Considering doing instructor training

[stanbloke]

As a bike examiner, the reason there will be fewer test centres is not down to legislation, but the size of real estate and the cost of the speed detection equipment that will be required for the new part of the test.

Chronyx.

Remember, bike instructors are taught to teach candidates to pass the basic test, and are not necessarily advanced riders.

JB1, I take it you are a current bike examiner

Some of us love what we do and take it a lot further too.

Be nice if you would'nt generalized as it does tend to cause offence.

Dont become an instructor just as a job, enjoy what you do and you will be better for it !!. These are peoples lives you are messing with, it's not a game,give the best instruction you can possibly give and you'll sleep well.

[apple3]

Hi I was a Car ADI until 2 years ago in short I get paid a lot more to Drive a HGV 1 for Iceland Supermarkets on a Self employed contract. The best bet is to find a local ADI and ask them. I sent a freind to speak to 1 of the local ADI's and she came away thinking why bother.

Wish u luck A3

[Leigh07]

I'm a full time Instructor and it's still very busy out there. New test has been delayed until end March 2009 and I wouldn't be at all surprised if it is further delayed beyond that point. (Not saying any more, not getting into any discussions/slanging matches about the DSA)

Gaining Instructor tickets isn't that difficult, as long as you get the proper training in the first place. I would steer clear of BSM as I've just had one of their recent trainees in for an interview and he wasn't a good advert.

Nice idea about training people to ride beyond the test, but it really depends on where you're located as to how far you can go with that. Many examiners actively discourage the teaching of advanced techniques to test candidates and have been known to fail candidates for employing advanced cornering techniques during their test. I don't believe this should be the case, but it happens. Therefore, all you can really do is teach people to pass the test - if you start introducing techniques but tell them not to use them during test, then you'll cause confusion and the guy will (probably/possibly) screw up. What I do is teach them to pass the test and introduce techniques that will provide a sound basis for their future career on two wheels - counter steering, mid corner braking, how to read the road properly etc, etc.

Again at the risk of being lambasted, not a great fan of IAM either - skills for life? How can there be any credibility if the observers skills are never retested? I recently thought about joining and contacted my local group. The observer turned up to meet me and asked how many miles I ride each year. I replied that I was a professional rider, Advanced Instructor etc and ride about 40,000 miles a year. He rides 'most sundays, if he can get away'. Who would be observing who? And I've gone off topic, apologies.

[Cie]

How can there be any credibility if the observers skills are never retested?

A fair point Leigh, and the reason why I've been doing some RoSPA training. The observers get tested every 3 years, and members every 2 years if they're to keep their ticket.. which I suspect you already know.

Whereabouts are you in Wilts? We could have a brew some time.

[Leigh07]

Hi Cie, I'm in Chippenham, so not too far. Just don't suggest the Friar Tuck, it always takes a week or so to get rid of the smell of grease whenever I venture in there on trips to/through Amesbury!

[hondaxrnut]

i would disagree with the statment
'car drivers are not taught to drive'
as a car instructor and biker of 30+ years i certainly teach my pupils how to drive and look for bikes and cycles more than cars.
we all have to teach, as we are tested regularly!