JT is the kiddie - but then he is "the Boss"
(IAM Staff Examiner)
Not sure I or many other IAM observers would agree with that. Since being Staff Examiner he has upset So many groups. I personally won't be renewing my Senior observer status whilst he is involved. Although my local group is so fed up with sending him people we want as seniors to have them thrown back at us, we won't send any more anyway. Our chief has had words with his bosses, and aparently 'they are aware'......
However, don't let this put you off joining your local group, at any time. They all tend to ride/train all year, so no need to leave it till next year. Check your local groups out, they should allow you to pay a couple of visits before demanding you pay up and buy the 'skills for life membership'. This will let you suss them out. Some won't let you out on social rides without a test pass, others will recommend tham as chances to practice. Some will offer fixed length courses with test at the end, but personally i'd look to have a 1-1 observer and test when your ready regardless of time scale(how my local group does it). Fixed length courses might just get you to a test standard, but the only real way to learn proper advanced riding is over time, to change bad habits to good ones that then stay with you year on year. Our group found that when we did a fixed length course, riders that passed at the end very quickly reverted to bad habits again.
A decent Iam group can offer so much more than an expensive one day outfit. A lot will offer club friendliness, and lots of rideout opertunity's. Yes there is an element of flat cap, hi viz brigade, but there will also be a large percentage of normal bikers that just want to ride in a safe, but decent standard of other riders.
Most Iam groups won't use intercoms, Iam actually state we're not allowed to use them for anything but giving directions(left, right, straight on etc) so to be honest they're pretty worthless for us. Quality of reception being a serious issue where any other instructions can lead to disasterous results. We have had guys that have done these one day courses and have felt almost bullied by the instructors shouting instructions whilst the rider is struggling to cope with any nerves and new ideas whilst also trying to ride the bike.
The Police based courses are nearly always worth doing, never hurts to get to know some of the local bike cops
I tried to do Rospa a few years ago, but found very few groups about, contacted about 5, but only one came back to me, and when I did get out them, the guy was on a different planet.
But, like others have said, it's an ongoing thing. And whatever you do, you'll enjoy it.
I believe the reason that Ride to Arrive exists is that they couldn't get the Bikesafe going in the Bristol area for some reason so Ride to Arrive was born. Again, someone will put me right if this is duff info.
We were also "allowed" to park on the dubya yellows outside the caf in Burnham at lunchtime.
