Shopping with Amazon.

Did you know if you shop at Amazon you can help the Star bikers charity?

Simply click on the links below to be directed to amazon, each sale generated from each click will ensure that Amazon will give a percentage of the sale to the Star bikers charity.  why not buy your Egg & Toy run gifts to help the charity that extra bit.  Use these links each time you shop at amazon.

Looking for Toys for the Toy run, try this section..

Looking for Easter Eggs for the egg run?, try this section..

for specific items try these sections..

Please note: People using ad-block software on their web browsers may be unable to see the links, simply click here to be directed to Amazon

There is also a link like this on the home-page & all main pages & news pages, so it’s easy for you to start shopping. without looking for these links each time you want to go shopping.

BikeSense 2013

It’s that time of year again when we get the bike out, dust it down and blow off the cobwebs ready for the spring. We may have spent all winter just waiting for the nice sunny days to return not riding at all or we may have continued riding all year long through good and bad.

Either way, you might feel a bit rusty and in need of a little training to keep you safe on the road, or just to improve your skills and make you a better rider.

BikeSense Rider Development provided by Staffordshire County Council is just for you, because you can never get enough training, and our subsidised scheme means you only pay £30 for a full day with suitably qualified trainers. We operate the scheme from Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford throughout the summer starting in April and going through to October. You will receive excellent tuition on a 2:1 basis meeting at 9.30am, with your debrief finishing at approximately 4pm.

If you complete the BikeSense day you can also take advantage of the £50 cash back with Devitt Insurance (new business only, no renewals) and £40 off the Institute of Advanced Motorists ‘Skill for Life’ Advanced Course (must complete the test). What’s more, if you want to attain the ‘Enhanced Rider Scheme’ standard, you can do that too, whereas any training undertaken with BikeSense will go towards it (subject to availability of ERS trainer); if you meet the required standard whilst partaking in BikeSense you will receive the certificate at the end of the day.

So what you waiting for? All you need to do is contact the team on 0300 111 8012 to book your day and you’ll be looking forward to being a better and safer rider. The dates are shown below:-

BikeSense 2013 dates

• Sunday 14th April  -Stafford
• Sunday 21st April – Stoke
• Saturday 27th April – Stafford
• Sunday 12th May – Stoke
• Sunday 19th May – Stafford
• Sunday 2nd June  -Stoke
• Sunday 9th June – Stafford
• Saturday 15th June – Stoke
• Sunday 23rd June – Stafford
• Sunday 30th June – Stoke
• Sunday 7th July – Stafford
• Sunday 21st July – Stoke
• Saturday 27th July – Stafford
• Sunday 4th August – Stoke
• Sunday 11th August – Stafford
• Sunday 18th August – Stoke
• Sunday 1st September  - Stafford
• Saturday 7th September – Stoke
• Sunday 15th September – Stafford
• Sunday 22nd September – Stoke
• Sunday 29th September – Stafford
• Sunday 6th October – Stoke

If you have any queries please email bikers@staffordshire.gov.uk.

Silencing the critics.

Recently i’ve been scoping the various bike related forums for the last few weeks as i usually do during this time of year & already on one forum (i won’t say which) it seems egg runs are coming under fire yet again, due to participants saying “why do i have to pay a fee & bring an easter egg, why not one or the other.” – it happens most years, so here if you want to know why, is a little something i wrote a while back on our forum to explain why - http://www.stokebikeruns.co.uk/html/forums/viewtopic.php?pid=14231#p14231

Any questions or concerns, please feel free to email us before stating your disapproval on the various forums.

Also we see many people hiding trying to duck out of paying & sneaking into the parade later en-route,  by all means feel free to do this, but i hope you can sleep well at night as you are only robbing the charity by doing so & you may as well just walk into a charity shop & help yourself to the collection tin as it amounts to pretty much the same thing, plus if you avoid paying you are not within our legal responsibility should something happen to you.

If however you disagree with the paying & bringing a gift donation as part of your entry to participate in the Egg run (or the Toy run), please consider the following cost of other popular bike events (correct at the time of writing) just to get you past the gate.

• British MotoGP tickets – General admission from £70
• Motorcycle Live – adult entry price for 2013 from £19
• Stoke Speedway – Adult ticket price £12
• British SGP (Cardiff) – from £29 for category 8 entry
• Stafford Classic bike show – adult admission £10
• BSB (British superbikes) – Adult entry from £25 per race day
• World superbikes – Adult entry for Sunday from £40

So, do you still think £2 & the cost of an Easter egg is expensive or unreasonable entry for an event such as ours?

Low cost Toys & Easter eggs can easily be obtained from local supermarkets & pound shops so you can do the event for around £3 if funds are really tight, however it does seem daft  that people who ride round on thousands of £’s worth of bike complain at the cost, yet when you get a chance to ride & take part in one of the UK’s biggest motorcycling events, see thousands of bikes, socialise with thousands of bikers & you also get access to loads of other things that are all waiting for you. Where else can you get all that for a couple of quid, or the price of a pint or the cost of a bag of chips?

Or if you are still complaining about the cost, why not volunteer to marshal?

Marshals Meeting (Egg Run 35)

The Marshals meeting dates have now been confirmed - The Marshals meeting for anyone who has come forward already & expressed interest, or wishes to volunteer as a marshal for the 35th Egg Run is now announced.

Marshalls Meeting Thursday 14th March at The Freebird, Liverpool Road, Newcastle ST5 2AX. 8.30pm.
Could any one who wants to volunteer their services, or those who have already volunteered and wants to bag a spot or if you just want to find out what’s involved please attend.

Just to confirm

• Thursday 14th March 2013
  8.30pm, the Freebird, Liverpool Road Newcastle, Staffs
  http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/46785/

If you are down for marshaling or wish to volunteer, please attend to be briefed & allocated a marshal point.

If you have marshalled one of our runs in the past, there will be a quick briefing prior to the start of the run, but please let us know if you are available so a suitable point can be pre selected.

Further details can be found on the page - http://www.stokebikeruns.co.uk/about/information-for-marshals/

Star Bikers on Zello

The Star Bikers are now on Zello. 

Zello is a free mobile phone app that turns your mobile into a walkie-talkie.  We hope this feature will help co-ordinate marshals & of course the big plus is it’s a simple means of communication on run day so enabling marshals to stay in contact with each other & help better control traffic.

The application only requires internet access to function.

Usage is very easy, thanks to the simple interface, where users simply must press a button to talk and you’re instantly informed if you receive a reply or can review the reply later in the apps history and best of all, the service is totally free plus, it works with contacts worldwide.

Using the application will spend about 110 KB of data per minute spoken and about 20 KB for each hour that is unused.

Find out more about Zello by visiting www.zello.com

You can use Zello on Android, Blackberry, iPhone or PC (Windows) & simply install it from searching in your app store on your device or by clicking the links given here if you visit this page on your mobile phone.

If you want to join us on Zello, you can find our Zello channel by clicking here  or searching for “Star Bikers” within the app.  To get into the channel, the code you need to bypass the security setting is “charity”

With Zello can create public channels , or simply chat with a friend privately . To add the contacts you search by name or email and it is sufficient that the other person accepts the request and direct online already.

Podcast Episode 1

Welcome to the Star Bikers Podcast Episode 1.  NOW ONLINE
This is the 1st ever Star Bikers podcast, our own exclusive online downloadable radio show to play on your MP3 player, Mobile phone or any MP3 compatible device to listen to on the go, which if it proves successful, we will be bringing to you each month & best is, it’s completely FREE to download.

Hosted by Ian Maddock, Chris Kilford & guest Pauline Gale.  In this episode, which is a prequel to all future podcasts, Ian, Chris & Pauline talk a little about the history of the Star Bikers, fundraising & what the Podcasts are all about.

With an Egg run coming up soon, we ask, “what is an Egg Run?” & explain a little about them.

Chris explains how he & “Growler” got into doing charity work & why he thinks involvement is important for the Star Bikers future.

We also highlight how we want YOUR input on how future Podcasts are created.

If you want to you can text us on
07426 182860
(Note: this is a texline only for Podcast purposes & not enquiries or phone calls) 
Feel free to text us your questions or any discussion topics you want us to talk about which we will use in the next Podcast & answer any questions put to us, which will also shape the way the Podcast is produced.  We also welcome texts for run day in the Kings Hall.

If anyone has any comments or suggestions about the podcast, such as things to raise on future podcasts or topics to talk about, please feel free to get in touch by email or text.  you can email  podcast@stokebikeruns.co.uk

Special Guest Pauline explains her new role in the charity as coordinator of outside events, giving her ideas on how she wants the Star Bikers to get out & about taking part in local community activities & talks about her plans for the coming Staffs Bike show & gives details how you can get in touch with your ideas, which she will put to the charity committee for consideration & explains why if anyone is planning a fundraising event how we could help you if you are choosing to support the Star Bikers as part of your planned event.

This Podcast is very much an experiment to us & we’ve never tried this before, so feedback is very much welcomed & we certainly hope you enjoy it.

You can download our 1st ever podcast by clicking here

 Easily download the mp3 file and transfer to any mp3 player or Mobile phone with MP3 capability.
Simply right click the download link (Mac users should “Control click”). Then, in the menu that appears, simply select ”Save Link As” and choose where you’d like to save the file onto your computer. Then, transfer the files to your mp3 player or mobile phone via bluetooth (if compatible) or the USB connection that came with your device.
Or if you prefer you can navigate your mobile phone internet browser to download directly to your memory card.

Photoshoot to help promote the Egg run

we’ve been approached by a local photography student. to do a photoshoot to help promote the Egg run & would like to get a few bikes along as well.  The photo shoot on Tue 28th Feb @ 2pm, just opposite Stoke train station, so if you want some photos of you in your gear/on bike as well as being in Staffordshire Life helping to promote the Egg Run, here’s your chance.

As discussed on your organisations Facebook page, I will be conducting a photo shoot on the 28th Feb at 2pm which will take about 30-45 mins.

I’m currently in my final semester of a 3 year photojournalism course at Staffordshire University, and in May I shall be submitting my final portfolio of photographs. The images will be used to showcase the activist nature of the modern day motor biker, and the work that several organisations such as the Star Bikers carry out.

I’ve already had a positive amount of feedback from several people who have already contributed to the project, and this is where yourself and your members can fit in. All images I take will be yours to keep for promotional purposes, and through my contacts with the local magazines/newspapers I can have them fit alongside an article/interview of yourself and yourself being a main part of the clubs organisation as well as your individual members.

Feel free to check my website/blog site and have a look at the previous work I’ve done, and if you’re interested get back to me and I’ll give you the details of the studio location.

I look forward to hearing from you soon, and hopefully working alongside you.

http://www.callumwilsonphoto.co.uk – http://www.flickr.com/photos/doultongreenphoto/

Regards

Callum

Egg Run Band announced

The band for the 34th Egg run will be..

VaVoom.

We have had VaVoom, play at a run a couple of years back in 2009 at the Egg run & they were probably one of the most requested bands to have back & after they finished playing last time they expressed they wanted to do it again, so we’re bringing them back for the 34th Egg Run.

They are a Trio playing Rockabilly styled covers of popular songs & of course some of the classics.  You may remember the band for their zealous double bass player who has created a style of his own & for a party piece climbs on top of the instrument to play it on occasion.

You can read more about the band at http://www.vavoom.altpro.net/home

or see them in action VaVoom Live (YouTube video clip)

Bike Safe 2012

Foley Motorcycles are holding a BIKE SAFE day on Sat 21st of April 2012.

Any one wishing to book or check out details, can call the shop  on 01782 84882 or go on line to Staffordshire Police Bike Safe – http://www.staffordshire.police.uk/advice_zone/road_safety/bikesafe.

Its a FREE one to one ride out with a Police rider,with a Pre briefing, before and debrief after your ride out. Everyone who has taken part over the last 11 years, has realy enjoyed the experance, and gained valuable knowledge.

Representatives from the Star Bikers will be there on the day taking donations & selling wristbands.

Other Staffordshire Bike safe dates are :-

Saturday 31st March 2012 – Tamworth Yamaha
Unit Q, Riverside Estate Atherstone St, Fazely, Tamworth, B78 3RW.

Saturday 21st April 2012 – Foley Motorcycles
67/69 King Street, Fenton, Stoke on Trent, ST4 3LZ.

Saturday 12th May 2012, CG Chell Motorcycles
27 Marston Road, Stafford, ST16 3BS.

Sunday 20th May 2012, – “Ladies day”
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, Weston Road Stafford , ST18 ODD.

Saturday  2nd June 2012 – Suttons Motorcycles
361 Watling Street, Wilnecote, Tamworth, B77 5AD.

Saturday 9th June 2012 – BS Bikes
653/657 High Street, Sandyford,Tunstall Stoke on Trent, ST6 5PL.

To express your interest simply E-mail PC 965 John Edmondson at
bikesafe.staffs@staffordshire.pnn.police.uk or call Staffordshire Police and leave a voicemail 101.

New Wristbands launched.

We are pleased to announce the launch of the new Star Bikers charity wristbands.

There are 2 bands, the black one is to represent the Toy Run, the Yellow one is to represent the Egg run.   We think these are a fantastic addition to the badges & other merchandise we currently offer

Bands will cost £2 each & will be on general sale at the next event & all future events.  All proceeds will go to the charity in the form of a donation.
(Postage / packaging will be charged on online sales at 35p per band from 1st December.)

You could buy yours online today.
  Black Toy run Wristband
  Yellow Egg Run Wristband 

Plans are also being discussed for a limited run of 40th anniversary bands in Ruby red (ruby anniversary coloured) & if possible, a Golden band for the 50th anniversary.

There is also plans that the bands will be on sale in local bike shops throughout Stoke on Trent.

We would like to hear your thoughts & ideas on the Wristbands as well as finding out what other merchandise you think we could sell.  if you have any ideas of what you think would be a good item to stamp the Star Bikers logo onto we will consider all sensible ideas.  let us know on our forum thread & have your say - http://www.stokebikeruns.co.uk/html/forums/viewtopic.php?id=1376