Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomkat
I did IAM Roadsmart a few years ago, having been riding for 45 years, more out of curiosity than anything else. I wanted to see if there was indeed anything they could teach an old dog. I went for 1-1 tuition and I immediately twigged my observer as a nitpicker of the highest order. To be fair, it kept me on my toes and made me raise my game, but I wouldn't describe it as fun. I'd mentioned when we first met that I used to race and he kept going on about me taking racing lines. Yeah, I do, but because they're generally the smoothest lines round corners. Their idea about hugging the outside of every bend seems terrible to me - you end up either in the gutter or too near the crown of the road, and invariably you have to move over for oncoming traffic anyway. And it really doesn't give you any extra visibility. Keeping religiously to speed limits wasn't something that endeared me either, I prefer to use a bit of personal judgement.
But I did come away with some useful learning, to be fair. I realised that better forward observation can avoid a lot of problems, and that I don't look back enough. And the two second rule is a bloody good one. Worth it? I'd say if you're about 10 years into their riding life you're ready to give this a go. 20 or 30 years on you probably know as much as the observer, you just haven't got the badge that says so  |
I can absoutely understand what you're saying. There are obviously a few people in it who are there because they're fastitious know-it-alls. And if you're anything like me and don't like being told what to you, it can be a hard pill to swallow.
But with my group, I haven't come accross that yet. Just a great bunch of guys who ride as you would when they clock off.
I've probably ridden far more miles in different conditions than most if not all the observers. I've been riding daily for 25 years all over the world. The hardest thing to shake off an experienced rider is arogance. But I couldn't deny their obseravations.
I was missing 50% of road signs. I wasn't checking my mirrors or blindspots. I didn't know that straighlining roundabouts was faster AND legal. I didn't know you could cut bends on junctions etc. And most suprisingly I was told that I signal too often and I should be making faster progress through some situations. I was arrogant and stuck in my ways.
Re. Your point about them always riding the outside of bends. That's not in the book or what I've been taught. It's adjusting your position for maximum visibility. Which is the outside. Then you can cut in for a faster, more stable line.
I'm a spirited rider. And I was very surprised when I was constantly being told to accelerate harder and make more progress.
They're not teaching racing lines. They're teaching how to be SAFER, smoother, make progress, how to read the road and how to be more courtious with other road users.
IDEAL skills for Overlanding or anything else. 
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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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