RiderSite (The Archive Forum)

lazarus · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 9:25 pm Post subject: first ride with an observer

had my first ride with an IAM observer this week. most of what we did / said was what I expected - too few lifesavers, poor indicating, too few gear changes (am a bit inclined to chugg), but one exercise really got to me.

have always had a hang up about slow speed manoeuvering basically because I dont want to drop the bike. the observer, riding a Pan like me, used a car park to illustrate what could be done. I was gob***d. he did a U turn at speed in the width of a single lane, grounding out the pegs whilst doing it. in contrast, I need a three lane road and then wobble round strcitly vertical and almost stopped.

next ride out includes a demo of laying the bike on the ground and one man lifting it! at 280kg Shocked

yello · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 10:25 pm Post subject:

sounds like a good bit of training, i didn't do any slow riding at all. hope the rest goes as well!

Sinty · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 1:02 am Post subject:

I like slow stuff..

Laff

Really slow stuff on bikes its pretty amazing. Especially things like that ^^

Nightshade13 · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 8:45 am Post subject:

Amazing, isn't it? Grin

I'm currently learning with Rospa ... and although most of what you are taught is common sense when you think about it ... it is great to watch these guys/girls ride using these techniques!

To laying your bike on the ground and picking it up ... that really is a scary thought!! ... but ... see here http://www.hoppridertraining.co.uk/advanced.asp ... I went on one of the courses and laid my bike down ... fireblade ... and I am a girl (not that it should make any difference, but my bike did go down once and I could not pick it up without help from a neighbour!!) ... and then learnt to pick it up on my own ... It is really reassuring to know that if the unthinkable does every happen, you can impress all the 'pass-a-bys by picking up the bike, on your own, in a controlled and very unstressed manner!! Cool

Nightshade Big Grin

snapdragon · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 12:03 pm Post subject:

That is something I need to learn how to do Nightshade - I can hardly lift myself most days let alone the bike. Sad

Bluedaz · Pizza delivery rider Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 54

Nightshade. It may impress passers by.... but how impressed is your other half when you come home with a knackered fairing?????? Laff

Gio · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 4:51 pm Post subject:

When I did my IAM, my observer on one Sunday took us into a car park that looked as if it was an old gravel quarry, he made me do figure of 8's at very slow speed (about 2mph) between a pair of cones that were about 10 foot apart, was very interesting as the back end of the bike was sliding all over the place. The instructor was on a Pan as well. Laff