Anyone here a member of KAMG.........
Discussion
or done their IAM anwhere else?
Just wondering as me and the Mrs did our IDCAM (basically an initial observation of current riding styles) on Saturday. I was actually really impressed with it. As I have mentioned elsewhere - me and the Mrs both have our own reasons for doing it:-
Me - because I am still awaiting a summons for a speeding offence - and this may help in my defence if the magistrates look at me pro-actively doing something to improve my riding, and also because you can never have enough good advice on how best to ride.
Mrs - she is new to biking and it gives her someone to observe her (other than me - who is perhaps a little impatient with her) - and advise on getting her more confidence on the road.
Speaking for me, the observer I was with at the weekend was really good. He is also a commuter with a worse journey than my daily journey, so he understood how I am used to riding! His comments on my ride were all valid - and to be honest not unexpected - ride too fast, a bit too aggressively, and don't always position myself in the best positions on the road for what is coming up and for my own safety.
He said that to pass the IAM - I will need to put a different head on (a bit like Worsel Gummidge I suppose!) - and ride to pass the IAM rather than how I would normally ride. However what I need to do is to take the relevant skills I learn for the IAM, and almalgamate these skills with my own riding style on a day to day basis. It does make sense - I actually tried on this mornings commute to put some of the points in place, and was approx 5 mins slower than normal - but I did not have any "iffy" situations on the ride in - and that was in appalling weather.
One of the things he did was took me down a NSL tiny country lane. 1st run I was leading and we then turned round and went back to the top. He then asked me to follow him, and keep up with him as we did it again. I was on my GSXR 600 and he was on a DL650 VStrom - I kept up with him no problems. We went back to the top again - and this time he told me to keep up with him again - but not to touch the brakes (unless I had to!!). I could not get anywhere near him! I was about 100 metres behind by the time we got to the bottom - and he had not touched his brakes once. It showed me how much better (and I think more fun) it is to ride smoothly, rather than braking/accelarating/braking etc etc. I want to get to this level of riding!
Unfortunately I cannot make the next club run with KAMG - but the Mrs is going - and I will be attending others later in the year, so if anyone else on here is a member - give us a heads up and we can say hello.
I would definitely reccomend this route of training to anyone - of any level.
Just wondering as me and the Mrs did our IDCAM (basically an initial observation of current riding styles) on Saturday. I was actually really impressed with it. As I have mentioned elsewhere - me and the Mrs both have our own reasons for doing it:-
Me - because I am still awaiting a summons for a speeding offence - and this may help in my defence if the magistrates look at me pro-actively doing something to improve my riding, and also because you can never have enough good advice on how best to ride.
Mrs - she is new to biking and it gives her someone to observe her (other than me - who is perhaps a little impatient with her) - and advise on getting her more confidence on the road.
Speaking for me, the observer I was with at the weekend was really good. He is also a commuter with a worse journey than my daily journey, so he understood how I am used to riding! His comments on my ride were all valid - and to be honest not unexpected - ride too fast, a bit too aggressively, and don't always position myself in the best positions on the road for what is coming up and for my own safety.
He said that to pass the IAM - I will need to put a different head on (a bit like Worsel Gummidge I suppose!) - and ride to pass the IAM rather than how I would normally ride. However what I need to do is to take the relevant skills I learn for the IAM, and almalgamate these skills with my own riding style on a day to day basis. It does make sense - I actually tried on this mornings commute to put some of the points in place, and was approx 5 mins slower than normal - but I did not have any "iffy" situations on the ride in - and that was in appalling weather.
One of the things he did was took me down a NSL tiny country lane. 1st run I was leading and we then turned round and went back to the top. He then asked me to follow him, and keep up with him as we did it again. I was on my GSXR 600 and he was on a DL650 VStrom - I kept up with him no problems. We went back to the top again - and this time he told me to keep up with him again - but not to touch the brakes (unless I had to!!). I could not get anywhere near him! I was about 100 metres behind by the time we got to the bottom - and he had not touched his brakes once. It showed me how much better (and I think more fun) it is to ride smoothly, rather than braking/accelarating/braking etc etc. I want to get to this level of riding!
Unfortunately I cannot make the next club run with KAMG - but the Mrs is going - and I will be attending others later in the year, so if anyone else on here is a member - give us a heads up and we can say hello.
I would definitely reccomend this route of training to anyone - of any level.
Hooli said:
good write up, sounds worth doing. which reminds me, look for bikesafe courses again as they start in march around here.
I did Bikesafe last year - and the IAM is very similar i.e. it folllows the Roadcraft technique. However there are some differences as well - i.e. riding on wrong side of road for positioning is not recommended in IAM, like it is on BikeSafe.I loved BikeSafe - and again would recommend (especially in London where TFL subsidise the cost) - but the IAM route is even better value for money and has more opportunitys for riding.
I'm a member of the East London IAM, and it's a very good way of increasing your riding general ability, but the lessons on hazard perception and observation are by far the biggest gain I got out of it.
I must admit to getting a bit bored during the rideouts with the "associates" but as I know a few bods I get asked out on the full members rides (passed the test standard)and it's much better. The observers are a good bunch, and always wind it up a bit when the associates are out of view!
I must admit to getting a bit bored during the rideouts with the "associates" but as I know a few bods I get asked out on the full members rides (passed the test standard)and it's much better. The observers are a good bunch, and always wind it up a bit when the associates are out of view!
Chilli said:
I'm a member of the East London IAM, and it's a very good way of increasing your riding general ability, but the lessons on hazard perception and observation are by far the biggest gain I got out of it.
I must admit to getting a bit bored during the rideouts with the "associates" but as I know a few bods I get asked out on the full members rides (passed the test standard)and it's much better. The observers are a good bunch, and always wind it up a bit when the associates are out of view!
So how many observed rides you had so far? When are you doing your IAM test?I must admit to getting a bit bored during the rideouts with the "associates" but as I know a few bods I get asked out on the full members rides (passed the test standard)and it's much better. The observers are a good bunch, and always wind it up a bit when the associates are out of view!
Although I have not ridden with you - I know we both passed bike test around the same time, and have similar experience on our travels, from comments I read on here. Although I tend to be hit by people - rather than hitting hedges!
I just wondered how you were getting on with "toning" down the riding style and how long your observer thought til you did the test. For reasons listed above - I want to get this passed as soon a possible!
Fats25 said:
Chilli said:
I'm a member of the East London IAM, and it's a very good way of increasing your riding general ability, but the lessons on hazard perception and observation are by far the biggest gain I got out of it.
I must admit to getting a bit bored during the rideouts with the "associates" but as I know a few bods I get asked out on the full members rides (passed the test standard)and it's much better. The observers are a good bunch, and always wind it up a bit when the associates are out of view!
So how many observed rides you had so far? When are you doing your IAM test?I must admit to getting a bit bored during the rideouts with the "associates" but as I know a few bods I get asked out on the full members rides (passed the test standard)and it's much better. The observers are a good bunch, and always wind it up a bit when the associates are out of view!
Although I have not ridden with you - I know we both passed bike test around the same time, and have similar experience on our travels, from comments I read on here. Although I tend to be hit by people - rather than hitting hedges!
I just wondered how you were getting on with "toning" down the riding style and how long your observer thought til you did the test. For reasons listed above - I want to get this passed as soon a possible!
It really isn't easy to tone down the speed/style. I mean, it's quite difficult to maintain the exact limits where you have cars up your ar$e all the time. But, I guess that's what its all about!!
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