God gave us two feet. Plant them with pride and enough of all this poncy shit.
IAM training/"making progress"
- Thread starter agfoxx
- Start date
For 45 minutes you can do the footie stuff and stick to "the rules". I'm sure you've come across some, where that is all they want to achieveIs that it ??!! Is that the pinnacle of bike riding? An IAM pass??!!
Or is there more to being a good rider than a 45 minute test??!!
For me the pinnacle is arriving home, in the same condition that I left.
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God gave us two feet. Plant them with pride and enough of all this poncy shit.
I can see it now ...... as proud as punch at the traffic lights ....
I was taught the Hendon shuffle and at the time I was riding an R60 with tls front brake, so it was bloody handy, not to say essential, when stopped facing uphill! When, decades later, I did my IAM course, my observer had other things to worry about (I suppose!) so it was never an issue. When I did my test, the examiner commented on it but had made the mistake of telling me in the briefing that his priority would be safe riding. So Mr Gobby here immediately asked ... "Is it unsafe?" SILENCE! When working with my own associates, I don't worry about it except for asking them to think ahead when approaching a give way, stop or whatever. Plus of course, having your right foot covering the brake gives you far better low speed control and stability and having your feet dangling about is unsafe and looks crap!
He gave me two so's one could go in my mouth and I wouldn't fall on my arse! Doesn't always work though!
SILENCE! When working with my own associates, I don't worry about it except for asking them to think ahead when approaching a give way, stop or whatever. Plus of course, having your right foot covering the brake gives you far better low speed control and stability and having your feet dangling about is unsafe and looks crap!God gave us two feet. Plant them with pride and enough of all this poncy shit.
He gave me two so's one could go in my mouth and I wouldn't fall on my arse! Doesn't always work though!
Some of us are petiteGod gave us two feet. Plant them with pride and enough of all this poncy shit.
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thebuyer
Registered user
Let’s throw another point in for discussion.
So yesterday I did my pre test with a different observer, and within 10 miles I could see things weren’t going to be good...
So when we stopped about 30 miles in, I took the bull by the horns and said ... I know what feedback your going to give... he looked shocked and taken aback.
See from my first ride with IAM, I was pulled for slowing for a change in speed limits .. ie 60 to a 30, I would roll off and be at the 30 without using brakes..... no no no I was told ... you need to make progress and brake safely for the 30. So over the last 5 rides I’ve changed my approach.
So back to yesterday... first time I did this, I could see my pre test observer was well back from me on every speed limit change ... because he was rolling off.
When I told him that’s what I’ve been told to adopt.. he was shocked and even surprised when he saw the note in my book!
So I’ve asked them both to discuss and give me a definitive answer before my test.
Can’t be right to have this fundamental difference on a system of riding.
So yesterday I did my pre test with a different observer, and within 10 miles I could see things weren’t going to be good...
So when we stopped about 30 miles in, I took the bull by the horns and said ... I know what feedback your going to give... he looked shocked and taken aback.
See from my first ride with IAM, I was pulled for slowing for a change in speed limits .. ie 60 to a 30, I would roll off and be at the 30 without using brakes..... no no no I was told ... you need to make progress and brake safely for the 30. So over the last 5 rides I’ve changed my approach.
So back to yesterday... first time I did this, I could see my pre test observer was well back from me on every speed limit change ... because he was rolling off.
When I told him that’s what I’ve been told to adopt.. he was shocked and even surprised when he saw the note in my book!
So I’ve asked them both to discuss and give me a definitive answer before my test.
Can’t be right to have this fundamental difference on a system of riding.
On my assessed ride i was picked up for not using my brakes and was told that i should so the car or bike behind could tell i was slowing down
it was at that point i decided IAM was not for me
My biggest beef with any of the clubs, (RoSPA / IAM) is that they just love a rule book. They seem to love black and whites, and this is why you often see me write phrases like 'binary', 'tick-box', 'paint by numbers'. Quite often, the IAM / RoSPA style is one of set pieces and chess moves, and as a result, yes it might be safe, but it often lacks flow, grace and any imagination.
The answer to your question, and probably any question is .... 'do the right thing'. Sometimes the right thing is to ride all the way up to the 30 and then brake. Sometimes the right thing to do is to roll off and float in bang on the limit. No black and whites!! You decide! Your examiner wants to see a thinking rider, not some clone of a clone of a clone who spectacularly moves away from nearside junctions even though they're empty!
Think for yourself! What is the right thing to do here? There will be a 'right' answer - always. You've got to work it out without being a clone going, paint by numbers chess mover!!
I feel your pain! Here is the answer imho ...
Lots of observers will quote the old saw "Gears for go, brakes for slow" and that's fine right up to the point that there's gravel or wet leaves on the road etc. Use the brakes when it is safe to do so and not when it may not be safe. In these circs, a wee dab on the back brake would be enough to tell a following driver / rider that you'll be slowing down. I really cannot see you failing your test for this!
God gave us two feet. Plant them with pride and enough of all this poncy shit.
Is that a quote from Merseyside Police driving school? We were poetry in motion when we did our escort duties, ask 'kenny'
This advanced stuff must be pretty easy, so I can’t be arsed with it - don’t see what all the fuss is about.
A friend of mine (late 30s) took up motorcycling about two years ago having never ridden a motorcycle in his life before, he passed his IAM test about a year ago with a 1st Class pass and a couple of months ago got a Rospa Gold pass, both at the first attempt. He nearly always puts his left foot down, I think he’s wrong as I nearly always put my right foot down
A friend of mine (late 30s) took up motorcycling about two years ago having never ridden a motorcycle in his life before, he passed his IAM test about a year ago with a 1st Class pass and a couple of months ago got a Rospa Gold pass, both at the first attempt. He nearly always puts his left foot down, I think he’s wrong as I nearly always put my right foot down
There used to be a cartoon drawing at Hendon, of a police motorcyclist who, on a left hand bend, has crossed the road and put himself into the hedge.
As he's looking over his shoulder he says.
It's alright Sarge, I didn't brake.
If you need to brake, brake.
If you don't, don't.
There are only shades of grey. As long as you know the why you've done something, fine by me. Being a parrot does not make you an advanced rider, thinking does.
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As he's looking over his shoulder he says.
It's alright Sarge, I didn't brake.
If you need to brake, brake.
If you don't, don't.
There are only shades of grey. As long as you know the why you've done something, fine by me. Being a parrot does not make you an advanced rider, thinking does.
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But can you shake it all about ???This advanced stuff must be pretty easy, so I can’t be arsed with it - don’t see what all the fuss is about.
A friend of mine (late 30s) took up motorcycling about two years ago having never ridden a motorcycle in his life before, he passed his IAM test about a year ago with a 1st Class pass and a couple of months ago got a Rospa Gold pass, both at the first attempt. He nearly always puts his left foot down, I think he’s wrong as I nearly always put my right foot down
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1. if the road falls to the left, i put my right foot down, if it falls to the right i put my left leg down, otherwise i risk running out of leg length.
2. if the road goes uphill or downhill i generally put left leg down so i can use rear brake to hold in place rather than juggling throttle and brake, but rule 1 overrides rule 2
3. if i plan to stay still for longer than 5 seconds, i put right leg down so i can select neutral, to supply a little mechanical sympathy to the bike and not get cramp in my clutch hand, but rule 1 overrides rule 3, whereas rules 2 and 3 can be chosen without prejudice
For rule 1, both options are far more elegant than only choosing 1 leg every time, and risking a graceful or not so graceful roll off to the side if i run out of leg
However, if it was part of my job, and made me look professional on the world stage, as in the police escort riders, then i would have to get some thicker heeled boots
2. if the road goes uphill or downhill i generally put left leg down so i can use rear brake to hold in place rather than juggling throttle and brake, but rule 1 overrides rule 2
3. if i plan to stay still for longer than 5 seconds, i put right leg down so i can select neutral, to supply a little mechanical sympathy to the bike and not get cramp in my clutch hand, but rule 1 overrides rule 3, whereas rules 2 and 3 can be chosen without prejudice
For rule 1, both options are far more elegant than only choosing 1 leg every time, and risking a graceful or not so graceful roll off to the side if i run out of leg
However, if it was part of my job, and made me look professional on the world stage, as in the police escort riders, then i would have to get some thicker heeled boots
Nor did i, until I took a days 121 training with one of the guys from Rapid Training. As someone who had no training and passed my test in 1978, it made me think. I later decided to put some of what I'd learned in to action and joined the local RoSPA group and IAM, passing both tests.
I'd like to think I'm a better rider because of it - didn't stop me being punted off in April...
Maybe try it, you have nothing to lose but a few hours of your time.
I'm glad I did as my riding is smoother today because of it.
Is that a quote from Merseyside Police driving school? We were poetry in motion when we did our escort duties, ask 'kenny'
We (*prot team) always thought as you lot leapfrogged our convoys which one would end up on his arse.
Fcukin hooligans.
There's one for word of the week.
So you're on a duel carriageway overtaking a Merc Sprinter which increases it speed to 70mph and you're alongside it.
What's the safest course of action?
This will be taken into account by any examiner, but like I've already said, how did you find yourself in this situation?
1. Slow down in the overtaking lane, before dropping back into the LH lane where you'll need to account for who's behind you now and who is to your left?
2. 'Keep' accelerating past the Merc before dropping back into the LH and gradually reducing your speed to the legal limit?
I've been an instructor for 12 years and would always advise to take the safest course of action even if that does mean travelling over the speed limit for a short distance
So you're on a duel carriageway overtaking a Merc Sprinter which increases it speed to 70mph and you're alongside it.
What's the safest course of action?
This will be taken into account by any examiner, but like I've already said, how did you find yourself in this situation?
1. Slow down in the overtaking lane, before dropping back into the LH lane where you'll need to account for who's behind you now and who is to your left?
2. 'Keep' accelerating past the Merc before dropping back into the LH and gradually reducing your speed to the legal limit?
I've been an instructor for 12 years and would always advise to take the safest course of action even if that does mean travelling over the speed limit for a short distance
I would accelerate past, but if the Sprinter you are passing continues to accelerate, then when you pull in, he will be pushing you along. I would never put myself in danger because of speed, bit like if your on a motorway doing 70, outside lane and passing traffic, behind you and approaching fast is a car going well over the speed limit. I would accelerate so as not to hold the vehicle up, but drop back to 70 once past.
You're quite right of course in pointing out it's not black and white but you always have a plan do do either....if you've 'got yourself' in that situation (beat it or leave it)
So you're on a duel carriageway overtaking a Merc Sprinter which increases it speed to 70mph and you're alongside it.
What's the safest course of action?
This will be taken into account by any examiner, but like I've already said, how did you find yourself in this situation?
1. Slow down in the overtaking lane, before dropping back into the LH lane where you'll need to account for who's behind you now and who is to your left?
2. 'Keep' accelerating past the Merc before dropping back into the LH and gradually reducing your speed to the legal limit?
I've been an instructor for 12 years and would always advise to take the safest course of action even if that does mean travelling over the speed limit for a short distance
The guidance for IAM bike examiners is: candidate must not plan to exceed the speed limit.
In developing circs such as described, you do whatever is safest.
duel:
a contest with deadly weapons arranged between two people in order to settle a point of honour.
"twice he had seriously wounded men in duels"
Couldn't resist - sorry..........
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