Dates For Your Diary
Next meeting is on 23 November.
From 7.30pm for a 7.45pm start .
This month is Observation skills.
Do you have a topic you would like discussed, or know of an interesting speaker? Please contact speaker at speakers@wiltshireroadar.co.uk
SkillShare & Social
7 November 2026 meeting at the REME Museum Cafe, Lyneham. 9.30 am for 10 am start. See main section for more details.
Bike Ride-Outs on the 3rd Saturday of every even numbered month and the 3rd Sunday of every odd numbered Month. Email will be sent out to Bikers and added to the Forum.
Next ride out Sunday 15 November Details will be forthcoming via email to all bike members.
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Congratulations
Congratulations to the following members who have passed their Advanced Tests recently:
Richard Willaims - Bike- Silver. Tutor Geoff Brown
Gavin Cox - Bike - Gold. Tutor Geoff Brown
Please welcome the following to the Group:
Henry Mattocks – Bike
James Newport – Car
Suzanne Metcalfe – Car
Paul Horrix - Car
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Please see the main body of the newsletter for the process to purchase branded clothing |
Newsletter Content
We are always looking for more articles, ideas and news for the newsletter. Have you been somewhere interesting recently that would make a good story? If you attend any group events then take a camera and send us your pictures!
Please forward all contributions to newsletter@wiltshireroadar.co.uk |
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On a recent trip to the Isle of Wight, we used local buses to get around. What I noticed were many pedestrians wearing dark clothing and, even though we were on the top deck at the front of the bus, I couldn’t always see them! It made me think about my own visibility on the road, especially now we have longer nights.
We all owe a duty of care for other road users; see rules H1 and H2 in the Highway Code. Don’t forget, also, it’s your life so you need to look after yourself too.
- Prepare
for the First Frosts and Ice: November brings significantly lower
morning temperatures and the first real risk of frost and black
ice—especially on untreated rural lanes, bridge decks, and shaded
stretches. Give your vehicle extra time to frost-clear completely before
setting off and look out for tell-tale shiny patches on the tarmac.
- Master
Reduced Visibility (Fog and Darker Evenings): With the clocks going
back, commutes and journeys now happen in the dark, often compounded by
dense November fog or mist. Ensure all your lights, indicators, and wipers
are fully functional, use dipped headlights or fog lights appropriately,
and drop your speed to match your reduced stopping vision.
- Increase
Your Space Cushion: Slippery roads covered in wet sludge, decomposing
leaves, and morning frost drastically increase stopping distances. Double
or even triple your normal following distance behind the vehicle ahead to
give yourself ample time to react smoothly.
- Keep
Inputs Progressive and Gentle: Abrupt braking, harsh steering inputs,
or sudden gear changes can easily break traction on cold, greasy November
Road surfaces. Aim for ultimate smoothness in all your controls so your
tyres maintain maximum grip.
"Better to try than not to try at all and enjoy it while you do." — Keep your observations sharp, stay smooth, and wrap up warm for the November roads!
Pete – on behalf of Bob!
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Membership fees - reminders
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Our membership secretary has sent out reminders of annual payment to remain a member of our group, Wiltshire RoADAR. The current fee is £20 which covers Group Monthly meeting hall hire and promotional events.
To clarify membership – the £20 covers membership of Wiltshire RoADAR only and is a requirement to obtain training.
To be a member of RoADAR HQ – this is now £50 per year and includes a ‘free’ three yearly retest. HQ membership is entirely optional.
The three yearly test cost for
- Bikes, £70.83+VAT ie £80
- Cars, £64.17+VAT ie £70
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As an exercise we, the committee, are looking at first aid kits and what we should carry in them, this is for both car and bike members. This is not a legal requirement in the UK, it is in several countries across Europe where many of us visit every year, but it makes sense that we carry something - and many of us do already.
Sean Caine spotted this in Lidl:
A handy, compact starter kit for the car or motorcycle
If you've been meaning to put together a small personal first aid kit, this might be worth a look.
Lidl are selling a compact 44-piece car first aid kit for just £4.99. It contains a selection of basic first aid supplies in a small zipped pouch, making it easy to store in a car, motorcycle pannier or luggage.
It could also provide a good base kit, which you can supplement with additional items to suit your own needs.
Worth a look next time you're in Lidl!
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Group Rideout Policy - Update
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Late last year the ride out working group was formed to review the existing documents and information relating to this group's ride outs. It was determined that they should be updated.
The existing documents were found to have evolved organically from a number of sources and at times were inconsistent or contradictory. A wide variety of terminology was used.
The main sources of information used were
- North Wilts Roadar
- Gloucestershire Roadar
- Thames Valley Advanced Motorcyclists
During this review the advanced tutors were given an opportunity to make suggestions.
The new documents will be added to the website with some e-mailed to ride out leaders
Undoubtably there will be suggestions but unless a significant error or safety related issue is identified these will be worked through at the next review.
The committee approved the purchase and use of armbands, which riders will be asked to use and return to the ride leader or TEC at the end of the ride.
The next step for the working group is to organise ride out training for new and less experienced ride leaders and TECs.
Steven Hyde
Ride out coordinator
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Saturday Social
The venue for our monthly Saturday Social is at the REME Museum Café in Lyneham.
Bring a friend and join us on the first Saturday of the month at the Wiltshire RoADAR Saturday Social.
You never know what/who may turn up!
Come and meet your fellow members; exchange notes with other associates; meet some of our tutors and pick their brains.
We usually stay chatting eating cake and drinking tea until 11 ish.
The first Saturday of the month - 09:30 - REME Museum, Calne Rd, Lyneham, Chippenham SN15 4XX
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Have you been up to anything to do with Riding or Driving lately? If so, then please let us know as we would love to include it here; photos would be great too
Members Ride – Mid Week Meander
This has become popular for members wanting to ride during the week. This one is from a ride led by Steven Hyde.
As I was off work recharging and there hadn’t been a volunteer, I stuck my hand up.
Three intrepid riders turned up at the allotted RVP on time. On arrival the highly trained but retired paramedic needed a plaster as one of his fingers was haemorrhaging. I provided the plaster, but he quite rightly applied it himself.
Unfortunately, the excellent Codford Tearooms hadn’t opened by the 1030 departure time. As a cyclist I know a few cafes in the area, so we went to the Maiden Bradley community shop and cafe. Really good coffee, but it’s popular and Frome CC had filled up the outside seating.
Next was the rural route to Sherbourne with just a smidge of A303, sorry. From there we took the curvy A352, one of my favourites! The Cerne Abbas giant was a tumescent as usual. From Dorchester we took the ever-blustery A35 to Bridport and then West Bay. My chips were very ordinary.
The return journey took us along the top road which runs parallel with the A352 before we forked off towards Sturminster Newton. There we found the delightful Oxfords Bakery & cafe.
Just before Guys Marsh prison there was a car buried in someone’s garden and a breakdown truck about to begin its retrieval. We don’t know if it was an escapee making off in the governor’s car. The fun continued when a large rigid HGV pulled onto our road causing chaos. As soon as we reached the outskirts of Shaftesbury, we took the back road past the foot of the famous Gold Hill.
We splintered at the Chase roundabout with Ryan heading north on the A350, Matt and myself Northeast along the A30,
Great day riding, 139 miles for me. No U turns.
If you fancy organising a mid-week meander ask Mark Sealey to get added to the WhatsApp group.
Steven Hyde
Monthly Rideout 17 October - A Cotswold’s fords tour
Originally planned for February, this ride had been postponed due to the depth, width and fast flow of water after a wet winter. Following a very warm dry summer, the fords had reduced to a mere trickle.
Meeting at 09:00 at Dobbies cafe in Cirencester we ate breakfast and consumed tea for an hour. Recording riders in the register.
This ride also saw the introduction of our new High Viz arm bands which help to identify us as a responsible set of riders..
Section 1 - five fords on small single track twisties on the Western side of the Cotswolds ending at the Old Prison at Northleach for a light lunch; or not so light if you order sausage roll.
Section 2 - Four fords through scenic roads and villages.
Thanks to Kevin Rivers for back marking (TEC) and for a great idea; having the orange marker on the front of the bike so that you can be spotted easily.
Mark Sealey
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Promotional activities
SkillShare - If you know someone who wants to learn about the Group bring them to the Saturday Social on the first Saturday of the Month at Crown's Cafe at the REME Museum in Lyneham.
Successfully supported by Wiltshire RoADAR motorcycle tutors and WABAM Observers. Dates for 2026 are below:
The final Bike Safe of the year is at Devizes Police Station on:
8th November (subject to re-planning as this is Remeberance Sunday)
If you have any ideas for events, then please get in touch with the committee using the committee email address :
Look forward to hearing and discussing your ideas.
Presentation material
A generic set of slides has been created for use if you are asked about Wiltshire RoADAR and have the opportunity to present. This could be at a local club, workplace etc. Please send a mail to committee@wiltshireroadar.co.uk and the slides will be sent over to you.
We also have flyers and business cards so ask for these via the same means.
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Tip Top motorcycle touring adventure!
Join us for an epic year opener tour, Green Spain in March 2027.
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SPAIN
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21st – 30th March
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IRELAND
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18th -24th April
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SCOTLAND
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8th -15th May
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NORWAY
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25th June – 14th July
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AUSTRIAN ALPS
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31st July - 8th August
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SCOTTISH BORDERS
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13th – 18th August
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DOLOMITES
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4th – 15th September
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- Sharing our passion with others
- Good value touring
- Journey is as rewarding as the
destination
After planning, organising and enjoying several motorcycle trips to places such as the Alps, Dolomites, Pyrenees and Ireland, amongst others, Peter Genet has, along with a couple of advanced riding friends set-up Tip Top Tours
These tours are encouraging riders to explore and enjoy more their riding amongst like-minded riders. After all, “I ride not to go anywhere, but to ride. I ride for riding’s sake. The great adventure is to ride!”
Bookings now being taken for 2027 including an early spring ride around northern Spain!
Look forward to seeing you soon!
Peter Genet |
New Group Meeting Location
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Please remeber our new meeting venue is the Nursteed Community Centre. It is a more central locatoin and it is hoped it will attract members from around the county.
However, with this comes a change of day too; still a Monday, but now the fourth Monday of the month but timings are un changed - 1930 to 2130
There is plenty of parking space and probably easier to approach than Liddington!
The address is Nursteed Community Centre, Nursteed Rd, Devizes SN10 3AF
What3words ///boarding.imprinted.rebounds
Hope to see you there!
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Taking both Car and Bike tests?
We have a handful of people who have passed both their car and bike tests. If you wish to do the same it can be confusing as we include the training in your membership of Wiltshire RoADAR but your membership of RoSPA only covers free retests for one vehicle type. My thanks to Ryan Jones who clarified the situation with RoSPA.
If you are already a bike member, you can just pay for an interim car test @ £55. Your main membership would be bike (first one to pass) so "free" retests would be for bike. Each car retest would be same interim @ £55. Bike interim tests are £60.
The interim test is accessed from the RoSPA member area here:
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Booking a Retest
Please be aware you need to book your 3 yearly retest directly with RoSPA via their website. Sadly we cannot book it for you as it is all done electronically. You may also need to check when your re-test is due if you have not been paying your subscriptions to RoADAR as they will not remind you.
Tutors will be happy to conduct a refresh should you wish one prior to a re test.
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Membership and GDPR
Due to GDPR we are required to remove an individual's details from our Group database when they are no longer required by us. We remove a lapsed member's details if they have not paid a subscription by the 31 Dec (3 months after the subscriptions are due - 1 Oct). If a member has forgotten to pay their subs and pays after 31 Dec we will require a joining form to be completed so we can replace them on the database.
It all seems a bit strange, but we do not want to get on the wrong side of the Government's Information Commissioner. We understand if members forget or are late with their subscriptions, but please help us to keep our database accurate and compliant.
This is, of course, separate to those of you who maintain a membership with RoADAR HQ.
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I met recently, along with Hutch from Wiltshire Police BikeSafe, a group of bikers who have set up a new not-for-profit one stop site providing advice about rider safety, tips, organisations and personal stories.
Their advice is not just for bike riders, but also provides good advice for all road users.
Their site continues to grow and contains more and more interesting safety tips and advice for all road users, not just bikers.
Peter Genet
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Notices
Merchandise - UPDATE
We now have a process to provide branded clothing for those who want it. It seems a bit long winded but we need to maintain the branding and we must do this ourselves and not leave it to the supplier! If you want something have a look at Wiltshire Workwear, Chippenham;
- please rememebr you need to have Navy Blue clothing.
Once you have decided send you order to Clothing@wiltshireroadar.co.uk. Harlequin Dave will reply with a quote and once you have paid for the goods to the Wiltshrie RoADAR Treasurer the order will be placed. full details can be found here
Committee Members
A number of people have asked who is who in the zoo. The list of Officers for the Group is on the website here. Feel free to join us (I know the list of Committee members is a little out of date as Nick Carrington is a member, we have lost Steve Allsworth – thanks for your time and effort Steve, and have gained Scott Bonnell – thanks for your commitment Scott)
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Committee minutes
These are available from the Group Secretary if any member wishes to see them. If you are interested in reading the minutes, then please send a mail to the Group Secretary whom will promptly forward them onto you.
Test results
Reminder to let the Membership Secretary and your tutor know when you have taken your Advanced Driving/Riding Test and result. This is so our database is kept up to date; there is no need or pressure at all to have the result published on the website or in this newsletter if you wish to keep your result confidential.
If you have read this far, thanks! If you have any feedback or suggestions about content for your newsletter, then drop us a line at newsletter@wiltshireroadar.co.uk If you can't leave constructive feedback though, then we don't want to hear from you!
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