Bikesafe North Wales

Attended a 2 day bikesafe this weekend at N.Wales HQ in Colwyn Bay.
For anyone thinking of doing one I can highly recommend it - the mixture of theory and observed rides was very good and the IAM/Ex police observors were top blokes - very good riders (no just me thinking that cos I'm relatively inexperienced, my 2 mates who have been rding for donkeys years were very impressed with the way these guys could handle their bikes)

Also interesting to note that they are not big fans of Richard Brunstrom - the Bikesafe guys are more interested in trying to educate and stop you from killing yourself than Mr.Brunstrom's obsession with nicking bikers.

[Luckypants]

In that case, I probably saw you out yesterday (was in the car). Agree with the bikesafe comments (see this)

Whereabouts are you based?

Agree with your comments on them perhaps needing to go into more detail on reading corners better and therefore avoiding trouble. This is an area I'm not brilliant at sometimes although I think it will improve with experience (only been riding just over a year)
I did find the general 'system' approach reading signs and positioning very useful as I feel this has improved my riding from a safety point of view. Still pretty crap at corners sometimes but i'm not going to worry to much about this - time and experience should improve this.

I'm based in Rossendale in Lancashire (about 20miles north of Manchester) - did the North Wales course as neither Lancashire or Greater Manchester run the Bikesafe courses (too busy installing scamera's!), plus it was a nice weekend away.

[Luckypants]

Must have been a great weekend away actually! I live round here so it was local for me. You had the weather and the roads for it. Great!

If you fancy a trundle around here again, me and Baph are always up for a ride.

Originally Posted by Luckypants

If you fancy a trundle around here again, me and Baph are always up for a ride.

Careful Mike, that's inviting comments about livestock!!

I must hasten to add, I'm not a local, I emmigrated here. Now, is that good or bad, what does that say about me?

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Must have been a great weekend away actually! I live round here so it was local for me. You had the weather and the roads for it. Great!

If you fancy a trundle around here again, me and Baph are always up for a ride.

Thanks for that - I'll bear that in mind the next time i'm heading down taph land, as long as you don't mind waiting for me to catch up!

Gah I'm disapointed - I seem to be the only one who thinks their bike safe day was an utter waste of time.

Didn't learn anything. And of course, I doubt that's because I know everything.

Firstly because I had to keep my speed down more than I otherwise would (and so if you're not riding as you normally do, whats the point). Secondly because of the rubbish feedback I did got. "Good ride, you're not dangerous so that's good", is hardly constructive.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

Gah I'm disapointed - I seem to be the only one who thinks their bike safe day was an utter waste of time.

Didn't learn anything. And of course, I doubt that's because I know everything.

Firstly because I had to keep my speed down more than I otherwise would (and so if you're not riding as you normally do, whats the point). Secondly because of the rubbish feedback I did got. "Good ride, you're not dangerous so that's good", is hardly constructive.

I guess it depends on your observer. One of mine was scrapping his 'zorst keeping up on a particulary windy road. Never complained, just had a big grin. Basically, observer and observee were caught out by same bend and had to really crank over to make it. Making progress was allowed. Each class will be different.