Bikesafe

I have to say I agree with you on this. Best way to learn is to just
ride lots and lots and lots.

Of course, you might die in the process, but hey, no-one wants to live
forever, do they?

 

Some decent and frank appraisal of your riding and some pointers about
how to improve it. Usually through observation. I thought mine was
good but they point out the odd thing that makes you think "oh, why
didn't I think of that earlier".

 

BTW it's not actually £150. I paid £50 for a 1 day course in 2007,
and £100 for a full weekend this year.

 

Yeah. Oddly I found the best bit for learning on my courses wasn't
the ride, it was the classroom sessions.

 

I had three. First actively encouraged my to go for it, but was very
keen on "where appropriate", and that was the point behind the ride.
The second didn't mind, but mentioned that most of it would get me
tugged for speeding, the third was the same.

 

D'you reckon that practicing mistakes is a good way to learn? Why is it hard
to acceept that someone may be a far better rider than you and could also
possibly help your riding improve in both speed and safety?

I'd ask that question of you when you're lying on your death bed and it's a
wonderful day for riding.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

I'm probably being a bit harsh on the whole Bikesafe thing, but only because
the Plod we got was a soft ****. Others on the same day had completely
different experiences as their Plod was willing to let them off the leash.
Had we been allowed to get going, I'm sure there wouldn've been lots of
things the Plod could have put me right about. As it was, it was like
bimbling with ny mother on the pillion.

If the wife had been on the back, she'd have given me a dig and made "Get
the thing moving" signals.[1]

[1] A bit like the "Wanker" gesture.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Monz had the youngest plod, the one who said "Who's come on the Gixxer" in
t' classroom. Followed by "I'll take you". I think Monz's plod was up for a
proper blast as much as we all were.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

I accept that there are better riders than me but I wouldn't change my
riding style at this stage of my life so I'll not be going for
training.

I'm convinced that out of the posters here (who I've ridden with) the
most competent riders are the ones who ride regularly and the best of
those are the ones who've been riding for decades. There is another
small group that can just hop on any bike and ride it quickly and
competently but that's just a confidence thing.

One day as a tiger....

 

It's pretty informative to be honest, good tips on road position. Try it

--


Nige,

BMW K1200S (for sale)
Range Rover Vogue
Suzuki GSX-R600 Racebike (for sale)
Honda ST1100 Pan European

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Lozzo

Whoosh.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

I have already made the greatest contribution to the fight against climate
change that I can make: I have decided not to breed. Now quit bugging me and
go and talk to the Catholics.

 

Last one I did was free.....

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

If you roll up to a Bikesafe event in S.Wales then you can arrange an
observed ride with plod for free. Lasts about an hour. They also do the 3
day course which involves some classroom sessions. There is a charge for
this.

 

Moreover, while I have a pretty good idea of how to ride a bike, and
think I have a reasonable understanding of *how* I do it, I've never
once been able to tell anyone else how to do it. I explain what I'm
doing, and they nod, but they don't seem to go any better.

I'll accept that there are *some* people that are able to pass over
technique that can be learnt by the less experienced e.g Ron Haslam.
I'd be bloody surprised if the average bike copper can, tho.

 

Like I said, they vary. The Met one was all day, classroom and ride out
from the Ace Cafe. IIRC was about £50

Herts Bikesafe was about an hour ride plus analysis, and free.

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Changing style is bloody hard anyway, but habits, (specially bad ones)
although hard to change, are something to think about for most people. I've
only recently taken to "hanging off" the bike and discovered how much easier
it is to get round corners at a speedier rate. I was told to do that by Monz
so I have to think him for that, but it's the kind of "tip" I'd expected to
get fromPlod on my Bikesafe thing.

Absolutely, but they've managed decades because they're good. They learned,
possibly by their own mistakes", but it's also possible to learn from other
people's mistakes. Cheaper and less painful too.

I'll have one week as a big dog and ride for 6 more days


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Bike cops have probably had more training than any other. I'd be surprised
if they hadn't picked a few idea's up along the way along with the ability
to pass on the necessary info in an understandable way. Having said that,
the Plod I got on the Bikesafe thing was utterly useless.

--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Vandals at Squires gate cafe.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Beav wrote:
snip

I must remember to keep taking the pills, I have a paranoid voice
telling me that Bikesafe is Plod practicing tagging riders.

snip

 

Wicked Uncle Nigel said:

heh