Prior to St Crispin’s Sundays I always grab my copy of the latest edition of Slipstream and have another read through at the articles written by the various contributors. It struck me that the Sept/Oct edition had three articles that all touched on, or focused on, riding standards in one form or another.
The first article, Kevin’s ‘From The Chair’, focused on the perception of advanced riding and how our actions may be perceived by other riders and road users. The second, Charles Leigh Dugmore’s article, then looked specifically at overtaking and covered overtaking other road users, and also riders in the group. The third article was written by Robbie McIntosh and took a really good, reflective look at what it meant to him to be an ‘Advanced Rider’ and the benefit of
continuous training to keep his own standards high.
I felt that all three articles were well written and made me think about how important it is to continually move forward in our riding development. Robbie really highlights the benefits of the various opportunities TVAM offers to enable us to continually develop our skills.
I am a believer that if we remain open to learning, we really can learn something every time we ride. That may be what not to do, which can be the most powerful of lessons.
That mantra came in really useful today at St Crispin’s when I found myself in a room with a number of members reviewing a recent ride, to identify what was done well and what could have been done better. The thing that really stood out for me was how several very different riders, with different views, could sit in a room and have a good conversation about how we could consider small changes to make improvements. Why did it work? I believe, simply because we all
view ourselves as ‘Advanced’.
It could be argued, and I have heard it said by many people, that an Advanced Rider is someone who is “slightly better than the average rider”. Not a great slogan, in my honest opinion, and not one that will be appearing on any development posters anytime soon I imagine.
I’m sure that many of you will have heard your Observer say there is “no such thing as a perfect ride” and, having been lucky enough to have ridden with some of the finest and best trained riders this Country has to offer, they all say that same thing. However, I believe that it goes beyond our riding, in that being ‘Advanced’ gives us the edge to adequately assess our riding and seek out what we could do better. And it doesn’t stop when we get off the bike and start the analysis. It gives us the ability to conduct ourselves in a professional manner and consider other people’s thoughts, and discuss them to identify and resolve issues.
Things happen, and are said in the heat of the moment and I’m proud of the fact that because of what we do, the majority of us remain able to stay calm when discussing often very difficult subjects to find a way forward.
I’d like to just quickly cover the particularly awkward subject of anti-social behaviour. Revving of engines in built up areas/under bridges and the like.
Like many of you, I have witnessed this and have politely spoken to riders and asked them not to do it. I have to say that on each occasion, the response from the rider has been positive. As the largest motorcycle group in the Thames Valley, it’s probably not surprising that I occasionally get contacted by members of the public to alert me to anti-social behaviour. Of course, it’s difficult in those circumstances to be 100% certain that the offender is in fact a TVAM member or actually part of the ride that has been reported. That said, the perception of members of the public is something that we should seriously consider in our actions both on and off the bike, given the fact that we are a road safety charity.
I’d like to let you all have a few dates for your diaries for next year, that will give you opportunities to develop your riding:
▶ Spring 7Ws, our first of the year Associate training weekend – 10th – 12th April
▶ 3Rs, our Full Members training and social riding weekend – 5th – 7th June
▶ Observer Weekend, our Observer training weekend – 10th – 12th July
▶ Autumn 7Ws, our second of the year Associate training weekend – 4th – 6th September
Look out for messages on groups.io for expressions of interest or bookings nearer the time for these events.
Please don’t forget to support the Reading Toy Run, on 7th December this year, as a marshal and help Steve Harris (AKA Santa) to deliver all those
thousands of presents to the Barnardo’s children.
Finally, I hope that all those that are taking their Aardvarks this year have a great time, and don’t forget to think about what it is that you want to get out of your day’s riding with your Rapid Training coach.
Wishing all the very best for the festive period. Ride safe and have fun.
Barrie Smith
TVAM Chief Observer
