Finally got round to it (IAM)

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 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]

Originally Posted by injury_ian

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 i just cant grow one!

No it's not true




although i do have a beard

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.

Originally Posted by injury_ian

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"...

.

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]

Originally Posted by falc

when ive got the bike back,

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

Originally Posted by Mark_h

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

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 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.