PASSING ON THE PASSION

In spite of what some adults believe we are firmly of the mind that being able to ride a motorcycle or scooter with skill and precision is an experience that can help to shape your life for the better.

Riding a motorcycle requires control, judgement, the ability to assess risk, mechanical appreciation and knowledge to find your way. That’s one reason why we initiated Passing On The Passion. The other reason is the prohibitively expensive cost of obtaining a motorcycle licence beginning with CBT training and going through to the theory test, and Module One and Two practical riding tests.

A motorcycle brings freedom: to take off on your own, or to ride with groups of friends. It can offer the freedom to skip traffic jams on the way to work or college; and a sense of adventure as you take off on your first long distance trip across country or on and on across the world in the wheel tracks of other adventurers.

Our first Passion candidate was George Smith a sixteen year old from south London who was guided by Aspen Rider Training www.aspenridertraining.co.uk up to his CBT. George and his Suzuki 50 zoom around London enjoying the liberty independent wheels can bring.

Sian Phelan experienced motorcycling through riding pillion occasionally with her brother. This wasn’t enough; she had to ride herself, but was hampered by a low wage trainee job that finished after a year. In stepped Dexterity Rider Training www.dexteritytraining.co.uk an Ashford based school that have supported her through her CBT, theory test and Module One. She is preparing for her full test now.

Now Katrina Denton from South Yorkshire is about to start training. She’s a student struggling financially, but such is her desire to get on two wheels that she managed to fund herself through the CBT. We’ll be helping her through to her licence. Katrina’s being trained in Sheffield by ATB Training www.atbtraining.co.uk who will be assisted by Get On the national campaign to encourage people to try two wheels www.geton.co.uk.

How Can I Get Sponsored?
If you would like to be considered for the scheme you need to be between 16yrs and 20yrs, and we want you to write 600 – 1200 words for us on the theme ‘Why I Should Be On two Wheels’. If you’re chosen we’ll publish your words in the magazine, arrange a training school where you can begin your motorcycling journey, and provide you with riding kit. You don’t have to be an English grammar expert or a budding novelist. What we’re looking for is ‘Passion’. We will give priority to young people who might otherwise struggle to find the money, and if you can make a convincing case you’re in.

Send your entries to:

Editor,
The Rider’s Digest,
PO Box 240,
Huddersfield,
W Yorkshire
HD9 9DQ

or to

editor@theridersdigest.co.uk

If any of our adult readers, parents, teachers, youth workers etc know a young person in the age range. Please encourage them to put pen to paper, or more likely, visit the keyboard.