1st IAM ride as observer.
 

Having passed my IAM test i decided to train as an observer, went to the first mass ride on sat with the senior observer (Paul) but unfortunately very few trainees turned up. Paul put me to follow a lady who needed a pretest to see if she could put in for her test and he was to follaw me to see how i got on. We pulled out of the car park and pulled up at a set of traffic lights to go straight, the left turn light was on green and then changed to red, at this point she accelerated through the red light, oh sh!t i thought, this is not a good start, luckily nothing came across and she waited for us. we then went to shrewsbury and went through the town, her riding was not bad at all. she then didn't see my indicator and ended up in the wrong lane so Paul went after her, she managed to get into the right lane but paul went the wrong way, she stopped and waited for me to catch her up, and got off the bike, came to me and said she had had enough and was going home, it was going from bad to worse, i told her that her general riding was actually very good and that she shouldn't give up. By this time Paul had arrived and with some careful cajoling she agreed to start again. The rest of the ride was uneventful apart from riding through hail stones and rain. Surely all rides can't be like this one, can they ?

Daryl.:D

Re: 1st IAM ride as observer.
 

Didn't see you go off - we went the other way and had a triffic ride through Cosford, A41, Newport, Edgmond, A442.

It was probably your can that put her off. For those that dont know, Daryl has one of the noisiest cans on the planet:D

Stick with it, women are fickle...

Re: 1st IAM ride as observer.
 

Well Done. I wouldn't have the patience to do it.

Re: 1st IAM ride as observer.
 

Fickle is not the word i was thinking of at the time, i was wondering what it would look like on the log of the runs i have to fill out. 1st run, associate went through red light, went wrong way and then gave up and went home!!!! Different to say the least. my can is not noisy, it just isn't as quiet as most. Why do you think i wear earplugs.:D

Daryl.

Re: 1st IAM ride as observer.
 

So once you pass your IAM test is there an official test to become an observer?

Re: 1st IAM ride as observer.
 

more a checklist isnt it?

[ ] Pipe
[ ] Slippers
[ ] PanEuropean

:P

Re: 1st IAM ride as observer.
 

FWIW, the most off-putting OR I ever had was one where the observer had rather loud cans on his Duke.

Re: 1st IAM ride as observer.
 

tee hee.

Although I was actually wanting to know. I'm considering doing some advanced training and just wanted to know what level of expertise the observers have. Anything that can improve safety is worth it.

Re: 1st IAM ride as observer.
 

Dan,

My sentiments exactly, which is why i did it. More training can only be a good thing!

I've seen you ride you are already fluent enough, just know positioning etc and jobs a goodun.

Re: 1st IAM ride as observer.
 

Yes you have to go through just as much, or more, training again. Then several tests to become an observer, plus there are different levels of observer (qualified, group & senior I think)