R.O.S.P.A.

Phooey is coming down in the morning, in time for breakfast, then we are going for a couple of hours around the lanes and whatnot. He says he will give me some pointers on how to deal with the 'being followed' thing. :thumby: That is what made me so nervous, the thought of being scrutinised. A bit like exam fever I suppose.
Once you start to feel happier it will get easier. It can feel weird, having someone ride so close, they wouldn't be doing it if you were unsafe, remember that point.

They are there to help, encourage and support you to become a better/safer rider.

Some need a soft touch, others a stricter and more controlled support.

I've always told every associate, we may not gel and you must be honest, say so, and I can arrange someone else instead.

Nobody ever has, but it also takes time to learn about you. Your strengths/weaknesses as you perceive them, why you're doing advanced training and what you want out of it.

Some you may not know the answers too, and that's fine. Don't be afraid to ask questions or ask them to demonstrate it for you.

Most important bit, in my view, have fun !

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Phooey is coming down in the morning, in time for breakfast, then we are going for a couple of hours around the lanes and whatnot. He says he will give me some pointers on how to deal with the 'being followed' thing. :thumby: That is what made me so nervous, the thought of being scrutinised. A bit like exam fever I suppose.


Say Hello from me. He's a nice rider ... :thumb2




<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Dent/i-6dQgj9C/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Dent/i-6dQgj9C/0/00590bd9/L/phooey-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
 
Say Hello from me. He's a nice rider ... :thumb2




<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Dent/i-6dQgj9C/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Dent/i-6dQgj9C/0/00590bd9/L/phooey-L.jpg" alt=""></a>

That is a great picture of him!
 
You'll be OK with Phooey, Simon, trust me ... I've ridden with him :thumb

:beerjug:

The bugger told me I was better than ROSPA Gold but that I wouldn't pass the test. Something to do with the NSL......:rolleyes:

Other than that, Chris is a hell of a nice guy and a good rider, if a bit slow.... :augie
 
On being Observed, Scrutinised and Criticised ...

Think you're bothered about being watched? You are not alone. :comfort

"He's watching every move i make, just waiting for me to make a mistake and then when we stop i'll have to explain and justify every turn of the wheels!" :( :rolleyes: :blast

A client out for Training?
No.
Every Instructor ever - when up front giving a "Demo ride". :D:thumb

Once the formalities and the first couple of hours on the road are over with, and you both get into it - egos are left behind and you work together to get the best out of the Bike and the Rider.
... IF they're a Good Trainer / Instructor / Coach / Mentor. ;)
 
Think you're bothered about being watched? You are not alone. :comfort

"He's watching every move i make, just waiting for me to make a mistake and then when we stop i'll have to explain and justify every turn of the wheels!" :( :rolleyes: :blast

A client out for Training?
No.
Every Instructor ever - when up front giving a "Demo ride". :D:thumb

Once the formalities and the first couple of hours on the road are over with, and you both get into it - egos are left behind and you work together to get the best out of the Bike and the Rider.
... IF they're a Good Trainer / Instructor / Coach / Mentor. ;)


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I've been friends with Simon ( King Rat ) for about 20 years ? He might correct me here...and I've Kayaked, Fished and gone Shooting with him more times than I care to remember. I have NEVER seen him ride a motorcycle in all those years. So today was a 1st.

Thank you Schtum, Giles and Mickey for your kind words.

Simon has done some colossal mileage on bikes and he's still here so first point to make is he must be doing SOMETHING right.

It shouldn't have mattered when or where you turned as long as you did it safely and correctly surely and arrived at your destination in one piece. Next time ask him to allow you to dictate the route so you can concentrate on your riding and all he has to do is observe.

A stressed mind isn't conducive to learning, so a leaf out of Lord Snooty's book and remove the pressure. We just go for a tour of the area he knows ( and I don't ). So I follow at a comfortable distance which turns out to be about 10 yards.

From the off he looks perfectly comfortable and relaxed. The ride is fluid, no jerkiness no rushed changes in direction or speed. Its country lanes, damp road surface, a bit of mud here and there and some dry strips where the car tyres have been.
First and really the only criticism I have is he is 10% too quick around the bends. They are 'closed' and I couldn't stop if there was something just beyond the limit of my vision. On the positive side Simon does not lack confidence on wet roads :thumb2

What was impressive, and I don't use the term lightly was his positioning on twisty roads. Perfect. Exactly where he should be and the transition to line up for the next bend was seamless, smooth and began the moment the bend came into view.

I liked that he sacrificed the crown of the road for oncoming traffic where it was appropriate. No swooping at the kerb, just an early and subtle 12", and back to the crown just as sweetly. Just enough to let me know he knew what he was doing.

Following distances were spot on.
Positioning just about everywhere spot on. ( I mentioned the 'couple' of instances I would change in the 'debrief' ).
Observation - he didn't miss a thing that I didn't.
Smoothness - never once braked other than lightly, never once accelerated harshly.
Never once got his entry speed for a bend then had to re adjust with the brakes or gears ( as far as I saw ).
He showed restraint where it was appropriate and made progress everywhere else.
Stuck to speed limits nicely.

Smooth, Safe ( see below ), relaxed and mature with enough 'spark' to entertain without overstepping the boundary.

Other than too quick around bends initially until I mentioned it it was difficult to find a single fault.

I was limited to suggesting he could have a different approach to roundabouts, also to left turns and it would look slightly more 'professional' if his head moved about less when consulting his mirrors....

It was a rural route, country lanes and villages but I would be surprised to see the approach to different conditions being any different.

Happy to ride with you anytime.

and stop shooting MY squirrels !!
 
I've been friends with Simon ( King Rat ) for about 20 years ? He'll might correct me here...and I've Kayaked, Fished and gone Shooting with him more times than I care to remember. I have NEVER seen him ride a motorcycle in all those years. So today was a 1st.

Thank you Schtum, Giles and Mickey for your kind words.

Simon has done some colossal mileage on bikes and he's still here so first point to make is he must be doing SOMETHING right.



A stressed mind isn't conducive to learning, so a leaf out of Lord Snooty's book and remove the pressure. We just go for a tour of the area he knows ( and I don't ). So I follow at a comfortable distance which turns out to be about 10 yards.

From the off he looks perfectly comfortable and relaxed. The ride is fluid, no jerkiness no rushed changes in direction or speed. Its country lanes, damp road surface, a bit of mud here and there and some dry strips where the car tyres have been.
First and really the only criticism I have is he is 10% too quick around the bends. They are 'closed' and I couldn't stop if there was something just beyond the limit of my vision. On the positive side Simon does not lack confidence on wet roads :thumb2

What was impressive, and I don't use the term lightly was his positioning on twisty roads. Perfect. Exactly where he should be and the transition to line up for the next bend was seamless, smooth and began the moment the bend came into view.

I liked that he sacrificed the crown of the road for oncoming traffic where it was appropriate. No swooping at the kerb, just an early and subtle 12", and back to the crown just as sweetly. Just enough to let me know he knew what he was doing.

Following distances were spot on.
Positioning just about everywhere spot on. ( I mentioned the 'couple' of instances I would change in the 'debrief' ).
Observation - he didn't miss a thing that I didn't.
Smoothness - never once braked other than lightly, never once accelerated harshly.
Never once got his entry speed for a bend then had to re adjust with the brakes or gears ( as far as I saw ).
He showed restraint where it was appropriate and made progress everywhere else.
Stuck to speed limits nicely.

Smooth, Safe ( see below ), relaxed and mature with enough 'spark' to entertain without overstepping the boundary.

Other than too quick around bends initially until I mentioned it it was difficult to find a single fault.

I was limited to suggesting he could have a different approach to roundabouts, also to left turns and it would look slightly more 'professional' if his head moved about less when consulting his mirrors....

It was a rural route, country lanes and villages but I would be surprised to see the approach to different conditions being any different.

Happy to ride with you anytime.

and stop shooting MY squirrels !!
Really great to hear a +ve outcome about a good and safe rider.

Well done all.

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I'm sure he will more than chuffed with the positive feedback, which will probably see him in front of the fire with a good single malt to see the night in. Well done both

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Well, I am star struck. You could knock me down with a feather. I wasn't expecting that. Thank you, all that have helped in whatever way.

Chris mentions I have covered a good number of miles, but the trouble is my miles are done alone, so other than stunt riders and racers I have never really had anyone to act as a barmoter to my riding - I just knew I couldn't match any of them, the likes of Kevin Carmichael, Craig Jones who only started stunting after I photographed a Streetfighter he built and we wanted some wheelie shots! Gary Rothwell was a regular - he had just taken the world wheelie speed record and Nik (editor) wanted him on the cover the last time I saw him... Johnny Fireblade was another and Dave Coates was one of our tame bike testers along with Paul Gower who was the Sargeant instructor for the Flying Gunners and the guy you saw jump the whole team on his CR500 and then went on to start The Wheelie School in the outskirts of London somewhere on the old airfield where they had the car boot sale/market. .... these are the type of riders I have been watching and photographing after having plodded my way there on whatever old nail I happened to be riding at the time (photographer journalists are paid a fortune, you understand!) So, with no real feedback about my own riding, or anything else to compare it to, other than knowing I can't wheelie, stoppie or even ride fast.. I have never had the front wheel lift, other than over a humpy back bridge that caught me out..... I have never scraped anything on bends, ever, and I have turkey strips on the sides of my tyres because I simply don't have the ability to go to the edge. So I assumed I must be pretty far down the pecking order and then when I got knocked off, it deflated my confidence even further, which is why I started down this 'advanced' route in the first place.

Warlord came out and had a ride with me and said I was Ok but if I wanted he would pass my details on to his ROSPA club.... the chap who took me out the other day got in touch and that was how Chris coming down got started... from me posting about my less than successful assessment ride with him. I'll come clean, he actually caused me to break down with anxiety and I was in tears at the roadside. Hence my starting post. I didn't sleep that night I was in such a state. I still haven't worked out how he achieved it, but it made me feel that I was such a danger I shouldn't be on the road and I was gearing up for having to sell my bikes off the back of that experience..... enough of that.

Thank you Phooey for taking the trouble to ride down and put me back in a good place, I am sorry about your squirrel... I really wanted you to get one, but it was presenting itself perfectly! I hope the jam made it back and remained in tact. I shall be making marmalade in the next few weeks, as soon as the Sevilles come in. :thumby:
 
So .... just to make sure I understand this correctly ....
You gave Phooey a jar of squirrel jam ...???


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So .... just to make sure I understand this correctly ....
You gave Phooey a jar of squirrel jam ...???


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

No wonder suspects' statements get misinterpreted! :D
 
No wonder suspects' statements get misinterpreted! :D

Send three and four pence, I'm going to a dance.....

Good to see phooey saw you ride in your normal way and that you're actually a good rider irrespective of what the ROSPA bloke thinks- it seems he was part of the problem not the solution? It can be a bit unnerving being followed and assessed at first but you do get used to it and once you've passed riding with people who you know what they are going to do is rewarding. That said whether you'll be able to get on with this bloke or now I don't know but I'd suggest you stick with it, armed with the confidence from phooey's debrief and if things don't work out ask for a different observer
 
Good to read Simon and Chris :thumb

I'll take him (Simon) out in the Spring for a refresh :D

Maybe Phooey too :D:D

:beerjug:
 
Well, you can't shoot for shite so why should your riding be any different?

3 squirrels this morning!

It's true...The little buggers are more scared of Chris Packham on a picnic than me wandering round the woods with a rifle :(
 
Simon (KingRat) and I have had a couple of phone calls and message exchanges since his RoSPA 'assessment ride' so we've moved on a fair way since.

To be honest, I was very surprised (shocked even) to read on here how badly this assessment ride went. I never got any feedback from RoSPA but, shit happens. My first response was to understand from Simon what happened. Now that's been done.

I've arranged for Simon to meet one of our RoSPA Senior Trainers on a Saturday morning. He can then come out and ride with me again, BUT following a trainer and associate in front of him. He won't be assessed but he'll get to see how it works from an 'outside' perspective. So basically it'll be a rideout with friends following the guys in front.

He'll get the chance to see how the system is explained, how an associate is 'trained', whats involved and expected. If he likes it, he can come again and again under the same rules, until he fancies having a go 'up front' :D ... or not, doesn't matter. We can still give him feedback if he wants it.

So that's the plan, if Simon wants to take it up anytime. I'm pretty much always involved in the training on Saturdays, except when I'm out with the TRF off-roading.

Simon has done some colossal mileage on bikes and he's still here so first point to make is he must be doing SOMETHING right.

That's what I said :D

A stressed mind isn't conducive to learning, so a leaf out of Lord Snooty's book and remove the pressure. We just go for a tour of the area he knows ( and I don't ). So I follow at a comfortable distance which turns out to be about 10 yards.

That's exactly what I did :D

From the off he looks perfectly comfortable and relaxed. The ride is fluid, no jerkiness no rushed changes in direction or speed. Its country lanes, damp road surface, a bit of mud here and there and some dry strips where the car tyres have been.

First and really the only criticism I have is he is 10% too quick around the bends. They are 'closed' and I couldn't stop if there was something just beyond the limit of my vision. On the positive side Simon does not lack confidence on wet roads :thumb2

What was impressive, and I don't use the term lightly was his positioning on twisty roads. Perfect. Exactly where he should be and the transition to line up for the next bend was seamless, smooth and began the moment the bend came into view.

I liked that he sacrificed the crown of the road for oncoming traffic where it was appropriate. No swooping at the kerb, just an early and subtle 12", and back to the crown just as sweetly. Just enough to let me know he knew what he was doing.

Following distances were spot on.
Positioning just about everywhere spot on. ( I mentioned the 'couple' of instances I would change in the 'debrief' ).
Observation - he didn't miss a thing that I didn't.
Smoothness - never once braked other than lightly, never once accelerated harshly.
Never once got his entry speed for a bend then had to re adjust with the brakes or gears ( as far as I saw ).
He showed restraint where it was appropriate and made progress everywhere else.
Stuck to speed limits nicely.

Smooth, Safe ( see below ), relaxed and mature with enough 'spark' to entertain without overstepping the boundary.

Other than too quick around bends initially until I mentioned it it was difficult to find a single fault.

Happy to ride with you anytime.

That's pretty much EXACTLY my assessment as well when I went out with him. So I agree 100% with you.

At the end of our ride, I was starting to think I'd been 'set up' in a joke kind of way, because his IPSGA was spot on, very close to a Gold Rider already :D
 


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