Advanced Motorcycle Training in the United Kingdom
By advancedbiker
This is how we approach motorcycle training
after you have passed your basic motorcycle test. If you
think it would benefit you in the states, I will post some more
information
THE
‘SYSTEM’
The principles of Advanced Motorcycling are
based on a ‘System’ that is applied to every hazard when you are
riding. By applying
this ‘System ‘ it ensures that you will be always travelling at
the right speed, in the right gear and on the right position on
the road. In
other-words it is a drill you follow as you ride along, not like
when you go to work. You know at a certain time
there will be a bus at the stop and when you turn into work the
mailman is always coming out. With Advanced Motorcycling you
have to get the mind to work more and appreciate what is
happening around you more. An Advanced rider will think,
is the bus stopped, just about to pull off and where are the
passengers. Are
they about to cross the road? The Advanced rider does not
think what a nice colour the bus is.
For the ‘System’ to be applied you must be aware of what a hazard is. A hazard is anything that contains an element of danger. It can be described as follows:-
a) Junctions, roundabout, bend or hillcrest,
b) Movement and position of other road users,
c) Variations in road surface and weather conditions.
Whenever you see a hazard the ‘System’ is applied and is used in phase. The ‘System’ contains 6 phases and they must always be used in sequence.
In plain English, when you see something or
anticipate something happening, which will effect you, you react
according by using the ‘System’. Like I mentioned earlier, by
doing this, you increase your margin of safety by developing a
defensive riding style that is also progressive...
MAKING YOUR OWN SAFETY BUBBLE AS BIG AS
POSSIBLE
Trip to Normandy in France 2007 from the United Kingdom
By advancedbiker
I hope
you do not mind me sharing this artilce. I wrote as a
series for an american web site, but they never used it. My
account of a trip to Normandy, France in 2005:
Hello, my name is Nigel Bowers and I recently retired from the
Police force in Staffordshire, United Kingdom. When I was in the Force I
became an advanced Police motorcycle instructor and spent time at
the driving school.
One of my Inspectors was very interested in World War 2 history,
in particular the D Day landings. He was at the time
actively involved as a committee member with the running of the
Merville Battery Museum.
So one thing lead
to another and we both ended up in Normandy, France exploring the
D Day sites. I was
on my 1989 Kawasaki ZX10, with Tony as my pillion. That was in 1994 and I have
been going back ever since. In 2003 and 2005 Trevor, a
friend of mine organised a trip to Arromanches to a ‘biker’
friendly bed and breakfast and this year I decided to organise a
trip myself. I own
an advanced motorcycle training company and over the years some
of the trained riders have remained friends. A small group from my area
went to the Harz Mountains in Germany in June, but Max and myself couldn’t make it. Then Max e-mailed me mid June
2007, he fancied a
break, suggesting France. Within a matter of 12 hours I
had a group of 9 motorcyclists booked for the trip, Me on my 1999
Honda VFR 800 Fi-X, Max on his Aprilia Tuono, Roger on his
Aprilia Capanord, George and Margaret on their Honda VFR 800 Fi-X
, and Normandy first timers Geoff and Angela on their Yamaha 1000
Fazer and finnally Dave and June on their BMW R
1150R.
It looked as if the trip was on, and our destination in France was the coastal town of Arromanches, Normandy famous for its war time mulberry harbour. Just 150 yards from the sands of Gold Beach. A quick telephone call to our host Adrian Cox at our bed and breakfast Normandybeach meant that we could only booked the rooms for a 5 day stop, as he was fully booked at the weekends. So I decided to book Monday 10th September 2007 until Friday 14th September 2007. Now the problem was getting to France……
As I live in the centre of England the first thing I had do was to find out the availability of ferries to cross the channel, or would it be better to use the channel tunnel. I got onto the internet and started looking for a way to get to France. I am always envious of riders in the States, because they have all those roads to explore, without having to think about having to leave the country. This may seem a strange thing to think about, but here in England, any time you consider any long distance touring, you need to leave the country, either by ferry or by the Channel Tunnel. As I was taking another 5 motorcycles with me I had to look at the logistics of traveling to the Channel Tunnel and the convenience of a 35 minute crossing compared to either a 3 hour or 5 hour ferry crossing. Well in the end the ferry won and we booked on the Newhaven (226 miles from home) to Le Harve crossing operated by LD Lines. I could not get a group booking so we all booked the ferry separately, quite easy in the end, no ticket sent, just an e-mail print out.
A week before our departure date, I had arranged my travel insurance, foreign currency and set of bulbs for the motorcycle, a requirement for traveling in France. Then I decided to spend some money on a new set panniers. Over the years I have always found that when touring you have no space, jamming my clothing into a top box, seat tail pack and tank bag. It’s a man thing, packing things that may come in handy and in the end up never using. I ended up buying Givi, the E21 panniers and Givi wingrack. I had enough space and only had my tool kit left in the top box, leaving the tank bag for my video equipment. I was going to video the tour……
A couple of e-mails to the tour group over the weeks arranging meeting start points; I suddenly found myself meeting the group on Monday 10th September, at a very early 6.15am in the morning. I had to get to Newhaven for the 1230pm ferry. We made it with 30 minutes to spare, having come across traffic chaos on the M40 motorway into London.
I was very impressed by the way we were treated by the staff of LD Lines. The motorcycles were given allocated places on the ferry and tied down with strapping. None of them moved during the crossing. No problems as we cruised across the channel, relaxing in one of the onboard lounges and having a meal in one of the restaurants. A stress free way to start you holiday.
We arrived at Le Harve at 6.30pm a 5 hour crossing (We have to add a hour due to time difference).
As soon as we arrived in France we needed fuel for our 90 minute journey to the bed and breakfast, along the excellent French motorways and good class dual carriageways. The only thing I hadn’t planned for was the motorway tolls. You can never loose change and you know the feeling, trying to be quick, that is just taking your glove, or gloves off……. In the end it worked out a one euro each per motorcycle…….
This problem was the last thing on my mind as, for as soon as we left Le Harve we went over the a bridge called Le Pont de Normandie. We seemed to climb for ever, but the views from the top were breathtaking. Well enough of that, I had to get my party to Arromanches before it went dark and we were too late for an evening meal. Well I made it in time, to be met by our host Adrian Cox, who had already stocked the fridge up with beer for us. A few of the party went into the town for an evening meal, and some of use stayed at our B&B, sampling local wine, and home made pizza. It was nice to be back in Normandy. A strange thing to say but, ‘Home from Home’.
That was then end of day one, four more days to go……….
Links
Ferry www.ldline.co.uk
Accommodation www.normandybeach.co.uk
All the trip was videoed with an onboard camera and here are some links on Youtube:
An Amercian rides in the United Kingdom
By advancedbikerhttp://www.advancedmotorcycletraining.com/DavidHenke.PDF
Regards
Nigel
