Hi
Wilts and Bath Advanced Motorcyclist (WaBAM) are holding a Rider Skills Day on Saturday 5th May in Trowbridge, Wiltshire
It is an open day where if you live or work in the Wilts, Bath, North East Somerset or surrounding areas you can come along :
- take the WaBAM slow riding challenge, either on your own or on an adapted bike (an ER5 with crash bars)
- develop your slow riding skills on our obstacle course using the adapted bike
- talk to the experts about avoiding those "## ####" moments
- learn how to become a better rider with our free assessment of your riding skills
- come and learn about the free and discounted IAM Skills for Life offers if you live or work in the Wilts, Bath and North East Somerset area
The main purpose of the Rider Skills day is enable people to develop and test their slow riding skills, with a fairly unique opportunity of using a bike with crash bars rather than your own bike - most of us probably wouldn't want to try developing our slow riding skills on our own bikes for the fear of dropping it. It is also an opportunity to talk to about your own riding, if you want to
The event is being held at Trowbridge Reference Library car park, Bythesea Rd, Trowbridge BA14 8BS on Saturday 5th May from 9am to 5pm
As demand is likely to be high please call 07837 050713 to pre-book your time slot and the use of the adapted bike, there will be a £4 charge for use of the bike.
It should be a good day
Kind regards
Steve
BTW I did check with Kwikasfuki to make sure it was ok to post this.
Steve .. that sounds like a really good idea ... lets hope there are plenty in attendance !
Rider skills days are a bloody good idea
I wonder how many more such skills days are taking place across the U.K
Local police authorities used to offer a simular thing some years ago, maybe they still do
OC ... those days are long gone ! :mfr_lol:
That's a real shmae Rusty, as they were good days and well attended too
It's gotta be a better idea to employ the policy of prevention being better than cure ~ I reckon
Maybe some forces might consider re-introducing these courses, even in this cash strapped environment they would have to be a good idea
As a group I think we are/will be looking at trying to do a few more of these type of things - providing this one is a success.
We will be talking to the Police and the Road Safety units in our area about future events and in the last 6 months or so we have got our own act together in terms of marketing and promoting what we do and we will be attending quiet a few events this year.
The thing with skills days is although the cost isn't great it is finding the time and the few good people who are willing to take it on
Steve
[color]yeah I suppose so....there's always the 'behind the scenes' organisation to take care of plus insurance and risk assesments for the event.
All too often what's seen as the finished product is only a small part of the total organisation that's required to stage such an excercise
I wonder what the chances would be of organising a regionalised event/s for members of this forum, we do have some members who are, shall we say, in the loop :whistling:
It occurs to me that such events are a mid way between nothing and full on RoSPA/ IAM courses which can seem intimidating to some riders [/color]
QuoteIt occurs to me that such events are a mid way between nothing and full on RoSPA/ IAM courses which can seem intimidating to some riders
Why do some riders see IAM/RoSPA courses as intimidating???
Steve
Quote from: routemaster on April 15, 2012, 02:22:44 AM
Why do some riders see IAM/RoSPA courses as intimidating???
Steve
I think its a case of fear of the unknown, and pre-conceived idea that its going to be a 'tough test'.. which is almost certainly not the case.
Steve, I wasn't suggesting that either the RoSPA or IAM courses are intimidating more that they may seem that way to some
Personally I haven't done either RoSPA or IAM, I really ought to get of my arse and do summat about it :embarrassed:
Spot on again OC ... I believe chaps who have been riding a while find it difficult to go out and ride with an unknown person looking at their skills and then perhaps give them constructive crititicism at the end which is taken as " Youv'e done it all wrong " ... and why would you want to pay good money for someone to do that ??
You could stand there all day and laugh at some ones suit or tie or haircut but have a go at their riding and you are in dangerous waters !
It's a great shame but there are plenty of members here who will have experienced that very scenario and just get put off.
I was taught from the very start with an instructor on my shoulder and am completely at ease with it, but I think "the job" puts you in that environment from Day 1 so you get used to it very quickly and then forget about it .. to the point of wondering what all the fuss is about ! :laugh: :laugh:
I am interested because there are people who find the thought of the test intimidating or even taking any form of advanced training and I would like to try and understand why and for our group look to see how we could change people perceptions.
As for the thought of constructive comments and suggestions , Rusty you are spot on and I think the prospect of being told you are doing all wrong is also intimidating - in reality most riders have the skills and it is about fine tune those skills to an advanced level. It is also about getting riders to think about what they doing and are they putting themselves, their bike or others at risk. When I was trained as an Observer I was told start with some positives, a couple of points for improvement and finish with some positives. I have come across some who just spout negatives which doesn't really do anybody good
So a question, possibly even a new topic - For those who haven't done any form of advanced training I would like to try understand what is stopping you and what would need to happen or be in place to enable you to start the training?
Steve
There you have it Steve ... " Come across some who just spout negatives " ... and these are the very people who are in a position to be able to make such big changes to riders perceptions and future conduct on the road and all they do is piss people off because they are in a position to do so and think they are the "Grand Fromage " .... I have listened to such chat in the past and most of them truly believe that what they are doing is the right thing !!! If I had any hair I would pull it out !
I tutored officers on Traffic and at TFU and once you get their self confidence on the run and they begin to enjoy their driving / riding it just brings out the best in them ... it's not for everyone and I truly believe you have to have a certain amount of natural ability to be a Class 1 but at least make the journey an enjoyable one ! :yes: :yes:
I wouldn't disagree with any of that.
For any form of advanced training it should be about coaching/mentoring the individual to bring out the best - it shouldn't be about instruction.
Steve