Lots of different views about the advanced riding institutions here.
My opinion- well I actually joined the IAM/Rospa a couple of years ago- main reason- to become an observer and help those that might need a bit of help.
On my first ride with my observer it didnt start too well.
A bit about me- been riding from when I was 14- I`m 55 now- done motocross/enduro/trials for some years. Been a track day addict for over 30 years. Rode mostly everything on the road and had some professional advanced training some years back. I`m quite experienced and a better road rider than track rider.
My observer- not a born again biker but a new biker- still in his 50s- just passed his bike test a year before- on an ER6 ( not that theres anything wrong with an ER6 ). Terrible rider with basically no idea.
Why the hell he was given to me I dont know, and this could have ended my relationship with the iAM then and there. Still, I got rid of him quickly and Im now a national Observer and have the Masters distinction ( not that its particularly difficult ).
I quite enjoy helping the odd guy or girl. The only problem is, they all seem to be of a certain age and covered in Hi-Vis. I would love it if they were all young, aggressive sports bike riders- I think they would get much more out of it, and I`d probably enjoy it even more.
I dont involve myself in the club politics etc and hardly ever join them on social rides- just like the teaching/learning process.
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE JOKING??? How the hell can a rider of ONE YEARs STANDING be qualified to coach riders who have been riding all their life, fairly successfully? He is obviously one of those types able to learn how to pass a test. He cannot have the depth of experience required that I would look for.
I have done some advanced riding training, probably only scratched the surface, but I would look to be trained by someone I could look up to, in riding skill terms.
It reminds me of when the Stalking Certificate scheme (Deer Management Qualifications Ltd) came in. For 40 odd years the British Deer Society had done free training for members, in a bid to educate stalkers all about deer and when required humane shooting of them. DMQ hijacked their course and started to sell it, instead of providing the training as part of membership, DMQ cosied up to the ACPO and got them to make it a requirement fo rgettinng a Firearms Certificate - que, ready made customers and a gauranteed income stream, or 'a nice little earner'.
Now, I got to DMQ level 3, advanced level is 2. As a professional stalker at the time I would have been disappointed had I not - but a fully employed stalker on one of the biggest estates in the land and, at the time, the only full time stalker in England and Wales (as in he did nothng but deer - others all did some kind of keepering duties in addition to their deer duties).
Where the hell am I going with this and what the hell has it got to do with riding motorbikes and advanced training? Bear with me, it is pertinent. this full time stalker had been a professional hunter/stalker all his life. He was a professional hunter in Northern Territories, the over 30 years as the full time stalker on the estate of over 70,000 acres and the deer park that sent blood stock all over th eworld (so a deer herd of some note). Now, Lordy decided said stalker ought to 'get his bit of paper' and just go along with it to tick the box.
He turned up for his first day of 'assessment' and who should be his assessor? A local school teacher who this stalker had taught over the previous 2 years. he came having never fired a rifle before - now, 2 years later he was to assess the lifelong stalker who taught him virtually everything he knew......now maybe you can see the parallel. being able to gain a badge does NOT gain you KUDOS - only time served experience can do that.
I am utterly incredulous that the IAM could possibly appoint someone with only a year or two riding experience as an assessor. I would have demanded my money back.
but if one puts safety at the top, then a measure of the number of accidents riders have been involved in might be a good measure of ability.
