Survival Skills - the Newsletter

Pivoting away from the ICE - a future without petrol-engined motorcycles is closer than you think

Jul 27, 2025

SoS Jul 26 Why don't riders spot emerging vehicles?

FoF Jul 25 Information flow - from Push to Pull & back to Push

SOBS Jul 24 To get sound answers, ask the right questions Pt 1

Elevenses 548 Wed 23 Jul - motorcycle news, tips & views

ToT Jul 22 Going on holiday? Care for your chain! Part 2

COMMENT Jul 21 Pivoting away from the ICE; Hanoi sets date for PTW ban

Elevenses 547 Sun 20 Jul - motorcycle news, tips & views

A QUICK SHOUT OUT to last week's KoFi supporters and subscribers

Mike, Naffa, Marc (who bought Tarmac Tactics and Mind over Motorcycle), KSimmons, Nick, Damo, Paul and Aphrodite (who both bought download copies of Survival Skills), Clive and anonymous. Thanks mightily for your support!

Last week, I changed the email layout, putting links to the previous week’s posts at the top along with my ‘shout-out’ to those who’ve supported me. I’ve had no complaints so at least it hasn’t upset anyone!

Thursday’s post revolved around a new study from Nottingham Trent University, 'Motorcycles in the mind’s eye: Comparing and improving the mental models of car drivers and motorcyclists', authored by David Crundall, Editha van Loon and Megan Hutchinson.

My point was that if you’re going to investigate reasons drivers don’t see motorcycles, quoting the well-known fact that “motorcyclists are disproportionately injured and killed on UK roads. They represent less than 1% of traffic, yet nearly 20% of fatalities” isn’t entirely relevant when the statement continues by stating that “many collisions involve other vehicles where the other road user is found at fault”. Why not? Simple enough - the 1% / 20% proportion involves ALL motorcycle crashes, not just collisions involving other vehicles. Most of those crashes are relatively low speed, and thus low impact.

Anyway, it seems hardly anyone bothered to read the post. They just knee-jerk reacted to the questions in the graphic, which was itself lifted from an an article about the paper) telling me the usual nonsense that it’s drivers ‘not paying attention’ that causes bike crashes. My fault, I guess, for using it.

August’s Eight Week eCourse is open for early sign-up. What does it cover? The answer is pretty much anything you want - there are set modules, but the ability for discussion means each course ends up somewhere different. There’s no pressure to conform, no pass/fail test to perform. This really is NOT your typical advanced training, but a genuinely fresh and thought-provoking rider-focused approach to coaching where you will discovered new and out-of-the-box thinking which will challenge your existing habits and add adaptability whilst building flexibility and boosting confidence. And that means MORE FUN.

Ian says: “I would just like to say how much I'm appreciating and enjoying this course. It's really making me think about my riding… the amount of time and effort that you've put in is incredible - thank you so much. It really is very very good.” Nick says: “it’s any eye opener” Chris - an experienced instructor - says: “I am enjoying the discourse and resulting insights”.

If you want to learn better biking skills from the comfort of your own home, and in your own time leaving you time for your Sunday ride-out, at a tenner a week it costs less than your ride-out fry-up! And skills last a lifetime! SIGN UP HERE today!

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ON-ROAD RIDER COACHING - courses aimed the individual - resume in 2025

Choose your own content to gain confidence or fix riding issues, or learn techniques for coping with rural roads or city centre snarl-ups. With a focus on delivering genuine SURVIVAL SKILLS rather than exemplary technical competence or the need to quote the Police Manual from cover to cover, there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ training or ‘test' standard’, just coaching tailored to YOUR needs for as long as you want.

With convenient start points around London, take your riding beyond the ordinary!

ONLINE COACHING - wherever you are, whenever you want, weekdays and weekends

Choose from a wide range of riding topics or ‘roll your own’ for a truly personalised experience. Crucially, each session includes easy-to-perform PRACTICAL EXERCISES to make the link with what you’ll do on the road!

ONLINE COACHING is the SMART & FLEXIBLE way to improved riding!

Here are three articles explaining the benefits of ‘distance learning’:

FoF Sep 27 Why take an ONLINE COACHING SESSION? Pt 1

FoF Oct 4 Why take an ONLINE COACHING SESSION? Pt 2

FoF Oct 11 Why take an ONLINE COACHING SESSION? Pt 3

BOOK ME AS A SPEAKER - I DELIVER TALKS IN PERSON or ONLINE TO RIDING GROUPS & CLUB. DROP ME A LINE FOR MORE INFO!

“Many thanks for today’s webinar… and all your hard work. It was a both a great sanity check for preparations and a really good heads-up for riding in the EU… food for thought and a really good primer.”
Richard after an online webcast on planning on riding abroad to the Norton Owners Club.

ELEVENSES - join me twice weekly for news & views from our passion - the world of two wheels. Everything from politics to bike launches.

Make a brew, grab a biscuit and pull up a chair ready to tune in to keep up with the latest motorcycle news and sometimes controversial views, plus in-depth items on biking generally. Join me, Kevin Williams, twice a week on Wednesday and Sunday at 11am for 30 minutes of topical news, controversial views and better biking tips!

Watch live or catch up later at www.youtube.com/survivalskillsuk your support!

LEARN ABOUT THE SMIDSY COLLISION & HUMAN VISUAL PERCEPTION

Why not visit the 'Science Of Being Seen' website?

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS or SUGGESTIONS - THEN GET IN TOUCH

I love hearing from you. If you have an awkward question, let me know and I’ll try to answer the answer. If there’s something you’d like me to cover in a written article or maybe in an ONLINE TALK SERIES event, let me know. Contact Me via chat