Originally Posted by
ro
I tried the module 1 test recently and failed on the swerve exercise for not reaching the required speed. Should I conclude that I had poor instruction, or that I lack confidence?
I had plenty of practice with Abbey Rider Training (though admittedly they didn't have the kit to check speed accurately) and I'm reasonably confident in most normal situations, but this test is hardly a normal situation. You have to go at least 19mph round a 210-degree bend of radius 19m, then immediately accelerate hard coming out of the bend while straightening up and aiming for a 1.5m gap 20m away. You have to keep accelerating hard for another 10m to be doing at least 32mph through the next 1.5m gap, where the speed detector is located. You then have 10m in which to swerve through a 2.7m gap 3m off to the side and 30m to get back on course and come to a stop with your front wheel inside a 1x1.5m box.
Maybe you can train someone specifically to pass this artificial exercise happily before they have acquired any feel for defensive riding, but even with my limited experience, I would certainly not choose to accelerate hard towards such a narrow gap and then keep going flat out through it towards another one when there was a potential source of hazard ahead. It felt pretty unsafe doing what was required in the dry; I imagine that if my re-test happens on a wet day, I'll will have even less confidence.
I'm all for improving riding (and driving) skills, but there must surely be a better way than this.