Bikesafe

[jcelee]

Just to say I was very impressed by the Dorset Bike Safe course I went on this weekend. Lots of very useful advice and feedback on my riding plus an excellent biker down first aid component run by one of the air ambulance crew (consultant anaesthetist / trauma Dr).

I found the Police approach to be very fair and pragmatic, I learnt a lot and have lots to work on and think about. I'd certainly recommend others throw away their cynicism and go along with an open mind. A real bargain for £25!

[cat with a hat]

Interesting...

Had a search for local*ish courses but, I can't find any slots until September

[jcelee]

I sense they are very popular - which is great, partly down to the fact that its cheap training. I booked mine quite a long time ago, but should be worth getting your name down even if you cannot get on a course before September.

[LiquidGnome]

Good to hear since I'm doing one in October

You're right that they are a cheap means of extra training...I'd like to do a few days with Rapid Training or similar but they are rather expensive.

[jaf01uk]

Police Scotland have stopped all road safety initiatives including Bikesafe, go Police Scotland!! Just shows how much Robocop (House) values the motorist, enforcement only!

[Willy Nilly]

I did one a few years ago and really enjoyed it

[Nigel Worc's]

They don't do them in my part of England, Worcestershire, so it isn't just Scotland.

[jaf01uk]

Nigel Worc's said:

They don't do them in my part of England, Worcestershire, so it isn't just Scotland.

But they used to, that was my point, they have stopped all involvement in road safety, committees, bikesafe etc etc....

[Rubin215]

jaf01uk said:

Nigel Worc's said:

They don't do them in my part of England, Worcestershire, so it isn't just Scotland.

But they used to, that was my point, they have stopped all involvement in road safety, committees, bikesafe etc etc....

It's purely down to budget.

Police Scotland have several million less to spend compared to the old individual services.

Add in that the tories down in westminster are making them pay vat (the only British police force to do so) and you can see why there's no money for it.

[bogie]

Some of the cheapest training you will get is with your local RoSPA group. Usually you just contribute petrol money to the instructor. Its often the same guys who are doing the Bikesafe courses

[anonymous-user]

Nigel Worc's said:

They don't do them in my part of England, Worcestershire, so it isn't just Scotland.

You can sign up for any constabulary's scheme though. I'm in leafy Hampshire but did a Met day as most of my riding was in town at the time. Possibly worth even an overnighter somewhere if you really want do do it.

[rich_b]

I've got one on the 28th of this month. Hoping for decent weather!

[jcelee]

Thanks Bogie, agreed on both IAM and Rospa further training. Maybe I should also try to go on an observed ride with one of them. Sadly the thing I lack most is time and I'm unconvinced I'd be able to make the time to commit to the 10 or so observed rides to be put forward for testing.
I'm not sure they'd be too happy with me getting involved on a rather casual basis...

[anonymous-user]

Wouldn't go near IAM. The stereotypes are 100% accurate and they have about as much flex as an Argos travel kettle.
"You're not an IAM riding god, therefore you are wrong. The more you try to explain your thought process or actions, the more wrong you'll be" sums it up nicely.

[Volition]

I did Bikesafe last summer, which prompted me and my husband to sign up for the IAM Skills For Life programme. We're learning lots of useful stuff, which is helping significantly with my riding. For anyone that enjoyed Bikesafe - take the next step and sign up for an advanced riding course.

[jcelee]

Not wishing to dilute this, bikesafe is IMHO great and a good gateway to further training for many.

I have attended a single IAM meeting in the past and was a little surprised by the mantra to to get the highest standard of pass you could not miss a single overtake while "making progress." While I ride a sports bike and very much appreciate the opportunity to learn how to ride more smoothly and more safely, I don't subscribe to this idea that I need to hair about everywhere, not missing a single overtake!

Maybe I should embrace old age and buy a retro or cruiser

[terry tibbs]

jcelee said:

Not wishing to dilute this, bikesafe is IMHO great and a good gateway to further training for many.

I have attended a single IAM meeting in the past and was a little surprised by the mantra to to get the highest standard of pass you could not miss a single overtake while "making progress." While I ride a sports bike and very much appreciate the opportunity to learn how to ride more smoothly and more safely, I don't subscribe to this idea that I need to hair about everywhere, not missing a single overtake!

Maybe I should embrace old age and buy a retro or cruiser

i find that surprising, the choice is yours to overtake not theirs. Don't want to and things are bobing along nicely, then fine, fk'em

I was under the impression things might have changed with some changes in personnel, comments about enjoying the view as well as the drive/ride, i may remember or care not

[bogie]

jcelee said:

Thanks Bogie, agreed on both IAM and Rospa further training. Maybe I should also try to go on an observed ride with one of them. Sadly the thing I lack most is time and I'm unconvinced I'd be able to make the time to commit to the 10 or so observed rides to be put forward for testing.
I'm not sure they'd be too happy with me getting involved on a rather casual basis...

theres no time restrictions or commitments, its really at your leisure to arrange with your assigned instructor

I did IAM in the 90s and it was ok, if a bit regimented/rigid. Thought Id try RoSPA in recent years and it was much more laid back and real world. The whole IAM vs RoSPA thing really is down to local group dynamics. I continue to stay in RoSPA and do an assessment every 3 years, I get on well with a couple of the local bike instructors and would ride with them anyway

number of rides is really down to how fast you learn and how much practice you get in between. You can buy the roadcraft book and a latest highway code, that will give you a head start. You may only need a few rides out, depends on duration as well of course

Most of us spend most of our time riding on the roads so any extra road training is good, even if you just pick up a few good habits or correct the odd bad one, its time well spent. Training and experience stays with you forever..

[Prof Prolapse]

I did the theory night some years ago. I was too pissed from the night before to do the day jaunt. The theory night was a mixture of IAM style Roadcraft and weapon's grade bullst and condescension from the resident "down with the kids" police officer.

I've done a fair amount of this sort of thing in the car and with work, and I think there's a lot to be gained from these sort of courses. However, like with the IAM, it's all down to the instructor in my opinion. You so often get stuck with some pious gobste, and your enthusiasm just wanes.

[Dr Jekyll]

Crossflow Kid said:

Wouldn't go near IAM. The stereotypes are 100% accurate and they have about as much flex as an Argos travel kettle.
"You're not an IAM riding god, therefore you are wrong. The more you try to explain your thought process or actions, the more wrong you'll be" sums it up nicely.

I had a few rides with IAM last year. Some of it was useful, getting an independent view of my riding particularly positioning through multiple hazards was good. I stopped when it became clear there was no way I could ever ride round blind corners the way they wanted me to, observers kept hinting that I should be cornering faster. "What if the road is blocked?" I asked, "What if it isn't?" was the reply. I got good marks on my observed runs for everything else but not corners.

Then I noticed that at meetings the 'announcements' invariably seemed to include a list of who had crashed in the last month, mainly single vehicle cornering accidents. When I last tried the IAM 20 odd years ago and got close to test standard before my bike blew up, I remember one meeting where the speaker admitted that a couple of members had suffered Smidsys, but it was clear this was unusual and the speaker was quite embarrassed by it. Yet now single vehicle accidents seem almost the norm for so called advanced riders.

So I gave up.