Observation is the Best Bike Insurance
There is a common misconception amongst non-bikers that anybody riding a motorcycle is, by definition, a nut case. This is despite the fact that most accidents involving bikes are caused by other motorists. Yes it is true that a modern super-bike has a performance that is close to that of a Formula 1 car, but these riders are well aware of their vulnerability on the open road. It is unlikely that you will see a rider on a super-bike dressed in jeans and a tee-shirt; the most common sight will be a rider dressed in full leathers, proper boots and beneath all that, spine and kidney protectors, topped off with a top-of-the-range helmet. To paraphrase the legendary motorcycle racer Kenny Roberts, “Only someone with a $10 head wears a $10 helmet.”
So what can the riders do to prevent themselves becoming another road death statistic? The best bike insurance the rider can have is observation skills. There is nothing better than a run through Snake Pass on a visit to Donnington Park; the problem is, though, that lorry that passed through the curves before you might have spilt diesel on the road. Diesel is the real bane of a biker’s life because unlike petrol, it will not evaporate and with a contact patch the size of your credit card, motorcycle tyres cannot cope with unexpected slippery surfaces well. Braking hard into the twisty bits and finding yourself on an oil slick means you will get to have the pleasure of tasting hospital food, and if you're lucky, not for an extended stay. So changes in tarmac colour should wave a warning flag to an observant rider.
Another road hazard that awaits the unwary rider is loose chips; these are most commonly to be found on B roads. Again, the contact patch afforded by a motorcycle tyre cannot deal well with this, particularly under braking. Meeting loose chips on the verge of the road means that you will have an unwelcome introduction to the roadside furniture, i.e. trees, walls and gate posts. Meeting them in the centre of the road can lead to you spilling down the tarmac in front of oncoming traffic; neither a prospect to look forwards to.
The final danger this article will address is traffic pulling out from a side road. Aside from a biker speeding and losing control, this is the cause of most fatal motorcycle accidents. As the driver of the car approaches the junction, they look to their right expecting something that is at least six foot wide and four foot high, they fail to realise that the motorbike, travelling at perhaps 60 MPH is not a car in the distance, rather a vehicle that is very much closer than that. The advice to riders here is to take preventative action, assume that the driver is going to pull out. Being aware of your surroundings is your best bike insurance.
Hobbies to Keep You Sane
Everyone needs a hobby. They are the best way to keep your mind active and to relieve yourself from the stress you build up in everyday life. There are millions of different things you can do be it sports, academic interests or model building; the list is almost endless. So do you have a hobby? If not, why? If you don’t have a hobby, you are wasting your free time on nothing, and that is bad for body and soul. Many people like to play football every weekend with their friends down at the local sports centre or even just in the park. Nothing beats kicking the ball around with good friends when it comes to chilling out and getting a good dose of fresh air. If you are a little more adventurous you could try a slightly more extreme sport such as rock climbing, getting the adrenalin as well as the heart pumping. There are obviously great benefits to keeping yourself busy with a hobby of some sort.
But, maybe sport is not your thing. Do you consider yourself to be the academic type? Even reading books can be considered an interesting hobby, or studying things like history and writing your own pieces of literature can be a great way to keep yourself busy and stimulated. Another great non-sport hobby is building models, be it aeroplanes, trains, ships or historic buildings and these can all be excellent ways to let of a bit of steam.
If sports or academics aren’t your thing, don’t panic, there are others. Doing charity work for example has been known to be a great hobby which results in a real sense of self-fulfilment. Down at the soup kitchen, YMCA or even volunteering overseas are all bound to leave you feeling less stressed and will definitely be a rewarding exercise.
Another great way to spend your time is to start a hobby collection. Comic books, stamps or playing cards, there are a million different things you can start collecting and admiring to let off steam in your free time. Once you’ve got yourself a large, well organised collection of something, you’re bound to feel a great sense of accomplishment for it!
So there you have it, plenty of examples of great ways to keep yourself stimulated and stress free, and couple of good reasons why you should. So whether you want to volunteer overseas, build model planes, play football at the park or scale mountainsides, you will definitely be benefited greatly by whatever it is you choose to do and will feel a hundred times better for it. So get off that couch and go and get active today!
Holiday Parks and the Static Caravan
Over the last few years holiday parks have sprung up all over England because more people than ever before decide to take their breaks in the UK. There are parks all around our lovely coastline and some of the most popular sites are in the South of England. These holiday parks are situated close to some of our most beautiful beaches and coves and offer the holiday maker the perfect solution for that all important vacation away from the humdrum of everyday life.
Taking the whole family abroad can be an expensive business with passports and flights to organise but a break at a holiday park means that you can go online find the perfect site that has lots of things to keep the family busy, book it and pay for it in a matter of minutes, and all from the comfort of your own home.
There are hundreds holiday parks around the coast of England but there are also a lot which are situated inland and more often than not these are found close to some of the most beautiful areas of the country. So if it is a lush woodland setting or want to visit an historic area of Britain you will find a holiday park close by.
Many of these sites have everything that the holiday maker would need to relax and enjoy the time they spend at the park. Often there are indoor and outdoor swimming pools, saunas, shops and laundrettes; this means that the holiday maker can benefit from all of these amenities without having to leave the site.
There are holiday parks that cater for those who wish to take their own touring caravans with them on holiday and parks that cater for people who want to rent a static caravan for their holidays. There are many parks that cater for both and you can find the perfect site by going online.
There are many holiday parks who rent their units on a monthly or annual basis and some who sell the static holiday home to those who wish to own their own place which they can use any time they please during the holiday seasons.
Static caravans on holiday parks have become very popular over the last decade with more people than ever choosing to purchase one in order to spend their holidays in the comfort of their own holiday home. These units have become more sophisticated and offer comfort and style in some beautiful English locations. People know that these static caravans are an investment for the future which offers them the chance to relax when they are on holiday without having to book and organise their vacation every time they get some free time to spend away from home.
Car Hire Malaga Airport - Popular Destination or Departure Point?
Everyone knows Spain as a beautiful, sunny country with gorgeous beaches and beautiful sightseeing, but does anyone know why just about everybody chooses Malaga airport as their departure point?! No, I thought not. It is because it is so well connected to all the holiday hot spots in the South of Europe. Malaga airport is n the perfect situation to get to any other resort along the coast. It has connections to everywhere, including a high speed train that runs between Malaga and Madrid in less than three hours, and between Malaga and Barcelona in under six hours! And of course, car hire Malaga airport is known all over - if you want to hire a car, get one at Malaga airport!
Now, the car hire companies situated inside the airport terminal buildings probably have the most business throughout the year as you don’t have to walk very far or catch a bus to get to them. One of the largest privately owned car hire firms at the airport was founded in 1995. It has 12 offices throughout Andalucía where you can return a car if you have reached the end of your journey. Another company has been operating out of the airport for 20 years.
In high season, the recommended travel mode in Spain is via car. Some of the buses do not go to many locations in Malaga province, and even the train does not reach the distant towns of Estepona or Marbella in the West. Once you have your hire car, the airport has direct access to the national road, N-240 and the highway A-7. Both of these run all the way along the coast passing through the major resorts of the Costa del Sol. From Malaga to Marbella takes only 40 minutes by car, but if you are dawdling and sightseeing and having a laugh and relaxing it could take an hour or two!
Car hire Malaga airport is certainly far more reasonable in price than hiring taxis or travelling by bus - and probably a lot more comfortable too. Hiring a car at the airport is also cheaper in that it cuts out any middleman or broker who wants to make a bit of extra money. And you can find a car hire firm who will meet and greet you right off the plane and treat you like royalty from start to finish. And if nobody understands your English, which would be rather uncommon, you can try and say 'alguiler de coches en Malaga' which simply means car hire in Malaga.
There are so many companies who can assist you with car hire Malaga airport that you should never have a problem travelling to Spain. Just make sure that you do your research and know exactly what costs you are in for - and get ready for the holiday of a lifetime, starting at Malaga!