NOVEMBER 2008

I have located 20 copies of Issue 2!! This was recently advertised as SOLD OUT but there are a few left as I said. Found them at the back of the garage!

PRESS RELEASE
Released: 14th November 2008

ASK THE EXPERTS!
Girlsbike2, specialists in motorbike clothing for women have announced the launch of their new ‘Ask the Experts’ service. The service is designed for customers who can’t find what they are looking for or have specific requirements regarding fit or functionality of clothing.

Marketing Director of Girlsbike2 Clare Keeley said “Trying to find the clothing that fits or meets your specific requirements can sometimes be daunting, that’s why we have designed this service. We already offer customers who contact us verbally this service however many customers struggle without asking for help. Women in particular need specific features e.g short or long leg length. Many shops only use an average of 3-4 brands and therefore choice is limited. Girlsbike2 specialise in women’s motorcycle clothing and use over 16 of the leading clothing and accessory brands so have a large database to choose from. Good fitting items underpins the safety of our customers and we are delighted to be able to offer this service”.

The service is due to be launched on the 24th November 2008 through their new Girlsbike2 website www.girlsbike2.com. The user friendly designs allows customers to complete their requirements online and one of the Girlsbike2 in-house experts e-mail their recommendations.

September 2008

We have decided to put the magazine production on hold until March 2009 and we will then decide the future of Lady Biker Magazine.

Countdown to the new motorcycle test

The new practical motorcycle test is being introduced from 29 September 2008 to comply with European legislation, which aims to improve the standard of road safety for motorcycle and moped riders. This user group has been identified as having a high risk of injury or death; this is particularly the case for young and inexperienced riders.

The new test is intended to ensure that motorcycle test candidates demonstrate that they are competent in the control of their machines at a more demanding level than is currently the case.

The new test event will contain two elements. The higher speed exercises and other exercises will be tested on safe off-road sites and take about 10 minutes to complete. The accompanied on road element of the test will follow, consisting of a road ride covering a variety of road and traffic conditions and will also include normal stops, hill and angle starts. Candidates who have demonstrated riding skills of a dangerously incompetent level during the off-road part of the test will not be permitted to proceed to the on-road element.

General Info - PDF | Manoeuvering Diagram PDF | Test Report PDF | FAQ's Word Doc

Delivery of the new test

The new test will be delivered from a network of sites provided either directly by DSA or via private developers. Many of the centres will be Multi-purpose Test Centres (MPTCs) providing both motorcycle and car testing facilities.

What is different about the new motorcycle test?

The new EU standards set extra and more demanding special exercises that must be included in every practical motorcycling test from the date of implementation. These new standards include:

• At least two exercises carried out at slow speed, including a slalom
• At least two exercises carried out at higher speed, of which one exercise should be in second or third gear, at a speed of at least 19mph and one exercise avoiding an obstacle at a minimum speed of approx 32 mph.
• at least two braking exercises, inc: an emergency brake at a min speed of approx 32 mph

The diagrams show the proposed layout of the manoeuvring area. On the day of the test, candidates will be asked by the examiner to demonstrate their riding ability on either the left-hand or right-hand circuit.

General Info - PDF | Manoeuvering Diagram PDF | Test Report PDF | FAQ's Word Doc

The practical moped riding test

The practical moped riding test (which does not include the high-speed requirements) will also be carried out from the new test centres, where both the obstacle avoidance and emergency braking exercises will be carried out at approx 19mph. A test for the drivers of motorcycle and side car combination is also under development.

Why are special "off road" facilities required?

It was considered that it would not be safe to conduct the new higher speed and braking exercises on public roads, which in very built up and busy test areas, would not be safe for the rider, other road users and the general public.

Undertaking a fair and consistent assessment for all candidates across Great Britain would be best achieved by using a pre-determined layout using ground markings and cones. It would be impractical and unsafe to do that on a public road as to comply with the speed requirement examiners would have to use roads with a speed limit of 40 mph.

Due to the minimum speeds required and different handling and power characteristics of different machines, DSA has developed a minimum test area in which it will be safe to conduct the off road element of the new test.

Information Obtained by the Driving standards Agency

As you may have noticed, the Lady Biker Magazine logo is mainly Pink
and we do have lots of Pink on the cover and inside the magazine.

Why?

Well, we are a new magazine and basically need to stand out and be noticed,
we are different and therefore want to look different
hence the bright colours and cartoon character in the logo.

The colours and logo are there purely for this reason and are not meant to
upset anyone who:

a) Does not like pink
b) Does not have blonde hair and ride a pink bike

We would like your feedback on the following:

Does the pink put you off?

What about the cartoon character on the logo, should we get rid of it
and simplify the logo?

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The response on this subject was amazing and some very interesting points were put across, these will be published in Issue 3.

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Email: Discussion Results:- Pink

Hi there,

Thanks again for taking the time to let me know your thoughts on
the Lady Biker Magazine Logo and colour scheme.

I'd like you to have a look at some new logo designs and let me know
which ones you think may be suitable for the mag.

I have had many many emails on this subject and some very
relevant comments have been put forward.

In conclusion:

The majority of you like the logo and the pink (60%)
but there are a few that don't like it (30%)
and some didn't mind either way (10%)

I agree that we need to be taken seriously and therefore
need to consider a new logo.

Those of you who do like the current logo:
Thanks! I like it too, I designed it. But, I hope you will also like the new logo ideas
and understand my reasons for considering a change.
I simply don't want to upset people or put people off completely.

Those of you who don't like the logo etc:
I totally understand your reasons and all your comments have been
for the good of this magazine, your magazine, so thanks for being honest.

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Email: Our New Logo

Thanks to those of you that voted on our logo ideas.
It seems that you all have different tastes and colour preferences
I suppose that's what's makes us girls special!!

Anyhow . . .

There was no clear winner so we continued with more designs
and have reached a solution with your comments in mind.

This design is much more flexible and can be
reproduced in different styles and colours as shown
so there is hopefully something for everyone.

Thanks again for all your help!!

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So, here it is, see below, our new logo! Thanks again for all your help!