RoSPA Hampshire

[ELIMINATOR]

Seems that this is as dead as a Dodo. Got an e-mail from the Sussex/ kent guy hugh Curran, saying that it's finished.

i chose them over the I.A.M. as i liked the idea of the pass only being valid for 3 years.

Suppose I may look into the Solent I.A.M.

STILL PISSED OFF THOUGH.

 

[Markblox]

Ride School

Hi, was you at the ride school at the Hawth last month? I think I was talking to you if you were. You have two bikes I believe. I was the trainee instructor sitting to the side. I took the instructor test this morning in that storm which I'm relieved to have passed.

 

[Navy Boy]

Yep, I was getting all tooled up to do my test with them. I was even doing the observed rides but the group appears to have imploded.

A shame really however I've found the Solent branch of the IAM to be far better in terms of set-up.

 

[DavidJames]

The Thames Valley group tend to start their sessions from either Basingstoke or Loomies, so they could be a good alternative for you.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

DavidJames, Loomies is about maybe 10 miles from me.

MarkBlox, yup, that was me, are you the guy with the GSA? Congratulations on passing.( Could the Eaminer actually see what you were doing?)

As you can imagine, I'm rather pissed off about this. i joined RoSPA as it seemed better than the IAM, shortly after joining, and having asked if the lectures would be held in the hall in Otterborne (hants) they shut up shop.

Navy Boy, I have just looked at the IAM website, seems better organised. £139 though!

 

[DavidJames]

Loomies is about maybe 10 miles from me.

MarkBlox, yup, that was me, are you the guy with the GSA?

Here's their info:
http://www.roadartvg.org.uk/bikegroup.shtml

They are a good bunch, I was 'observed' by Panos and Tim.

There is a link in there to get in touch with them.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

Thank you

I'll have a look see.

My partner passed her advanced car test with the IAM, and err, her driving is abysmal. It's potentially just the same as pssing your normal test, once passed, you've got it forever. Althought there again, even though the IAM 3 yearly pass may have expired, people may not feel inclined to retake it. So, I suppose there isn't that much difference........... only that someone can still lay claim to having still a valid pass with the IAM.

I still like the idea of the RoSPA pass being only valid for 3 years, as hopefully i would have the incentive to periodically have more training, to avoid becoming a danger to myself, and others.

 

[Markblox]

MarkBlox, yup, that was me, are you the guy with the GSA? Congratulations on passing.( Could the Eaminer actually see what you were doing?)

As you can imagine, I'm rather pissed off about this. i joined RoSPA as it seemed better than the IAM, shortly after joining, and having asked if the lectures would be held in the hall in Otterborne (hants) they shut up shop.

Yea, it was Hugh and another who took me today.
Pity it had to be closed, but he was let down really by people that were IAM as well, who, having decided to set up in Hampshire then decided to concentrate on the IAM, which is a much larger and more commercial organisation. It was also set up in Kent at the same time and is run by a class one police rider and is going really well. How did you find the ride school by the way?

 

[ELIMINATOR]

markblox...... How did I find the "Ride School" ?

A lot better than I had anticipated, I was actually a bit sad when it was all over! I definitely learnt a few things, and more pointedly, it made me look at the highway code again. Come on, own up, how many of us see a road sign, and are oblivious to it's meaning?
All in all it was worthwhile attending.

more to the point perhaps, it is still affecting (OK. OK. IMPROVING) my everyday riding.

Interesting link.

http://www.saferrider.org/

I was surprised by the comment about winter roads are gripier than summer ones. (OK. when they're dry!)

Steptoe is in it, under bike maintenance, I was surprised by his comments about changing brake pads if less than 5mm... How thick are new pads.

Also made me smile his comment about best place to buy padds from the main dealer, hm, how does that sit with out Steppers selling pads.

Still, good of him to pass on yet more of his experience, what a guy.

 

[Navy Boy]

It's a fair point about the IAM test only needing to be done once.

However one way to ensure your standards stay up high are to become an observer as you need to then do another observed 'Test' as such.

Just a suggestion.

 

[Markblox]

Rospa Smart ride school

Yea, that was me with the GSA, nice chatting with you. Well, whereever you go, your doing the right thing, and to be honest, even if you learn with the IAM you could always do the Rospa exam if you wanted to know if you are bronze, silver or gold and recieve the report. One of the reasons I have been interested in becoming an instructor is that it keeps the standard high and in fact higher and higher as time goes by hopefully, because you will never stop learning and we all make mistakes even if there are no actual faults as such with your implementation of the system. good luck.

 

[GoldenGS]

+1 for Thames Valley RoSPA. Quite a few are down your way, thoroughly recommended. Very active monthly ride schedule (I admire from afar!)

 

[Mike Frost]

RoSPA SMART

Hi Eliminator,

Have only just spotted this string. I signed up with the above crew in December, and the current round of 'classroom lectures' have just started - first one last Sunday AM. Lecturer was Hugh Curran. It seems to be a big, thriving concern, no IAM involvement. Location of talks is the Hawth Theatre in Crawley - bit of a bugger to find if you are not a local!

You might wish to contact them to see if your 'credits' are transferable? Do check out the website: http://www.rospasmart.com/navigation/Home.html

All the best mate.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

I sent off membership papers to the Thames valley lot, not heard anything back. Might not bother any more, seems like every time i try to do training, it goes tits up.

 

[pj8332]

eliminator,

you could make a few days of it and do it with world of bmw rider training, i think they do a course with a test at the end.

pj

 

[CaptainSlow]

Anyone know if I can do an IAM or similar course on the Isle of Wight? I've had a number of observed runs and done the Hampshire Police BikeSafe course, but that doesn't leave me with a qualification.

I couldn't attend regular lectures on the mainland due to the travel costs - £22 day return on Wightlink or £26 on Red Funnel....

 

[Roger GSA]

Anyone know if I can do an IAM or similar course on the Isle of Wight? I've had a number of observed runs and done the Hampshire Police BikeSafe course, but that doesn't leave me with a qualification.

I couldn't attend regular lectures on the mainland due to the travel costs - £22 day return on Wightlink or £26 on Red Funnel....

No I believe that at present Solent Advanced Motorcyclist whilst having IOW members do not have an observer on the island. Although it I might be worth contacting SAM just in case that situation has changed in the recent past.

 

[Baz]

I sent off membership papers to the Thames valley lot, not heard anything back. Might not bother any more, seems like every time i try to do training, it goes tits up.

They are short of tutors at the moment after a few of us quit last year, but I'm sure they will get round to you eventually.