle behind you and it took me quite a while to settle down mostly I should state due to the weather as I must admit to preferring not to ride during the monsoon season.....the rain was bloody awful until we got past Helmsley.

The midpoint and end debriefs I found invaluable and will be introducing the tips passed on into my riding style, especially practicing low speed manoeuvring.

I would recommend an observed ride to any age of motorcyclist especially with Cleveland Police as I feel they are Motorcyclists 1st and police officers 2nd.

That said when back out on the open road I know they would still feel my collar if it was needed but I could console my self with the knowledge that they would be partially doing it for my wellbeing and not just to swell the constabulary stats/coffers.

Test posting

Had a really good time, lots to do and see, just a shame about the weather. All that hard work done for it to rain for most of the day! already looking forward to next years event.

We had a great day with Ridewell on Sunday despite the weather and we hope to return next year. Top marks to Cleveland Police for organising a really good event, apologies to Kevin for not picking out his ticket in our raffle, better luck next year! It was won by pink ticket number 68 by the way.

Well I really enjoy that day out apart from the rain
Nice to see a old faces,
I only found out about it last night from Taxi Driver Victor in Thornaby,(Cheers m8)

Dave (Forum Moderator - http://www.longwaydown.com/)

After having a low speed slide through no fault but my own!!!! decided to have a look around for something that can let me know where and how I'm going wrong. So got in touch with bikesafe/ridewell, Kev got in touch and I went to cannon park to meet him, not only did he make me feel relaxed straight away we had a couple of things in common (World War graves) but that is a different story:) So we went through all types of riding situations, town, rural with twisties, sweepies and bit of A roads. I got some great tips from him, such as more smooth overtakes, limit points, and at the same time we had some fun riding. It does seem strange with a bobby bike behind you for a couple of hours though, not in a bad way, but a funny way.

Now I try and put his advice into practice everytime i'm out, I feel I've become a better biker a lot smoother, I still have a little way to go but feel getting there and if this stops me becoming a statistic then even better. I could not recommend this highly enough. Thumbs up too Kev top bloke, and the rest of the boys who I met in the office. (they are not all B****rds:)

Thanks Again Kev, i'm just getting ready to attend ridewell now.

Anthony

Observed Ride with Steve Darby.

I spent from 10:00 this morning until 14:15 on an observed ride with Steve Darby. It was the best 4hrs and 15mins I have ever had on my bike. The amount of information given up by Steve is invaluable. Having being critiqued at the end of the session, I now feel more confident about my own abilities, which have obviously been drawn out by the very experienced Steve.

PC Darby, you are a credit to the force and you and the teams efforts promoting safer and better biking should be firmly recognised.

I sincereley recommend an observed ride with Cleveland Police, bearing in mind that every day is a school day, and the day you stop learning is a bad day.

Good luck for the future and many thanks for your guidance.

I was at the Thirsk Bike event today at Teasdales in Thirsk and I went for my first observed ride in over 25 years and Sgt Nick was with me. I was nervous at first and Nick pointed out a couple of my mistakes after he followed me from Thirsk to Helmsley. I then followed his lines back to Thirsk taking into account the advice he had given me and the ride back was so much smoother and actually felt faster even though it wasn't. I am now applying for a further observed ride at the ridewell event in July and then going to arrange a further advice session at Cannon park. I would definately recommend spending some of your summer doing this. After the appraisal me and my mate went off around the north yorkshire moors practising our lines and watching one another discussing the difference it felt riding this way. Excellent advice and once again thanks Nick.

Bob McGuire

EXPERT TRAINING FOR FREE !!
Today I went for a observed ride with SGT Nick Walker, its 9PM, I got back from the ride at approx 2.30 and I'm still smiling from ear to ear, I've had a brilliant day. I went into this training having passed my test 5 months ago and totally crapping myself every time I come to a tight bend or a overtake on B roads. Nick took me through first verbally and then demonstrated on the road the safe and fastest way around my problem. I can honestly say I feel like a different rider compared to what I was at 10am this morning. I must admit I was quiet apprehensive about going out with the Police, but god I was wrong. These blokes are just the same as you and me in there love for all things 2 wheeled !! In summary I would advise anybody old or young, experienced or inexperienced to go along and see these guys. Thanks for a great day Nick and I'll deffo be back for the IAM.
DAVE
P.S dont even try to keep up with this guy on the A19 to A66 slip road "MY FAVOURITE BIT OF ROAD IN THE WORLD" as he puts it.

I've just done an assessed ride today with Sgt. Nick Walker of Cleveland Police, and I must say, it showed me a great deal about how to ride correctly on the road. It was an excellent way to get to grips with using the road correctly on a motorcycle, and gave me a lot more confidence in not only myself, but also in riding my bike.

I would suggest that all of you go and do the assessed ride with Cleveland Police. You may learn a thing or two or three

having only just passed my test i bought a 600 nick took me out and advised me on my road positioning and where to be and what gears to use in corners 4 best control and where to look 4 my corner exit line i enjoyed my day out with him and now im a safer rider many thanks nick

I ENJOYED THE DAY IT WAS INTRESTING and gave some good tips as to better my rideing

Just surfing in the 4th. dimension and came across your excellent Ridewell Bulldog site-FAB!!

Disappointed this years event cancelled, we were looking forward to our first trade stand with you. See you next year. www.rainbow-rides.me.uk

Looking forward to this years Ridewell and will definately be making the pilgrimage over from the North West to support your Day! :)

Hello and thankyou for hosting this fantastic event, I missed it last year because I forgot the date and i'm going to make sure I dont miss it again.

http://www.mtbe.co.uk - Mountain biking in North Yorkshire.

Hi to all at Cleveland Police. Thanks for the new date for Ridewell 2007. Hope to see the Virgin Team again, great attraction and Kieran was class in the arena. It's great to get close to the bikes and the riders. Fantastic to see Cleveland Police supporting bikers in the area, with some class toys of their own.

Thanks to Nick for an honest appraisal of my riding technique. Thoroughly enjoyed having someone who "knows", not just mates who think they know, telling me how to be a better rider. Would recommend anyone to try an observed ride - remember, these guys are bikers just like the rest of us - AND you may get to see the inside of the police "toy box" in Middlesbrough. Excellent day out, it was 20 miles to get home and it became 50!!

Had a great morning out with nick. Thanks for the advice and a very enjoyable ride. Learnt a lot from just following and then some sound comments from Nick after he followed me. Reccomend it for anyone no matter how good we think we are there's always something to learn. Having a job getting this to work.

Hi.. Me again.. that should've read My husband and friends were shocked..!

Thanks Andy for a fantastic observed ride. I learnt loads and am now a smoother and more confident rider! My husband and friends when I got back and demonstrated my new skills!

Thanks again!

Mandy B

hi nick. just wanna say thanks again for the observed ride today, i really feel that i learned something and would recommend others to give it a go,and yes i did listen and i will keep trying to put into practice what you taught me

Our members had a great time, and provided some great pictures.

Well done and a good day.

http://www.northukbikers.co.uk

Thank you for a great day out, well organized and fun. lots to see and do. even going back for more at the durham show :-)

Thanks guys for a wonderful day - 14 members came over and had a great time. Lots to see and do, and learnt a few things too. Hope to be there again next year.

Well Done To All Involved
Joe Davies
www.britishbikersclub.co.uk

Bulldog, Thanks for your comments, it would be great if a group of you all came in together. Would it benefit you to have a club stand allocated. If you fancy it, please drop a line asap to james.walkerREMOVE THIS LINE FOR SPAM@cleveleland.pnn.police.uk
Look forward to seeing you, Nick Walker

Looking forward to this specially with the Rossendale show not on this year i think you should get a good turn out - A ride in from www.britishbikersclub.co.uk will be coming in / if anyone interested in meeting we will be at scotch corner for 10am

great day out for all, come see me at the 1twoonetraining stand say hello

The site gets better each year. As for the event, how can you improve on perfection????????

Had a great day out at 2005 ridewell, just found this site looking forward to this years Ridewell
I'm going to ask the man this year if i can have a sit on his harley davison motor bike i bought a bandana off him last year.