Bikesafe courses - any good?

Jeweller wrote:
> Nige wrote:
>> "Beav" <beavis.original.RemoveThis@ntlwoxorld.com> wrote in message
>> news:tBfxj.6572$Z_2.2213@newsfe4-win.ntli.net...
>>> "Monz" <see_sig.RemoveThis@email.net> wrote in message
>>> news:s86dna0AMuRUzFjanZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>>>> Nige wrote:
>>>>> Got an option to do one soon, are they worth it or is it just an
>>>>> opportunity to preach for the cops?
>>>> When is it Nige? and do they have any places left... I wouldnt mind
>>>> doing one of those
>>> Shall we make it a UKRM "do"? I quite fancy doing the course too.
>>
>> Aye matey, no problem.
>>
>>
> I'm with Beav on this. I have lots to learn!
> I shall watch this thread and join the gang if I can.

I could probably be motivated too for amusement.

--
Hog
'03 ST4S '96 Bastard12 '89 R100RS '81 XS650 '78 RD400
 >> Stay informed about: Bikesafe courses - any good? 

Nige wrote:

> Got an option to do one soon, are they worth it or is it just an
> opportunity to preach for the cops?

Did one in Bromley last year. Brilliant day's riding and I learnt some
very useful stuff. There's nothing like the experience of doing a bit
of spirited riding with police beemer in your mirrors, and this way of
doing it carries far fewer risks of a spell in jail.

There's apparently talk of pulling or reducing the funding for them -
IMO you'd be stupid not take advantage of one ASAP, regarless of
experience or riding ability.

I was a tad worried about it, as my previous experiences with the
police have not always been happy affairs. But the fact they're plod is
very secondary to the fact that they're bikers who enjoy riding and
have more mileage under they're belts than most.

Do it.
--
Slower Than You
 >> Stay informed about: Bikesafe courses - any good? 

This message is not archived
 >> Stay informed about: Bikesafe courses - any good? 

TD <topper.doggle RemoveThis @googlemail.com> wrote in
news:fq48pf$11v$1@registered.motzarella.org:

> On 2008-02-27, Slower Than You <no.way@jose> wrote:
>> Nige wrote:
>>
>>> Got an option to do one soon, are they worth it or is it just an
>>> opportunity to preach for the cops?
>>
>> Did one in Bromley last year. Brilliant day's riding and I learnt
>> some very useful stuff. There's nothing like the experience of doing
>> a bit of spirited riding with police beemer in your mirrors, and this
>> way of doing it carries far fewer risks of a spell in jail.
>>
>
> I don't quite get it. Everyone seems to say that they are pretty fair
> chaps. Does this mean that same plod wouldn't nick you if you were
> riding in the same way on a non-Bikesafe day, or are they two-faced in
> that regard?
>
> I'd be interested to know if plod actually turn a blind eye to speed
> if the rider is in control and it is safe.
>

It's fairly simple. When they are doing Bikesafe courses they have been
tasked with encouraging people to ride more safely, thereby going some way
to reduce bike related casualties. The officers that did the course I went
on were pretty rational chaps and wanted to assess people when they were
riding at their preferred pace. It would be pretty pointless telling
someone that they rode well at 60mph when you are sure they would normally
be riding at 80mph along a particular stretch of road. A speed at which
their riding might become unsafe.

When they are on patrol they are tasked with enforcing the law. One of the
options is to prosecute those that break the law. Another option is to give
a warning.

Whilst this may lead to allegations of traffic plod being two faced, I
prefer it this way. If you get nicked by a proper plod then there is a
chance that he/she may apply a little rationality and let you off with a
caution. This is much better than the increasingly bureaucratic approach we
are bing subjected to, where all offences, however trivial, are prosecuted.

--
wessie at tesco dot net

BMW R1150GS
 >> Stay informed about: Bikesafe courses - any good? 

Hog wrote:
> Jeweller wrote:
>> Nige wrote:
>>> "Beav" <beavis.original.DeleteThis@ntlwoxorld.com> wrote in message
>>> news:tBfxj.6572$Z_2.2213@newsfe4-win.ntli.net...
>>>> "Monz" <see_sig.DeleteThis@email.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:s86dna0AMuRUzFjanZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>>>>> Nige wrote:
>>>>>> Got an option to do one soon, are they worth it or is it just an
>>>>>> opportunity to preach for the cops?
>>>>> When is it Nige? and do they have any places left... I wouldnt mind
>>>>> doing one of those
>>>> Shall we make it a UKRM "do"? I quite fancy doing the course too.
>>> Aye matey, no problem.
>>>
>>>
>> I'm with Beav on this. I have lots to learn!
>> I shall watch this thread and join the gang if I can.
>
> I could probably be motivated too for amusement.

<brunstrom mode>
ssh boyos - quiet and we can get them all at once
</bm>

--
MikeH
GSX750F
 >> Stay informed about: Bikesafe courses - any good? 

Beav wrote:
> "Monz" <see_sig.TakeThisOut@email.net> wrote in message
> news:s86dna0AMuRUzFjanZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>> Nige wrote:
>>> Got an option to do one soon, are they worth it or is it just an
>>> opportunity to preach for the cops?
>>
>> When is it Nige? and do they have any places left... I wouldnt mind
>> doing one of those
>
> Shall we make it a UKRM "do"? I quite fancy doing the course too.

Sounds like a plan to me

--
Monz
K7 GSX-R 1000
ANORAK#16 | BOTAFOT #135 | BREast#2 | MIRTTH#25 | BoB#16 | IBB#11 |
 >> Stay informed about: Bikesafe courses - any good? 

"wessie" <putmynamehere.RemoveThis@tesco.net> wrote in message
news:Xns9A51BFD28754Ewtymmmsas@80.5.182.99...
> TD <topper.doggle.RemoveThis@googlemail.com> wrote in
> news:fq48pf$11v$1@registered.motzarella.org:
>> I'd be interested to know if plod actually turn a blind eye to speed
>> if the rider is in control and it is safe.
> It's fairly simple. When they are doing Bikesafe courses they have been
> tasked with encouraging people to ride more safely, thereby going some way
> to reduce bike related casualties. The officers that did the course I went
> on were pretty rational chaps and wanted to assess people when they were
> riding at their preferred pace. It would be pretty pointless telling
> someone that they rode well at 60mph when you are sure they would normally
> be riding at 80mph along a particular stretch of road. A speed at which
> their riding might become unsafe.
>
> When they are on patrol they are tasked with enforcing the law. One of the
> options is to prosecute those that break the law. Another option is to
> give
> a warning.

Butting in after an incredibly long absence...

I rode for a while with a pc motorcyclist, and his take was that if you were
riding sensibly and looked the sensible part, they were likely to leave you
alone. It was people riding a bit stupidly they were likely to pick up on,
or people who were racing around on new sports bikes with new leathers
taking bad lines etc.

John
 >> Stay informed about: Bikesafe courses - any good? 

Nige wrote:
> Got an option to do one soon, are they worth it

Definitely.

> or is it just an
> opportunity to preach for the cops?

Not at all. IME the folk running it are just looking for you to ride safely,
and acknowledge the fact that this doesn't necessarily equate to obeying
speed limits.

Some elements of the classroom sessions might get a bit 'by the book' at
times, but I never got the impression I was being talked down to. Anyway -
sod the classroom session - I can pretty much guarantee that all your
memories will be of the assessed ride, and the marked Pan grinding its
centrestand in your mirrors.

--
ZX6R F2 - The Gravelseeker
BOTAFOT #121, BBB #2
 >> Stay informed about: Bikesafe courses - any good? 

Monkey wrote:
> Nige wrote:
>> Got an option to do one soon, are they worth it
>
> Definitely.
>
>> or is it just an
>> opportunity to preach for the cops?
>
> Not at all. IME the folk running it are just looking for you to ride safely,
> and acknowledge the fact that this doesn't necessarily equate to obeying
> speed limits.
>
> Some elements of the classroom sessions might get a bit 'by the book' at
> times, but I never got the impression I was being talked down to. Anyway -
> sod the classroom session - I can pretty much guarantee that all your
> memories will be of the assessed ride, and the marked Pan grinding its
> centrestand in your mirrors.
>

He'd be hard-pressed to do that following me!

--
Jeweller
R100RT
Formerly: James Captain, A10, C15, B25, Dnepr M16 solo,
R80/7, R100RT (green!)
www.davidhowardjeweller.co.uk
 >> Stay informed about: Bikesafe courses - any good? 

"Hog" <hogSPAM.DeleteThis@freenetCHIPS.co.uk> wrote in message
news:62lmb3F244boaU1@mid.individual.net...
> Jeweller wrote:
>> Nige wrote:
>>> "Beav" <beavis.original.DeleteThis@ntlwoxorld.com> wrote in message
>>> news:tBfxj.6572$Z_2.2213@newsfe4-win.ntli.net...
>>>> "Monz" <see_sig.DeleteThis@email.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:s86dna0AMuRUzFjanZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>>>>> Nige wrote:
>>>>>> Got an option to do one soon, are they worth it or is it just an
>>>>>> opportunity to preach for the cops?
>>>>> When is it Nige? and do they have any places left... I wouldnt mind
>>>>> doing one of those
>>>> Shall we make it a UKRM "do"? I quite fancy doing the course too.
>>>
>>> Aye matey, no problem.
>>>
>>>
>> I'm with Beav on this. I have lots to learn!
>> I shall watch this thread and join the gang if I can.
>
> I could probably be motivated too for amusement.

I'm motivated by the fact that I'll learn something. Hopefully, something
useful too.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19
 >> Stay informed about: Bikesafe courses - any good? 

"Monz" <see_sig RemoveThis @email.net> wrote in message
news:lrOdnT008IZgLljanZ2dnUVZ8qClnZ2d@bt.com...
> Beav wrote:
>> "Monz" <see_sig RemoveThis @email.net> wrote in message
>> news:s86dna0AMuRUzFjanZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>>> Nige wrote:
>>>> Got an option to do one soon, are they worth it or is it just an
>>>> opportunity to preach for the cops?
>>>
>>> When is it Nige? and do they have any places left... I wouldnt mind
>>> doing one of those
>>
>> Shall we make it a UKRM "do"? I quite fancy doing the course too.
>
> Sounds like a plan to me

So what's next, get on the first available?


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19
 >> Stay informed about: Bikesafe courses - any good? 

Beav wrote:
> "Monz" <see_sig RemoveThis @email.net> wrote in message
> news:lrOdnT008IZgLljanZ2dnUVZ8qClnZ2d@bt.com...
>> Beav wrote:
>>> "Monz" <see_sig RemoveThis @email.net> wrote in message
>>> news:s86dna0AMuRUzFjanZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>>>> Nige wrote:
>>>>> Got an option to do one soon, are they worth it or is it just an
>>>>> opportunity to preach for the cops?
>>>>
>>>> When is it Nige? and do they have any places left... I wouldnt mind
>>>> doing one of those
>>>
>>> Shall we make it a UKRM "do"? I quite fancy doing the course too.
>>
>> Sounds like a plan to me
>
> So what's next, get on the first available?

I'm thinking 10th may as a first option & April as a second & July as a
third for me.

I can't do June, it's the nippers birthday.


--


Nige, talking utter shite since 1967.

Focus ST3
Discovery 3 XS (coming soon!)
Daytona SE

NIGE#1
 >> Stay informed about: Bikesafe courses - any good? 

TD explained on 27/02/2008 :
> On 2008-02-27, Slower Than You <no.way@jose> wrote:
>> Nige wrote:
>>
>>> Got an option to do one soon, are they worth it or is it just an
>>> opportunity to preach for the cops?
>>
>> Did one in Bromley last year. Brilliant day's riding and I learnt some
>> very useful stuff. There's nothing like the experience of doing a bit
>> of spirited riding with police beemer in your mirrors, and this way of
>> doing it carries far fewer risks of a spell in jail.
>>
>
> I don't quite get it. Everyone seems to say that they are pretty fair chaps.
> Does this mean that same plod wouldn't nick you if you were riding in the
> same way on a non-Bikesafe day, or are they two-faced in that regard?
>
> I'd be interested to know if plod actually turn a blind eye to speed if the
> rider is in control and it is safe.

As with TrafPol, BikePol generally leave you alone if you are
driving/riding and demonstrating good standards of attention plus
safety. It's the none TrafPol you need to watch out for, from the point
of view of your own safety as well as the risk of getting pulled. These
are also the ones which often demonstrate the poorest standards of
driving.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk
 >> Stay informed about: Bikesafe courses - any good?