Posted by Back in 2022 I did my IAM course with the Milton Keynes Advanced Motorists. I did a series of articles after every ride from my taster session, right through to my exam. You can find these on my website, here’s a link to the IAM Taster Session.
My observer is a lovely chap called Ian Souter. Ian very quickly realised that I love coffee and cake and was really good at incorporating a suitable cafe as a stop off during our rides.
I was really apprehensive before I did my taster session about the course, the riding, being observed and the test but I have to say, I really enjoyed the course, and way more than I thought I would.
I found the course made me take a step back and look at my riding and look at where I could make improvements to keep me as safe as possible, always having in mind my ‘bubble of safety’.
My ride outs with Ian very quickly became the highlight of my week and I felt my riding improved over the duration of the course. The coffee and cake was not only an added bonus, but a great chance to sit down and have a relaxed chat about my riding and the course itself.
Fast forward to four years later and Ian contacted me and said it was good practice to have a Check Ride after a few years just to make sure my riding is okay, discuss any concerns I have or anything I feel I need to work on.
Ian and I arranged to meet up. Ian had a route planned to The Flight Deck Cafe at Turweston. I was super pleased to see Ian hadn’t forgotten my slight obsession with cake!
Before we set off, Ian asked me a few general questions and said that as before, he shall be giving me directions by using his indicators.
Ian used this method when I did my IAM course. Basically, Ian rides behind me and he uses the bike’s indicators to let me know when I need to turn at the next junction. This, of course, is a good way of making sure I keep checking my mirrors.
We geared up and off we went. When I first started my IAM course, I did feel slightly apprehensive that someone was following me and observing my riding but this very quickly passed and it soon felt like I was just out for a ride with a friend.
I am pleased to say that this was how I felt straightaway heading off with Ian, I felt relaxed and comfortable. The route we took to the cafe, encompassed different roads making for some slow riding through villages, faster roads getting up to the national speed limit and I managed to get an overtake in too.
All too soon we arrived at the cafe, and priorities first, we ordered our coffee and cake and went and sat down.
Ian asked me how I felt the ride went. I felt overall it was good, I thought I may have missed a speed limit along the way and when I did the overtake, I hadn’t anticipated the roundabout up ahead was as near as it was.
Well, I needn’t have worried. Ian has a ‘Run Sheet’ or checklist if you like, with all the areas that are checked and the Competence Levels are marked as 1 = Commended; 2 = Satisfactory and 3 = Requires Development.
The system at the core of advanced riding is known as IPSGA : Information, Position, Speed, Gear and Acceleration and you can see from the photos the areas checked in more detail such as ride checks; observation; hazard management; acceleration sense; choice of gear; smoothness and slow manoeuvring.
Ian said I rode well, phew! Other than one 2, I had managed 1’s for the rest of the areas. Ian commented that I had good speed limit observation throughout the ride and he thought my overtake was good – I was patient, got an excellent position and then used the bike’s acceleration to get safely past and in before the roundabout.
My two came about as Ian felt there were a couple of times I could have made better progress with one example being when we turned off the A41 and went down the next straight at about 45 mph in a 60 mph limit.
Well, I have to say I was really chuffed with myself that I was still using the training given during my course. I believe that when you put the training to use all the time, after a while it just becomes second nature and it is not until you take that step back again, or you have a check ride, that you realise this.
I am so glad that the IAM offers check rides, it really is a good opportunity to check your skills are still in place and an even better opportunity to work on anything that you feel is not quite right.
I would just like to say thank you to Ian for giving up his time to take me out on a check ride and of course finding me coffee and cake. The IAM Observers are all volunteers and they give up their time for people like me and you so we can become better riders.
If you are thinking about signing up for an IAM course but are not sure, I can recommend doing a taster session with your local group so you can see for yourself what it is all about.
If you have already completed your course, get yourself booked in for a check ride just to make sure your skills are up to scratch.
I, for one, am glad I did just that.
BK