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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
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Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 21 May 2009
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Training courses: First aid, survival, motorcycle maintenance

I've been wanting to educate myself on skills that might come in handy in a long trip...
  1. Motorbike Maintenance - an example course (in London, UK) is: Hammersmith And Fulham Adult Education Service http://london.floodlight.co.uk/londo...urse-info.html or http://tinyurl.com/p7q3ut but unfortunately there are no classes scheduled for anytime soon.
  2. First aid - an example, for which I've signed up already, is St. John Ambulance's "Emergency aid for motorcyclists": http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/training-c...rcyclists.aspx
  3. A wilderness survival course that teaches one how to build shelter, find water in the wild etc
  4. An off-road riding course (for heavy bikes). Sure, I once roamed the mountains with a KDX 200 but that was unbreakable and light. My Vstrom enjoys neither of these two virtues.

So, what experiences have people had with training courses (preferably in the UK) for the above skills? I'd like to see a list with training providers and their offerings.

In case this is already covered somewhere in HU, please point me to the right direction.

Thanks

Alexandros
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Old 21 May 2009
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Motorcycle maintenance - I drew a blank on this when I was in the UK.
An online alternative - Motorcycle Repair Course

Off road - Off Road Skills

Can't help on the other things I'm afraid.
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Old 22 May 2009
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Thanks Hustler

The Off Road Skills people also do an "adventure maintenance" course: http://www.offroadskills.com/courses...re-maintenance

Hope it's not BMW-only, will check it out and let you know.
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Old 22 May 2009
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First Aid and Survival

For a survival course I cant recommend survival bushcraft enough. I did a weekend course in South Wales last year and found it really useful, the guy are friendly and experienced and have loads of stories. They have a few sites across england and do some expeditions abroad. I went to Bardufoss in Northern Norway for a winter expedition with them in January. It gives you a lot more confidence when your out and about.

I did a standard certificated course with the British Red Cross, its quite long at 4 days but only costs £80. I found the instructors flexible and as i had brought my motorbike helmet we did a few exercises on removing helmets and moving people with suspected spinal injuries as well as all the normal bleeding, heart attacks etc.

Cant help on the others I'm afraid.
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Old 22 May 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by apapadop View Post
Thanks Hustler

The Off Road Skills people also do an "adventure maintenance" course: http://www.offroadskills.com/courses...re-maintenance

Hope it's not BMW-only, will check it out and let you know.
Unfortunately it is... called them today and they (quite reasonably, to be honest) said they do all maintenance training on BMWs and no, I could not bring my own bike.

I did book an off-road riding skills course though. Not cheap at all (£450), but two days of professional training with a heavy enduro (F800 GS) should save me a lot of agony/grief in the near future.

@fb133: A 4-day course! Wow - the St. John Ambulance "Emergency aid for motorcyclists" is hardly 4 hours! (and costs £48)

Thanks for the bushcraft link, will check it out.
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Old 8 Jun 2009
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Unfortunately I just got a phonecall from St. John Ambulance to say the "First Aid for Motorcyclists" course of July has been cancelled. Too few takers... To be precise, I was the only one registered!

Any other ideas on first aid training courses for motorcycle travellers in the UK?
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  #7  
Old 9 Jun 2009
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I can't recommend the motorcycle mechanics course at Merton enough

Merton College | Course Information |

Absolutely fantastic course - a few of us have done it - both on here and on londonbikers.com and come out of it much more knowledgeable than when we started.

Read this:

http://londonbikers.com/article.aspx...6038&rewrite=1

from one of the guys I did the course with.

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