Welcome to the latest edition of the Survival Skills Rider Training newsletter, which is now going out in Thursdays and will cover my Facebook posts up to Wednesday. Let me know if you find it more convenient – I really would be interested. Survival Skills is all about helping you improve your knowledge, your skills, and your understanding of ‘better biking’ and I won’t take up half your day with random ads or product placement! All you get are links to my ‘better biking’ posts of Facebook.
TRAINING – we’re back to a conventional British summer and here in the south of England it’s a mix of sunny days with some pretty wet ones too. So just as well I offer a WET WEATHER GUARANTEE to avoid having training disrupted. So rain or not, it’s still a great time to book an on-road course from my Ride4Fun and Ride2Work range, and the long evenings mean we can train or take a RIDING ASSESSMENT in the evenings too. I am taking bookings into early September. Visit www.survivalskills.co.uk for more info on training courses. You can also download the latest information PDF here. Or drop me a line at info@survivalskills.co.uk.
And of course, I’m also available for ONLINE COACHING sessions immediately.
READ ONE THING – if you’re pushed for time, have a look at the Devitt write-up of the Science Of Being Seen and find out all about the project. Then why not sign up for the next live talk? If you’re already aware of SOBS, then take a look at the “Does training deliver experience?” post. It asks a very valid question, based on evidence from a study commission BY THE IAM that their trained riders don’t do any better than non-IAM riders at avoiding collisions, whilst appearing to have more confidence in their ability to avoid collisions, plus being more likely to blame the driver when one happens.
NEXT LIVE PRESENTATIONS – firstly, thanks to those who turned out yesterday for the live SOBS presentation. I’ve now scheduled the next two live talks. On Wednesday 1 September, we’ll look at CORNERING WITH CONFIDENCE – a 45 minute talk about how to incorporate the Survival Skills ‘reference points’ into your own cornering technique and get a reliable road map for bends! Tickets cost £5. Here’s the booking link:
WEDNESDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 2021 AT 20:00
And on Wednesday 6 October, I’ll be running SCIENCE OF BEING SEEN again. The presentation has just been featured on the Devitt motorcycle features pages:
www.devittinsurance.com/guides/motorcycle-features/the-science-of-being-seen/
So here’s your chance to catch the presentation previously used as the third module at most Biker Down courses – BUT IN FULL and UPDATED. Tickets cost £5. Here’s the booking link:
WEDNESDAY, 6 OCTOBER 2021 AT 20:00
CLUB & GROUP TALKS – I’ve just delivered my latest rider group talk and have several for later in the diary. If you’d like me to arrange something for your own group or club, get in touch. As well as the ‘Science Of Being Seen’ (“I had high expectations for this talk and you comfortably exceeded them” – Malcolm @ Hull Advanced Drivers) and ‘Crash Course (as in “how not to…”) presentations, I have a selection of others on various riding issues. Drop me a line to sort something out.
NEXT FREE Ko-Fi WEBINAR – exclusive to my supporters on Ko-Fi, look out for a FREE and EXCLUSIVE 60 minute live ‘better biking’ webinar but with the usual Survival Skills twist! WANT TO WATCH? just sign up as a SUPPORTER from as little as £3 and find it in the supporter area!
MONDAY 6 SEPTEMBER – details coming soon!
THIS WEEK ON FACEBOOK
*** 60 SECOND SAFETY *** Slowing for bends
The great thing about the UK’s roads is that they are full of corners.
We usually need to change speed but most bends can be dealt with simply by closing, then opening the throttle. … See more
*** ELEVENSES *** Wed 11 Aug Elevenses 162
In today’s webcast… SOBS gets a write-up on the Devitt insurance website… UK noise camera trials struggle to detect … Honda launches inexpensive electric scooter in China at under £900… Jawa’s new RVM500 adventure bike… if you need a new helmet move to Rajasthan… CR6 Pro from Horwin is a 125 equivalent electric bike… avoiding clickbait stories – why Survival Skills offers solid advice…
Make a brew, grab a biscuit and pull up a chair ready to tune in to the ‘E… See more
*** TIPS ON TUESDAY *** Checking over a new-to-us bike
Here’s a story I read recently, about what happened to a rider who’d just collected a new-to-him bike:
“Just bought a secondhand bike, first emergency stop practice, airhorns push front guard onto tyre.”… See more
*** SCIENCE OF BEING SEEN *** SOBS gets a write-up for Devitt
The ‘Science Of Being Seen’ (SOBS) has just got a comprehensive write-up on the Devitt motorcycling pages… See more
*** ELEVENSES *** Sun 8 Aug Elevenses 161
In today’s webcast… Rossi announces retirement… drunk driver confused electric motorcycle for e-bike whilst serving drink-drive ban… councils who remove ‘green space’ initatives prematurely could lose funding… car sales down, bike sales up, fuel prices soar… classic British brand Goldtop open a new shop… today’s better biking tip – practice and experience – don’t confuse them…
Make a brew, grab a biscuit and pull up … See more
*** SKILLS ON SATURDAY *** Indicators ahead? Don’t Cover Up!
“Take Information, Use Information, Give Information.” That’s something derived from the System of Car Control, which of course is what the System of Motorcycle Control is based on. ‘Take, Use, Give’ is a kind of ‘bolt-on’ addition to the INFORMATION stage of the police system that you’ll find in both flavours of ‘Roadcraft’ for drivers and riders.
Much is made of the importance of ‘taking information’ in post-tes… See more
*** COMMENT *** Why are drivers being told to ‘keep right’?
The tweet below, with attached video, appeared on my Twitter account a day or three back from the Shiny Side Up Partnership or SSUP for short. What attracted my attention – aside from the messaging, which I’ll come onto in a moment – was the line: “Calling all drivers – when in traffic, position your vehicle to the centre of the road”.
I assumed they didn’t mean “drive along the middle of the road” but to stay right… See more
*** COMMENT *** Does training deliver experience?
In one of those moments when different elements collide unexpectedly, I was working on a piece about the difference between ‘practice’ and ‘experience’, and why new riders shouldn’t confuse the two, when Samantha kindly sent me a link to a piece penned by David Williams, a freelance journalist.
It’s part of a new series on the Devitt website. I’ve actually worked with David before, when he was motorcycling correspondent at t… See more
THANKS FOR READING! THAT’S IT FOR THIS WEEK – so finally don’t forget to LIKE and COMMENT on posts…
…and SHARE THE NEWS! Please Please PLEASE pass on the newsletter to biking family and friends. Let’s get everyone we know ‘better biking’.
Kevin Williams
www.survivalskills.co.uk
