Blood Bikes

[Fireblade_Ro]

This weekend has been a bit busy for me...

Yesterday I did my assessment ride to become a Blood Biker for Shropshire and Staffordshire Blood Bikes - and passed!!!!! The ride was very wet, windy, bloody freezing and on some twisty, muddy roads... loved it!

Today was my first day "on call" following an experienced SSBB rider... 9.30am met him in Telford, 10am rode to Oswestry, then to Shrewsbury... back to Telford... got into my comfy bottoms and sat in front of the fire for 15mins and the phone went again!! Repeat: Telford - Oswestry - Shrewsbury.

Only when we stopped for fuel we received another call out, to Birmingham! Traffic was savage with the M54 closed, the fog was thick and it was getting colder. I EARNED that cake in Queen Elizabeth hospital!

I've only just got home... still sat in all my gear thawing out by the fire. Induction: in at the deep end!

I'm thinking of doing something a bit crazy to earn some funds for SSBB... along the lines of cycling the entire length of the UK, or a half marathon every month for a year... undecided... my aim is to raise enough to buy another bike for SSBB as the charity is SO BUSY and operates only on charity fundraising. If anyones got any ideas of something mad I could do, I'm all ears

Give me a wave if you're riding in Shropshire and you see a Fireblade with BLOOD and fluorescent decals :p

[Kwacky]

That's awesome. I take it you're a volunteer and you don't get paid?

I could have brought you a mug of tea. I'm not far from the QE in Brum.

[Fireblade_Ro]

Sure am an unpaid volunteer... it's going to cost me around £200 to have the bike liveried... plus however much I end up spending to replace my lid with something less pink...

But it is so worthwhile! What a buzz!! Loved the rides today, and a genuine knowledge that today I helped people

[Kwacky]

I tip my hat to you.

[duke63]

Well done, Ros that is top work.

You might be interested in the Prescott Bike Festival and also the Shelsey Hill Climb next year. Prescott is in April and Shelsey in September and all the monies raised go towards the Blood Bikes charity.

Me and Frankie will be at Prescott in April.

http://www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[C00kiemonster]

That's brilliant. I'd love to do that.

[C00kiemonster]

Well done, Ros that is top work.

You might be interested in the Prescott Bike Festival and also the Shelsey Hill Climb next year. Prescott is in April and Shelsey in September and all the monies raised go towards the Blood Bikes charity.

Me and Frankie will be at Prescott in April.

http://www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'll try and be there too.

[duke63]

Would be good to see you, Cookie.

[Perkles]

Well done ,what a great achievement

[Tricky]

well done, good work

[StMarks]

And there was me thinking that this was your new job Ro....

Obviously, as with everyone else on here, very impressed mate.

[Rossgo]

Sounds incredible Ro. Like you say you have quite literally helped (saved) people today.

[Blade]

Well done what an amazing thing to do.

Huge respect and admiration for your generosity and professionalism

[Fireblade_Ro]

Thought Id add a few pics

The yellow high vis "running" jacket has now been replaced with a proper Blood Bikes jacket... the pink helmet has been replaced with a yellow flip top one and the bike... well that's a work in progress Picture to show the decals being measured up...!!!

If anyone wants to follow what we do it's @staffsbloodbike on twitter, #bloodbikes and #thebloodblade on instagram and Shropshire and Staffordshire Blood Bikes on Facebook

[Kwacky]

Is your boyfriend known as the Rider of Rohan?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

@tankslappers are now following on twitter.

[Fireblade_Ro]

Is your boyfriend known as the Rider of Rohan?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

@tankslappers are now following on twitter.

How have I never been bantered by that one so far?!?!?

[Kwacky]

I must be getting nice in my old age.

[TonyB]

How long did it take to qualify Ro? I've inquired into the Warwickshire and Solihull branch.

[Blade]

Do you have to use your own bike or can you take the Pan European ?

[Fireblade_Ro]

I started riding with TVAM-RAMs for my IAMs test about a year ago, and continued with advanced riding for a month after passing before taking the assessment ride for blood bikes... it was about an hours ride taking in every road type - in heavy wind and rain... and then it went dark because we were out for longer than the planned hour!!!

I've learned so much in the past year, my riding has changed for the better and now I'm actually faster on the bike!

Join your local IAMs or RoSPA group and get started with advanced riding

Blade - I currently have to use my own bike as I'm only 27 and SSBB require riders to be 30+ to be insured... on the other hand I'm 5ft4 and about 9stone wet through... so I'm not sure how I'd fare with a Pan anyways!! :p