Retired Prison Service Nurse Nick Ruskin

Nick Ruskin

Hartcliffe, Bristol,

Retired Prison Service Nurse & Lay Minister at St Andrew's Church, Hartcliffe, Bristol.

School: Easton Road Primary School, & Speedwell Boys School.

College or University: Frenchay School of Nurse Training. Trinity College.

Motorcycle: Kawasaki VN1600 Classic Tourer.

How long have you had your bike? Two-plus years

Why and how did you acquire it? Traded in previous model at the local shop; needed a reliable bike to tow camping trailer in England & Europe with.

What is the bike like to ride? Big & heavy, with an upright position. Extremely comfortable on long journey touring. Surprisingly manoeuvrable in heavy traffic.

What would be you dream bike? I've got it.

What bikes have you ridden in the past? Kawasaki VN 2000, Kawasaki VN1500, Yamaha 650 Dragstar, Triumph 900 Trophy, Suzuki 1200 Bandit, BMW 100LT. Plus others. My first bike was a Triumph Tiger Cub 200cc.

When did you take your test and what was the experience like? 1982. It was a miserable day as I had a streaming cold and couldn't stop sneezing; (particularly difficult with a helmet on!)

What's the funniest or quirky thing that's happened to you when riding a bike? Two things; 'Ladies' that ply their trade on the street corners along Stapleton Road trying to flag me down for business, whilst I was on my way to a Christian Bike Show early one morning. And ending up in Holland after missing the turning for Belgium whilst returning from a rally in Stuttgart.

What could be done to improve the conditions for motorcyclists in this country? Educate other motorists about the presence and needs of motorcycle riders. Do away with slippery road covers. Prevent Diesel spills.