Motorcycle Maintenance Q&A with Paul Nobbs

Paul Nobbs Motorcycles of Sutton (near Ely) are once again hosting a free Q&A session uniquely for CAM Members & Associates on Saturday 24 February from 1pm to 3pm, with Paul on hand to answer any & all of your questions regarding bike maintenance

Paul established his business in 2002, has 30 years’ experience servicing motorcycles and is known for his expertise and honest advice. Previous Q&As with Paul have been greatly appreciated by attendees, so whatever your current level of mechanical know-how, why not sign up and gain insights from a professional?

As the workshop has limited space, attendance is limited to 10 participants. If you would like to bone up on motorcycle maintenance, learn how to ready your bike after te winter lay-up or simply tension your chain correctly then please use this link to request a place. Paul is not charging us for this session, but there will be a collection tin in aid of EAAA

Paul enjoys a challenge, so come armed with questions!

Places available on this Friday’s ride

With frost forming yesterday evening Paul Norman reluctantly took the decision to postpone his winter ride scheduled to depart this morning. With temperatures looking promising throughout Thursday evening & night, Paul has rescheduled to this Friday (12 January). Some of those who had planned to take part are not able to make the new date, and therefore there are now places available on this ride

Except for the new date, the details of  Paul’s outing are unchanged:

This rideout starts at 9.30 am from the Shell Services at Fourwentways. The route takes us into Suffolk with a short coffee stop in Needham Market, after which we head across to Wickham Market, Aldeburgh and lunch at The Kitchen@Thorpeness 
Our return ride heads through Diss, then back down to Bury St.Edmunds to finish in Newmarket at around 3.30pm

Total distance ~135 miles  |  Ride limited to 6 bikes + ride leader
Booking now open: email Paul directly to request a place

The first Group-organised ride of 2024

Book now to join Patrick Ryan & Alan Triggs on 2024’s first Group-organised ride – an outing to Pearces Farm Shop & Cafe on Sunday 7th January

Heading off from one BP petrol station on the east of Cambridge we follow a circular route, ending a few miles west of Cambridge at a second BP at Childerley Gate. We’ll mostly keep to B-roads as we wind through pretty North Essex villages, getting as far east as Radwinter on our way to the breakfast stop just north of Puckeridge. The breakfast menu caters to all tastes, and includes granola with blueberries, yoghourt & honey for those starting the New Year with healthy resolutions

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

After breakfast we have a second short spell on the A10 back to Buntingford before following smaller roads into Herts & Beds. We get as far west as Potton before heading eastwards once more on our way to Childerley Gate. The journey is 82 miles in total.

Departs BP Newmarket Road, Cambridge at 9:30am
Limited to 12 participants: use this link to request a place

Book now! Sunday ride to Shuttleworth

Book your place now! Rescheduled because of ice a week ago, Keith Curtis’ rideout to Shuttleworth is clear for takeoff on Sunday 17th December. The departure point & the route Keith will be using are unchanged…

Heading out from Caxton Gibbet we make our way through Yelling, Graveley and the Offords to cross the A1 at Buckden.  Following a series of B roads we skirt the edge of Bedford before crossing the A421 and pass through Great Barford before turning off and making our way along some minor roads to our breakfast stop at The Shuttleworth Runway Café (menu). The outward journey is ~41 miles

After breakfast we have a shorter ride back to Caxton Gibbet. Skirting Shefford and passing through Henlow Camp, we will bypass Potton and take the back road out of Gamlingay. Heading through Longstowe we pick up the A1198 to our finishing point in a layby a stone’s throw from where we began. Cognisant of the potential for inclement weather and lower temperatures at this time of year, this is a shorter ride, with the return leg ~32 miles

Departs Caxton Gibbet, Sunday 17th December @ 9:30am
Use this link to request a place. Ride limited to 12 participants

Christmas dinner 2023

The festive season isn’t upon us just yet, but it is approaching and our Events Coordinators Nigel & Catherine have been busy organising Christmas dinner for Members, Associates & partners. The venue this year is The Old Crown in Girton, which they have booked for the evening of Thursday 7th December. Our festive dinners have been popular, successful events in previous years and we look forward to seeing many of you & your partners there
You can view The Old Crown’s Christmas menu here. The cost per person is £42.90 for a 3-course meal (this includes a service charge, but excludes drinks). If you would like to attend please download the booking form. With your choices made, email your form to events@cambsiam.org.uk
Don’t forget to follow the simple payment instructions to complete your booking!

Be sure to arrive before 7:30pm to enjoy your complimentary glass of Prosecco (or alcohol-free alternative) before taking your seat for dinner!

Full details in the Events Calendar

MotorcycleLive 2023

Update: Keith Tremmer’s ride to the Birmingham NEC
is now scheduled for Friday 24th November

The UK’s flagship motorcycle show, MotorcycleLive is supported by the very best of the industry and this year upward of 25 major bike, accessory & clothing manufacturers will be represented. The show prides itself on offering the first UK viewing of all newly launched models and there will be bikes of all genres & ages to be sat on, inspected, photographed & discussed with the exhibitors

MotorcycleLive 2023 runs from 18th to 26th November, and Keith Tremeer has once again proposed an outing for CAM Members to the show. Read on for Keith’s description …

The small group heading to MotorcycleLive have settled on a date: Friday 24th November. We will depart the Cambridge area at 8:00am, taking a scenic route to Birmingham (with a breakfast stop along the way) to arrive at the NEC by midday, when everyone will be free to browse the show at their leisure. A group return ride (on a more direct route, but not the M6!) will leave at around 4:00pm – but participants will be free to return independently if they prefer. The total distance is expected to be ~190 miles
Please click here to email me (Keith) ASAP if you would like join this rideout. Tickets cost £25 when purchased online, which includes a £2 booking fee (this rides to £31.00 when purchased on the day). Tickets are valid for any day, so we have the flexibility to choose (collectively or individually) the best day of the week in terms of weather. The NEC offers free motorcycle parking in a covered area

Group Ride training – Saturday 21st October

Over Community Centre, Saturday 21st October
Open to full Members & Associates*. Email Catherine to request a place

Our Group ride training is expanding to include full Members alongside the Ride Leaders & Tailer Enders (RL&TE) team. Associates who have begun Observed rides and had confirmation from their Observer that they are riding at a suitable standard to join Group rideouts are also welcome. Training Manager Barry D explains the thinking behind this change, and what those attending can expect:

Much emerged from the RL&TE training session in June – not least the insight that all riders might benefit from a better understanding the RL&TE roles, the guidelines presented by the leader and their actions during a ride. By opening this training to Members we aim to reduce the number of problems which arise from time to time during rides, so Group rides are more enjoyable and safer for all. Over time we hope that all members will attend this training, and each session will be a rich mix of:

  • Those aiming to join the RL&TE team
  • Leaders & Tailers updating their training
  • Members & Associates aiming to better understand how to participate positively & safely in a group ride

All full Members are now invited to our our next training session on Saturday 21st October at Over Community Centre. This starts at 10am, and is expected to finish at by 4pm. As there is a practical session attendees should arrive by bike (ideally equipped with a SatNav). Tea, coffee & biscuits will be provided but please bring your own sandwiches. The bar will be open for soft drinks

There will be a little work for attendees to complete in advance of the course (more about that nearer the time). The morning will start with Module 1 presentation (~90 mins), followed after a short break by the Module 2 presentation (~30 mins). On-road training follows, for which participants will receive a SatNav route and information on how to prepare

Both current RL&TEs and those aiming to join the team will have the opportunity to brief and then ride in the RL role. They will also ride in the TE position, picking up markers as they go. The SatNav route will clearly identify the location where Leader & Tailer swap roles halfway along the 20-mile route. The training will be a close with a Q&A session

Please consider signing up for this training. Whether you’re already on the RL&TE team, thinking of joining or simply wish to gain a better understanding of group riding your attendance will help us make our rides safer & more enjoyable. Please email me (Barry) directly if you would like further details, or email Catherine to book your place

8th October: our final all-day ride of 2023

Had Keith Tremeer not postponed this outing to Sunday 8th October it would have taken place during one of the hottest spells on record, but instead it’s shaping up to be a glorious autumn ride! Keith has updated his plan to avoid arriving back after dark, and outlines the revised schedule below –

The ride will depart at 8:30am from Tesco Milton, heading northwest towards Mildenhall, then north to Downham Market for our breakfast stop after ~90 minutes on the road at Arbuckles
We subsequently follow scenic country lanes eastwards to Swaffham, then head southeast through Watton, Harleston & Fressingfield to arrive at our lunch stop, the Dennington Queen, at around 1pm (having covered ~110 miles since leaving Milton)

After feasting on the roast lunch or other tempting items from the Sunday menu we’ll make a quick re-fuelling stop, then return westwards through Otley Bottom & Needham Market, until we reach our refreshment stop in Lavenham – afternoon tea or ice cream anyone?
Our final leg will take us through Long Melford, Keddington & Balsham to reach Fourwentways services, with an ETA of 6pm. The ride ends here, 70 miles after lunch and a total journey of ~180 miles

Departs: Tesco Milton 8:30am  |  Ends: Fourwentways ~6:00pm
Full Members only  |  Limited to 8 participants (including pillions)

Email Keith directly to request a place or for further details

Motorcycle Maintenance Q&A with Paul Nobbs

Paul Nobbs Motorcycles of Sutton (near Ely) are once again hosting a free Q&A session uniquely for CAM Members & Associates on Saturday 7 October from 1pm to 3pm, with Paul on hand to answer any & all of your questions regarding bike maintenance

Paul established his business in 2002, has 30 years’ experience servicing motorcycles and is known for his expertise and honest advice. Previous Q&As with Paul have been greatly appreciated by attendees, so whatever your current level of mechanical know-how,why not sign up and gain insights from a professional?

As the workshop has limited space, attendance is limited to 10 participants. So if you would like to brush up on your mechanical knowledge, learn how to prepare your bike for winter or simply tension your chain correctly then please use this link to request a place. Paul is not charging us for this session, but there will be a collection tin in aid of EAAA
Have your questions ready!

30th September – Taster rides !

On Saturday 30th September the CAM Observer Team are holding an Advanced Riding Taster Day at the Ducati dealership in Harston, Cambridge. Observers will be there from 10am to 4pm, offering FREE taster rides to any biker with a full licence wishing to gain an insight into advanced riding

What’s involved? A one-to-one ride with a highly experienced Observer, followed by a debrief with pointers to how the IAM Advanced Rider course can help riders take things to the next level

Do participants ride their own bike? Yes

What now? If you are interested in a Taster Ride please contact us via this link and we’ll reserve you a slot (remember to let us know if you have a time preference!)

Anything else? Our Members & Associates will also be there to discuss the benefits & challenges of CAM membership. And when we’ve answered your questions, you can spend time admiring some of the finest motorcycles Italy has to offer as the Ducati dealership will be open throughout our stay!