Bikesafe Swansea (fao. Jabba esp) - Page 3 - SV650.org

01-08-06, 11:45 PM

poetic indeed!

well bikesafes over now, and i can genuinely recommend it to EVERYBODY, regardless of experience level and age/sex. The whole weekend was a great laugh, the coppers were fantastic, and did a lot to dispel the 'them vs us' attitude that admittedly, i did have beforehand.

the highlight for me was overtaking two cars and a horsebox in one go, and losing the copper (Paddy) & the other fella, and having to slow down and wait a few miles up the road for them to catch up. afterwards, he was really pleased and enthusiastic with the overtake i made (even though i lost him

).

Anyway, went over the black mountain (west), holy frig! scary road.
shortly after, we swapped positions, Paddy (cop) in front, me next, fireblade fella behind. he RACED off through a nice looking A road, hedges either side, clear lane marking down the center of the road, i thought 'yeah, ill keep up'.....

so I gunned it, blasted it where i could, shat my pants, locked the back just before a cattle grid for a hairy moment (changing down without rev matching), but try for the life of me, i could NOT keep up with the fskcer. I reached 80~90 in places.

The real lightbulb moment was afterwards when we stopped at the mumbles. i said 'yeah the last 20 miles or so were real fun', and he told me, he did all that within the speed limit (NSL 60 road).

I was genuinely speechless. I think i said something like 'f**k off, you were f**king gunning it!!'

it really is worth doing, just so you can follow a police rider, and see what theyre capable of WITHIN the speed limit.

Kev told us they didnt get much support off the big fellas for doing bikesafe weekends, because they arent out there handing points out, patrolling etc... The other cops that turned up, along with the Rospa riders, and the paramedic, did so without getting paid. it says something when they regularly sacrifice their own weekends for these courses.

I'm personally going to send a letter to the south wales chief, because i feel that its such a benefitial weekend to bikers that it should in no way be compressed, sacrificed, or ignored.

holy ****, what a long post!
I'll snip it here, and hope that some of you who might not have considered a bikesafe course, might change yer minds

P.S. bikesafe south wales is amongst the best in the country

anna · 02-08-06, 07:46 AM

thanks for the write up sounds like you had fantastic fun and a real worth while thing to do.. I think some of the bristol contingency were going to do a course similar in Bristol and I think you have made my mind up to go ahead and get it done.

02-08-06, 09:29 AM

Going by the very good writeup and all the fun you had doing it, I've just gotta give this a go and book into one of these.

02-08-06, 10:11 AM

My experience with S Wlaes Police was exactly the same as dk's; coppers were fantastic, I learned a lot and really came to appreciate the coppers. They are human and decent people.

One small point......you may have had trouble keeping up with that copper because you were behind him; those at the back on a rideout always have to go faster to keep up

One small note of caution; I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm but poo can happen to the best of the best, so please don't get over-confident. Ride as they have taught you and you will be safer, though.

02-08-06, 10:50 PM

aye, i know what your saying. theres a good chapter in roadcraft, warning against 'overconfidence after training'.

Unfortunately, I get reminded of **** like that often. My old man works for a place called W.D.Davies. The cops call him out after fatalities in Wales, he goes to inspect the vehicles, to establish any mechanical defects, then presents the evidence as an expert witness in court. This time of year, he does a lot of bikes. brings the photos back, and makes sure I see em.

definately sobering.

07-08-06, 12:29 PM

Bikesafe for me was a refresher after a “resting” period of over 10 years, the course cost about £80. is very good, I’m not knocking it, its well worth it if that is the only form of additional training you intend to take.

However it has not turned out to be value for money. On the course I was persuaded that the IAM “Skill for life” package (also costing about £80) would teach me far more, and it has. As such the only knowledge I gained, not covered by IAM (so far), was how to remove a helmet in relative safety in order to commence mouth to mouth. All other 1st Aid covered on Bikesafe I had already done as part of 1st Aid at work.

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01-08-06, 11:45 PM	#21
donkeykong Guest Posts: n/a	poetic indeed! well bikesafes over now, and i can genuinely recommend it to EVERYBODY, regardless of experience level and age/sex. The whole weekend was a great laugh, the coppers were fantastic, and did a lot to dispel the 'them vs us' attitude that admittedly, i did have beforehand. the highlight for me was overtaking two cars and a horsebox in one go, and losing the copper (Paddy) & the other fella, and having to slow down and wait a few miles up the road for them to catch up. afterwards, he was really pleased and enthusiastic with the overtake i made (even though i lost him ). Anyway, went over the black mountain (west), holy frig! scary road. shortly after, we swapped positions, Paddy (cop) in front, me next, fireblade fella behind. he RACED off through a nice looking A road, hedges either side, clear lane marking down the center of the road, i thought 'yeah, ill keep up'..... so I gunned it, blasted it where i could, shat my pants, locked the back just before a cattle grid for a hairy moment (changing down without rev matching), but try for the life of me, i could NOT keep up with the fskcer. I reached 80~90 in places. The real lightbulb moment was afterwards when we stopped at the mumbles. i said 'yeah the last 20 miles or so were real fun', and he told me, he did all that within the speed limit (NSL 60 road). I was genuinely speechless. I think i said something like 'fk off, you were fking gunning it!!' it really is worth doing, just so you can follow a police rider, and see what theyre capable of WITHIN the speed limit. Kev told us they didnt get much support off the big fellas for doing bikesafe weekends, because they arent out there handing points out, patrolling etc... The other cops that turned up, along with the Rospa riders, and the paramedic, did so without getting paid. it says something when they regularly sacrifice their own weekends for these courses. I'm personally going to send a letter to the south wales chief, because i feel that its such a benefitial weekend to bikers that it should in no way be compressed, sacrificed, or ignored. holy ****, what a long post! I'll snip it here, and hope that some of you who might not have considered a bikesafe course, might change yer minds P.S. bikesafe south wales is amongst the best in the country

02-08-06, 07:46 AM	#22
anna Member Mega Poster Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Tower Hamlets but with Shutters on the windows Posts: 1,522	thanks for the write up sounds like you had fantastic fun and a real worth while thing to do.. I think some of the bristol contingency were going to do a course similar in Bristol and I think you have made my mind up to go ahead and get it done.

02-08-06, 09:29 AM	#23
Beenz Guest Posts: n/a	Going by the very good writeup and all the fun you had doing it, I've just gotta give this a go and book into one of these.

02-08-06, 10:11 AM	#24
Jabba Guest Posts: n/a	My experience with S Wlaes Police was exactly the same as dk's; coppers were fantastic, I learned a lot and really came to appreciate the coppers. They are human and decent people. One small point......you may have had trouble keeping up with that copper because you were behind him; those at the back on a rideout always have to go faster to keep up One small note of caution; I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm but poo can happen to the best of the best, so please don't get over-confident. Ride as they have taught you and you will be safer, though.

02-08-06, 10:50 PM	#25
donkeykong Guest Posts: n/a	aye, i know what your saying. theres a good chapter in roadcraft, warning against 'overconfidence after training'. Unfortunately, I get reminded of **** like that often. My old man works for a place called W.D.Davies. The cops call him out after fatalities in Wales, he goes to inspect the vehicles, to establish any mechanical defects, then presents the evidence as an expert witness in court. This time of year, he does a lot of bikes. brings the photos back, and makes sure I see em. definately sobering.

07-08-06, 12:29 PM	#26
Mogs Guest Posts: n/a	Bikesafe for me was a refresher after a “resting” period of over 10 years, the course cost about £80. is very good, I’m not knocking it, its well worth it if that is the only form of additional training you intend to take. However it has not turned out to be value for money. On the course I was persuaded that the IAM “Skill for life” package (also costing about £80) would teach me far more, and it has. As such the only knowledge I gained, not covered by IAM (so far), was how to remove a helmet in relative safety in order to commence mouth to mouth. All other 1st Aid covered on Bikesafe I had already done as part of 1st Aid at work.