Triple Header.
It appears the word is spreading….the word that there is a small group of people who will show you how the impossible can be possible. Popularity and demand have meant we had to try a triple header, we had to see if it was possible to run three students at The Bike Experience.
The students this week were Chris, Dave and Elfed. Chris’s wife had booked him into TBE as a birthday surprise, although he was told a few weeks in advance so that leathers could be sorted out. Dave had heard from a mate and was keen to get involved as soon as possible. Elfed, after 30 years of dreaming about riding a bike again, had come across us from the internet.
The morning sessions were without hiccup. All three students launched, rode and were caught on their first times without any problems. So within a few minutes, there were three bikes lapping the cordoned off area with whoops, laughter and smiles under helmets.
We then moved to the pit lane for the track session, but during the briefing there was an isolated storm cloud that deposited all its rain onto the track. Coming back out of the briefing we pushed and trudged through puddles on the way to the bikes. The two SV’s had the Metzeler Sportec M5 tires, which are great in the dry and great in the wet. Everyone else was one Interacts, which are not known for their superior handling on standing water! Slowly slowly was the order of the first session out. By the time we crept around the first lap, the sun was out, the track was steaming and there was the hope that the track would at least give us a few laps at the end of lunch with dry surface.
After we had done our two ‘three lap’ sessions we split into three pairs, each student getting ‘one to one’ tuition from a TBE instructor. This means that everyone can go at their own pace and not feel pressured from any other rider. Some get going quicker than others, as with all things in life, so this allows a growth in confidence and encourages a relaxed riding style.
All students progressed as the track dried out, with everyone hitting 90mph plus down the main straight. Not bad seeing as one of the students hadn’t been riding for 30 years. After the track session we had a short award ceremony, with each instructor presenting their student with the Level 1 award.
The day is incredibly emotional for everyone present, the students, their friends/family, the instructors and Launch Crew. At one point Dave said he was never getting back off the bike, and he had fallen in love again. TBE knows it can run three students at a time, so that has allowed a few more to book in. Both Dave and Elfed have already booked for Level 2. Once again we extend our thanks to all who volunteered for Launch Crew, you are the reason we can offer this life changing experience to everyone that wants it.
POSTSCRIPT - TBE went to RAF Odiham over the weekend, which was a great success, and we are now invited to use the airfield during the ARD’s for TBE Level 1 students. That means on 4th September we have three (possibly six) new places for Level 1.
