New boy in Cheddar

cheesy mike · Post by **cheesy mike** » May 9th, '06, 12:40

I'm Mike, I live in Cheddar and I ride a BMW R1150GS - which is the only BMW not ridden by typical BMW riders i.e. I don't have a pipe, I don't wear slippers, I don't have a beard and I do nod/wave/talk to other bikers. Living in Cheddar is a hoot because I have the Gorge and all those lovely twisty bends right on my doorstep. I'm an all-weather biker so my GS is rusted to hell, but it still corners like a good un up and down the gorge

I'm also the webmaster for Freewheelers EVS - the blood bike charity based in Somerset/Bristol/Bath. We are a group of volunteer bikers who provide an out-of-hours emegergency courier service to local hospitals carrying blood, x-rays, samples, notes, drugs etc on a fleet of 4 x Pan Europeans with blue lights and sirens. We are always on the lookout for new riders so if you have IAM/RoSAP pass and can spare the time we would love to hear from you.
http://www.freewheelers.org.uk

Mike

baskie · Post by **baskie** » May 9th, '06, 12:42

lol. nice to have u on board dude

tobyedmunds · Post by **tobyedmunds** » May 9th, '06, 12:52

hi mate! i applied to freewheelers at a show, but was told i am too young

very worthy cause, and i think you do an excellent job

Leroy · Post by **Leroy** » May 9th, '06, 12:52

welcome 2 the site mate ;)

sonic · Post by **sonic** » May 9th, '06, 13:12

Hi mate - welcome to the site...

the freewheelers stuff sounds good but i am not sure that they would have me...

A_T · Post by **A_T** » May 9th, '06, 14:15

Hiya

A warm welcome to the forum

Jay · Post by **Jay** » May 9th, '06, 16:00

Hello and welcome to the mad house

jim1979 · Post by **jim1979** » May 9th, '06, 16:22

Welcome to the site mate.

Funky · Post by **Funky** » May 9th, '06, 16:44

Welcome mate, good to see someone doing something for a worthy charity too!

age · Post by **age** » May 9th, '06, 17:43

Hello and welcome mate

Jak · Post by **Jak** » May 9th, '06, 19:13

welcome to the site

Bikerbird · Post by **Bikerbird** » May 9th, '06, 19:14

Welcome to the site and well done for the volunteer stuff

clunk · Post by **clunk** » May 10th, '06, 09:11

Welcome to the site Mike.

Good work on the charity stuff, but surely the NHS should be performing that role?
Part of my brother's job is transporting organs and blood all over Devon & Cornwall, he's on call at all hours to respond to emergencies.
If these 2 counties can do it within the NHS why can't others?

cheesy mike · Post by **cheesy mike** » May 10th, '06, 15:41

clunk wrote:Good work on the charity stuff, but surely the NHS should be performing that role?
Part of my brother's job is transporting organs and blood all over Devon & Cornwall, he's on call at all hours to respond to emergencies.
If these 2 counties can do it within the NHS why can't others?

I agree that the NHS should provide the role. However, how much tax do you want to pay?

Most other hospitals use taxis for the journeys we provide free-of-charge. This would cost the NHS around £60K/year in Somerset/Bristol/Bath. But taxis can't get through traffic and don't have blue lights. Plus you'd never get a taxi at 11 on a Friday evening! If they were instead to provide their own fleet of bikes to match our own with paid staff then the cost would be closer to £350K.

We provide the service from an income of around £20K/year which pays for a new bike to replace one of the four and all tyres/fuel/insurance/maintenance.

To be honest I'm quite happy to volunteer to do this especially as we are saving the NHS - and therefore our own pockets as tax payers - up to £350,000 per year. Plus, it's bloody good fun riding for Freewheelers!

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. See you on the road sometime.

Mike

LWR GERRY · Post by **LWR GERRY** » May 10th, '06, 16:06

Hiya Mike, welcome to the SWB