My first RoSPA meet.

[Lonewolf]

Well I've finally made the effort. Back in early July, I made some enquiries with my local RoSPA group after speaking with Winston Smith & Lord Rusty etc and being assured that RoSPA was the way forward.
I've just got back from the meeting this evening which was held at West Yorks Police HQ at Wakefield and although it was a little daunting at first being surrounded by all these 'experts' I soon settled in and had a really good evening. I'd no idea what to expect but the night started off with a discussion in groups about various aspects of vehicles and drivers attitudes. No right or wrong answers, just opinions to offer to the floor and encourage a debate. I'm not sure if this is something which is done at other meets but it broke the ice and got people talking so it was a good thing. Quite a good turn out, 60+, mostly made up of folk of senior years, 40+ ;D ;D .

Anyway I paid my money and I'm aware that it will be sometime before I have tuition, they said probably next year, but I can live with that. In the meantime I will have an assessment ride, keep my hand in and practice various techniques from the Roadcraft book.

[Kwikasfuki]

Does this mean we're travelling at snails pace to Swallow Falls?!  ;D

[Lonewolf]

Does this mean we're travelling at snails pace to Swallow Falls?!  ;D

Dont I travel everywhere at a snails pace?  ;D
We will make progress where it is safe to do so whilst observing the rules of the road and displaying courtesy and being respectful to others on route.  8)
However if I'm running a bit late then we will GLF.

[Ziderman]

Next year....cripes , seems long way off. 

[Lonewolf]

They just said they were inundated with requests for bike training, the waiting list for cars isn't as bad apparently.
I'll just have to go with the flow.

[patrick]

I will recommend RoSPA training. I did IAM and then RosPA  and then trained as a RoSPA Tutor.

The training transformed my riding and I get so much out of helping others improve their skills.

P

[Ziderman]

Dont you have to do re tests in ROSPA...I did IAM some years back. Not that I was happy with the format or the group. That's another story. I started on the ROSPA road, was going through one of my Divorces at time & was starting to work out expensive.
Seems to be some out there who have forgotten what advanced training is about & real reasons why you do it. They treat it like a must have..ROSPA Gold & IAM...why...?
By far the Cheapest route is to by the Police Riders manual off HMO ,read it & practice it..simple. Cut out all the middle stuff. Unless your looking to save bit on insurance..But time you paid for all that ROSPA stuff , are you really saving ?

If any one interested in why I am not that chuffed with IAM I will post , but it's bit of a long story & is basically about inconsistencies within there training. Which was all driven by who the examiner was in there area & how they had to tailor there training around that , so as you passed.

[patrick]

By far the Cheapest route is to by the Police Riders manual off HMO ,read it & practice it..simple. Cut out all the middle stuff. Unless your looking to save bit on insurance..But time you paid for all that ROSPA stuff , are you really saving ?

My RoSPA group costs £20 to join, plus the books. Not exactly bank breaking stuff. Associate members pay £10 per session as a contirbution to the tutors fuel. For that they get the experience of people who have done the traiing and passed the test and done further training to be tutors. The test costs about £60. Of course you could have a days intense commercial training for about £250 to £300.

Indeed  yes you can just read the book and put it into practice but there is nothing better than some feedback and beign pointed in the right direction.

You have to be re-tested every 3 yrs with RoSPA and the £20 a year fee to RoSPA funds this re-test. My 1st re-test is due next month and I'll not only be re-reading the Roadcraft book but also getting one of our members / advacned tutors  (a retired police bike and car instructor) to spend a few hours with me to get me back to (hopefully) Gold standard. On the day fo my test, regardlessof the grade I'll know I've done my best and that my riding is safer than it was 4 yrs ago when i started my advanced riding journey.

P

[Ziderman]

Well I can tell you each poxy Ride out was around £20 10 years ago.....Was told I should get silver straight off. But who knows.
I am not a fan of either ROSPA or IAM too many singing from different Hym sheets...That's just my opinion. I have good reason in particular not to like IAM...!

I am not popping at any one who wants to go Ride about with experienced Police Riders Trainers or such like. If that's what works for you ,then you got my backing. But by experience & out of choice it's not the B all & end all. At the end of the Days it's about staying Safe & alive. So what ever route you chose to do this by is entirely up to the individual if it works for them.
I have heard lots of good things about police one day rider awareness courses.

For lots it's all about how many Badges they can stick on there Screen....again , my opinion only....

[routemaster]

I think it is a bit unfair to globally rubbish IAM/RoSPA - each individual club will vary and therefore people's experience will vary. I belonged to one IAM group which was okish but when I moved I found a far better one.

Reading the Police book or other advanced riding books will get you so far but being being observed will pick up things that you may not be aware of or aren't doing in the best way. Cost is an issue and for some it is expensive but the IAM Skills for Life costs less than the cost of a replacement wing mirror, or the cost of a new can. Within our group the primary element is developing advanced riding skills, taking the test is recognition that you have achieved a certain standard. There are good alternatives like Bike Safe which will help improve a riders skills and hopefully reduce the risk of accidents.

I would always advocate that some form of advanced training has to be beneficial and I have found over the years it has improved my level of enjoyment of riding motorbikes. At the end of the day it is down to the individual to decide what is best for them, to find a group that suits them and what the can afford money and time wise.

BTW Although I have various Advanced Motorcycle training qualifications I only have ONE badge on my bike  ::)

Steve

[Ziderman]

I think it is a bit unfair to globally rubbish IAM/RoSPA -

I have not...but dammed if I was going around to every group in the Country to try & find a good one. I am quite sure there intentions were all very good. I haven't time at moment , but I will post exactly what happened to me later or when have more time.

[Lonewolf]

I'm going to approach this training with an open mind. Whatever the outcome the input you obtain from any further training will benefit you.
I can remember when I started my advanced Police driving course, I had been driving for over 20 years and considered myself a competent driver, the advanced course totally transformed my standard and attitude to driving. I now know that I was actually only an average driver and not a very good driver if I'm honest. I was recently asked if I wanted to become a trainer for RoSPA for cars but I declined. But the offer speaks volumes.

[Lonewolf]

It looks like I may well have my initial assessment ride next Thursday, 15th September....gulp!!  :o