Some thoughts on advanced riding skills

[Blackbird]

I've just passed my Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) full membership test. It took 4 hours and covered over 220km of city, urban and country riding with a serving motorcycle police officer checking my riding - talk about stress:shit::shit:. The account of that ride is here:http://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2011/11/pain-and-extreme-pride.html. However, more importantly, I sat down to think about the whole process of upskilling as I'm pretty sure that up to now, my 40+ plus riding years have been the first 5 years repeated again and again as opposed to continuous progress.:laugh: I reckon the first hurdle is actually getting riders to do some training under 3rd party supervision. Plenty of riders whinge about car drivers but boy, there's plenty of motorcyclists who's standards aren't too flash.

Anyway, I've posted my experiences of advanced roadcraft training here:http://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2011/11/raising-my-riding-skills-some.html if it's of any interest to anyone who has been thinking about raising their road skills to reduce the risk of coming to harm.

Cheers,

Geoff

[Gremlin]

Congrats Geoff! :niceone:

I bought a couple of recommended books a short while ago, started reading them, but the bike returned, Grand Challenge, Capital Cruise etc... I guess it's procrastination, but I'll definitely be following your footsteps towards IAM in the next couple of years...

[Blackbird]

Congrats Geoff! :niceone:

I bought a couple of recommended books a short while ago, started reading them, but the bike returned, Grand Challenge, Capital Cruise etc... I guess it's procrastination, but I'll definitely be following your footsteps towards IAM in the next couple of years...

Cheers Gremlin,
Unlike you (I'm assuming :laugh:), I'm retired and can do what I please to fill the day up so motorcycling and fishing figure large. Time to put something back into a pastime which has given me so much pleasure. Don't procrastinate for as long as me though - they're all out to get you!

[Gremlin]

Certainly not retired, especially at the tender age of 28 (barely out of nappies :lol:). Of course, I wouldn't mind it, as it would mean I'm rich as, which would mean lots of bikes!!

I already feel the giving back element, and figure that if I'm handing out advice to newbies (like the L ride on the weekend to Cape Reinga), I should probably formalise some additional training, as I'm mostly self taught/learnt, and hand out (known) good advice.

[paturoa]

Plenty of riders whinge about car drivers but boy, there's plenty of motorcyclists who's standards aren't too flash.

What I complain about isn't theirs and our lack of standards, it is the decision to not use them. Tail gating (motorcyclists are the worst offenders), failure to indicate, lazy looking et al.

Shit driving is a choice for most, for the rest there is no hope.

[Blackbird]

What I complain about isn't theirs and our lack of standards, it is the decision to not use them. Tail gating (motorcyclists are the worst offenders), failure to indicate, lazy looking et al.

Shit driving is a choice for most, for the rest there is no hope.

Yep, and that probably starts at civil service bureaucrat and government level where expectations for driving are correspondingly low. Got to be, looking at the piss-easy testing compared with some countries in Europe. The Americans, with the exception of 3 states are worse than us.

[bluninja]

Congrats on your achievment.

[Blackbird]

Congrats on your achievment.

Cheers bluninja. Like anything worthwhile, it was bloody hard work!

[willytheekid]

Congrats Geoff :clap::niceone:

Love reading your Blogs about your adventures and views on motorcycling, keep up the great work :cool:

[Blackbird]

Congrats Geoff :clap::niceone:

Love reading your Blogs about your adventures and views on motorcycling, keep up the great work :cool:

Cheers Willy, that's very kind of you! Incidentally, for anyone interested in IAM training, the first assessment against police riding criteria is absolutely free and you get a written report. All you do is register your interest on their website (http://www.nz-iam.org.nz/iammotorcycle.asp) by using the Contact button. If you decide that you want to continue after that, it costs just $90 from memory which includes the cost of your full membership test. Good value for a life-saver eh? The check rides leading up to the full test are free as the Observers (Instructor/Examiners) donate their time. I know the Observer based in Rangiora and he's a top guy. There are Observer/Examiners in most of the main NZ centres.

As far as I know, NZ is the only country outside the UK where IAM is fully active.

[willytheekid]

Cheers Willy, that's very kind of you! Incidentally, for anyone interested in IAM training, the first assessment against police riding criteria is absolutely free and you get a written report. All you do is register your interest on their website (http://www.nz-iam.org.nz/iammotorcycle.asp) by using the Contact button. If you decide that you want to continue after that, it costs just $90 from memory which includes the cost of your full membership test. Good value for a life-saver eh? The check rides leading up to the full test are free as the Observers (Instructor/Examiners) donate their time. I know the Observer based in Rangiora and he's a top guy. There are Observer/Examiners in most of the main NZ centres.

As far as I know, NZ is the only country outside the UK where IAM is fully active.

:eek:...Soooo tempting!, I might just do that next year, I have actually been looking for a refresher course to do so I can ensure my previous training is still relevant and still being used correctly in my daily riding, thank you so much for the links :niceone: (already favorited them for further investigation)
$90 to invest in another 30yrs safe riding...priceless!!

[Tricia1000]

I believe IAM is stull running in Ireland, and Hong Kong.

Cheers Willy, that's very kind of you! Incidentally, for anyone interested in IAM training, the first assessment against police riding criteria is absolutely free and you get a written report. All you do is register your interest on their website (http://www.nz-iam.org.nz/iammotorcycle.asp) by using the Contact button. If you decide that you want to continue after that, it costs just $90 from memory which includes the cost of your full membership test. Good value for a life-saver eh? The check rides leading up to the full test are free as the Observers (Instructor/Examiners) donate their time. I know the Observer based in Rangiora and he's a top guy. There are Observer/Examiners in most of the main NZ centres.

As far as I know, NZ is the only country outside the UK where IAM is fully active.

[Blackbird]

I believe IAM is stull running in Ireland, and Hong Kong.

Thanks for that Tricia, wasn't aware of Ireland. I'm given to believe that there are some probs with the HK operation through the friend of a friend. There's also an organisation of the same name in Tasmania but I don't think it has official links.

[Tricia1000]

I believe IAM is stull running in Ireland, and Hong Kong.

As Geoff probably mentions in his blog (haven't had a chance to read it), getting to IAM level will take some dedication, and work. It doesn't just fall into your lap.
I used to be the Chief Examiner for IAM (Motorcycle NZ), But am now just an ordinary examiner. Philip McDaid is the Chief examiner now.
We are always available to answer questions, or if you would like to do some training, I am currently negotiating subsidised training for those on restricted or full licence, which I hope to have in place soon. Just in time for the nice weather :sunny:

As well as Geoff's blog,(will get a chance to read it soon) one of my students Roger Fleming did an excellent write up, post advanced lessons, which raised some excellent points for debate.
Advanced training, not only makes you a safer rider, but you will find, that once perfected, you make better progress than others, and you spend less on fuel and maintenance, and the other big factor is the SMILE factor.
If you are not doing anything on this Saturday 26th, come up to Orewa, bring your bike. My shop is celebrating being open a year (business going 5 years in NZ), and enjoy a sausage sizzle, until 2 pm, and then a short ride to finish off the day, with a stop off for afternoon tea. Destination will depend on the ability of those who arrive on the day.
Any questions: 021 269 3246 or check out http://www.facebook.com/events/215389675200245/

[Tricia1000]

I have just found a heap of private messages in my KB inbox. for some reason, I wasn't getting email noitifications that they were there.
If anyone has been waiting for a reply for me, please accept my apologies.
If you wish to resend your message, please do so.

[SPman]

Well, I've got the books, and they make for interesting reading. Well done Geoff - espec. for bringing it to our attention.
Now, if I could just track down something similar here in Perth...........

[Blackbird]

Well, I've got the books, and they make for interesting reading. Well done Geoff - espec. for bringing it to our attention.
Now, if I could just track down something similar here in Perth...........

Thanks SPMan!

There's an ex-UK instructor who lives in WA called Bob Pinder. Haven't corresponded with him since he emigrated but he might well have been IAM-qualified. May be able to find out if you're interested as I think he still occasionally posts on the UK Blackbird forum.

[raftn]

Well you know what i think Geoff. What you have done is amazing and inspirational. It is a shame though that the very people who should be reading these kind of threads, never venture into this forumn.

Keep it up, youohave a lot more to accomplish yet.


Roger

[Blackbird]

Well you know what i think Geoff. What you have done is amazing and inspirational. It is a shame though that the very people who should be reading these kind of threads, never venture into this forumn.

Keep it up, youohave a lot more to accomplish yet.


Roger

Thanks Rog! However, if it wasn't for our early discussions and a tweak from David Hough; I probably wouldn't have gone down this path either.

[caspernz]

Congratulations Geoff, awesome effort!

I read your summation and you've made some valid points. Why don't more riders upskill themselves? I asked myself that question earlier this year and done a couple of Prorider courses. In the end, the nature of the training, road or track based, is all valid but I'd agree that the IAM approach is a gold standard.

As a professional truck driver, and a trainer as well, the major hurdle with training is firstly to get folks to partake and secondly to implement....you don't seem to have that problem though huh?

[Blackbird]

Congratulations Geoff, awesome effort!

I read your summation and you've made some valid points. Why don't more riders upskill themselves? I asked myself that question earlier this year and done a couple of Prorider courses. In the end, the nature of the training, road or track based, is all valid but I'd agree that the IAM approach is a gold standard.

As a professional truck driver, and a trainer as well, the major hurdle with training is firstly to get folks to partake and secondly to implement....you don't seem to have that problem though huh?

Thanks Casper and good for you doing something about it. You've got it in one :Punk:. Guess most people have a touch of arrogange in thinking that training is something which applies to other road users, not them. Guess it applied to me too, but I'm an old fart and want to continue riding safely for a long time yet, so something had to happen - simple as that. Perhaps the old notion of personal responsibility is dead and buried too - far easier to blame someone else for anything when it goes pear-shaped.

Guess Darwinism helps to sort out some of the more idiotic riders, but at huge cost to themselves, their family and friends. Oh, and it hits me as a road user, paying higher ACC levies because of someone else's poor standards.

[caspernz]

Well it harks back to a simple concept, circle of concern and circle of influence. I heard about this thru a motivational speaker whose name I don't recall. While I can comment on stuff in my circle of concern, the only stuff I can do something about is what's inside my circle of influence. Now that I've lost the majority of folks on here...personal responsibility and my aim to do exactly as you've done Geoff, to ride for a long time yet, is what motivated me to do something about my own skills.

[Tricia1000]

I now have the go ahead for the subsidised training.
Anyone wishing to take avail of this, please contact me ASAP.
My email is triciaoconnor@xtra.co.nz

or phone 021 269 3246

Tricia


As Geoff probably mentions in his blog (haven't had a chance to read it), getting to IAM level will take some dedication, and work. It doesn't just fall into your lap.
I used to be the Chief Examiner for IAM (Motorcycle NZ), But am now just an ordinary examiner. Philip McDaid is the Chief examiner now.
We are always available to answer questions, or if you would like to do some training, I am currently negotiating subsidised training for those on restricted or full licence, which I hope to have in place soon. Just in time for the nice weather :sunny:

As well as Geoff's blog,(will get a chance to read it soon) one of my students Roger Fleming did an excellent write up, post advanced lessons, which raised some excellent points for debate.
Advanced training, not only makes you a safer rider, but you will find, that once perfected, you make better progress than others, and you spend less on fuel and maintenance, and the other big factor is the SMILE factor.
If you are not doing anything on this Saturday 26th, come up to Orewa, bring your bike. My shop is celebrating being open a year (business going 5 years in NZ), and enjoy a sausage sizzle, until 2 pm, and then a short ride to finish off the day, with a stop off for afternoon tea. Destination will depend on the ability of those who arrive on the day.
Any questions: 021 269 3246 or check out http://www.facebook.com/events/215389675200245/