This past saturday I finally did my bikesafe day. After 3 years of london commuting I thought it a good idea to get some observed riding to see if I had any bad habits that were particularly dangerous…
Totally impressed by the whole experience, the team at The Warren, lessons etc and really keen to take training further,. going to join IAM etc as a result.
Day started out a bit embarresingly 
Got there on time and parked up as one of the instructors was checking bikes over to ensure they were roadsafe etc. so had to stay on bike while he checked mirrors, lights, indicators etc… of course when he asked me to blip my horn I for some completely inexplicable reason used my right hand and instead hit the starter button… engine already running of course so got a nice rewarding wrrrrhhrrrr sound. I felt a complete burk and could feel the blush burn the inside of my helmet.
Paperwork went well with PC Wayne raising an eyebrow when he saw I had no points and a clean record. Quite amazing for someone who forgets where the horn is.
anyhoo. the morning consisted of some tea and signing indemnity forms. then some class room training and brushing up on some basic theory followed by being teamed up with a fellow rider and a suitable PC. Our cop dude was Scott who was helping out, not a regular BikeSafe instructor but has assisted in the past when they are busy or short an instructor. He is a traffic police rider with exceptional bike skills, a self-confessed speed freak with many a track mile under the tyre.
We then did an observed ride for some ‘town’ or city riding. This all went smoothly and I was very pleased to see that we were encouraged to ride as we would normally. the day was not about bollocking you on your riding style at all but rather on how to make yourself more prominent, aware of positioning etc… all common sense stuff and mostly what I already do so cool with that…
then we had a rather good lunch followed by the real fun and instructional part of the day. this is where I found I got the most value. We went out on the twisty turny roads with national speed limits. I lead at first and it became quite clear that I was a bit uncertain in some bends, especially when encouraged to give it some welly. when my turn to follow I was soon being dropped behind. to cut a long story short it turns out I was too busy trying to find the right gear. after being told to stay in a low gear, 2nd or 3rd at most (even at speeds past 60) that I would find the bike more responsive would need far less use of the brake. use them revs. This changed things dramatically in later runs and was rather satisfying to hear the fz6 engine scream a bit to keep up to the bandit 1000 and police issue BMW up front.
Scott also went over vanishing points and some more advanced theory although we weren’t advised to focus on this as it was perhaps a bit too much info to take in in one day (hence wanting to do some more advanced training)…
the emphasis throughout the day was on safety but also on understanding the capabilities of the bike and through this on how to have fun safely… I have never taken a corner faster or safer than I did near the close of the day.
back at the Warren we had a debrief followed by some sobering and thought-provoking case studies of fatal bike accidents in London.
all in all a top day and highly recommended… even the fellow riders who clearly knew their stuff seemed to take something worthwhile away.
