Finally got round to it (IAM)

[injury_ian]

:smt024


Decided to take the plunge, with 8 days to go before it becomes £20 more expencive. signed up online with the guildford group.

Is it true they are all beardy beardy and i should of actually gone with TVAM?


... i mean i dont mind beards, its not like i dont like them :smt088 i just cant grow one!

[Mark_h]

I'm with TVAM. We have our fair share of beards, but load of other folk too. We even have a good smattering of ladies who are, in the main, beardless.

If not too late, both clubs do open sessions on their Sunday meets (3rd sunday for TVAM). You can get a feel for both then select the one that feels best for you.

Under distance selling regs I'm fairly sure you have 14 days to change your mind on the subscription fee.

[dirtydog]

:smt024


Decided to take the plunge, with 8 days to go before it becomes £20 more expencive. signed up online with the guildford group.

Is it true they are all beardy beardy and i should of actually gone with TVAM?


... i mean i dont mind beards, its not like i dont like them :smt088 i just cant grow one!


No it's not true




although i do have a beard :rolleyes:

[injury_ian]

As i said, im not bothered by the beards, after all my dad is a beardy.

And the level of teachings should be the same at either section... shouldn't it?

[Mark_h]

You will be taught to the same "standard" at either locaiton as the same testers are used. However TVAM is a lot bigger than WV so typically a bit more going on. Really comes down to which date suits you and if you like the people involved.

There are a few on here in Wey Valley, but I think I'm on my own over at TVAM.

Last time round i think the general concensus was that TVAM had a higher percentage of sportier observers, but at the end of the day it comes down to who you are allocated with.

Then you'll get a torrent of resposes from those who believe IAM is a waste of time and you should do ROSPA instead. So far as I can see, any advanced training is good training and IAM is as good a place to start as any.

[Jelster]

And the level of teachings should be the same at either section... shouldn't it?

Standard is dependant on the Observer, not the group. I used to be with TVAM, but to be honest, was never interested in taking the test, just improving my riding.

That said, the inconsistencies with the different views from different observers is a "challenge"...

.

[falc]

Must get round to this when ive got the bike back, maybe early next year.

Mark is right also that any advanced training has to be a good thing.

[dirtydog]

when ive got the bike back,


Where's it gone then? or are you just refering to not being able to ride it?

[Jelster]

Then you'll get a torrent of resposes from those who believe IAM is a waste of time and you should do ROSPA instead. So far as I can see, any advanced training is good training and IAM is as good a place to start as any.

Have to agree with you there. The thing I really liked about IAM is that it's "real world" training. Stuff that you'll use every day; stuff that you should be in the habit of doing, rather than having to think about doing.

Like I mentioned above, I never really targeted the test, just getting lot's of "4's" on my score sheet, which I did. I then had other commitments and never got round to going back. WVAM meet on the first Sunday of the month, when I always seem to be doing something else :rolleyes:

Where is TVAM based ?

.

[Mark_h]

TVAM are based in Wokingham but have observer teams all over the place. (Camberley, Basingstoke, Reading, Slough, Wickham, Oxford and soem more if only I could be botherd to look them up). The "open day" is third Sunday at St. Crispins school in Wokingham.

If you turn up about 9, you'll find several hundred bikes there (800 members, typically 200-300 any Sunday). You'll get a free cup of tea and a chat with someone as to what it's all about. If you're not put off at this point, you'll go out for an observed ride for an hour or so where someone will follow you and give you feedback on what you're doing and what, if anything, could be done better. Everything to this point (including tea and biscuit) is free. Recently have been getting 30+ newbies turning up each month, so you'll not be on your own.

You can then if you wish join up. This costs about £80 but includes TVAM membership, IAM associate membership and your first test fee. If you pass your test first time round, there's nothing more to pay. All the training (coaching actually as not allowed to call it training) is free. You just get your observer (trainer) a cup of tea/bacon butty while you go over the ride.

I guess WVAM follows pretty much the same model.

TVAM also offer courses like counter-steering, emergency braking, wet riding etc and quite a few group rides and longhaul weekends pottering off round Euriope or hooning around Nurburgring/ Cadwell.

Quite a few beardy pan riders, but a lot of sports bike riders. More importantly you know they are good (and so worth listening to) when a beardy bloke on a pan rides around you while you're giving it 100% on your Gixxer thou.

www.tvam.org (http://www.tvam.org) is a particualrly useless website but it does have a map.

http://www.tvam.org.uk/default/advanced-rider.asp Is the bit about how it all works.

[Tara]

Where's it gone then? or are you just refering to not being able to ride it?


Its At his mums in the garage soon to be coming home

[Tara]

Where's it gone then? or are you just refering to not being able to ride it?


Its At his mums in the garage soon to be coming home

[falc]

Yup, bike is in a nice safe place at the mo.

Hmm, we should make a thread about Advanced Riding and put in information like that which you have said Mark and maybe a bit about round your area DD and any other courses running and then sticky the thread so people can refer to it.

I'll create a thread and if that info could be put up that would be great. I'll chop posts out if not relevant etc. so only the useful stuff is there.

[DanAbnormal]

Can I have a thread about roundabout/bend kneedown worthyness?

Go on!:smt035

[dirtydog]

Can I have a thread about roundabout/bend kneedown worthyness?

Go on!:smt035


No!

[DanAbnormal]

No!

Damn communist!

[dirtydog]

Damn communist!

:tongue: :tongue: damn H*nda rider!

[Stu]

AFAIK the main difference between TVAM & WVAM apart from the obvious location & dates are that TVAM pair you up with a mentor that teaches you each month (or more frequently) (Please correct me if I am wrong as I've never had anything to do with TVAM.) Now this may suit you, but if you don't get on with the guy you're a bit stuck (or ask for a transfer I guess)
WVAM talk a lot about mentors but it doesn't generally happen - what that means is you get a wide variety of observers which I prefer as if everyone is telling you the same thing (if you're lucky :lol:) you pretty much believe it & someone new always has something new to tell you. You can always arrange to go out with any on the list of observers between months as well.

[Stu]

(800 members, typically 200-300 any Sunday). .
There's over 700 at WVAM I would say more like 100 on a monthly Sunday though.
There's no shortage of sportier riders IMHO. Pirbright twisties are common on the rides.:smt035
Plenty going on between monthly rides as well like a few different weekly rides, rides further afield, Machine control courses & Annual French trip.

[Jelster]

There's over 700 at WVAM I would say more like 100 on a monthly Sunday though.
There's no shortage of sportier riders IMHO. Pirbright twisties are common on the rides.:smt035
Plenty going on between monthly rides as well like a few different weekly rides, rides further afield, Machine control courses & Annual French trip.

My mate with the 'Busa is an observer with WVAM and he's always sodding off to France or Belgium with the group. Lots of activity, I just found that there was a lack of consistency with the messages from the observers...

.

[Mark_h]

TVAM model is........

Turn up at monthly meet and go out with random observer.
Be allocate a "tutor observer" who will go out as often as you can arrange between you.
You tutor observer may send you out wth a trainee observer (like wot I am) once in a while.
Each of the observer teams arrange training days when you do lots of miles and have 2-3 different observers over the day.

Consistency can be an issue but your tutor observe wil lhopefully be consistent. If you and your tutor observer do not get on you just agree to differ and get reallocated.

I'd pretty much say the choice of club depends on
a) where you live
b) which Sunday in teh month works best for you

Typically get the same sort of people doing the same sort of thing.

However, Stu's a lot quicker than me so perhaps WVAM teach you to go quicker !

[DanAbnormal]

However, Stu's a lot quicker than me so perhaps WVAM teach you to go quicker !

Don't confuse speed with lack of fear!:smt003

[chazzyb]

There's LAM too - based at Banstead (1st Sunday) and Bromley (3rd Saturday) for 'pot-luck' observed rides.

[Stu]

:smt024


Decided to take the plunge, with 8 days to go before it becomes £20 more expencive. signed up online with the guildford group.
!
Can I just point out for everyone else reading that I believe Ian was referring to £20 discount up to age 25, rather than the £85 normal fee going up.

Oh! Happy Birthday Ian! :D

[injury_ian]

Can I just point out for everyone else reading that I believe Ian was referring to £20 discount up to age 25, rather than the £85 normal fee going up.

Oh! Happy Birthday Ian! :D

:compcrash:

Not yet it aint lol, Over a year away!! (ahem) :smt088

[Stu]

:compcrash:

Not yet it aint lol, Over a year away!! (ahem) :smt088
So what were you talking about it going up £20? - very confusing.

[williamturner1]

Hey. Can you confirm then:

IAM meeting: 9am, this Sunday, St. Crispins school, Wokingham

?? Cheers ... sv650forum newbe

[injury_ian]

So what were you talking about it going up £20? - very confusing.

clue is in the sentence OVER a year away. how many Bdays do you have a year? lol

And yes, It was the £20 discounted promotion valid up to the age of 25.9.
I think when i almost applied via WV with me car i also got another £10 discount if i applied directly thru them. if anyone is interested maybe worth a shot.

Hey. Can you confirm then:

IAM meeting: 9am, this Sunday, St. Crispins school, Wokingham

I think thats correct, I might go along as ive had all me booklets thru and hasnt as yet attached me to a group, reccommends going to your local group for enrolment.

TVAM (http://www.tvam.org.uk/)

Linky to their website. has all the dates etc on it

[williamturner1]

Hey. I was planning on comming on sunday but im helping Jo out with the Ace Cafe biker meeting tomorrow in london. Hope to see some of you down there.