First IAM session

[Ade]

ah wabam - could do - will feel under the spotlight though may vol for tec

WaBAM monthly ride is the 3rd Sunday every month.
This Sunday (19th Feb) 9.30am @ Subway, Melksham.
Ride around the Wiltshire / South Glos area ending up for brunch stop at AV8 cafe on Kemble (Cotswold) airfield.
Finish 3pm

[Ducatista]

will feel under the spotlight though Smiley

There is absolutely no need to be concerned.
We all remeber what it was like when we started.
Many of us have our own aims on a rideout.
For example my riding has gone downhill since I started tutoring and focussing too much on the bike infront. So I will be practising looking further ahead and NOT looking at the bike in front, so I will be doing anything but watching you.

There will of course be people generally monitoring things for everyone's enjoyment ad safety, but you won't be being watched beyond making sure you are safe and made to feel welcome etc.

I would encourage you to give it a go.
If you really don't like us you can leave whenever you want, but we make an effort to make everyone feel welcome

[mdukx1t]

i was only kidding - dont mind who i ride with - done a few rides with wabam - but not enough for any one to remember me - think the last one i was following a car that was chuckin out rubbish in front of me - i thought they will run out soon - and then i will overtake - bloke on a silver bm got a right strop on - had a go and 1 thought put his self at risk loosin his rag while on the move - but hey his choice - so the watchin thing is a two way street -
givin people feedback can be a dodgy ol game - so try to keep my thoughts on peoples riding style to myself - and in a group work around them - would add got a mate who has done no further training - but has a lot of experience - and i really rate him as a safe rider - all bein well see you sunday !

[Mark_Able]

Given that this is an IAM thread I think it's quite important that IAM/Rospa policy is not mis-quoted or mis-interpreted so I don't think it's missing the point.

The IAM and Rospa do not condone breaking the law.
It's very simple. If you cannot overtake safely without breaking the speed limit then you should not be overtaking.
You will be expected on an advanced test to be able to judge whether you need to exceed the speed limit or not, so you will be expected to show restraint if necessary.
If speed over the limit is required for safety then you'll be expected to decline the overtake, but you are not expected to just "give up".
You are expected to observe the beahviour of the motorist in front. Do they slow down for bends? or in certain circumstances? Can you take advantage of that?
You will be expected to adopt a "following" or "overtaking" postition (see Roadcraft) in various circumstances e.g. you might adopt an overtaking position before a right hand bend, whereas if there are solid white lines you would adopt a following position. You would be expected to be constantly vigilent and in the right place to take an overtake IF a safe and legal one became available.

Does that make it clear?

There is no contradiction there between being legal and safe, because if it's not both safe AND legal then you don't do it.

I understand what you're saying, but both the IAM and RoSPA's position has changed over the years, and goes against the Police's riding system. They're only doing it in the name of not breaking the law, not in the name of safe riding. When I did my IAM test many years ago, there were no limits laid down for an overtake, as long as it was in the right circumstances. I personally do not like the new stance taken by these groups, however you defend their position. Apologies if I sound argumentative.

[@bj]

[quote author=@bj link=1329061915/28#28 date=1329436649]Trev - I'm interested to know why you have decided to do IAM after (what I assume is) 30 years successful riding..?

Good question, not thought about it too much until you asked but I guess for a number of reasons;
1. I have a very good friend (BMW owner, only uses a bike, 20k miles year commuting and touring) who is an instructor and has been gently nudging me
2. My wife bought me the IAM membership and Ride for Life package for Christmas
3. Although riding for 30 years the first 4 or 5 were bike as main means of transport, few seasons of proddy racing, etc then a 20 year stretch where I've always had at least one bike in the garage but not always done much road riding (some touring, lot of off-road, few old classics, a year here and there with reasonable road mileage). jsut over 5 years ago I got back into more consistent road riding, 5-6000 miles year on a couple of different bikes, mainly weekends and the odd longer trip (Cornwall, wales, France). Figured any help in self preservation would be worthwhile
4. Couple of years ago did a police Bikesafe session, interesting and made me think about further training
5. I'm a bit into self development (partly through my business life) and figure most things are worth trying, you usually get some sort of reward out if you put the effort in (not always, see my golf experience)
6. I bought a bike for 'winter use' (little MT03 as didn't like getting the poor old Gixer K out in the muck & salt) and having got out most weekends, which was the idea, sometimes struggle to find an excuse for a decent ride (I like to have a reason/destination to get me going) and thought IAM training every few weeks would be as good as any
7. I wanted to see if I really could be persuaded to wear dayglo ;D[/quote]
Any chance you can condense it to one sentence..?

[Ducatista]

but both the IAM and RoSPA's position has changed over the years

Yep things have changed and not for the better.
We live in a very litigious society where people that have had a 2mph bump in a car will claim thousands of pounds for whiplash.
The IAM/Rospa observers/tutors are volunteers operating at a loss with a lot less training than the police so of course we have to be careful not just for ourselves but also for our students.

I expect the police are also very careful about what they say during their training, because even on emergency calls they are not exempt from the law.

I actually agree with you but I also don't think that IAM and Rospa could operate with open disregard for the law. They wouldn't get liability insurance and wouldn't get the co-operation of the police (bike safe, GetSmart etc.) etc. and that would be a huge loss. There does have to an acceptable public face in order for the good work to continue.

I personally do not like the new stance taken by these groups, however you defend their position.

I am not defending their position, I am just making sure any new people don't get the wrong impression that they can brazenly speed and justify it with safety.

Apologies if I sound argumentative.

No need to apologise.
I actually agree with you, but I also don't believe these organisations could operate with brazen disregard for the law.

I genuinely believe the work they do saves lives and injuries and so do lots of other people and that's why there are so may people (about 60 tutors in wilts) willing do it for nothing or at a loss.

You may not like their stance and I sympathise with that view, but the good work will continue regardless as it has an impetus and unfortuantely I suspect lots of areas of life will continue to get even more risk averse with respect to litigation.

[Ducatista]

Any chance you can condense it to one sentence..?

Can anyone join in?

You improved observation, planning, positioning and responsiveness may one day save your life or a limb.

[Bonnielass]

Any chance you can condense it to one sentence..?

Can anyone join in?

You improved observation, planning, positioning and responsiveness may one day save your life or a limb.

Exactly!!

[@bj]

Any chance you can condense it to one sentence..?

Can anyone join in?

You improved observation, planning, positioning and responsiveness may one day save your life or a limb.

I've no doubt that's what it says in the book...

I'm more interested in Trevs personal point of view as someone who already has 30+ years of bike riding experience... Thanks

[Trev]

[quote author=Ducatista link=1329061915/36#36 date=1329559080]

Any chance you can condense it to one sentence..?

Can anyone join in?

You improved observation, planning, positioning and responsiveness may one day save your life or a limb.

I've no doubt that's what it says in the book...

I'm more interested in Trevs personal point of view as someone who already has 30+ years of bike riding experience... Thanks
[/quote]

Hi O. apologies for the long winded response, late night reflection at it's worse :-X

If I had to pick one reason then 'cos I like to have a reason/destination to get me out for decent a run and with plenty lined up for the warmer months (track days, touring, ride-outs, etc) then thought IAM training would be as good a reason as any for the cold & wet months - simple as