Bairbait (Rick Close) and I participated in the Switzerland of Ohio Stayin Safe Advanced rider training program this past weekend.
http://www.stayinsafe.com/
Bairbait was looking for a decent training course, and found this AMA sanctioned training program after our reading our Chief instructor Eric Trow’s regular articles in Ride Magazine. The Stayin Safe program is an eye opener for many reasons. You are asked to assess your riding in many categories and you need to be honest to get the most out the course. Our instructors review those evaluations before, during and after the training. They really care about making sure you get the most out of the training.
Before you get the notion that this is a only safety course and will be dry and boring, you need to consider that you are riding on some of the best roads in the country for two solid days and it covers all aspects of riding. I had no clue how many awesome and challenging the southeast Ohio roads have to offer. They go up and down and there is no straight section of roadway, which makes it ideal for training. The accommodations and dinner at the Stockport Inn, and lunch stops along the well were extremely enjoyable. They have other trips as well. But what will make this experience memorable is the quality of the instructors Eric and Randy, and the camaraderie of the 5 other participants in the course. There were constant opportunities to share experiences and ask questions of the instructors. The instructors were extremely organized and purposeful in every part of the training they covered. You have an opportunity to ride on you own in a “study hall” on great roads and work on the things that you learned.
I think what sets this training aside from other programs is the fact that the instructor is riding with you and communicating via radio to your ear buds. So imagine two very talented instructors that are teaching you and evaluating your riding in real time under technical road conditions, including in our case rain for half of the first day. They emphasize that avoidance and elimination surprises by gathering as much information as possible is a key to riding safely. They also stop to explain the new upcoming course sections, had chalk style drawing sections of the roadway, and reviewed video riding scenarios the second day after breakfast. You ride following one of the instructors, or they follow you to critique your riding style and decisions while hearing the instructions. They also provide you with a handbook that rivals any motorcycle training book out there.
The thing that I find interesting, is that every rider participating was a very good rider with experience, yet they wanted to learn more. I would put myself in that category, and came away with an overwhelming sense of enlightenment and realization that I now know so much more and can now be capable of riding better than ever.
I read the book Proficient Motorcycling and watched two of Keith Code’s Twist of the wrist training videos. Despite that information, here are the things that I feel like I improved on the most after these on the road class sessions. (Seems like a lot doesn’t it?)
-Looking ahead 12 seconds and gathering as much information as possible. Looking for the indications about the direction the road is turning based on trees, power lines and houses.
-Riding at the proper speed to be able to correct and stop if the situation requires it.
-Learning the proper position (or lane) on the roadway, to put you in the best situation at all times for seeing through and beyond a turn and avoiding traffic at hill crests and intersections.
-Understanding cornering lines, including braking if needed and throttle control
-Looking constantly for driveways, side streets, obstacles and driver hazards and assessing the best speed and place to be to avoid risk.
-Riding style #1 spending time preparing for the proper turn entry speed, while throttling out and away from the turn.
-Riding style #2 spending time learning how to brake before and into the early part of the turn.
-Spending time learning how to set the position the suspension of the bike by using both throttle and brakes in conjunction, and also learning how braking and throttle affect the suspension.
-Application of body leaning to initiate and control the turns. Didn’t know how slight the movement from the seat could be used to make a difference and how applying throttle stands the bike up when exiting the turn.
-Brake and clutch technique for pulling away on very steep hills.
-Swerving and avoiding obstacles and when and how to react to critters that surprise you.
-Learning best practices for group riding and riding your own ride and using all three lanes. (forget staggered riding formations on the secondary’s)
-Slow speed parking lot maneuvers and engaging the rear brake and clutch slipping and with proper head movement
-Learned new shifting and down shifting techniques.
-and more
In the end, I now feel more educated about the risks we face and how to avoid them and I have a cool certificate good for an insurance discount. Also important, I made some new riding friends and had a very enjoyable weekend. In my opinion, this type of training far exceeded my expectations and was totally worthwhile and an enjoyable way to spend a weekend. Look for my Advance Rider Training patch on my jacket at the next rally and I’ll tell you all about the course.
http://www.stayinsafe.com/
Bairbait was looking for a decent training course, and found this AMA sanctioned training program after our reading our Chief instructor Eric Trow’s regular articles in Ride Magazine. The Stayin Safe program is an eye opener for many reasons. You are asked to assess your riding in many categories and you need to be honest to get the most out the course. Our instructors review those evaluations before, during and after the training. They really care about making sure you get the most out of the training.
Before you get the notion that this is a only safety course and will be dry and boring, you need to consider that you are riding on some of the best roads in the country for two solid days and it covers all aspects of riding. I had no clue how many awesome and challenging the southeast Ohio roads have to offer. They go up and down and there is no straight section of roadway, which makes it ideal for training. The accommodations and dinner at the Stockport Inn, and lunch stops along the well were extremely enjoyable. They have other trips as well. But what will make this experience memorable is the quality of the instructors Eric and Randy, and the camaraderie of the 5 other participants in the course. There were constant opportunities to share experiences and ask questions of the instructors. The instructors were extremely organized and purposeful in every part of the training they covered. You have an opportunity to ride on you own in a “study hall” on great roads and work on the things that you learned.
I think what sets this training aside from other programs is the fact that the instructor is riding with you and communicating via radio to your ear buds. So imagine two very talented instructors that are teaching you and evaluating your riding in real time under technical road conditions, including in our case rain for half of the first day. They emphasize that avoidance and elimination surprises by gathering as much information as possible is a key to riding safely. They also stop to explain the new upcoming course sections, had chalk style drawing sections of the roadway, and reviewed video riding scenarios the second day after breakfast. You ride following one of the instructors, or they follow you to critique your riding style and decisions while hearing the instructions. They also provide you with a handbook that rivals any motorcycle training book out there.
The thing that I find interesting, is that every rider participating was a very good rider with experience, yet they wanted to learn more. I would put myself in that category, and came away with an overwhelming sense of enlightenment and realization that I now know so much more and can now be capable of riding better than ever.
I read the book Proficient Motorcycling and watched two of Keith Code’s Twist of the wrist training videos. Despite that information, here are the things that I feel like I improved on the most after these on the road class sessions. (Seems like a lot doesn’t it?)
-Looking ahead 12 seconds and gathering as much information as possible. Looking for the indications about the direction the road is turning based on trees, power lines and houses.
-Riding at the proper speed to be able to correct and stop if the situation requires it.
-Learning the proper position (or lane) on the roadway, to put you in the best situation at all times for seeing through and beyond a turn and avoiding traffic at hill crests and intersections.
-Understanding cornering lines, including braking if needed and throttle control
-Looking constantly for driveways, side streets, obstacles and driver hazards and assessing the best speed and place to be to avoid risk.
-Riding style #1 spending time preparing for the proper turn entry speed, while throttling out and away from the turn.
-Riding style #2 spending time learning how to brake before and into the early part of the turn.
-Spending time learning how to set the position the suspension of the bike by using both throttle and brakes in conjunction, and also learning how braking and throttle affect the suspension.
-Application of body leaning to initiate and control the turns. Didn’t know how slight the movement from the seat could be used to make a difference and how applying throttle stands the bike up when exiting the turn.
-Brake and clutch technique for pulling away on very steep hills.
-Swerving and avoiding obstacles and when and how to react to critters that surprise you.
-Learning best practices for group riding and riding your own ride and using all three lanes. (forget staggered riding formations on the secondary’s)
-Slow speed parking lot maneuvers and engaging the rear brake and clutch slipping and with proper head movement
-Learned new shifting and down shifting techniques.
-and more
In the end, I now feel more educated about the risks we face and how to avoid them and I have a cool certificate good for an insurance discount. Also important, I made some new riding friends and had a very enjoyable weekend. In my opinion, this type of training far exceeded my expectations and was totally worthwhile and an enjoyable way to spend a weekend. Look for my Advance Rider Training patch on my jacket at the next rally and I’ll tell you all about the course.
