Advanced Riding - Progressive or agressive?

Originally Posted by tom_d

I use the same policy with filtering, especially on the motorway. If the traffics doing 40 or more then I don't bother.

+1, because it's being stationary or at very slow speeds that knock your journey times, so if the traffic is flowing then filtering is more risk than benefit. Plus if the traffic's doing 40 and you are filtering, your probably weaving through the traffic at close to 60mph.

It's the same principal with A roads, if the vehicle in front is doing 55mph, your wheels are still rolling at a decent rate, and there comes a point where an overtake isn't worth it.

I also think that there will be a difference in attitude between someone who is driving throughout the day for work and is being paid to sit at 55mph, someone who is a commuter and want's to get to work on time or get home for tea, and someone who is out at the weekend for a blast on their bike.

You'd see a completely different driver in me during the week in the car, as you would at the weekend out for a blast on the bike. During the week sitting in a 1.8 Vectra with no torque, and doing a lot of mileage hence increasing my risk of being caught for speeding, I'll be driving at the speed limits and a 55mph car is often not worth overtaking. On a weekend ride on the bike for pleasure, my average speed will be much higher and the opportunities for overtaking on a powerful bike much greater, so I'll go for an overtake in the majority of cases.

Originally Posted by Stu

but if you choose to ignore the stuff you don't agree with, then you may not pass your test, or be welcome riding with members of the club, depending what it is you choose to ignore.

Originally Posted by Stu

I'd be very grateful if someone could point out any other IAM rule that must be strictly adhered to

Must be adhered to when riding with an IAM group, or must be adhered to to pass the test?

I've not done IAM yet, so I wouldn't know. I just thought that you already had some in mind when you say that you may not pass you test, or be welcome in an IAM group if you ignored it.

Originally Posted by Stu

Likewise, I never get stressed riding a bike, I would get annoyed in a car not being able to overtake or filter.

Then you need to reset your expectations before you get into the car. You know as soon as you step in the tin box, you take up more space on the road and have less power, and you just have to accept that there will be occasions that you can't overtake or filter. Getting annoyed achieves nothing.

Thanks for all your input guys. I understand there is no right or wrong answer, and it all depends on what is happening on the roads around you at the time.

Originally Posted by Red Herring

Certainly on an IAM test you would be unlikely to be failed for missing a single overtake, but if it was a general trait you would be unlikely to make the expected standard. Progress is not about going fast, it's about processing information swiftly which allows you to maintain speed where appropriate.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

I also think that there will be a difference in attitude between someone who is driving throughout the day for work and is being paid to sit at 55mph, someone who is a commuter and want's to get to work on time or get home for tea, and someone who is out at the weekend for a blast on their bike.

You'd see a completely different driver in me during the week in the car, as you would at the weekend out for a blast on the bike. During the week sitting in a 1.8 Vectra with no torque, and doing a lot of mileage hence increasing my risk of being caught for speeding, I'll be driving at the speed limits and a 55mph car is often not worth overtaking. On a weekend ride on the bike for pleasure, my average speed will be much higher and the opportunities for overtaking on a powerful bike much greater, so I'll go for an overtake in the majority of cases.

It’s a general trait for me, I think... I do overtake sure, but most of the time I’m just not in a rush to get to work (the majority of my riding is commuting - 5 days a week daily commute vs. any time I get to play at the weekends) sometimes still half asleep in the morning. So mostly my overtakes/filter on single carriageways are generally kept to the a minimum, especially after the guy the other week filtered past me in a big traffic jam which turned the A3 into a car park (its seems I filter quite slowly, most bikes I come across whizz past me when filtering). Then I filtered past him lying on the A3 with his bike on its side, surrounded by cops/paramedics eek!

But anyway - I’m heading Sandhurst way tonight, I’m going to take the single carriageway route for a change, so I don’t have the choice of using the fast lane on the M25/M3 to overtake so I can consciously be more progressive.

One reason I've had suggested to me as a reason for taking the overtake is looking further down the track, where the road gets a little more twisty and the speed of the car drops further. By taking advantage of the overtake on the straighter part, you then can control your own position and speed for the new road conditions.

I find the IAM as an organisation to think quite highly of itself. Not saying you won't learn anything, you probably will but I've met far too many IAM riders who waffle on about it and to be honest they are just same as the rest of us average motorcylists. Now Rospa seems to be a great organisation with emphasis on prevention and a retest every 2 years to keep you fresh.

Do you know what the police bikers call IAM?

I'm an Average Motorcyclist.

IAM just rub me up the wrong way. Don't listen to me though, I'm just bitter.

[dirtydog]

Originally Posted by DanAbnormal

but I've met far too many IAM riders who waffle on about it

Not once have I waffled on about it to you (don't think i've waffled on about it at all)

Originally Posted by DanAbnormal

IAM just rub me up the wrong way. Don't listen to me though, I'm just bitter.

You didn't reach the required standard then Dan

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Not once have I waffled on about it to you (don't think i've waffled on about it at all)




You didn't reach the required standard then Dan

SEE YOU'RE WAFFLING!

It wouldn't be the first time mate that I haven't met someone's standards.

Perhaps your observer phrased his words wrongly, instead of saying you must overtake he should have pointed out that you could have overtaken quite safely on a few occasions. I would never tell anyone when i'm observing them that they must overtake, it's up to the individual to do what they are confident with, if i was out with an associate and he never took a safe overtake i would stop them and have a chat and then suggest they follow me for a while, it is all about making making progress safely and confidently. As to the speed limits some examiners stick religiously to the limits, especially 30's 40's and 50's, but most will allow a small amount over in 60's for an overtake, if it's safe, as long as you drop back to 60 after. The less time you are on the wrong side of the road the better. A car doing 55 will at some point give you an opportunity for a swift overtake, ie out of a corner, and i would expect it to be taken as quickly and safely as possible, even if you went over 60 by a reasonable amount, i'd rather you kept your eyes on the road and not the speedo, if you then kept accelerating after the overtake then obviously that would be frowned upon. Don't be put off by one observers comments as we are all different and are only trying to help improve riders safety and life span and all have a slightly different view on what a rider is doing.

Daryl.

[keith_d]

A while back I took an introductory ride with an IAM instructor was which fine - lots of things for me to improve on. Afterwards he was in a bit of a hurry to get back because his son had been hurt at football. So I got a demonstration of what progressive riding is really about.

I think he may have stowed his pipe and slippers because it was very 'educational' indeed.

I think this thread has gone a little astray, and I just wanted to point out I have never had an observed ride, or any IAM people comment on my riding. I have attended a classroom style chat with some pictures about various different situations.

I'm happy riding at the speeds I ride, following the ubiquitous advice of ride your own ride - sod everyone else, but feel extra training can never be a bad thing. I'm not the most confident person on two wheels, and my OH is always commenting on the fact that "I'm too slow". Men...

I was just a bit concerned about getting in waaay over my head, and going on an observed ride and being left far behind, feeling pressure to keep up and getting the usual "too slow - useless woman" comments. Not exactly confidence building

On top of that, not really understanding certain aspects of advanced riding, didn't help, as to me it looked like agressive riding as fast you can just for the hell of it ... nothing wrong with that if thats your thing, but a bit out of my league atm