Bikesafe Review (Wiltshire)
Discussion
Held in Devizes, price = free! There's only one day left this year though.
You get there in the morning, tea & buscuits laid on. Then sit down with the police who explain the basics of good riding technique. More tea and biscuts are produced. The group is then split into two and half go off with a police rider, usually 2 people to each copper. The other half of the group get a talk from wiltshire road safety people who give a load of statistics to back up what you learn on the road. At lunch there is tea and cakes. After lunch the groups swap over. After more tea and cakes there is a debrief.
Police Talk:
No shock tactics, no lecture - brilliant! They are there to pass on the basics of the police road craft training. Mostly talking about vanishing points, road position etc. Some good discussions about what is legal and what isn't re tinted visors, exhausts etc good banter and jokes.
Rideout:
2 people to each policeman, 45 miles. one student takes the lead, then you pull over after a while to get a critique of your riding. Students swap over. the feedback was brilliant, a massive eye opener. Before i wasn't using the whole road, just plodding along in the middle of the lane. Police man was going right to the verge and right up to the white line to get the best view and his riding was so smooth. Bit worrying with a masssive pan european and flourescent yellow and blue thing in the mirrors though!! :roll:
Road Safety Presentation:
We did a questionnaire to assess our risk taking, got the results and learned a lot about the statistics for fatalities, saw a few videos. Lots of discussion about attitudes etc. Interesting information about what the goverment and road partnerships are doing for us... ALSO (shock) they weren't keen on the "safety" cameras either... The presenter was very involving and excited about his subject and everyone was enthralled.
We've been told that if we want another ride with the police we can ring up and they'll arrange it for one day when they're running another bikesafe event.
I found it to be really worthwhile, and i can't reccomend it enough.
You get there in the morning, tea & buscuits laid on. Then sit down with the police who explain the basics of good riding technique. More tea and biscuts are produced. The group is then split into two and half go off with a police rider, usually 2 people to each copper. The other half of the group get a talk from wiltshire road safety people who give a load of statistics to back up what you learn on the road. At lunch there is tea and cakes. After lunch the groups swap over. After more tea and cakes there is a debrief.
Police Talk:
No shock tactics, no lecture - brilliant! They are there to pass on the basics of the police road craft training. Mostly talking about vanishing points, road position etc. Some good discussions about what is legal and what isn't re tinted visors, exhausts etc good banter and jokes.
Rideout:
2 people to each policeman, 45 miles. one student takes the lead, then you pull over after a while to get a critique of your riding. Students swap over. the feedback was brilliant, a massive eye opener. Before i wasn't using the whole road, just plodding along in the middle of the lane. Police man was going right to the verge and right up to the white line to get the best view and his riding was so smooth. Bit worrying with a masssive pan european and flourescent yellow and blue thing in the mirrors though!! :roll:
Road Safety Presentation:
We did a questionnaire to assess our risk taking, got the results and learned a lot about the statistics for fatalities, saw a few videos. Lots of discussion about attitudes etc. Interesting information about what the goverment and road partnerships are doing for us... ALSO (shock) they weren't keen on the "safety" cameras either... The presenter was very involving and excited about his subject and everyone was enthralled.
We've been told that if we want another ride with the police we can ring up and they'll arrange it for one day when they're running another bikesafe event.
I found it to be really worthwhile, and i can't reccomend it enough.
I did the same course last year and cannot recommend it highly enough - I was lucky in that I had a one on one ride with the copper so we could give it a bit more welly. I learned loads about my riding and the chap even said that "I dont think ive ever been round that corner that fast before!" What I didn't mention was that it caught me out and just kept on tightening - so laying it down to kneedown-worthy angles was the only option! LOL
I did something similar with the Essex Police, based out at Borham nr Chelmsford at the beginning of the Summer. (I seem to remember paying for it)
I also found the day useful, although I was paired with another rider who had recently bought a GSXR1000, after somewhat limited experience on a 600. He had promptly thrown the GSXR down the road and had lost his bottle.
The observer worked really hard to make something of the huge disparity in confidence and pace, but to be completely honest it did detract from the day.
I booked the day for a reality check and to reign in some of my, shall we say, "exuberance". They achieved that, without being patronizing or condescending. These guys are into their bikes just as much as any of us on PH.
The majority of people who turned up (about 30 in all) were fairly new to motorcycling and a fair number were worryingly wobbly. The observers (they don't instruct) worked hard to build people's confidence and pass on some of the road craft and observational skills they have learned and developed over thousands of hours on their bikes.
I think it's a shame that more riders with the bike handling skills and confidence to go fast enough to get into trouble, but perhaps, lack the experience to have developed their roadcraft to the same level, don't take advantage of these assessments. These are the people who would benefit the most from the wealth of experience and systematic training the Police instructors have undergone.
I would recommend it, but try to book in pairs or a group with mates who ride at a similar pace, to get the most out of the day.
I also found the day useful, although I was paired with another rider who had recently bought a GSXR1000, after somewhat limited experience on a 600. He had promptly thrown the GSXR down the road and had lost his bottle.
The observer worked really hard to make something of the huge disparity in confidence and pace, but to be completely honest it did detract from the day.
I booked the day for a reality check and to reign in some of my, shall we say, "exuberance". They achieved that, without being patronizing or condescending. These guys are into their bikes just as much as any of us on PH.
The majority of people who turned up (about 30 in all) were fairly new to motorcycling and a fair number were worryingly wobbly. The observers (they don't instruct) worked hard to build people's confidence and pass on some of the road craft and observational skills they have learned and developed over thousands of hours on their bikes.
I think it's a shame that more riders with the bike handling skills and confidence to go fast enough to get into trouble, but perhaps, lack the experience to have developed their roadcraft to the same level, don't take advantage of these assessments. These are the people who would benefit the most from the wealth of experience and systematic training the Police instructors have undergone.
I would recommend it, but try to book in pairs or a group with mates who ride at a similar pace, to get the most out of the day.
Did you have to ride at the speed limit?
I once did an assessment with BiB and they said to ride at my normal pace. Well, I couldn't bring myself to go too much over the limit.
I've since done a Ridedrive 4-day course which did wonders for my insurance - I saved the cost of the course in 1 year on my Aprilia! Only one or two brokers recognise it, though. On this course we were allowed to go to NSL +10% whilst leading, and whatever speed to catch up.
I once did an assessment with BiB and they said to ride at my normal pace. Well, I couldn't bring myself to go too much over the limit.
I've since done a Ridedrive 4-day course which did wonders for my insurance - I saved the cost of the course in 1 year on my Aprilia! Only one or two brokers recognise it, though. On this course we were allowed to go to NSL +10% whilst leading, and whatever speed to catch up.
The police riders really know their stuff 
and are generally a nice helpful bunch who are genuinely interested in bikes and motorcycling.Sounds like just what I've been looking for.
Must get in touch with them. I can't believe my lack of confidence after 15 years of competing in motocross, both schoolboy and adult, at a high level. It's definately the roadcraft part that holds me back. Occassionally I see a chap on a VFR800 whilst commuting, and he's the epitome of smooth progress. Relaxed, good observation, impeccable road positioning, much like watching a bike cop actually (he could well be one I suppose!)
cheers
J
Must get in touch with them. I can't believe my lack of confidence after 15 years of competing in motocross, both schoolboy and adult, at a high level. It's definately the roadcraft part that holds me back. Occassionally I see a chap on a VFR800 whilst commuting, and he's the epitome of smooth progress. Relaxed, good observation, impeccable road positioning, much like watching a bike cop actually (he could well be one I suppose!)
cheers
J
probably not the official line! Did the London course based out of the Ace Cafe. Awesome and highly recommended. www.bikesafe-london.co.uk
rsvmilly said:
Did you have to ride at the speed limit?
The official line was yes, however they paired me with a bloke on a GSXR1000 (I was on my RC30)and the observer was ex Police on his own bike. Rather than a marked Police bike.
The implication was, we could press on and make the whole excersise a bit more realistic. (After all how many of us ride around country roads at 50 mph) It was unfortunate that the bloke on the GSXR had thrown it down the road quite recently and had only just got back on it. I don't think we got anywhere near the speed limit all day.
One point the Police did make was to watch out for Joe Public's reaction to a couple of bikes being followed at speed by a Police bike. One of two responses; either they try and block the Police bike to help you "get away" or they throw themselves in front of you, doing their bit for road safety!
Frankly we were in danger of being overtaken by some of the quicker members of the local cycling club, doing a 10 mile time trial....
M
Thanks that's great info, I've been thinking about doing something like that myself..and that's exactly what i'm looking for.
A friend of mine is in the met police and a number of years ago he did a bike course and his training was about 2 weeks.One of the things i remember him saying was that when they were out on the road the instructors would follow right behing almost on his back wheel.He was told to ride as fast as possible ( in a safe way obviously).He told me that he was going well into 3 fig speeds and the instuctor stuck to him like glue.He also said he knew when he was approaching a bend too fast because the instructor would dissappear backwards then we would think .... shittt lol
A friend of mine is in the met police and a number of years ago he did a bike course and his training was about 2 weeks.One of the things i remember him saying was that when they were out on the road the instructors would follow right behing almost on his back wheel.He was told to ride as fast as possible ( in a safe way obviously).He told me that he was going well into 3 fig speeds and the instuctor stuck to him like glue.He also said he knew when he was approaching a bend too fast because the instructor would dissappear backwards then we would think .... shittt lol
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