Got my IAM test coming up soon, but must admit I find a lot of what is in the book does not work in the real world, for example it only shows overtakes for a single car with no other traffic, where I live you always find cars in bunches sat close together and the IAM system has no way of dealing with this.
The build up to the overtake for a single vehicle or multi-vehicle overtake is the same. (In brief summary...) you move up from your normal following position when you think an overtaking opportunity is likely to be available, take in all your observations ensuring that no hazard will prohibit the manoeuvre and decide where you can see where you will get back in. When safe to do so, move out into the opposing carriageway maintaining the same distance from the vehicle in front (to allow for the overtake to be aborted) and once you're happy it is safe to go, power on past the vehicles, returning into the gap you identified. I really have summarised this as I don't want to appear to be giving instruction.
I would like to take on training beyond the IAM to hone my real world skills, such as getting past lines of dopey car drivers sat a fag papers width apart, filtering through traffic in the real world (where every car does not leave a motorcycle sized gap for you to pull into)
Have you taken this up with your observer, senior observer or chief observer? Filtering is a hard thing for an observer to 'teach' but it's not impossible and something your group should be able to help you with.
I think some of the bike stuff also comes straight from car techniques, such as block changing, in a car you can roll up to a junction in top and go straight into 1st gear, on most motorcycles if you try this you end up having to pull away from the lights in 4th gear!
The system comes straight from the car book, which is adapted straight from Roadcraft. Block changing on a bike comes down to holding the clutch in and taking multiple downshifts, usually as you come to rest, but any hazard that induces a reduction in speed may call for one. You make this very point in your next paragraph below
The other issue I have always had with IAM riders is that of judging how good a rider is by how infrequently they brake, I agree with riding smoothly and not keeping morse code alive with your brake light, but at the same time when approaching a tight bend I would rather use a bit of brake and a couple of downchanges in the last 100 metres than shut off half a mile early before clonking down 3 gears in one go just as I arrive at the bend.
I agree (mostly!) with you. If the limit point really isn't moving (or is coming toward you) and all the information available to you says SLOW DOWN then use the brakes. Acceleration sense is great on a sweeping road, but for the really tight stuff and when coming to stop line, use the brakes, that's what they're for. We're looking to make progress, not hold up other road users and not to do anything an other road user won't expect you to do. Rolling off a country mile before the bend isn't a good plan simply not to use the brakes. It's something our group has discussed many times before.
Aiming for the IAM test has improved my hazard perception and positioning considerably, I think it was reasonable to begin with, but a bit more polished now and it has certainly helped me to break my terrible habbit of following far too close (now I just follow a bit too close)
Hoping I will get a pass, but see this as the first step in improving my riding, and not the last.
I am happy with my vehicle handling from doing various race schools, the CSS and a few track days over the years, I would like to add some off-road skills to my portfolio, and maybe do an independant riding course where the focus is on improving how I ride in the real world.
You'll notice from the book that there is very little on machine control. That's something for someone to teach. Counter (or positive) steering was only added to the latest version of the book. The whole thing revolves around being in the correct position on the road, travelling at the right speed with the correct gear engaged for the particular set of circumstances presented to you at a particular moment in time.
Since passing my test I have done a number of training courses with other companies/individuals and it's all tools in the mental toolbox for when you need them. As you've probably guessed I've also done my observer and senior observer training.
I don't know it all, I don't claim to and I don't try to imply I do either. Every associate teaches me something new in the way they've analysed something.
I'd recommend the IAM course to anyone. There are
very few riders out there that wouldn't benefit from it (or something similar). I'm not sure I'd be here today had I not done it and hadn't calmed down and learned how to ride a lot better.
I hope I've given you some clarification to your points. If I haven't, PM me and I'll try and explain better. If you already know what I've said, my apologies, I'm not trying to teach your granny to suck eggs.
I wish you the very best with you test. From what you've said you appear to be a thinking rider and I don't think you will have too much trouble in passing. Despite the concerns you've raised I hope you've enjoyed it your SfL course
If you've got any questions, bring it up with your observer or drop me a line and I'll help you if I can.
Cheers
Andrew
