IAM

I passed my advanced test with the IAM last year. I think it has certainly improved my riding. I don't claim to be any kind of riding god, but my planning, observation, positioning and safety have all improved. For £85 it's well worth doing. The social side is good too.

So the general consensus is that IAM is a good thing and can only help to improve things. Excellent. I'm glad i've signed up for it now.

Originally Posted by Jackie_Black

...IAM is a good thing and can only help to improve things...

Definately...Ive trained on and off since 2004 (no test out of personal choice) but without it I think I would have given up a long time ago - due to too many brown trouser moments definately go for it!

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

So thats what they mean by good observation, spot a gatso at 7 miles...

That's a pretty short distance!!

Oh wait, not everyone lives in North Wales... my bad.

I had my first observed ride yesterday with the IAM and i'm very impressed. My riding wasn't really bad to start with as I can ride a bike. THis was confirmed by the observer and was great news. However after 12 years of car driving i'm still in my car when i'm on my bike.

So after about 20 minutes of chat and following him along some glorious northern roads I began to practise my road positioning and found my cornering speeds increasing and my confidence growing. I now have a list of things to concentrate on and practise in the next few weeks and can't wait for my next run. IAM was a good idea!

I did an observed ride once but it didnt go too well. I kept being followed by some other dude on a bike who kept staring at me.

[TEC]

Nothing against any advanced riding etc, but the group who where heading up the A1198 near Royston yesterday really should have made sure the lead knew what the next bike is going to look like in his mirrors or even if he knew how to use his mirrors.

As he sped through Kneesworth (some 1.5 miles from where he took off from) he discovered an unlit, but very noticble, bike behind him and couldn't work out why none of his IAM group where there Probably a good thing his observer (where ever he was) didn't see him pull to the left (probably so he could get a better view behind him) and almost take out a cyclist

Well I put the road positioning thing into practise the other day and as I was over to the left of the road (well over) a car came the other way in the middle of the road and had I been where i used to be. It would have clipped me or maybe even sent me over the top

The £85 was well worth it.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by TEC

Nothing against any advanced riding etc, but the group who where heading up the A1198 near Royston yesterday really should have made sure the lead knew what the next bike is going to look like in his mirrors or even if he knew how to use his mirrors.

As he sped through Kneesworth (some 1.5 miles from where he took off from) he discovered an unlit, but very noticble, bike behind him and couldn't work out why none of his IAM group where there Probably a good thing his observer (where ever he was) didn't see him pull to the left (probably so he could get a better view behind him) and almost take out a cyclist

The lead would be the pupil, so hardly fair to berate IAM because a new pupil doesn't know what he's doing.

Yeah but by the sounds of it he needs to work on his use of mirrors as one of his targets!

Although it is nerve wracking if you have been followed then had a chat and the observer has found hundreds of things to improve. It's a lot to take in!