Bike Instructing
Discussion
Evening People,
Can anyone summarise what it takes to become a Bike Instructor? Im considering a few changes in the Employment field and am in a position to relatively do what i want as apposed to having to chase the 'bucks' and Bike Instructing has cropped up.
I've ridden bikes on the road now for 18 years (since i was 16) and done the odd track day so am pretty confident of my ability etc..
So anyone have any info/experience on the issue?
Cheers alot..
Nick
Can anyone summarise what it takes to become a Bike Instructor? Im considering a few changes in the Employment field and am in a position to relatively do what i want as apposed to having to chase the 'bucks' and Bike Instructing has cropped up.
I've ridden bikes on the road now for 18 years (since i was 16) and done the odd track day so am pretty confident of my ability etc..
So anyone have any info/experience on the issue?
Cheers alot..
Nick
This link/ website should answer a few questions for you.
http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/drivertraine...
http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/drivertraine...
This link/ website should answer a few questions for you.
http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/drivertraine...
http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/drivertraine...
D1 MAD said:
This link/ website should answer a few questions for you.
http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/drivertraine...
thanks much... i'll check it out..http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/drivertraine...
agent006 said:
No experience of instructing, but i'd leave it 6 months or so and see how many bike schools still exist after the "pre change" rush is over and the Long Way anywhere effect has died off.
Good point.. then it will be mid winter. what a naff time to start instructing.. 
not that i'm adverse to weather but would be nice to atleast start when the weather wasn't totally poo..Im an instructor and all i can say is that 69 people went for a position as an instructor where i am and they all dropped out except myself and the other three that got the job.There can be days when you can go home and you feel on top of the world,and others just unbelievably disheartened and frustrated.So,it's like any other job then! All the exercises that are done off road are fairly enjoyable but it's when you go out on the road with 16 year old twins on scooters who have never sat on a bike in their lives, that's when the fun starts!Haring through red lights and the likes.You really have to ride your own bike and their bikes for them over the radio,It's one of those jobs you don't really know if you can do it until you do it,if you know what i mean?I actually was unusual that i knew i'd be good at it even when i was sitting my CBT so i went for it after i'd driven for 3 years(a stipulation for most instructor courses)You need barrel loads of patience and the best water proof gear going!You'll learn some surprising things.Some people who turn up who have never ridden a bike before end up being better than people who have ridden for years,then there's the ones who will never,ever,ever!be able to ride no matter what you do(I've only had one thank god)The peeple who have driven for years seem to be the hardest to teach as they're set in their ways.Just drop in to a local school on a weekend and watch a CBT being carried out,i'm sure the instructors won't mind you listening in!
All the exercises that are done off road are fairly enjoyable but it's when you go out on the road with 16 year old twins on scooters who have never sat on a bike in their lives, that's when the fun starts!Haring through red lights and the likes.You really have to ride your own bike and their bikes for them over the radio,It's one of those jobs you don't really know if you can do it until you do it,if you know what i mean?I actually was unusual that i knew i'd be good at it even when i was sitting my CBT so i went for it after i'd driven for 3 years(a stipulation for most instructor courses)You need barrel loads of patience and the best water proof gear going!You'll learn some surprising things.Some people who turn up who have never ridden a bike before end up being better than people who have ridden for years,then there's the ones who will never,ever,ever!be able to ride no matter what you do(I've only had one thank god)The peeple who have driven for years seem to be the hardest to teach as they're set in their ways.Just drop in to a local school on a weekend and watch a CBT being carried out,i'm sure the instructors won't mind you listening in! agent006 said:
No experience of instructing, but i'd leave it 6 months or so and see how many bike schools still exist after the "pre change" rush is over and the Long Way anywhere effect has died off.
Indeed. The guy who runs the school that I learnt with reckons that quite a few schools will go to the wall when the new test comes in.Soss
Three types of instructor;
1. Downtrained by an existing training school; you can only teach CBT, and only for that school.
2. Passed the Cardington two day assessment; you can only teach CBT, but you can work for anyone you want, or even open your own school and downtrain other CBT instructors.
3. Passed the Cardington half day DAS assessment; same as above, but you can now also run DAS courses,
Two ways of getting there;
1. Pay one of these "We'll teach you to pass the Cardington assessment" type schools who advertise in the MCN.
2. Get downtrained by an existing training school, then go on to sit the Cardington assessments.
Method 1 has the advantage that potentially you can be qualified and even open your own school very quickly.
The disadvantage is that it can cost a fair bit to do it, there is no guarantee that you will actually pass the Cardington assessments and generally (from my experience) the standard of instructors produced by these schools is mediocre at best (good enough to pass the formulaic Cardington assessment but not much more).
Method 2 is potentially the longer and more difficult method.
First you have to find an existing school who are willing to take you on. Many have all the instructors they want/need and don't see any point in training someone up if they don't need them.
Second, they won't want to pay you any wages if you are not actually producing any income for them.
If you can afford to take a month or so unpaid, then badger some local schools into letting you go along and observe them running CBT's on the basis that they will accept you as a downtrained instructor.
The advantage of the second method is that you get to see other people doing it for longer, have more experience of fault identification and correction and potentially at a busy school get to see different instrcutors methods of teaching the same thing so yuo can "cherry pick" the ideas that suit your style best.
As for there being too many instructors on the market, that all depends where you live.
Both training schools in Edinburgh are crying out for more staff, but that's just a bit far from you I think!
Good luck!
1. Downtrained by an existing training school; you can only teach CBT, and only for that school.
2. Passed the Cardington two day assessment; you can only teach CBT, but you can work for anyone you want, or even open your own school and downtrain other CBT instructors.
3. Passed the Cardington half day DAS assessment; same as above, but you can now also run DAS courses,
Two ways of getting there;
1. Pay one of these "We'll teach you to pass the Cardington assessment" type schools who advertise in the MCN.
2. Get downtrained by an existing training school, then go on to sit the Cardington assessments.
Method 1 has the advantage that potentially you can be qualified and even open your own school very quickly.
The disadvantage is that it can cost a fair bit to do it, there is no guarantee that you will actually pass the Cardington assessments and generally (from my experience) the standard of instructors produced by these schools is mediocre at best (good enough to pass the formulaic Cardington assessment but not much more).
Method 2 is potentially the longer and more difficult method.
First you have to find an existing school who are willing to take you on. Many have all the instructors they want/need and don't see any point in training someone up if they don't need them.
Second, they won't want to pay you any wages if you are not actually producing any income for them.
If you can afford to take a month or so unpaid, then badger some local schools into letting you go along and observe them running CBT's on the basis that they will accept you as a downtrained instructor.
The advantage of the second method is that you get to see other people doing it for longer, have more experience of fault identification and correction and potentially at a busy school get to see different instrcutors methods of teaching the same thing so yuo can "cherry pick" the ideas that suit your style best.
As for there being too many instructors on the market, that all depends where you live.
Both training schools in Edinburgh are crying out for more staff, but that's just a bit far from you I think!
Good luck!
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