Riderskills - Advanced Roadcraft

**Thani-B** · 14th January 2010, 08:58

Has anyone on here done this?
What did you think of it?
And would you recommend it?

http://www.riderskills.co.nz/default...ghtbar=ADVNews

**Bass** · 14th January 2010, 10:45

Originally Posted by Thani-B

Has anyone on here done this?
What did you think of it?
And would you recommend it?

http://www.riderskills.co.nz/default...ghtbar=ADVNews

I have.
Worthwhile and value for money.
Yes.
Their ad is a bit misleading however. It implies that much of the course is about riding skills and it's not. It's more about road craft and maximising your chances when shit happens. However, late in the day, I was taken out to a little used twisty stretch of road and told to ride it as fast as I could but not to use the brakes. This was a hugely valuable exercise in smooth riding and corner preparation.
So, it might keep you alive on the road but it won't help your lap time around Hampton Downs.

**The Stranger:Me** · 14th January 2010, 13:01

RRRS is on this Sunday (17th of Jan)

**igor** · 14th January 2010, 13:07

Originally Posted by Thani-B

Has anyone on here done this?
What did you think of it?
And would you recommend it?

http://www.riderskills.co.nz/default...ghtbar=ADVNews

of course no one here has done it. Have u seen how many of these bunnies crash and die, its like reading an obituary page every time I come here thats why I don't very often.

**Thani-B** · 14th January 2010, 14:52

Originally Posted by Bass

So, it might keep you alive on the road but it won't help your lap time around Hampton Downs.

Thanks for your help, and that is exactly what I'm more concerned about. I'd rather do this over a track day.

Originally Posted by The Stranger

RRRS is on this Sunday (17th of Jan)

I would, but it's my 21st party Sat night, and I wont be anywhere near sober enough to ride on Sunday.

**The Stranger:Me** · 14th January 2010, 15:07

Originally Posted by Thani-B

I would, but it's my 21st party Sat night, and I wont be anywhere near sober enough to ride on Sunday.

That's what I like to see. Someone with a plan.

**Qkchk:Me** · 14th January 2010, 15:08

Originally Posted by The Stranger

RRRS is on this Sunday (17th of Jan)

Highly recommended, nice balance of theory and pratical work. One becomes a better rider when they understand the actual physics behind the maneuvours.

**R6_kid:Me** · 14th January 2010, 15:19

Originally Posted by Bass

However, late in the day, I was taken out to a little used twisty stretch of road and told to ride it as fast as I could but not to use the brakes.

Wow, that sounds like a really responsible way to teach people to survive.

**p.dath** · 14th January 2010, 16:56

Originally Posted by Bass

However, late in the day, I was taken out to a little used twisty stretch of road and told to ride it as fast as I could but not to use the brakes. This was a hugely valuable exercise in smooth riding and corner preparation.

Now that really is scary. This is an example of something I think would be much better practised on a track first.

**p.dath** · 14th January 2010, 16:57

Originally Posted by The Stranger

RRRS is on this Sunday (17th of Jan)

I'm hoping to do the March course. Are you involved with it?

**R6_kid:Me** · 14th January 2010, 18:22

Originally Posted by p.dath

I'm hoping to do the March course. Are you involved with it?

He's one of the main instructors on the RRRS course.

**p.dath** · 14th January 2010, 18:42

Originally Posted by R6_kid

He's one of the main instructors on the RRRS course.

I'll be very keen to meet the man in person! I'm sure he has a wealth of experience.

**The Stranger:Me** · 14th January 2010, 22:42

Originally Posted by p.dath

I'll be very keen to meet the man in person! I'm sure he has a wealth of experience.

And an agressive, alarming, alarmist attitude too, apparently.

**Bass** · 15th January 2010, 07:38

Originally Posted by R6_kid

Wow, that sounds like a really responsible way to teach people to survive.

Originally Posted by p.dath

Now that really is scary. This is an example of something I think would be much better practised on a track first.

Gentlemen, you are both wrong, although it's not difficult to see where you are coming from and I was a little concerned myself initially, at the time.
Firstly, it's a very sobering experience, trying to ride any piece of road quickly while imagining that your brakes don't work. It drops your average speed dramatically and really sharpens your speed /distance calculating processes. Try it sometime (serious suggestion) - you will immediately realise what I am talking about.
Secondly, doing it on a track would be pointless because once you had done a lap, you would know what was coming, which exactly negates the skills that the exercise was designed to develop.
Thirdly, at the point that this exercise was undertaken, the instructor had spent 6 hours assessing my skills and attitudes, one on one.
Lastly, the instructor had started the day by asking what it was that I expected and wanted to learn. I told him that I wanted to improve my corner assessment skills because I usually found myself at the apex of a corner thinking that I could comfortably (and safely) been travelling as much as 20 to 30 kph faster. Note that I didn't necessarily want to GO any faster but I did want a better feel for where I was in relation to my own skill level. Bear in mind that the guy concerned is a longstanding professional instructor and I have never heard anything other than complimentary remarks about the results he achieves. Killing clients would definitely not be good for business.

Incidentally, the RRRS and Advanced Riderskills courses are aimed at opposite ends of the experience spectrum. They are complimentary to one another, not substitutes. I have done both and the RRRS course was done fully loaded with luggage and a pillion, which increased its value to me, since that was the type of riding I was doing at the time.