Touratech – tours by Dragonwheels

LFR novice ride 3 from Jasext on Vimeo.

Spot yours truly on the Husky, in the dayglo top – conqering the Welsh Forests…!

Channel 5 TV presenter and former host of BBC’s MotoGP coverage Suzi Perry is giving her backing to National Motorcycle Week (NMW) which runs from 18 to 24 July and features Ride To Work day on Wednesday 21 July.

This year’s NMW is being supported by Get On, the nationwide campaign by the Motor Cycle Industry (MCI) to get more people on two wheels, and as a result both new and existing riders are being encouraged to get out on two wheels and enjoy the huge range of benefits that life on a motorbike or scooter can bring.

NMW provides the perfect opportunity for people to try life on two wheels and book a free one-hour taster session with Get On. The campaign offers anyone aged 16 or over the chance to try riding a scooter or geared 125cc motorcycle absolutely free and with no commitment at any one of over 150 centres around the country. To book a free ride the public simply register at www.geton.co.uk and their nearest training centre will contact them to make the arrangements.

NMW also encourages existing and lapsed bikers to get out and about on their bikes and enjoy the great sense of fun and freedom which biking offers, while also encouraging their friends to give biking a go.

As an added incentive during July Get On are running a prize promotion which allows any biker who introduces a friend at a Get On dealer the chance to win a huge range of prizes including biking holidays, Weise kit, Arai helmets and Pirelli tyres. Non-bikers won’t miss out either as they will be entered into the draw for iPads, iPod nanos and digital cameras. The competition can be entered at one of 450 participating Get On dealers across the country which can be located on the website http://www.geton.co.uk

Ride to Work Day (21 July) is part of the event and the aim is to promote the fact that as well as an enjoyable leisure pursuit riding a bike or scooter has many practical benefits. Powered two-wheelers can help

Reduce congestion
Reduce journey times
Reduce the cost of commuting
Reduce pollution

Perry, who was a presenter at this year’s BBC coverage of Royal Ascot, is calling on people to take the opportunity to get out and about and enjoy life on two wheels and said, “Bikes have been a huge part of my life and are just such a fantastic way to get around. Not only do they help you get ahead of the traffic but they’re also more economical, greener and a huge amount of fun.”

“For many people, the thought of getting into biking can be a bit intimidating and it can often be confusing about what licences and training you need to be able to ride a bike. Get On strips all this away. Not only can anyone try riding for free without any commitment but the website also offers a one stop shop on all you need to know about getting into biking. What’s even better is that you can win great prizes just dropping into a dealer to talk about it.”

Anyone can get involved in National Motorcycle Week and people who are interested in running their own events can think about planning a bikers BBQ, a local charity fundraiser, getting some extra training or going on a group ride –out to celebrate all that is positive about life on two-wheels.

See the rest of the photostream for pics of our Recce of teh tour route and filming day in the Beacons

The Touratech Travel Event is for people who find their motorcycling adventure on, or off road and on all types of machine.

This year’s event is bigger than ever before, more rides, more speakers, more entertainment, more bargains… more sunshine (probably). With the evening marquee event we are limited to 500 seats. It’s a first come first served basis, so make sure you take this opportunity to register, also some of the presentations will have limited numbers, so make sure you are one of the first to register. The provisional programme includes: Road and Off Road rides in conjunction with Globebusters and BMW Rider Training local experts. It’s an opportunity to try taking your bike off road to see if you enjoy it, with short sample stages and instruction, before you consider booking for a full off road course. A treasure hunt taking in some of the spectacular local roads around the Brecon Beacons National Park and points of interest like caves, castles, red kites and Welsh monkeys. This ride will be run on Saturday. Adventure and travel talks from experts who have been there, ridden that and lived the dreams and nightmares, along with demos on a number of essential adventure topics, like, cooking haute cuisine on a camping stove. Bargains galore and a goody bag bursting with money savers and bike stuff, for every one that registers. Additional Demos and Talks Urals, three wheels to one. First aid on the road. Packing for adventure. Saturday Evening Entertainment: We have a very special presentation from two of the World’s most intrepid explorers. Fresh from their most recent and arduous trek, filmed for the Paramount Channel, Ewan and Thingy will be recounting their epic long walk to the pub from the Wrong Way Round series. Winner of the prestigious Motorcycle News ‘Video of the Week’ for seven consecutive days. Brought to the stage in a unique performance for this Travel Event. Seating is limited, so you need to be amongst the first 500 to register to guarantee a place at this premiere show. Coming from Ireland? We’ve managed to negotiate a 10% discount with Fastnet Ferries and their Cork to Swansea route. Email [email protected] to secure your discounted rate for this event Click here to view a Touratech UK location map GPS Co-ordinates: N 51 46.200’ W 003 46.370’ BMW GS Trophy now running alongside the Touratech Travel Event. If you needed more of an excuse to come to Touratech Travel Event, then BMW’s decision to run the GS Trophy at the same time and same location as our off road samplers, should be more than enough. You’ll get the full weekend of travel and adventure, plus if you register (see below) a chance to enter the GS Trophy, ride a World of BMW bike and perhaps even earn a ride to represent the UK in Southern Africa in the finals. Take a Saturday sampler and you might just have an edge. For more information please visit www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/gstrophy or to book a place on the 2010 BMW Motorrad GS Trophy Qualifying please call 08000 131 282. REGISTRATION It’s £15 for the Travel Event alone. The GS Trophy is £50 and includes Travel Event access, but you need to book that via the BMW address above. (If you turn up for our Travel Event on the day the charge is £20 and you may find the rides, talks and show are booked up). The fee includes: access to the off-road area and skills tests, camping, talks, and, for the first 500 to register, the Ewan and Thingy stage show. Also included is the goody bag, which is growing in value every day.