Advanced Rider Training

[Mom]

We read so much on here about track days and track based training days and how beneficial they are to improve our abilities. But, for many the track is not where we want to go and learn, or to hone our skills. It simply has no relevance to the rider to go as fast as you possibly can in a contained environment. Before I get hammered too badly I am aware that that is not what some track training days are all about, but all the same, the word "track" is enough to turn some off the thought of extra training. So we bumble along, learning lessons, often the hard way.

Then we have the ones that have been riding for many, many years and know all about it, they have not crashed or fallen off in x number of years. How about the now made famous group of BAB's (Born Again Bikers), taking their young person fitness and riding styles on to a modern bike often with fatal consequences? Neither of these groups thinks they need any refresher training so don’t seek it out.

As a group we have an appalling track record of crashes, deaths and serious injury. Our way over inflated ACC levy charges are only a small part of the effects of our complete inability to see that the problem actually lies with us. It is not the other party that is the problem it is only and always down to us. Personally, I take offense being included in that dynamic.

I know that there are times that simply NOTHING could have prevented an incident, and I want us to be able to really get friggen indignant, pissed off, and well compensated when these incidents happen. At the moment, we don’t stand a chance of being taken seriously.

[Mom]

I got my license in 1976. It was piece of wees really, 5 oral questions and a trip around the block, oh, a couple of figure 8’s in the car park and some slalom manoeuvres to make sure I did not fall off, and I was away. My only mode of transport was a bike, and I commuted from (Places in Auckland to other places in Auckland) Bucklands Beach/Howick to Greenlane Hospital, or rode like a mad thing around the city on my days off. I was taught to ride off road, and used to do a bit of off road stuff on the weekends.

Over the years I rode many bikes, I was in the business of selling them you see. Riding took a bit of a back seat for me with the arrival of babies etc, but I still rode from time to time, and spent many an uncomfortable hour on the back of my then hubbies Harley. Fast forward a few years and I am riding once again, and enjoying it very much indeed. A bit rusty at some things but it soon comes back. I was happy and confident, and never pushed my luck on the old girl I was riding, she had issues that sometimes caught me out, but my skill level/riding experience prevented us from coming to harm. I never for one moment thought about getting some training, I had been riding for years after all.

[Mom]

I had a tiny, slow speed off at the end of last year, the very first time I have “binned” a bike in over 35 years. I don’t count the odd drop due to lack of leg length/unkind camber/surface issues, or any time I fell off on the dirt, or that one time I ended bars down, tyres up in a drain in a driveway avoiding a dog, while going 1 kph, that was a lack of momentum, and totally the dogs fault.

This “bin” was completely my fault. If it was possible to kick my own arse I would have. Everyone knows you NEVER use your front brake, by its self, on an off camber slope, in a field of pea metal fines. The front wheel washes so fast you don’t even realise you have fallen, until you are lying on the road wondering how the hell you got there, with a campervan driver standing over you asking if you are ok! Unhurt but embarrassed, broken r/h mirror stem, a rear brake pedal that needs to be levered off the cases, and totally pissed off, you keep going. Mind you, if I had not been able to ride the bike after, I am fairly certain she would be lying in the drink, at the end of the Rawene Wharf, for I would have wheeled her off there myself, I was that pissed off.

Then I discovered my confidence is shot. Slow speed is now an issue. Never has been before. Thankfully I am a country gal and open roads are my riding environment, no slow speed skills required.

Still no thought of getting some tuition, I have been riding forever after all. I will cope, I never crash, I made one mistake and I doubt I will ever repeat it.

[Mom]

In Albany, a little less than 100km commute a day. Common sense dictates a bike is the only answer, but I don’t trust my old BB to be reliable, so I buy a new bike. Then I discover that slow speed riding is actually a real problem for me. No fear of falling off, totally happy to ride, but tense as hell, in slow speed situations, I am talking 5 to 10 kph slow, though 8 kph in my carpark at work is a breeze. Happy to lane split, no worries cruising up the side of cars stopped at lights, but absolutely rigid if I have to pull in to the queue due to a traffic island, and then have to do the half car length creep. The last thing I need is to be wound like a spring getting through the traffic at the end of the day. My morning commute is a breeze.

So who can help me? I don’t want to do a track day, as I already ride as fast as I want to with no problems, and tracks are not slow speed environments. I need to learn, or re-learn the skills I need. I am not invincible. I should have these skills, but apparently, I don’t. I love every part of riding my Millie, the commute and the fun.
I contacted Tricia O’Connor from Roadcraft School of Motorcycling.

www.rcsom.co.nz

I used to mind her shop for her, she will be kind to me

A 15 minute observation ride, where we never got above 70 k/ph. saw her writing what looked like a novel when we stopped, she assured me it was just “notes”.

[Mom]

How the hell I have survived so long on 2 wheels astounds me. Why have I not sought out professional, advanced training, until I realised I had a problem? Then I realise it is about ego, I should have embraced the concept of training long ago.

This is not about me, though I have used my story to illustrate what I think is a real issue for us (bikers/motorcyclists). How can we encourage riders to accept we are not invincible, and we don’t know it all? The complete revelation a 15 minute observation ride gave me in relation to my riding cannot be measured in dollar value.
How to convince others is the purpose of this thread.

[Latte]

Not that I've been but sounds like NASS is for you. Slow speed maneuvering is what they do.

[Mom]

Not that I've been but sounds like NASS is for you. Slow speed maneuvering is what they do.

NASS is in Auckland, at night when I want to be home and relaxing.

I am not looking for optons for my training, I want to explore why we as a group dont seek out training and how we can encourage people to take up further training.

[Hawkeye]

I was lucky enough to get on an Advanced Rider Training course last weekend with Andrew Templeton www.roadsafe.co.nz (Thank you Upper Hutt Council for sponsoring it). Slow speed manouvering, emergency stopping, ride awareness.... the list goes on. Learnt so much and realised that I have so much more to learn.
Looking to do the next stage ASAP.

[quickbuck]

I am not looking for optons for my training, I want to explore why we as a group dont seek out training and how we can encourage people to take up further training.

Beats me why people don't either......

I do think it is the ol' "I learnt how to ride when I was 15, and have heaps of experience on the road. What more do I need to know?" attitude.
Along with, you can't teach anybody anything they think they already know. Nobody wants to do a course on how to suck eggs.

OR, it may well be that people are afraid that they won't look as good as they think they are in front of a group of others.

[Mom]

I was lucky enough to get on an Advanced Rider Training course last weekend with Andrew Templeton www.roadsafe.co.nz (Thank you Upper Hutt Council for sponsoring it). Learnt so much and realised that I have so much more to learn.
Looking to do the next stage ASAP.

So you got one sponsored, what tempted you? How can you empart how important it is to invest in further training? This is a bit of think tank. You learned heaps and want more, I learned heaps and want more. How to encourage others to do the same?

[Mom]

OR, it may well be that people are afraid that they won't look as good as they think they are in front of a group of others.

How do we change that attitude?

[quickbuck]

How do we change that attitude?

Million dollar question there Mom.

I think over time, as more go to advanced courses, they will tell their mates it is actually fun. Nobody is judged on their riding ability on a course.......

I do judge people on their riding ability on the road though. Call it a survival skill. I don't really want to be near a bike that the rider doesn't know how to ride.

[BMWST?]

its funny isnt it...i attanded an advanced rdng course many many many years ago.From there was asked if i wanted to become involved n taking beginner motorbike schools which i did.I then became nvolved in the advanced courses so over time attended many many days of training.But when i got my new to me bike after many yrears off the first thng i did was go an an "advanced refresher" course,I guess i am a bab.

[MadDuck]

I think over time, as more go to advanced courses, they will tell their mates it is actually fun. Nobody is judged on their riding ability on a course.......

I totally agree with this. Is it that people want to learn but are not sure what courses are on offer? For example I would not want to be on a course with totally new riders...went on one once and didnt enjoy it one little bit.

I recently completed a Karel Pavich training day for "crusier" riders. I will do it again without heistation. Then will do the second course as well. The day was geared specifically for our types of bikes and was only a small group with plenty of instructors to assist on the day.

[Katman]

As one step toward improving bike handling skills I'd like to see a lot more motorcyclists getting involved in the gymkhana type events - the sort that only the Japanese (and American police riders) seem to excel at.