IAM "Skill for Life" course...recommended?

[Lazarus]

[quote author=Grahamm link=topic=3634.msg35932#msg35932 date=1345648411]

Or was it just to get the last word in...?

Ahem, well the IAM certainly isn't the last word in advanced training so it's entirely justified.
'Training is good though, but PR is a disaster which if you hadn't already noticed puts people off doing advanced trainiong in the first place.
[/quote]




lets not tar them all with the same brush.


the local IAM which i am a member of is pretty good.


They are flexible, friendly and willing to share their knowledge (thats all they are doing)


They are by no means saints (ive been on rideouts with them - when I use "with", i use that loosely - im usually way at the back)


However - they give up their time to pass on the skills AS PRESCRIBED BY THE IAM and the riding styles that you would require to pass the test.


and the group I am in do this for the cost of a cup of coffee at the after ride debrief.

[pitternator]

so its not just graham who is a fan then !   

[harry69koi]

Do you have to do all the eye sight test etc palava again to pass the IAM ?

lee

[budgiemurray]

Only eye test i got was can you read that number plate over there..

Budgiemurray..

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[pitternator]

surely you would want yer eyesight to be Ok riding a bike !....specs are totally acceptable for the test in any case...

[steeeve66]

Well I've tried it and... found it on the whole pretty good. A tad frustrating, some of the methods are tricky and some (going straight over roundabouts for instance) don't feel right at all at first, but having gone through it I think it's been pretty worthwhile.
I've reached the 'standard', apparently, and take the test shortly.
Not sure how 'safer' I am as a rider - the only real change to my riding has been the level of observation and (another odd one I thought at first) indicating less. And going straight over roundabouts of course.
As for the criticism here (and elsewhere) I think it's horses for courses - doubtless there are many who have learned everything there is to know about riding already or simply dislike the slightly worthy (and IAM is a bit worthy) attitude and for them it's probably not worth the 139 quid. But for everyone else I'd say its worth a look.

Just be prepared to stick rigidly to the speed limits - harder than you'd think...

S

[Ian-man]

The observers at my local group have had a visit from the IAM head office peeps. The ruling now is that they are not allowed to exceed the speed limit, even on open country B roads and overtakes.
This will make making progress even more of  an exercise inl observation. Timing overtakes etc as getting past people doing 55 to 60 will need more patience.

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[JZS 600]

I recently did an IDCAM with the local IAM (I won a prize see, didn't cost me a bean as opposed to £25 normally)


I did alright, got mostly B's with a couple of A's but a C+ for country lanes.


Picture the scenario: the leaves are falling off the trees, the (single track) road is sopping wet, there are a lot of drives and junctions coming on to the road, not many clear views ahead as the road was twisty and the surface was, frankly, shite.


I thought: choose life and rode very steadily with plenty of room/space/braking distance should I have to slam the anchors on (on the shity road surface)


I was criticized for going slow as it was a national speed limit road (60 MPH)


Technically the guy was correct but I couldn't agree with him


I'm going to try the local ROSPA next. (cheaper too.)

[karlo]

Did my test early November with an ex copper as examiner, enjoyed doing the course met some great people at the Lichfield group, good bunch, well relaxed, made me welcome and train you at your own pace.

£139 well spent imo.

[Grahamm]

Not sure how 'safer' I am as a rider - the only real change to my riding has been the level of observation

Glad to hear it went well and good luck with the test.

Regarding observation, as you get used to it slowly, you don't tend to notice the change, but I've thought back to how I used to ride and realised that because I'm seeing stuff earlier it's making riding smoother and safer because there's fewer of those "Oh shit! Phew, that was close!" moments

[Grahamm]

I was criticized for going slow as it was a national speed limit road (60 MPH)

Hmm, it's a bit difficult to comment without having been there, but the "4 S" rule is "Safety, System, Smoothness, Speed" with speed coming last after all the others.

(I was told off by one Observer for going too quick in a situation like that! Can't win sometimes, can you? )

[Fazer on kill]

Mate you are welcome at my group.


If you are Surrey, South of the river or Kent. look up www.l-a-m.org
we meet twice a month, 1st Sun and 3rd Sat. Banstead and Tatsfield.


As a 23year old on my trusty FZS600 I think it was the best investment I made.


We have a cracking social scene, trips to  Wales, Norfolk and the continent.
Social gatherings.




We are a mixed bunch and there is a complete mish-mash.
Please dont be put off if some pipe n slippers BMW pilot is a bit weird. The only thing we can say is we all love biking. Come along, give us a try.


Open invitation to all. The £139 is steep but I think I have saved that several times over.


We are a charity, we just want to make people safer (NOT SLOWER)

[Tifa]

To IAM or not IAM ?

7 pages?

I've just lost the will to live.

Whatever happened to that countersteering thread?

[tony_d123]

To IAM or not IAM ?

7 pages?

I've just lost the will to live.

Whatever happened to that countersteering thread?

:lol :lol :lol

Just to keep this going, I did it 30 years after passing my test and really enjoyed it. Would definitely recommend doing it 

[steeeve66]

For those who have found this item life-threateningly dull might I suggest you direct your attention elsewhere...

For anyone else - here's how I found it: the KAMG are a top bunch, not everyone will be your cup of tea but there is plenty of experience on hand and I found all genuinely helpful. For me the problem was the Man From Hendon who, separate from KAMG, does your test. For most these things are, to some extent, subjective, with only a few rules being genuinely 'black' and or 'white' (speed, double white lines - what others are there?). My undoing was going a little over a painted roundabout where the turn was quite tight and, to me at least, it made more sense to keep the bike upright than to try and make it round without touching. The Man From Hendon dissagreed and I was failed. He was also less than plussed when I questioned the decision; although not in uniform those boys maintain the attitude at all times I guess. I found him pretty objectionable.
Hey-ho, It wasn't a wasted exercise although I didn't learn a huge amount I didn't know already I do now keep to speed limits more attentively and my observation has probably improved, and to that extent I may well be a little safer. Hard to judge I guess.

Next stop RoSPA.

[Grahamm]

For most these things are, to some extent, subjective, with only a few rules being genuinely 'black' and or 'white' (speed, double white lines - what others are there?). My undoing was going a little over a painted roundabout where the turn was quite tight

Unfortunately the Highway Code says:

188

Mini-roundabouts. Approach these in the same way as normal roundabouts. All vehicles MUST pass round the central markings except large vehicles which are physically incapable of doing so.

Remember, there is less space to manoeuvre and less time to signal. Avoid making U-turns at mini-roundabouts. Beware of others doing this.

Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10(1) & 16(1)

If the Examiner sees you disobeying a "Must" on your Test and it's not something that can be overlooked (eg him "not seeing" you going a little over the speed limit whilst overtaking on a National Limit road), he's pretty much obliged to fail you.

[spider]

i was the best rider in the world. then i joined chelmsford eamg. now i am the best rider in the world. no pipe and slippers. just a ride out every month with a great bunch.

[pitternator]

with any test / examiner there are always margins...areas of overlap which may or may not conform to how they see " black and white". For example, a speed limit of 60 was ( in my day) expected to be maintained as a " solid 60"..ielimit +10%=  66mph ! Now is this still expected ?...but its clearly a strict breach of a speed limit , but police examiners in the 90s felt it showed your capability of riding at speed , without resorting to excess.But if you went through a speed camera at this speed, there was no immunity to prosecution, and the examiner would just ride off  !! Equally so, no allowance was given to 30s and 40s, ie strict adherance was expected.It was a case of learning /knowing what you can and cant do. TBH riding over a white mini roundabout to me is a grey area, like dotted hatchings seperating traffic lanes, as opposed to solid white lines...Do just a bit more than is necessary  will invoke examiner displeasure.Oddly , on larger roundabouts it was expected to use all lanes if empty  to cut off the corners to maintain progress......To fail on just this is alone seems unreasonable as they usually let you have up to 3 small errors, so maybe there was something else.?
I can remember a chap failing his test cos he only used his back brake ! sounds odd, but if you havent shown any ability in front braking, its not good riding practice, even though it shows good acceleration sense, using engine braking and throttle control to slow down.Some IAM die hards believe you almost shouldnt need to brake at all...the list can go on and on...partly because all examiners have opinions, and the IAM test isnt like a tick box type of test....there is an element of subjectivity in it all. My only advice is to remember that setting a good standard to start off your test will always give you a little something in the bank if a small mistake is made later. IAM always say that you are deemed to have passed your test already  ...on the test you can only fail by not riding to the right standard.So  a poor start will set the scene badly as it were...

I thoroughly enjoyed my IAM training , was over the moon to pass my test ,it definitely was a major riding challenge and a great sense of achievement ... and then went on to help others as an observer.I think its something which floats your boat or it dont ! If you can join a socially active group that can help. Trouble is with me now, I like to ride how I have developed to , and often its at odds with strict IAM standards, so feel a bit two faced to stand and preach doctrine.But what I can say is if you do want to ride fast , all the IAM dogma works equally well ! You cant just go out there and ride fast in safety.Anyone can twist the throttle and ride fast , but it takes an expert to do so in safety ...and to know where to draw the line and act with restraint. The IAM is a excellent foundation course.

[DryRob]

I've arranged to meet up with my local group on Sunday for a ride out to test the waters or the snow if the weatherman is right

[Andy FZS]

Rob as you live in my area let me know how you get on.
Andy

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