On course for love

Hollywood has always looked to two wheels to bring a little sexy glamour to a movie – think Lucy Liu and Pierce Brosnan handcuffed to a BMW R 1200C, Charlie’s Angels riding motocross, or Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft raiding tombs on a 664 CCM. But Britain’s romantic bikers would rather ride with their other half than movie megastars like Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Sean Bean or Antonio Banderas.

Asked to name who they would most like to take a fantasy ride with, twice as many bikers nominated their partners than Kylie, Star Wars’ Ewan McGregor, Valkyrie’s Tom Cruise or Bond’s Pierce Brosnan. One particularly lovelorn soul taking the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) surveySkoda nominated “Rachel from the office next door.”

On Valentine’s Day, the MCI recommends following in these bikers’ wheeltracks by bringing fun, freedom and excitement into your love life. Spurn those old romantic clichés - a candlelit dinner for two; flowers, champagne, chocolates, or lingerie – in favour of a gift which is guaranteed to get your other half home faster: a day’s motorcycling – complete with a compulsory basic training (CBT) certificate at the end of it. And if neither of you have ever tried motorcycling, why not do it together?

Doesn’t sound very sexy? A CBT course is huge fun, memorable, and gives a real sense of achievement. An intensive day with a qualified instructor takes novice riders through all the skills needed to control a small-engined motorcycle with skill, confidence and most importantly, safety. Divided into five sections, the CBT starts off-road and well away from traffic, building up to two hours of practical riding on the road, closely supervised by the instructor.

MCI’s Sheila Rainger said: “Chocolates make you fat and flowers give you hay fever, but a CBT certificate sets you free. Passing the CBT immediately entitles you to ride a small-engined motorcycle, scooter or moped, and opens the door to more advanced training, bigger machines, unrivalled independence and fun.

“It’s the first step to joining in with increasing numbers of people of both sexes and all ages who are cutting journey times, avoiding the expense and hassles of public transport and parking, reducing travel costs and commuting to work with a smile on their faces.”