Keep Your Motors Running

The idea of introducing a complusory jacket for motorbike riders has got bikers in Cardiff up in arms.

The jacket works in the same way as a car air bag. If the rider falls from the bike it inflates in less than a fifth of a second protecting the rider as they fall to the floor.

But it's the cost of the jacket that's causing controversy.

With a £700 price tag the jacket is outside many bikers' budgets.

Inflatable jackets are already available in Scotland, Northern England and Ireland but they haven't yet caught on in Wales. The manufacturer, Wairbag.com, is trying to introduce them to a Welsh market but so far stores here haven't been interested - mainly because of the high price tag which they think will put off most bikers.

Dom Sleeman, a bike enthusiast from Cardiff says that he thinks they are not only over-priced but he isn't sure they will work effectively:

"I can't afford that...also they might be alright if you just come off but if you hit anything solid I don't think they're going to make any difference".

He also thinks they could be very bulky and restrict a biker's movements.

Any movement, he added could potentially set off the jacket when you don't want it to: "If you forget you're going to have an inflated jacket on your hands...and how much is that going to cost you?"

"Protest against the vest," was his message.

Bikers here have also suggested that if the jackets were made compulsory, those who couldn't afford them would be forced into buying poor immitations which would produce a lot of problems for the Police.

Chris Paterson, a bike mechanic who works in Bikerbitz in Canton said: "I don't think they are a good idea. People will try and make a copy of them so it looks like you are wearing one".

The air bags use a compressed carbon dioxide cylinder inside. A triggering device pierces the cylinder when activated and this inflates the airbag.

The introduction of the jacket as compulsory has been compared to the introduction of the seat belt law. That seemed alien and intrusive at the time but putting on a seatlbelt is now second nature.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Accidents (RoSPA) thinks any reason to increase safety for motorcyclists would be a bonus.

Steve Baker, Manager for RoSPA Cymru says: "So many motorcyclists suffer serious injuries when they crash but motorcycle helmets and body airbags seem a good idea".

Click on the link to watch the full report.

Capturing Cardiff

Footloose and Fancy Free

On a cold winters evening down Cowbridge Road East, Canton Liberal Club is playing up to its name somewhat more than you would imagine.

Walk past the men only bar, down the corridor and into the back room and there’s a group of women definitely letting their hair down.

They’re here for their weekly burlesque dance class. A new trend that’s sweeping Cardiff and getting its residents all hot under the collar.

When it comes to burlesque dancing, most of us have only heard of Deta Von Teese and think it’s some sort of strip show but we couldn’t be more wrong.




Foo Foo La Belle

The class teacher is a young, energetic performer who also teaches pilates, belly dancing and ante natal classes – quite a combination. Stephanie Gawne used to be a professional belly dancer, but she caught onto the revival of burlesque dancing a couple of years ago and developed her pseudonym Foo Foo La Belle for performances.

On her website (www.burlesquecardiff.com), Foo Foo La Belle describes her three ‘likes’ as cake, gloves and tattoos. Her top iPod song is ‘I put a spell on you’ and the website says you can: “Book her and meet the infamous sexy domestic goddess ‘Honey’, the historic heroines ‘Mata Hari’ and ‘Marie Antoinette’, see a different side of a very cute ‘Red Riding Hood’, plus a mysterious mistress in ‘Face to Face’. All brought to life with classy costuming, beautiful choreography and lots of panache.”


Satire

But what does burlesque actually mean? “Burlesque means satire” Stephanie tells me. “It’s to do with changing things so that things aren’t quite what they seem and taking a different slant on things with comedy.” Not what I was thinking or probably the male population of Cardiff thinks. “Burlesque performers like myself who are soloists do end up stripping but it’s not necessarily a strip like you would think because there is a comedic element or a theme”.

The Cardiff troop don’t actually strip although from what they tell me the costumes are a little risqué. They last performed on Boxing Day at Ten Feet Tall at a show called 'Boobs on Boxing Day' and also performed 'Santa Baby' at the Point just before Christmas.

The Beginning

I wanted to find out how all this titillation was introduced to Cardiff. “I just put an advert and some posters up in Chapter…I was a performer first but wanted to start a troop”.

And she says apparently from there it went crazy. “The whole thing just escalated. I could be a lot more aggressive in marketing and getting a lot more people through the door but its nicer to have that sort of troop feel with the girls who came to the first initial classes. They are developing as individuals and performers themselves.” And apparently a couple of the girls have already begun solo performances around South Wales.

Motivation

So what is it about the class that keep these girls coming? Stephanie says it gives them a chance to perform. They like the continuity within the group and the fact they are being asked to do more and more shows in Cardiff...But what about in the first instance? “It’s a little bit of an unknown…they don’t really know what it is. It sounds titillating, it sounds exciting, it’s a bit naughty…they are there in their little costumes, they are very glamorous and it’s very exotic and I think that’s what attracts them”.

Have a listen here to what two of the girls - Natalie Rogers, a 31 year old graphic designer and Rachel Mulheron, a 33 year old Insurance Director - have to say about why they like coming to burlesque dance classes.




The Right Mixture

The oldest lady in the troop is 64, the youngest in her late teens, and there’s a real mix in every other way ability, background, looks.

As Stephanie says: “You want all shapes and sizes and all ages but people with the confidence, and the commitment and energy who will look good whether they are a size 20 or a size 8, they just have to look amazing for who they are.”

The women seem to come to get away from the routine of everyday life, to do something a little different. Something exciting and glamorous. Some come for the fitness, some for the confidence and others? Perhaps they come for their partners or their prospective partners?!

The overall feel I leave with is a group of very confident women, very happy with themselves. Sisters doing it for Cardiff.

For more information on the burlesque classes, visit http://www.burlesquecardiff.com/

The Burlesque Women's Institute can be found at http://www.bwi.co.uk/