As per the title, who participates in further training, with who e.g., IAM, Rapid Training, RoSPA etc and why? This year I have done a couple of road skills track days with Rapid Training and a day of off road skills training at Sweet Lamb in Wales. I try to do something additional every year because I really like to learn new things or expand on what I know and because I like to continuously improve my skills, I feel proud when I am riding well and smoothly. Constructive criticism from experts pushes me to do better. I know it is a leisure pursuit and for some people that would not be at all enjoyable, however for me it is!
I did a Police Bikesafe course back in 2010. It was being promoted at a local bike shop, cost £50, most of which was going to a charity and that was the main reason I did it but I really enjoyed it and learnt a lot, particularly observation despite having almost 30yrs of riding experience by then. To date, that is the only official training I have undertaken. I had an “evaluation” ride with an IAM instructor back in the early 90’s. Again it was being promoted at a local bike shop one Weekend. I was instructed to just ride “normally” which is exactly what I did and the first thing I was told on our return was I was using the brakes too late and too much. I should be anticipating corners, junctions etc and using engine braking to slow down and the brakes at the last minute to stop. Well, maybe but I remember thinking at the time “I just don’t want to ride like that”, especially on a SOTA Sports bike (GSXR1100). Obviously there’s a time and a place for everything but apparently, actually using the performance the bike was/is capable of is not in the IAM curriculum. On a final point which may sound negative, the one event that I learnt most from in my entire riding career was the accident that wrote off my Fireblade in Sept 1994. A 50mph zone, a guy waiting to pull out of a driveway and I saw him well in advance, kept watching him and when I was right on top of him and sure he’d seen me he came straight out and bang, no chance. I escaped relatively lightly and he was prosecuted but I now approach similar situations EXPECTING the car to pull out.
Not really motorcycle specific training but for all my fire service career we were re qualified every three years for EFAD (emergency fire appliance driving) or extremely fast and dangerous as it became known. This is/was to a very, very high standard of driving qualification. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be any use in getting a reduced insurance quote.
I did the Bikesafe day training on my fireblade 2 years ago and can’t sing its praises highly enough. From memory it was £65 and was worth every penny.
I did the Bikesafe course a few years ago, Mrs V - very encouraging and I learnt quite a bit too. I did intend to take the IAM as well but never got round to it. I'm probably going to stop work next Summer, in which case I may well sign up then.
I had an "advanced driving" day when I bought a Mazda MX5 - it all seemed to be about driving right on the speed limit, faster, faster, faster. Sure, there was some good observational training too, but being asked why you are only doing 50 in a 60 limit just seemed to be against my own instincts for a safe speed in that location. From what I've heard and read, motorcycle training can be the same, urging speed and overtaking to be "ahead of the pack". It doesn't encourage me to try it!!
I have read that is the case in some training organisations, however not my experience so far. If nothing else, I like to try so I can see for myself. So far I prefer training that is less about a "system" although have definitely taken something from everything I have done. I suppose it depends not just on the provider but also on the instructor / instructors.
I did the Bike Safe course about four years ago. A good day out but I found afterwards I was too busy thinking about what I should be doing that I wasn't enjoying the ride, and not concentrating on the real world. I recently had an IAM assessment ride with a view to doing the course. The feedback I was given was that I would sail through it, just a little bit of polishing on a few things. My view was I can look at that myself. The cost of the course would not be cancelled out by any insurance discount. I'm all for more training if wanted or needed but at present I won't be doing the IAM.
I did the full IAM training several years back. I was surprised that it was about making good progress. ie they want you to overtake, but safely and they don't expect you to sit in a queue at traffic lights but to filter safely (filtering is legal in the UK). I was/am well experienced (I didn't say good!) And I did learn a lot. Also enjoyed a good ride out each week with my Observer.
I had an IAM assessed ride years ago at one of their open days. My ride went very well, admittedly I rode how I thought they would want me to. On our return my assessor was very complimentary and said I was ready to join their group straight away. He introduced me to the group saying I was good enough to join their ranks. The " alpha male " of the group was a right obnoxious twat and took exception to my invite to join them so soon. That was my last experience of the IAM.
What a shame that one person's ego got in the way of a whole group. Hopefully someone has taught the "alpha" a lesson by now!
I did my IAM a good few years ago, I joined my local branch a few years back and went out for a Sunday ride with them, I'd never seen such a load of inconsiderate, reckless riding. I left the ride and never went back.
I have done the IAM and ROSPA courses. The IAM made me a worse rider so I then did the ROSPA course which I thought was a lot better. It has to be said the group you join makes a huge difference. I did my 3 year retest this year for ROSPA, which I call my riding MOT and got a gold again. I think I have done it now 5 times and have got a gold every time.
It's all about anticipation I usually can drive/ride from A to B without using my brakes except for stop signs and traffic lights this is advantageous when driving HGV 's As stopping and getting going again with all the extra weight takes a lot of effort,so it's not about speed to get to your destination quicker it's about smooth uninterrupted progress you can tell the bad drivers by the continual brake lights on and off in front of you, driving with a bit of fore thought can save on fuel and consumables plus the decrease in stress and so makes the journey more enjoyable A good example in the motor racing circles I found the likes of Damon Hill he was by no means the fastest but his ability to be on the right lines smooth and seeing opportunities in front of him made him more successful than his speed would of dictated
I did my Bike Safe course in 2002 and it was a real eye opener, that I wasn't expecting. The course was very good and we all had a chance to lead, whilst obviously being evaluated by one of the Police m/c's. A lot of it was on single track roads, along Loch Ness, through Glenurquhart and via Cannich back home. The one thing that stuck with me, was that the majority of Police motorcyclists are bikers first, but I had to ask, why so fast? We were doing 85 on the dual carriageway section, 70 on double track and 60 on single track. The reply was, "Why do you ride a bike". He answered that for me saying, "You have a bike to make progress and as long as that progress is safe, you won't be pulled over by one of us". I made some friends that day and we ended up going to the Knockhill round of the BSB together. I still couldn't keep up with them going down Loch Ness!
Sometimes it depends on what mood I am in and what bike I am on (Hyper is subtle as a brick with engine braking, Fireblade is not really sure what engine braking is in comparison....), some rides I just want to be chilling out and barely touch the brakes and others I just feel like sod saving fuel and consumables; I just want to carry speed towards a bend, then brake into it and power back out again and feel like a bit of a hooligan . I do entirely take your point though, especially having driven HGVs myself, albeit the last time being about 15 years ago .
My Bikesafe observer told me that whilst with them we were fine, however the minute we left the gate after the training we weren't friends any more and he'd give us a good head start to get away . It was a good day. I think I might do another one to see where I am compared to where I was as my first one was very soon after I had passed my test.
