R1200RS + R1250RS Forum
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The morning was going so well. I had an advanced test to conduct at 1100. It turns out that it was a chap I'd worked with 16 years ago. Ex police class 1 rider. The weather was poor, wet and windy but the riding was excellent. First Class pass! |
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All textbook apart from the choice of new tyre !!
Double Lupin owner PCP free
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. I've got my IAM test coming up . It's taken me years of saying 'I really must do that" to get round to joining and have so far really enjoyed the process.
Zitat von andygriff im Beitrag #4 All the best with it Andy. Relaxed, well informed and in control  I'm glad that you are enjoying the process. The IAM can get bad press and sometimes for good reason but it has changed and evolved over recent years and presents a much more professional service methinks.I passed my original IAM test 40 years ago (am I really THAT old?) and I spent many years following just hooning around like most of us do. I got re-involved about 10 years ago when an ex was doing the course. I was asked to become an Observer and I fairly quickly found myself as a National Observer with a Masters Distinction. Becoming an examiner seemed a logical step and I've tested about 60 candidates in the past couple of years as well as being a Masters Mentor. But, I'm not perfect, I don't know it all and I get it wrong sometimes. People tell me I'm good at it but the day I start believing I'm perfect is the day to stop riding. I now ride totally focussed to the 'system' and all that underpins it, just about all the time. It's very rewarding, and a little knackering. There's always something new to learn and consider and by no means all of it is covered by the IAM. My lovely wife has her first Observed session on Monday and no, I'm not allowed to examiner her, at least not in the Advanced test sense The only thing I'd change is to get more younger riders involved. It's the old buggers who've already survived through thick and thin and those returning to biking that I mainly see. Women make good candidates too as they usually have smaller egos. |
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Hope you spotted the current £40 cashback offer on the Roadtec 01-SE’s? |
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Zitat von Sanemancured im Beitrag #6Zitat von andygriff im Beitrag #4 Cheers ! have to admit it was the old, male and stale stereotype that kept me away for so long. The pics on the various publications do little to address that image unfortunately. But, more importantly, my observer has been great and we've had some really good rides My wife is also doing the test process and also enjoying it. I'm still working out how 'stiff' the system is in application. Its also evident that litigation fear or political correctness is influencing the written material ( off-siding for example).
Double Lupin owner PCP free
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Zitat von Bunter im Beitrag #11 IAM Dogma? You'll find no dogma here. Historically some individuals have used the IAM to further their own agendas but the IAM contains no official dogma. |
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The sort of things I mean are holding extreme left/right lane road positions when unnecessary and when in fact those positions are detrimental because of road cambers, road furniture, openings onto the road and potential for punctures. Of course context is everything as your experience with the hump back bridge illustrates but a lot of the time taking those road positions has no benefit. |
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Fri Sep 04, 2020 2:00 pm (Last edited: Fri Sep 04, 2020 2:31 pm)
Zitat von andygriff im Beitrag #8 There's another way to look at the 'System'. We all use the system all the time, even if not very effectively. The 'IPSGA system' allows us to examine what we do already and how it might be improved. It's not just the system but the links into its stages that can help us polish our skills. I never ride using I, P, S, G, A consciously as I go (I did try in the early days and that really did cause stiffness  ) but I use it to analyse what I do before and afterwards and look at ways of improving aspects of it. I mean, as an example if you aren't fully relaxed on the bike you can't effectively move your head to scan your environment well ahead, to the sides, behind and along approach roads etc. If I for information is less that optimal then the whole thing will be compromised. I could go on.....I do sometimes think that I'd like to write a book on it all but as an examiner I'm probably not allowed  Off-siding is an interesting topic. Your definition of what is off-siding probably doesn't match the IAMs. Years ago the IAM promoted using the other carriageway completely to the point that many riders 'showboated' it. Sometimes to a dangerous extreme. I use the other carriageway quite a lot but only when there's a real benefit and it's safe. Nowadays off-siding as defined by the IAM is verboten full stop. Riding in the other carriageway is discouraged at Advanced level. This standard isn't rocket science and in my opinion it's the level we should all be capable of riding at. We get a broad range of riders successfully completing their advanced training. Promoting using at the other carriageway at Advanced level is going to put some of our customers into danger because they don't have the ability to conduct it safely. That impacts on the IAM so at Advanced level the IAM choose not to go there. Using the other carriageway is fine at Master's level. I seldom overtake without doing it. Off-siding as defined by the IAM is not allowed. For good reason. The definition of off-siding by the IAM is: "It is the practice of moving to the offside of the road across either centre line markings or hazard line markings on the approach to a left hand bend where you do not have a view around the bend." Here's a link that some might find interesting: https://www.iamroadsmart.com/media-and-p...he-offside-rule Peter |
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Fri Sep 04, 2020 6:12 pm (Last edited: Sat Sep 05, 2020 9:02 am)
Zitat von Bunter im Beitrag #13 Absolutely and welcome to the 21st century. Extreme positions are the IAM from 15 or 20 years ago. Extreme positions to the left as you say can cause punctures, instability and a loss of control. Positioning to the left where safe and stable will move the limit point away increasing the distance we can see to be clear and as we need to be able to stop in that distance it allows as to travel faster or gives us more time to react to the unexpected. But if we need to sacrifice view for stability or safety we may need to slow down. Sacrificing position and speed for junctions and other hazards is also essential and is taught as maintaining a flexible safety bubble using position and speed. It's even more vital on left hand bends not to compromise our safety in relation to oncoming traffic by extreme positioning. Sacrifice position for safety and go in slower (if safe come out faster). One of the major hazards around here is oncoming bikers going into right hand bends fast, on the racing line and with the top half of them in the offside lane. On the roads I ride at a reasonably progressive pace positioning for view and sacrificing where necessary is of huge benefit. It helps us see and be seen. Good observation informs us and with good anticipation and planning we are better prepared to deal with hazards by adjusting position, speed and gear etc... A safety margin of course needs to be built in too. If someone presented for test riding in extreme positions and not maintaining their flexible safety bubble, stability and safety (safety being number 1) they would fail. |
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