revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Afternoon,

Just recieved an email with a little discount code for the Bike Safe course. I have thought about this before but never managed to book something, either the dates clashed or it was the wrong time of year. So, just booked a course with the £15 discount, so not bad for £50 all in. A 2 hr online session and then a 2 hr ride. I think I few on here have done them?

Anyway, a heads up that there is a discount at the moment.

Discount? it used to be free, I don't think I'd pay for the privilege of the preaching session the Met police subjected me to before any riding was done.

It was free when I did it too. Useful though.

Did the (free I think) London one based somewhere near Croydon. I don't remember any lectures but the riding was fun (2 of us + Dibble). They did give the bikes a once over at the start but failed to notice my reg plate didn't match the documentation.

Mussels wrote: Wed May 25, 2022 5:32 pm Discount? it used to be free, I don't think I'd pay for the privilege of the preaching session the Met police subjected me to before any riding was done.

They may be a bit subdued now - you could have a couple of works non-parties on the way round and they wouldn't notice them.
Allegedly.

slowsider wrote: Wed May 25, 2022 6:19 pm

Mussels wrote: Wed May 25, 2022 5:32 pm Discount? it used to be free, I don't think I'd pay for the privilege of the preaching session the Met police subjected me to before any riding was done.

They may be a bit subdued now - you could have a couple of works non-parties on the way round and they wouldn't notice them.
Allegedly.

Yawn. Every post? Don't you get bored of the digs at people who'll never ever ever read the forum?

weeksy wrote: Wed May 25, 2022 6:21 pm

slowsider wrote: Wed May 25, 2022 6:19 pm

Mussels wrote: Wed May 25, 2022 5:32 pm Discount? it used to be free, I don't think I'd pay for the privilege of the preaching session the Met police subjected me to before any riding was done.

They may be a bit subdued now - you could have a couple of works non-parties on the way round and they wouldn't notice them.
Allegedly.

Yawn. Every post? Don't you get bored of the digs at people who'll never ever ever read the forum?

Jeez, first people defending big pharma, and now backing the Met.

Bike Safe used to be free in Suffolk, might still be for all I know.

Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Wed May 25, 2022 7:40 pm Bike Safe used to be free in Suffolk, might still be for all I know.

Its now called Safe Rider in Norfolk/Suffolk

Saw an ad on FB today for it being run from Seastar Superbikes by Norfolk Plod ....50 quid a rider, 25 quid for those under 25.

Suffolk plod run theirs from Orwell Motorcycles in Ipswich, same price as far as i can see

https://www.suffolk.police.uk/services/ ... %20riders.

In London some LA’s will have free places - did it 3 years ago and found it very useful .

Mussels wrote: Wed May 25, 2022 5:32 pm Discount? it used to be free, I don't think I'd pay for the privilege of the preaching session the Met police subjected me to before any riding was done.

I did one of the very first London BikeSafe courses down at the Met's recreation facility at The Warren, Hayes (which will be the one CS mentioned) and I have no recollection of any preaching. Plenty of useful content (I learned a few things, specifically the danger from oncoming vehicles turning right being a killer crash in London) and some objective feedback on the ride.

I have to admit to being a bit less impressed with the more recent two I attended at Bushey, as there was rather a lot of talking down of independent trainers - something I fed back to them - and rather too much push to be a RoSPA gold rider on the observed ride. Having been asked to "ride like you normally do" and enjoying ambling along in early spring sunshine smiling and nodding to the people walking dogs and cycling, I was told "that wasn't an advanced ride - you need to make more progress". But was there anything WRONG with my ride? "No but you should make more progress". Why? "Because that's what advanced riders do". Really?

I did a session at the Warren about 5 years ago. The classroom part was quick-paced, covering quite a lot, and was done as a team, sometimes quite amusingly. I didn't feel we were being preached to. The feedback from the observed ride was non-prescriptive, too. I was told my ride was safe and conservative (code I think for a bit slow) - 'nothing wrong with that'. I was encouraged to do further training and there was mention of working towards IAM observer ('as you have the right attitude' - that was flattering). This was after the ride. When further training was discussed in the classroom I think all the options, including independent trainers, were mentioned as more or less equally valid.

If it's still like that I'd recommend it.

The team leader at Bushey described independents as 'cowboys'. I mentioned I happened to hold an independently verified BTEC.

Mine was at the Warren about 15 years ago. The classroom part was what I'd imagine a speed awareness course to be like. The ride itself was the opposite, more like a ride with your mates giving pointers, sounds like both bits changed over the years.

Well, I'm glad I brought this up

tricol wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 4:11 pm Well, I'm glad I brought this up

Go ahead and do it... there's good content in the theory part of the day and you'll almost certainly get some useful tips on the ride, just be aware that a) it's NOT a training course and b) remember there are very valid alternatives to the IAM and RoSPA as a source of post-test training, particularly when you're a relatively new rider.

I did BikeSafe free in 2006, then again at Hendon in 2009/10. Both times I had really good officers giving feedback and encouraging pointers. I found them to be relaxed and helpful. Because of them, I went and did more training, a session with Spin Doctor still sticks in my mind and has "saved" me quite a few times. Training and taking on board good advice makes a difference.

the_priest wrote: Sat May 28, 2022 12:52 pm I did BikeSafe free in 2006, then again at Hendon in 2009/10. Both times I had really good officers giving feedback and encouraging pointers. I found them to be relaxed and helpful. Because of them, I went and did more training, a session with Spin Doctor still sticks in my mind and has "saved" me quite a few times. Training and taking on board good advice makes a difference.

Glad you still remember the course with me. Always a good sign

Not just changing road surfaces, but road positioning when coming up to parked vehicles and the offset for the junctions. Distances and manhole covers, the way we line up a corner and so on. Much more that I remember and use all the time. It was common sense, but highlighted in a way that just stuck. Top training!

Are Bikesafe doing some kind of promo at the moment?
The other week I watched a You Tube video with Lamb Chop Rides doing the Met Bikesafe course.As someone who passed their test in 1979 & has never done a course I was a bit curious.After watching this I'm now thinking of booking a course around here in Lancashire.
FWIW I drive artics for one of the supermarkets & we used to do a annual on road assesment on our driving & a classroom day,so I'm used to getting assesed.
Here's the Lamb Chop video