Riding the Range

[lamble]

It's a ride report of sorts, as I was riding and this is after all, a report.

For some reason, which isn't becoming any clearer, I decided to undertake the WA DOT Rider Instructor Course, and this last weekend was the first stage.

Any of you who have taken the BRC Basic Rider Course, will hopefully have enjoyed a smooth, proficient, informative training course.

If you'd joined us rookies in Shelton WA on a windswept airfield, you'd realise very soon, how the finished Instructor article, is far from the stumbling, disjointed, embarrassing ineptitude, we were displaying to our fine mentors.

We were 8, a BRC class can be 12. We can all ride (to a degree) some BRC candidates need to be shown how to mount a m/c.
There's a book (several actually) that show the processes of instruction, they are the skeleton, you need to add the sinew, muscles, blood and flesh that bring it all to life...that isn't scripted!

You get to ride your own bikes around the range and to see a gold wing in the much feared "box", being flicked in a figure of 8, was an education in itself.

To have all those habits you've collected along the way, pointed out as being errors is an even bigger and harsher education. In my helmet, the number of " But, but, but's" was building by the moment.

Guys and gals, let me tell you, not in search of some sort of praise but in recognition of those who have undertaken this route before and whom I hope to join, it's bloody harder than it looks to instruct.
There's far more to it than lining up 12 bikes, covering the saddle with student buttocks and pointing them at cones.

Is it worth it?
Looking at my homework and the daunting 2nd weekend coming up, as I sit here today, do you know, I'm not sure.
Will I carry on torturing myself? yep.
I'll be there next weekend, ready to have my pre-conceptions challenged, my riding skills (or lack of) critiqued visciously and for the wind a rain to have me
questioning my sanity.

Do I know why?
No.
Answers on a post card please.

Novices need instruction. There aren't enough instructors. Motorcycling gets a bad reputation when untrained riders harm themselves. Could you help?

[knary]

:thumb

You'll find it rewarding. When you get a chance, watch some bull fighting. The matador's ability to avoid the charging bull is a skill to mimick.

[BradfordBenn]

The more practice the more better.

It is time well spent.

[lamble]

I like the bull fighting analogy-how long should I leave it before I kill one and keep their ears as souvenirs? Ole!!!

Even with fellow trainee instructors, it's like herding kittens...in the dark...with your eyes closed...facing the opposite direction...etc...

[lamble]

2nd weekend down nr Olympia doing this instructor riding course.

I'll think of you all on your twisties as I ride in and out of cones...
bastids, little orange swines that define limits and success. Evil orange/green dictators. I hate them, I really, really hate them, so very, very, very very muchly much. Contemptuously indignant rubber devils, they are there now, just waiting, daring me to hit one, so they can uniformly shout "Gotcha!"
They watch and wait and then, with even the faintest of clips, they spring up, fly through the air in a display of outrageous flambouyance, so it's obvious you are at fault.
It's a sham, I tells ya, a sham...they aren't hurt. Oh yes, they might pretend to be and protest their case to the officials (bleating little squealers), but, but, but.... they aren't. They are indistructable and although they are brightly coloured on the outside, they have dark souls and evil intent.


Should be fun.

Steve.

[PacWestGS]

2nd weekend down nr Olympia doing this instructor riding course.

I'll think of you all on your twisties as I ride in and out of cones...
bastids, little orange swines that define limits and success. Evil orange/green dictators. I hate them, I really, really hate them, so very, very, very very muchly much. Contemptuously indignant rubber devils, they are there now, just waiting, daring me to hit one, so they can uniformly shout "Gotcha!"
They watch and wait and then, with even the faintest of clips, they spring up, fly through the air in a display of outrageous flambouyance, so it's obvious you are at fault.
It's a sham, I tells ya, a sham...they aren't hurt. Oh yes, they might pretend to be and protest their case to the officials (bleating little squealers), but, but, but.... they aren't. They are indistructable and although they are brightly coloured on the outside, they have dark souls and evil intent.


Should be fun.

Steve.

That's hilarious :laugh

Those evil little bastiges -

LE-Riders Course (last year at the RA Rally in Boise)

The Decreasing Snowman -
http://PacWestGS.smugmug.com/photos/84528589-S.jpghttp://PacWestGS.smugmug.com/photos/84528680-S.jpg

Decreasing U-Turn -
http://PacWestGS.smugmug.com/photos/84535526-S.jpghttp://PacWestGS.smugmug.com/photos/84536250-S.jpg

Proper form, proper form -
http://PacWestGS.smugmug.com/photos/84536148-M.jpg = http://PacWestGS.smugmug.com/photos/84525040-S.jpg

Have fun, ride fast, take chances :ha

[lamble]

Look! Look see!!!

I warned you all and no one listened. They are proliferating, cones everywhere. They are taking over.

Even throughout history, these conical freaks have had it in for us.
Jerusalem invaded by Xerxes- his army wearing.....cone shaped hats!
Hitler builds autobahns- good idea. Then they block off lanes with cones and the result....World War!

They even form up in lines, like battalions of satanic goblins. They should be irradicated....now!

Don't let their simplistic design and "happy/innocent" colour fool you. You are just being suckered into their mire of directional constraints and penalisation should you fail to comply. It's the devil himself I tells ya, the very deeeevil himself!
Is it purely by coincidence that if you change all the letters in cone except the n, and then add a letter, you could spell satan? I think not.

I now need to go to my "Happy Place" for a while.

Historical references have no validity in truth and are used purely to make a point. Please, any relatives of Hitler or Xerxes do not file a claim.
I promise to look up my history books.

[BradfordBenn]

I am surprised by how many people are not wearing gear on the range.

[PacWestGS]

I am surprised by how many people are not wearing gear on the range.


Maybe that was for me? Brad it was hot; like over 90-degrees. There were a few people that fell over but at less than 15mph most likely less than 5mph injuries from heat stroke would surpass the injuries from booboos. :dunno

There was the new rider that was on her new (un-plated) red F650GS in shorts, t-shirt and she fell more than once without any real bumps.

NATGAT= (She had a really good time and a big smile the whole time)
http://PacWestGS.smugmug.com/photos/84533984-M.jpg
(I think she got a few phone numbers too :stick )

Helmet, gloves and common sense were required. :dance

The police - well, you know how department policy works? Got to keep up the image. Hehehe

[Andy VH]

I've been teaching the MSF RSS and MSF BRC now going into my 15th year.
It's all been worth it.

I'll be teaching ERC's this July at the National. Hope to see some of your there!

Andy

[Professor]

I taught my 5th BRC last weekend. Teaching this course is much more complex than it seems. The pros make it look easy, but it's not. The good news is that it gets easier and more comfortable each time you teach. I have a long way to go to match the skill and smoothness of my mentors. The challenge of doing it really well and the responsibility for giving each student the best you have is daunting. But it is worth the effort. The people we teach are either already riders or will be riding whether or not they take our course. We can help them learn a few basic principles and begin the process of developing habits that may save their life. I can think of two times that what I learned in my first BRC helped me avoid a crash that would have otherwise almost certainly occured.

Welcome.

[Andy VH]

Way to go Professor. I can tell by your response you're of the mindset that is perfect for an MSF instructor. It does get easier, but yes it is work.

Just wait till you get a certain age group/gender that I know many instructors (myself included) have to work the hardest with. This is a slightly older age group that likely has done little in their lives to cause them danger of physical injury. They want to do everything perfect. But yet, they fear any leaning and any speed.
Good luck, you'll know who I'm talking about, and treat them with all the respect and patience you can muster. Some will frustrate you to no end, some will surprise and delight you when their "light" comes on.

For what it's worth. I'm the motorcycle safety forum moderator for a national cycle website, Motorcycle-USA.com, look for message boards on the home page. I am starting a MSF instructors only forum on that website to discuss best practice, student issues, demos, bikes, whatever. So far I have thirteen interested instructors. Check it out, you are welcome to join us. There is some really good insight on the website, and I have seen extremely little of the bickering and name calling common in other websites. We have some good, active administrators.
Andy

[lamble]

Just ridden back. Passed so far.

Next is the big one. Real people expecting to learn something. Cripes will they need their money back?

Cones revenge. They are now locked in the range honey bucket for two weeks. I hope it gets really hot, that'll teach them.

[lamble]

Okay here's the larger picture.

First week all my clothes were stolen from the room I'd booked, while I was on the range. Instead of doing the assigned homework, I'm watching security video to spot a touratech bag (plus for some reason two mugs and a perculator!). Then the police arrive. They think the perp may be asleep (drug induced) in a "conspicuous" truck, just down the road from my hotel.
1:30 am Police come back with my bag (no sign of mugs and perculator though), only problem, not all my clothes are there and those that are, are covered in either red paint or, paint thinner fluid.
The perp had been incarcerated, as he'd also got a gun with all the serial numbers filed off.
I passed the truck next day on the way to the range-it was conspicuous in the highest sense-white with paint splashes of all colours, in a giant abstract that I believe may have been inspired by Mondrianesque geometric abstactness and the freer flowing forms of colour and shape adopted by Pollock, alternatively it may have been to hide rust spots and been alcohol inspired.

Start day two, asleep. By mid-day I'm being asked if things are "okay?"
I couldn't stay alert.
That's when the cones started to move about in a swirling pattern. I realised I'd had the recovered bag and contents next to me, for the little time I did get some sleep and had been inhailing paint and thinner fumes for two hours-I was half asleep and half floating on a chemically induced high...not ideal for a training programme.

I was given free accommodation and a free VIP meal for two by the hotel, who did their utmost to help.

Jump to week 2. Everything's going okay. Mrs Lamble has come down to use the facilities and REO Speedwagon are performing at the hotel, so lot's of mullets and cowboy hats on 50-somethings, are everywhere.

The course had gone well, despite me starting the activities with the use of a rubber chicken-I can't explain that.

At dinner, a rather splendid buffet affair, she who must be obeyed and I, are replenishing our plates with blackberry cobbler and icecream. We return to our table to find it's been cleared and other diners sitting there. Our wine-gone, our seats and table gone.
Free VIP meal number two.

REO must have been good, because despite my turning in early, the crowd from the concert turned up at 1:30 am, singing a medley of their hit (I only know one of their songs and I didn't know they'd sung it, neither did Mrs Lamble, much to her embarrassment, when she met Mr REO, Mr Speed and Mr Wagon in the elevator/lift the next day).

So on the range, same sagging red sleep deficient eyes as the previous week, same lack lustre performance, same dramatic afternoon drop off. I'm sure the mentor thought I'd been partying, heavily, or been to an REO Speedwagon concert.
Some how I managed to drag the bike round the cones without hitting them (although they deserved to be well and truly spanked, but I know that's just their siren like ways, lure you in too near with their happy colours and enticing rubberiness, then crash you on the rocks of humiliation, cunning and devious swine).

So, took the written test, multiple guess format. Does anyone ever fail this?

Next, it's live human beings, in real class and range situations and we novice instructors need to be slick.

I'll try and get some sleep ahead of time, because you can be sure as "cones is cones" (sic), something will come along to ruin my night time visits to "teddy goes bye byes in slumber-land" and I'll be looking at a class of over excited, expectant novice riders, through eyes that look like tobasco drips in a muddy puddle.

Is this a ride report?
An adventure is where ever you find it!

[BradfordBenn]

Howdy All-

Sorry for the little hijack, but just figured I would let you know that the classes are filling up fast for the ERC at the West Bend Rally. You can download the form and see what classes are available at: http://www.bmwmoafoundation.org/projects/ERC2007.html

-=Brad
Vice President of the BMW MOA Foundation

[lamble]

Howdy All-

Sorry for the little hijack, but just figured I would let you know that the classes are filling up fast for the ERC at the West Bend Rally. You can download the form and see what classes are available at: http://www.bmwmoafoundation.org/projects/ERC2007.html

-=Brad
Vice President of the BMW MOA Foundation

Will there be cones?

[BradfordBenn]

Will there be cones?

yes, but we had them all spayed and neutered.

[lamble]

Ben,

that won't work.

Is it purely by coincidence that if you take the work cone, then get it to spell satan (see earlier) then bring it back to cone and add an L, you get clone!
I think not.
That's why they all look identical and you can't kick them in the genitals, even though they deserve it!

[lamble]

I've booked myself in as chief lurker, you know, the bloke that hangs around at the back of a group, if it were a party I'd be "Nobby-no-mates" in the slightly discoloured trousers that have a flair and generate static when I walk.
That's it, I'll be the pointless one shadowing the instructors and only fit to move the planks in the ride over obstacle exercise.

Still it should give me some insight into how to interact with the clientelle.
And much to my delight, the scheduler said, "So, you'll be kicking cones then".

Almost makes the 6am starts this weekend worth it. I wonder if I still have a pair of winkle-picker toed shoes somewhere?

[lamble]

At Thursday night's BRC class, where I was all shadowy, being concealled behind the mass of notes I was taking, I was asked, in a 'told sort of way', that, "You'll be riding the demos then, this weekend?"

So, no more the chorus line for me. It's the spotlight, centre stage, a chance for fame and misfortune, for surely I'll cock things up somewhere along the way.

Fortunately I don't work on a Friday (I tried full time employment and it disagreed with me), the sun is shining, so I can go and get some practise in, ahead of my public debut.

Do I need to polish my boots?

Make-up, make-up...it's time for my close up!

Saturday.
"Despite what you saw in the demo, I want you to stay on the American side of the cones"

It was a harsh, if correct revue of my first ever demo ride. Sure, I'd started on the right hand side and undertaken the humiliation of "power walking" across the range (it looks like a herniated duck doing a hundred yard dash, only in a helmet, gloves and boots). Sure I'd done the 270 degree turn. But, and I swear this is true, as I turned my back on my orange cone, it shuffled in a few feet so I came out on the wrong side for riding back across. Mind you, it did cause the novice group to re evaluate, "find a safe place to stand".

The Boeing parking lot is a drab place, although parking lots aren't usually renouned for their aesthetics are they, so you could say it's a typical parking lot, only humungously large, so drabber by incrementation.

The sky was equally drab and leaden and to be frank, so were the students. A less responsive bunch you'd be hard pushed to meet, unless you happened to teach the Helen Keller class. (That's a little in poor taste-sorry, but you get the idea, it was like trying to suck blood from a mummy).

I won't go into their particular performances, suffice to say, tomorrow needs to be a lot better.

My performance level nearly peaked at adequate and I was asked to ride all but one of the day's demos. No one laughed and no one died. In my books I'd call that a success, of sorts.

I've been asked back for an encore tomorrow, which could be due to the fact I'm doing this for nothing, the Instructor is a sadist, the students have asked for me because I set achievable goals, or, any combination of those, if not all.

I need sleep now and the use of a clean toilet-not necessarily in that order though.

More tomorrow.

Sunday
One thing I admire about the USA is the can do mentality, but with it should be a balance, a yin to the yang, the can't do acceptance.

Some people shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a motorcycle and by the end of day one, this politically correct claptrap that doesn't allow any criticism means three people were carried over.The need to find something to praise in every situation, however potentially catastrophic, meant that today has been truly horrid.

If someone doesn't know their clutch from their front brake, then praising them for using a head turn isn't really doing them a favour. Praise after relentless praise only leads them to believe they are competant and making progress, so, the harsh reality that they are a danger to not only themselves but others and they can't carry on, becomes an even harder pill for them to swallow.

Three guys, who should have been cut yesterday, were counselled out today, one after having tried to mount another bike in the staging area while riding his own bike (like a weird mating scene from the nature channel) and further sexualised by the fact that he dispensed with the lower half of his trouser leg on the exhaust. The second, after performing so appallingly that his comment that he didn't need the training, as he'd got a license, sent a cold shiver through my bones (that being despite the fact I'd had my Gerbing jacket set at thermo nuclear). The third guy faired better once his two buddies had departed, but there was still only a snowballs chance in hell, that he'd get through the evaluation. He didn't, dramatically.

Neither did several other novices, some equally as inept, but more down to test nerves than an overall inability. No, actually, if I'm honest, they were poor too and I'd not want to share a road with them, they were too erratic.

Still the praise went on, even while explaining that they'd failed.

When would reality kick in?

When would, for the sake of motorcycling, these folk be made aware that not everyone has a right to be a winner, a rider?

I'm unsure as to my ability to perpetuate the myth that, just because you want something, you automatically deserve it. That it's everyone's right to be a success. For folk to be outstanding, they must stand out. Stand out from who? From those who don't stand out, that's who.

I know this is not the usual jolly jape style of earlier posts, but I'm questioning my ability to spout platitudes all day and whether I should pack in now and cut my loses.

Was I any better when I was learning? Probably not, but that's not my issue here. If I was crap, I'm sure I was told I was and what needed to be done about it, not molly coddled with fatuous loveliness and praised for an inconsequential action. Motorcycling is a serious business, that can be fun, but is always potentially dangerous. Fluffy bunnying folk, is, in my opinion, misplaced in such a situation.

Plus it was raining.

I rode the demos and only messed up on two things. I jumped lane change and went straight to a swerve and in the box my counterweighting wasn't visible enough. I can live with those and put them right, it's my perception of what's right being challenged that I'll find difficult to adjust. Could I cope with someone passing the evaluation because I'd only said "nice"things to them, when it's obvious they will be unsafe away from a secure , hazard free parking lot and mixing it up with other vehicles, travelling faster than the 20mph they've experienced?
It's a question I need to address, if I am to carry on.

How do you instructors out there reconcile this?
I know that you give them your best and that the BRC is better than self taught. But, were do you draw, or do you draw, a moral line?
Is it like the risk ladder, we all create our own point?

[PacWestGS]

:laugh :laugh but still able to say a most excellent observation of the American culture and what's wrong society. :banghead

[lamble]

I guess part of my concern comes from the format of the training, part from the culture of "we are all winners" and some from the fact that the BRC isn't compulsory, so you have to dress it in "this will be a fun time for all".

Firstly, the structure. The BRC gives you sufficient skills, in some cases, to be able to avoid cones in a parking lot, plus the basics of riding. It doesn't give you any concept of speed, or practical road riding experience. It's covered in class on a white board, but I've yet to hear of a motorcyclist being injured in a collision with a white board and dry marker (choose whatever colour marker you like, it still won't have happened).
The stage that's missing is, out on the road.
Is this an insurance problem? Can't you get coverage?
Surely it can't be in the interest of insurance companies to not support such training, so that more accidents occur and they can continually spiral premium rates upward?
These novices need supervised time on the road, not a waiver that says, okay now go out and learn the hard way and "ooops, didn't we cover what to do when a truck wheel has a blow out, right next to you? Sorry about that". There are times when you can't "refer to your notes" and they are usually exactly the times you'd love to be able to.

The winning attitude thing just defies explanation. To be a winner, surely you need to have a loser. And don't come back with that twaddle that "we can all be winners if we all do our best", that's just not true. I could paint a picture, doing my best and it would still look like scribble. I could do my best double sommersault with a twist and pike and all you'd see would be a crumpled mess on the floor. Something I can do, some I can't. Some I do better than others, I make an excellent shepards pie for example, but my pasrty dishes are rubbish.
Star performers are those that do their best and it's better than anyone else. You might aspire to be like them, but more often than not, you won't get close. That's what makes them exceptional. It's what makes motorcyclists different from non motorcyclists. We have the ability to co ordinate controls, we have the balance and aptitude to be able to assimilate road information. Is it an inherent skill? I'd guess, in part, it is. We can get better with experience and training, but even in motorcycling, some folks are just better than others. They are more able.

Finally, "it's going to be fun".
Why?
Can't learning be done without the need to inject fun?
Nail the basics, so you have some ability, then let's add the fun. The fun will be a reward for your efforts. For taking a life endangering activity seriously and then mastering it, so that you can appreciate the fun aspect from a vantage point of safety.
But, because you don't have to do the course and these classes need recommendations, it's fun, fun, fun.

I bet when the military teach storming a house techniques, they don't preface it with, "Now let's all have a good old laugh as we enter this potential death zone".

I know I sound like a grumpy old git. It's just a case that the balance seems to be wrong and there are a number of factors stopping it from being better, in my opinion.
I'll give an example. I could, based on the luck of drawing cards, become an instructor of 17 range modules and 47 pages of boolet plus a dvd, having only actually learned in any depth, 4 modules and 5 pages, the dvd only needs select buttons to be pushed, so I could conceivably have slept through that.
As it happens the cards I drew mean I have to learn more, but still not all of what I'm going to teach. But I bet I'll have fun!

[knary]

Un-fun education is an education that few will tolerate and fewer will learn from. "Fun" doesn't mean it should be challenge or judgement free child's play. It means you should keep it engaging and positive. Focusing on what can go wrong and being a stern task master will do the opposite of what you hope to do. 'tis the truth. If, however, you're being pushed to praise every rider every time you possibly can, that's just, IMO, silly. But then with the old curriculum you were supposed to coach a rider every time they went by during an excercise. I don't agree with this either. Some riders need a chance to practice without the very real distraction of someone heckling them.

[lamble]

Un-fun education is an education that few will tolerate and fewer will learn from. "Fun" doesn't mean it should be challenge or judgement free child's play. It means you should keep it engaging and positive. Focusing on what can go wrong and being a stern task master will do the opposite of what you hope to do. 'tis the truth. If, however, you're being pushed to praise every rider every time you possibly can, that's just, IMO, silly. But then with the old curriculum you were supposed to coach a rider every time they went by during an excercise. I don't agree with this either. Some riders need a chance to practice without the very real distraction of someone heckling them.

I think I agree, where the balance was askew was that a positive was always found, irrespective of the need to address a negative or negatives. The consequence was that every one of those who needed an error pointing out, ended up getting counselled out. That's not doing them any favours, or the rest of the class.
There's fun in achieving, there's fun in seeing progress. There was over coaching and extended verbalisation, but it resulted in no noticable improvement. Those that started out as good novices ended up as waiver endorsed novices. Those who started badly, stayed that way. I do think there's some natural aptitude needed to succeed as a rider, some have it , others don't.

In other fields where lives are put at risk, I'm not so sure that the fun in education arguement stacks up, brain surgery, military actions being two where I'd worry if the giggle factor was high. It is a balance, I can see that. I just don't know where the concept of not being able to learn unless it's fun comes from.
Compelling, aspirational, inspirational, engrossing, yes, fun, not so much.

These folk have volunteered to learn how to ride. They've paid money. Surely we owe them the best preparation for the roads that we can give, in such a short time, be that a pleasant experience, or a reality check?
We are the guardians of their future safety and well being after all.

[knary]

I think I agree, where the balance was askew was that a positive was always found, irrespective of the need to address a negative or negatives. The consequence was that every one of those who needed an error pointing out, ended up getting counselled out. That's not doing them any favours, or the rest of the class.
There's fun in achieving, there's fun in seeing progress. There was over coaching and extended verbalisation, but it resulted in no noticable improvement. Those that started out as good novices ended up as waiver endorsed novices. Those who started badly, stayed that way. I do think there's some natural aptitude needed to succeed as a rider, some have it , others don't.

In other fields where lives are put at risk, I'm not so sure that the fun in education arguement stacks up, brain surgery, military actions being two where I'd worry if the giggle factor was high. It is a balance, I can see that. I just don't know where the concept of not being able to learn unless it's fun comes from.
Compelling, aspirational, inspirational, engrossing, yes, fun, not so much.

These folk have volunteered to learn how to ride. They've paid money. Surely we owe them the best preparation for the roads that we can give, in such a short time, be that a pleasant experience, or a reality check?
We are the guardians of their future safety and well being after all.

When I taught (only for a couple years, and some 6 years ago), I saw valueless coaching that didn't much help the less adept rider, but it wasn't the product of the curriculum. It was the product of a bad coach. I watched some of the clumsy riders become fairly competent - within the confines of the class - through a combination of good coaching and practice. Who was teaching the classes you're commenting on?

[lamble]

That's just it, someone who I hold in high regard as an instructor.
The comments away from the range, however, were in direct conflict with the actions permitted to be taken on the range.
Perhaps he was just in a generous mood this weekend. But my fear is that his decisions were tainted by the culture that no one should fail, because that wouldn't be good for the recruitment of new novices...it wouldn't look like fun.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for enthusiasm and earned praise. I'm up for diversity and creativity in the classroom environment too. But the range is different. There are moving machines and rookie riders, it's not a fun place, it's a learning life saving skills environment.

I'm not sure I'll be cut out for this long term, or even mid term.

Why did you stop?

[knary]

That's just it, someone who I hold in high regard as an instructor.
The comments away from the range, however, were in direct conflict with the actions permitted to be taken on the range.
Perhaps he was just in a generous mood this weekend. But my fear is that his decisions were tainted by the culture that no one should fail, because that wouldn't be good for the recruitment of new novices...it wouldn't look like fun.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for enthusiasm and earned praise. I'm up for diversity and creativity in the classroom environment too. But the range is different. There are moving machines and rookie riders, it's not a fun place, it's a learning life saving skills environment.

I'm not sure I'll be cut out for this long term, or even mid term.

I disagree. It is a fun place - or can be. Part of why they try to make it "fun" is because it's a highly stressful place for people. The "fun" relaxes them and allows the learning to happen. Remember, at most you're tryiing to give the students a grain of truth to carry with them. You can't turn out perfectly proficient riders in a weekend.

Eevery instructor finds their own style. Some are more effective than others and not every pairing of instructors works. When I took the class wayyy back when, I had a very tightly wound gunnery sargeant running the course (and the region's programs). I'd take a carefree overly positive teacher over his heavy handed assault any day.

Why did you stop?

I moved and life got busier. After being here for a year, I met with the Team Oregon folks. Over mexican food, I told them something about how I believed in the program and the mission, and how much I enjoyed teaching the course. I had been, I believe and according to those I worked with, an excellent instructor for those few years in Nevada. In conversation about the class, we discussed some of the above and I told them, somewhat flippantly, that some of the directions for the coaches didn't always work perfectly on the range. They asked what. I told them: 1. Whether a student needs to be coached on every pass in an excercise depends on the student and the situation, and 2. Sometimes you need to move out of the designated position on the range. The latter is no big deal to me, but I *hate* the idea that you should talk to every student EVERY time the go by. They cocked an eye brow and gave me some militant line about how wrong I was. I tried to argue my point, but they didn't budge. They seemed to believe that every instructor should preach the exact same sermon in the exact same way. I don't ever work that way.

[lamble]

I disagree. It is a fun place - or can be. Part of why they try to make it "fun" is because it's a highly stressful place for people. The "fun" relaxes them and allows the learning to happen. Remember, at most you're tryiing to give the students a grain of truth to carry with them. You can't turn out perfectly proficient riders in a weekend.

Eevery instructor finds their own style. Some are more effective than others and not every pairing of instructors works. When I took the class wayyy back when, I had a very tightly wound gunnery sargeant running the course (and the region's programs). I'd take a carefree overly positive teacher over his heavy handed assault any day.



I moved and life got busier. After being here for a year, I met with the Team Oregon folks. Over mexican food, I told them something about how I believed in the program and the mission, and how much I enjoyed teaching the course. I had been, I believe and according to those I worked with, an excellent instructor for those few years in Nevada. In conversation about the class, we discussed some of the above and I told them, somewhat flippantly, that some of the directions for the coaches didn't always work perfectly on the range. They asked what. I told them: 1. Whether a student needs to be coached on every pass in an excercise depends on the student and the situation, and 2. Sometimes you need to move out of the designated position on the range. The latter is no big deal to me, but I *hate* the idea that you should talk to every student EVERY time the go by. They cocked an eye brow and gave me some militant line about how wrong I was. I tried to argue my point, but they didn't budge. They seemed to believe that every instructor should preach the exact same sermon in the exact same way. I don't ever work that way.


Well someone must have heard your words, it's positively encouraged that you don't coach everyone, on every pass, and as long as you maintain range control and sort of stick to the best positions for assessment, then there's no gripes.
I understand that Oregon have a different policy and programme to WA.
WA did look at adopting the Oregon programme but have opted not to, for whatever reason.
The trouble with the flexible approach is, that as a novice, you are never quite sure if you've got it right or not, as one instructor may vary from another, green cones here, orange there, no, orange there, green here, I stand here, I stand there, I stage here, I stage there. It's confusing and sets you up to fail when shadowing with a new instructor.

Perhaps we just differ on our definition of fun.

[lamble]

Back in my day time job, cubicle bound and shuffling pixels, I can see the attraction of a weekend spent, standing in a drizzly, cold grey, parking lot, Even waddling like march of the penguins across the range, seems preferrable to stupifyingly dull flowcharts.

There's just so much variety with the students. Sure the course follows a strict format and no I still don't feel comfortable with each element, or stitching them together (more of a frankenstein than a versace), however ,I can see the rewards, whilst financially insignificant in comparison, could provide that snuggly-warm, well-done-me feeling that I'll never get from a gant chart.

Now if I can just come to terms with those cones.

I hate clowns too, by the way.

[queretaro]

Of 11 students in my BRC class last weekend, only 4 of us passed; it was harder than I anticipated. The instructors were great, and I learned that bad habits from the past are hard to break. I intend to practice the skills I learned and take the ERC later this year or next.
regards,
Mark

[BouncinBob]

Do I know why?
No.
Answers on a post card please.

Novices need instruction. There aren't enough instructors. Motorcycling gets a bad reputation when untrained riders harm themselves. Could you help?

The statement preceeding the last question seems to answer the first question.

[lamble]

Of 11 students in my BRC class last weekend, only 4 of us passed; it was harder than I anticipated. The instructors were great, and I learned that bad habits from the past are hard to break. I intend to practice the skills I learned and take the ERC later this year or next.
regards,
Mark

I see you were one of the four, so congratuations. Now imagine if last week had been your first time riding the demos infront of the group, where you have to be impeccable straight from the box on a bike you've never ridden before. That's just part of it. No wonder I skipped a demo and did the swerve instead of the lane change demo. The instructor giving the narration to my demo must have been thinking what the @##$%%^&**((())((*&&^^%%$$###@@@ as I hurtled towards him and the class.

How many reached the final test stage?

[queretaro]

One student dropped out about an hour after the Sunday session began, so ten reached the final test. I lost 6 points; 3 for stopping 3 feet longer than allowed for my estimated speed, and 3 for riding a little too slowly through the last turn - if I remember correctly. I'm fairly certain that I would not have passed if I did not have some prior riding experience.

[lamble]

I hope no one can trace this back to source because I'd get into trouble, but I take it all back. You need some fun in this course, or at the very least, a pulse.

I was shady again for a classroom session, for novices. This was their first encounter with the programme.

I nearly decided to give up riding on the spot.

It must have been the most lack lustre presentation I've ever been to. I've been to funerals where there was more life.

It wasn't the students. They were just begging for something to liven up the droning. It may as well have been a latin lesson, it was pure purgatory. No injection of enthusiasm, no sense of involvement. Granted technically all the boxes were ticked, it's just that the pen used to tick them was using grey ink.
The statement, "so this weekend should be challenging but fun" was delivered with all the impact of a coma victim giving a speach. Boooorrrrrrriiiinnnngggggg!

I wept.

On-the-other-hand, it gave me renewed committment, even if only on the basis that, I couldn't do any worse.

If you do find out who delivered this class, please don't wake him.

[knary]

I hope no one can trace this back to source because I'd get into trouble, but I take it all back. You need some fun in this course, or at the very least, a pulse.

I was shady again for a classroom session, for novices. This was their first encounter with the programme.

I nearly decided to give up riding on the spot.

It must have been the most lack lustre presentation I've ever been to. I've been to funerals where there was more life.

It wasn't the students. They were just begging for something to liven up the droning. It may as well have been a latin lesson, it was pure purgatory. No injection of enthusiasm, no sense of involvement. Granted technically all the boxes were ticked, it's just that the pen used to tick them was using grey ink.
The statement, "so this weekend should be challenging but fun" was delivered with all the impact of a coma victim giving a speach. Boooorrrrrrriiiinnnngggggg!

I wept.

On-the-other-hand, it gave me renewed committment, even if only on the basis that, I couldn't do any worse.

If you do find out who delivered this class, please don't wake him.

I think I know that guy. :ha

[lamble]

See, now I feel bad.
This grey guy, with his grey attitude and grey approach to motorcycle training has, afterall is said and done, given of his valuable time to stand in front of a class, under their glaring scrutiny and tried to impart something that will be beneficial to them.

The fact that he is manifestly not cut out for this role, isn't his problem (well it is, but I'm being caring), he should be given support and guidence, even if that guidence is only...




STOP BEING SO DULL!

(My caring side is shorter than my hypotenuse, which is equal to the sum of the squares of my caring side and my cynicism side). Or is this triganometry, I always mix them up?

[lamble]

Can anyone supply a definitive list for which cones go where, for each range exercise?
Green cone to blue dot...checkmate!

Oh, and if you've any key tips you've added to your range cards, can you let me have them as well please, especially if they are for the transitions.


It's nearly exam time.

[lamble]

Results are in....
Washington State today announced that 6 new instructors will be joining their motorcycle training programme.


Was I one of them?


Let's take a trip back in time for a moment.


Image, if you will, twenty three eager novices sitting in a classroom which is part of a motorcycle emporium. A building festooned with the latest and greatest examples of chrome and fibreglass encrusted engineering. The desire these students have to touch every bike in the huge sales area is palpable. All that stands between them and dispensing with large wads of cash is, tentative wannabe instructors with little idea of how to facilitate this spending spree.


The lessons start in a less than promising manner. The only bonus being that hopefully our omnipresent examiner has joined the students in an early evening nap. (He reads this you know-how sneeky is that-Hello Brad!)
It's a less than dynamic opening, in part due to the structure of the course, less shock and awe, more quote and bore. It's hard to judge where the formalities should come, however some sort of up tempo begining would help set the standard.


Unfortunately, the guy who had to handle this was followed by someone that, in my opinion, should only follow someone who is about to exit the room.
Stupifyingly dull. If dollars hadn't changed hands ahead of this point, people would surely have walked out
bought the bike that was nearest the door aand just ridden off (It wouldn't have matter what that bike was, or the cost, but obviously there'd have been a premium on the fastest, as they'd get you the hell outa there quicker).
Guess who's drawn the lucky straw to follow Mr Sandman?
Muggins me, that's who.


I'm plotting a way to get to the front of class which will cause me to collide with as many chairs as possible, in the vain hope that I can do a jesus and lazarus, raising from the dead thing.


Sometimes it's a distinct bonus being a Brit. I was just different enough to have an edge. I saw eye lids begin to flutter and even some of the slumber-drool was slurped up. One or two even dained to rejoin this world and take part, answering the questions others had raised and for which I had no answer. They took pity on me. A stranger in a strange land, stranded in a strange situation and looking strangely, rather strange. I'm sure I could have secured donations for food parcels such was their charitable nature to this British fish cast ashore, out of his element and without the comfy-blankie of chips.


I'm trying to recall the topic I covered, but this is Sunday and Friday is now just a dirty thumb print on my crib sheets of life, but it could have been wearing protective clothing and checking your bike before you ride, like we all do every time....don't we!
My 20 minute slot done with, the rest of the evening careened from good to bad, via average and poor but mainly sat next to forgettable.
So, having set the knowledge level for the students first day so low, I can't say I was expecting much. But apart from the guy who couldn't start because his boots weren't suitable (brown tan, with grey socks and blue trousers-well i wouldn't let anyone ride in such a fashion faux pas combination of colors would you?) these brave novices put on a display that positively spat in the eye of our best efforts to thwart their progress. They did well. Very well in fact.
We novice instructors however, continued to throw a whole tool shed's worth of spanners in their works. We'd send them in the wrong direction, stop them for a chat, that would extend into a debate via a lecture. Every concieivable obstacle we gave them, they surmounted. Bless 'em, they didn't deserve us and we certainly didn't deserve them.
Saturday morning range passed. Everyone was sunburnt and dehydrated, lethargic and tired.
Guess what?
It's classroom time again. A last chance to drain the vestigaes of life from the student's already battered and bruised bodies. And, I might add, there were no better suckers of life from souls that the group of novice instructors that now faced them. Another incoming barrage of dullness and ineptitude carefully camouflaged as teaching.
"Come to the light, come to the light", I think we lost a few that session. Mr Sandman read at them, other relied, somewhat misfortunately and misguidedly on their humour and I fell foul of not giving a toss anymore.
I admit it. At that moment in time, I couldn't have cared less about the students, the tests, the idea of riding or, anything. I was too bored and it showed. I can usually muster up a stage face, pull out a little razzle dazzle and end with a ta daaaa, but not this time. I checked I'd hit the facts that needed covering and got out of there asap.
Why had this turned into a chore? Where had the dynamism of performing gone? Who knows, but this was one off those times I rusted instead of shining and I didn't really care.


A long hard look at the day revealled nothing obvious as a trigger, and even over the evening beer, I can't say I came to any conclusions as to my attitude.

On the assumption that this was something I just had to work through, I and my fellow novices are on the range again Sunday morning.
I believed they were owed the best we could give (they deserved far better than this in actuality but we were limited in our ability to offer more) and some of us gave it. Others...nah not really.


I'd actually volunteered to take another exercise, in addition to EXERCISE #17 which is little more than , "there's the range, go practise what you've learned", so, I'm on #12 too.


Fan-bloody-tastic...nailed it and looked sexy at the same time. The studes looked good doing the exercise, we looked good coaching. Perhaps, this was the light on the road to Damascus moment that I'd been looking for and hoping would arrive?


Exercise 17 came. Got that one spot on too. I'd delivered my part of the bargain to the students, all they had to do was turn it on, one more time, for the test.


All but two did and those two were only a whisker's width away.
They'd overcome our feeble classroom sessions, our dithering range management, blistering heat and learning how to ride bikes...it don't get no better than that, do it?
Well yes it do do.


Washington Stae announced that there were 6 new motorcycle instructors as of Sunday.










There were only six of us.


BUT...this isn't the end. I've made a decision about whether I'll carry on or not.

[lamble]

During the 30 minute break, someone decided to hone their tight space manouevering skills, emphasising the counterweighting aspect, so as to make it visible from across the range.
Well let me tell you, the angle of lean I achieved momentarily before dumping the bike into a tarmac/indicator light interface, was truly impressive.
The dismount was of chinese gymnast quality too.

Bugger! and bugger again!! with a whole buggeration of buggers thrown in!!!!!

I was glad most of the students had cleared off to find cold drinks and food, leaving only my fellow novice instructors and the chief instructor for the State as witnesses...how glad was I that they were all watching?
What a pillock!!!.

...and they still passed me. Jeezy Chreezy (Italian for Jesus Christ) there really must be a monumental shortage of instructors.

[PacWestGS]

Hey Lamble, you know what they say - if you're not picking your motorcycle up off the ground you're not riding it hard enough...:brow

PS> Smoke Stack in Monroe (hwy 2) Thursday morning 8:00am bring a dual/sport or knobbies on the GS.

[knary]

Hey Lamble, you know what they say - if you're not picking your motorcycle up off the ground you're not riding it hard enough...:brow

Scariest idea ever. :bolt

[PacWestGS]

Scariest idea ever. :bolt

:laugh I've seen pictures from Scott, he rides his bike very well :p

[knary]

:laugh I've seen pictures from Scott, he rides his bike very well :p

Just don't put me on a kid's bike and I'm fine.

:hide

[lamble]

Hey Lamble, you know what they say - if you're not picking your motorcycle up off the ground you're not riding it hard enough...:brow

PS> Smoke Stack in Monroe (hwy 2) Thursday morning 8:00am bring a dual/sport or knobbies on the GS.

Sod it!

I've just started a full time job. It's obscene money and I'm a salary slut, so until unchainedworld.com gets the cash flowing, I'm back to the 7-3 grind at a desk, so I'll have to ride vicariously via your photos.

Have fun, but not so much that I have to resign out of envy.

I don't call a 1.3 mph fall riding hard...complex perhaps but not hard.

[lamble]

I saw a sign today, in a shop that was so infused with perfume I gagged. Mrs L was driving (see thread on unchained world and car service)so with control having been wrenched from me, we visited Chintz Village, or whatever other collective noun this frilly gathering of household product peddling purveyors goes by. Un necessary tat, with more tat, upon tat. Doggy shaped things, herds of cat stuff, cat pillows, cat plates, cat toilet seats, I was cat aleptic. All scented like a cheap tarts boudouir who's trying to hide the smell of her last customer (trust me, this is imagination again, the only place I've ever really encountered such a sickly smell is a house with a new born, all talcs, unctions and creams). So, it was with a certain surprise that I saw something worthwhile. Not worth purchasing, god forbid, it was a piece of distressed timber with a scrawled message for $25, no what was worthwhile was the message:

Discovery is seeing all the things others see, but thinking thoughts no one else has thought about them.

That sort of sums up Unchained, it sort of sums up why I'm doing the instructing. It sort of sums up what I'd like to think I do. I just do it in a manner that smells more savoury than perfumed. More pungent sweat and grime, than lavender and lilac. The smell of fear, rather than the aroma of catnip.

If discovery has a smell, then I reckon it's a more acrid perfume, one that is more evocative of expended energy and effort. A tacit recollection trigger, rather than a smack in the face aromatic sensory abuse of floral concoctions in brightly coloured bottles priced to insult your common sense.

Riding has it's sensory pleasures; aural, visual and tactile, but from today onward, discovery will always smell better to me, because it won't smell of a pomander of mixed essences of essential oils.

[lamble]

Tomorrow is my first class as a qualified instructor, although I'll be part of a threesome, so may well end up being the #2.

I must admit to being slightly nervous, as being judged by one's peers is even worse than being judged by a tutor. The tutor expects you to get it wrong, your peers expect you to get it right.
Fortunately in amongst this mix are the studes, who only expect to get through the class and have no idea what the correct structure of the training is, or if I should be standing here when I'm there and all that sort of stuff, so thank god for ignorance.

It'll be my first all Saturday and Sunday experience too. I've only ever attended the Thurs, Sat 1/2 Sun session. I wonder if that will make any difference, other than missing Sunday lunch?

[lamble]

Today should have been the second day of my mentoring session, where I took the lead, acted as second and observed.

On day one, I'd jumped in at the deep end, taking modules I'd not covered before and muddling my way through them. I even received praise from the students for the elements I covered in class, a couple being convinced I was, or had been a teacher, "exceptional" is a word I'll cherish.

Today I quit. I'd taken this far enough to ensure I wasn't a quitter. I'd taken it as far as I needed to see I'd achieved something. But, I couldn't take it far enough away, from my concerns.

Saturday's range time passed slowly and tortuously. The problems arose early on, because there was such disparity between the skill levels. Only one person was to cross the chasm of a ability. There was progress all round but the gap stayed and as it stayed the frustrations grew, for me in not getting response from a few riders who were holding the others back, from those who were being held back, from me for being new to this and not having the answers and from me towards the mentor who hadn't stepped up and started to coach out the weaker riders. By lesson 8 where there's a requirement to get up sufficient speed to reach 3rd gear, some were still so slow that those behind were shouting for them to speed up. I caught and stopped a couple about to overtake slower riders (a major safety no-no) and held them in check, but it was all breaking down, so much so, that despite the desire to complete up to lesson 10, we called it a day.

Post class analysis was were I decided it was time to put the cones behind me and call it quits.

My frustration at not getting certain riders coached off, in the vague hope that by some miracle they'd achieve a rider level capable of passing, meant that Saturday evening was spend initially eating curry and drinking beer to calm down and relax and then planning my escape strategy.

I do not want to be bound by the all consuming need to ensure everyone gets a go at the test. Reaching the test (sorry evaluation stage, 'test 'being far too stressful for the students - f**k that, what about the stress of riding on the road when a 16 wheeler's tire blows next to you and covers you in rubber, what about the stress of a snarling drooling hound pounding at you - stress and riding, it's controlable but not avoidable, so get used to it here, it's a bloody test!) needs to be earned. Get the best candidates you can, through to the test, where they might just stand a chance, if they haven't been hampered throughout by those with no more chance of passing, than Superman has of getting his laundry done without comments being made.

So, this journey comes to an end. Is it a premature end? I think not. I think it ran its course. I ran a course. I passed the exams. I became an Instructor and now I'm not an Instructor anymore.

Any regrets?

Only for those students that today need to go back over lesson eight and do it again. For those students who will still be held behind not getting up to third gear speed.


There was a conversation that took place where, "you can't expect them all to like you" cropped up.

Now I wonder if the reluctance of some instructors to coach out, is a need to be liked?

If they can get everyone through to test stage, then the big, bad, nasty test is what will filter them out. The State will be the baddie, not the instructor.

Is this even part of the consideration I wonder. The abdication of responsibility for the sake of popularity?

I wonder.

Of course, all of this would be a non-issue if only training was compulsory before a rider could take to the road. But, hey, isn't that an infringement of freedom-yep you bet ya. Would it save lives? Of course it would, but the freedom to be able to buy a bike and ride needs to be upheld, even if that means fatalities.

Enact a law that impinges on freedom is a sure vote loser. So the folks who get elected aren't in a rush to do anything. Shouldn't a move for compulsory basic training come from motorcycle bodies? What and lose members?

The freedom to not be trained, buy a hugely powered bike and ride wearing little more than a bandage round your head, seems inevitably linked to riding here in the USA. I wonder what might change this? If there's any desire for change?

[lamble]

4 from 12 passed. One ended up in hospital. The four that should have been out on Saturday were out on Sunday.

It was recorded as being the worst class the mentor had had in 6 years.





He started six years ago.

[henzilla]

Lamble,
At least you did your best,right? Having followed your adventures I do admire your attempt at trying something as truly difficult as being a trainer/coach. It is not as easy as most assume.
I have been in the electrical line construction business for 30 years and over the Training Section for the last five. Teaching should not be a struggle, but ,often is. As in motorcycling, these lineworkers have an extremely hazardous job that can be done safely.If I get thru to the majority of them to do it safe, I have done my best.
The road not taken always haunted me until I decided to quit looking in the mirror and take that turn the last year or so...not always a good road so to speak, but at least I took it and did my best.

Do not think yourself as a "quitter", you tried it and made a rational evaluation and decision to not to continue.


Sounds like a Bad Sunday for sure, but sometimes those things are so out of ones control...

Take lifes lessons and enjoy the ride!

[lamble]

I've just been invited to join the lead instructor for the state, to be my instructor buddy. So I must have had some promise. Either that, or he needs to get out of the house while the sun's shining.

It was a no. I'm adamant, no not Adam Ant, the 80's pop singer in the UK who dresses as a pirate and a dandy highwayman. I am an ex instructor. I have ceased to be. Bereft of desire I have shuffled off the riding range and gone to join...any Monty Python fans, I do apologise for the feebleness of my dead parrot thievery.

Still better to be a has been than a never was.

[lamble]

Well this weekend I'm off to the Tynda Rally where I'm giving a 20 min presentation on Unchainedworld and riding in the UK and Spain.

I get a 12 hr ride across country, two ranges of mountains, some forests and a replica of Stonehenge, probably the finest replica of a henge this side of the Atlantic. Maybe the only replica of a henge this side of the Atlantic. In the UK we are falling over henges. They litter the streets and spring up all over the place. You cant hobble for a mile without bumping into a henge or two.

Henges were early prototypes of cones, and were developed to compliment the extensive lay-line network. It's true, it's history!

See Egbert the Pedants document, Integrated Infrastructure for Cart and Horse travel, speed constraints. In the year of King Oddbod the Unflustered. He reports that a scheme whereby lay lines and henges would be used to contain excessive cart speed by a cunning series or bumps, obstacles, cesspits, burial mounds, swamps, lepers, volunteers and other devices was feasible, and that fines could be collected at henge -way-stations for those whose asses sped down hill. The biggest henge was near Glastonbury, to catch the concert traffic.
It was discussed by the druids whether to wait for latex based cones, but as this would have delayed matters by at least 5,000 years, it was decided stone would suffice.

Egbert went on to found the civil service, local government and the department of transport and deviced the ducking stool for witches.

He was brutally murdered by a goat wielding, ferret breeder and the first off-road vehicle inventor, Robin Sods of York.

Hence the saying, "It's Sods law that you'll get egg on your face, if you speed passed a henge, so hold on to your ass".