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IMPROVE YOUR RIDING SKILLS
Are you as capable as your bike?
Ever get that disconcerting feeling when rolling into a turn, that you might not roll out of it shiny side up? Ever made a risky overtaking manoeuvre, but burn off knowing things could have been very different?
Riding on a wing and a prayer means you’re just bonnet dodging and sooner or later you’ll get caught out. The Truth is, there aren’t many riders who can say, hand on heart, that they’ve never misjudged a manoeuvre.
The Nature of The Beast
It’s easy to state that most accidents happen to riders of a particular age, particular machines, in particular locations but if we don’t fit the stereotype it makes us complacent, when really, we could all do with brushing up on our skills from time to time.
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The most important areas for improvement are usually :~
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Hazard perception. |
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Overtaking. |
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Cornering. Approximately 80% of accidents occur. |
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Good road positioning will help increase your field of vision so you can more easily spot the mud on the road ahead or the car thinking of pulling into your path, giving you the chance to take action when it still has time to work.
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Inappropriate speed plays a part too, mainly because you then don’t have time to react. Piling into a bend at 50mph when the road conditions, your skill level and limited field of vision suggest that 40mph is more appropriate could get you into trouble.
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It’s all too easy to fall into bad habits and forget your lifesavers or over cook it into a bend.
Don’t sell yourself short, refresh your skills and get back to having fun.
Treat Yourself To Training
Top choice, no question about it. The secret to a rewarding and enjoyable experience is to be aware of what you want before you commit. So, if you’re really wanting to take the racing line, then check the
Want to go Racing section of the MCI website. Road riders read on …
There will be lots of local training companies or a branch of RoSPA / IAM in your area who will be able to assess your skills and tailor a training package specifically to your needs.
BikeSafe
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Most police forces run a BikeSafe Scheme which will assess your riding skills, highlighting areas that may need improvement and encourage you to seek further training through advanced training bodies, where appropriate. You can visit the
BikeSafewebsite for more detailed information on the nature of the assessments available in your area.
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Post-test Trainers Register
MCI have been working closely with the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) to develop a voluntary Register. At present there are no regulations governing post-test training and in theory anyone with a motorcycle licence could charge riders for post-test tuition. The voluntary register will hold details of post-test training providers who have qualifications that prove that not only are they skilled riders but that they are also skilled trainers (not every expert rider makes a good teacher). This means that any rider wanting post-test tuition will have some way of identifying quality training providers.
The register was launched at the Ace Café on 7th February 2007 and initial interest from trainers wanting to register has been good, so look out for an ‘approved’ instructor in your area
Top Tips for Choosing a Trainer
Things to Decide Before You Speak to a Trainer
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What do you actually want to achieve, better cornering, more
confident overtaking, safer braking? |
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Have you already had an assessment from BikeSafe etc. to find out your
strengths and weaknesses or do you want the Instructor to assess you? |
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If you are looking for Post Test Training, make sure the trainer you choose is on the register! |
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Questions for the Trainer
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Will the trainer conduct an assessment before determining your training package?
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Do they specialise in advanced training, or do they do mostly CBT and Direct Access training?
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What is the student to Instructor ratio?
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Do they use training logbooks to monitor your progress?
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How many actual road based training miles are you likely to cover vs how many classroom hours?
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Do they have access to an area to practice maneuvers such as braking/u-turns, if that’s what you want to improve?
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Do they use Intercoms?
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What qualifications do the instructors hold? Although there is currently no requirement for advanced training providers to hold any qualifications, you may want to consider choosing someone with both instructing and riding qualifications.
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Do they have structured lesson plans, or is it less formal?
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How much will it cost and how much time do you get for your money?
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Do you feel comfortable that the person you’re speaking to understands what you need and how you want to ride?
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Do you feel comfortable speaking to that person? If not you are unlikely to feel comfortable when taking instruction from them?
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On the Day
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Remind the trainer what you want from the experience. |
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ENJOY THE BUZZ OF GETTING MORE OUT OF YOURSELF AND YOUR MACHINE!
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Other Methods
There’s no real substitute for practical training but written material can be a useful back up to this, in introducing new concepts prior to training or refreshing your memory afterwards.
Written Material
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Many people consider ‘Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Rider's Handbook’ to be the best riding reference material. You can pick it up from most high street and online bookshops for about £12. It contains input from police riders, trainees and civilian experts, and is designed for riders concerned with getting the best from their machines. It gives information on correct positioning and hazard awareness, motorway riding, and reviews and questions for each chapter to reinforce the learning.
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The ‘Take Control’
produced by the Think Campaign
from the Department of Transport is a more pocket sized reference. These links give more concise advice and tips to get the best out of your machine rather than the hedge.
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Visual Material
Seeing is believing, concepts are always easier to remember when you can see what they’re talking about.A Street, A Track, An Open Road is an innovative, DfT approved DVD, produced in response to concern over rider casualty numbers. The MCI have created an entertaining and educational approach to rider development, designed to get riders thinking about their own skills and experiences without lecturing!
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The result is a dynamic and inspiring product in a documentary format that features World Super Bike riders Chris Walker and James Toseland, Bob McMillan former Head of Honda UK and Suzi Perry who also narrates the film. Action takes place on rural roads, in the heart of the city and on the smooth lines of a race track.
The point of the DVD is not to make riders question their confidence or dull their enjoyment, but to encourage them, whoever they are and whatever they ride, to try something new, or improve already established riding skills. The MCI wants them to enjoy their bikes more each time they learn something new. The message is to ‘Get out there, try something different, contact your local motorcycle trainer or motorcycle group and get more out of your passion for motorcycling!’
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Over 200,000 copies have been distributed. Press and public have been surprised and entertained by the novel approach.
Suzi Perry commented: ‘I never thought I’d say that a safety DVD was funny and entertaining’.
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