Just wondered - who's done IAM or ROSPA tests?

[DougL]

And while we're talking about Advanced Riding, have a look at this:

[BBvideo 560,340][/BBvideo]

[horobags]

When I was with rospa , the rospa diploma was the highest civilian award (in motorcycling) possible and was just going to be registered as a b-tec, as I left. The test award system was bronze, silver, an gold, then on to the diploma. To achieve a good result you have to make good progress, the ride pace should be "brisk", oh yes, and safe .

[DougL]

So the IAM group that I trained with (LAM = London Advanced Motorcyclists) have a bit of a reputation amongst the London IAM examiners for making progress. In fact, they have a bit of a reputation full stop. A high percentage of their observers are Nationals, ie they have been assessed by IAM and not locally. I rode as an associate member with two of their national observers on a social ride (by invitation). At the end of an hour when we stopped at the side of the road to sort out a navigation hiccough, I looked at my hands and they were shaking from the sheer adrenaline. Once I actually realised what the expected pace was and relaxed a bit, I was just fine. It's much easier following an experienced rider as you have less information to process. You can see the rider-in-front's line and follow and also gauge their speed. When you are out in front, this is much more difficult as there is much more information to take in and process. I'm sure that stage will come eventually...