Poor Rider Training

G'day all just thought I'd let you in on an unfortunate incedent that happend to my poor lovey wilst attempting to embrace the world of motorclying...I purchased a 9 hour rider trainng package from ARMSTRONGS in Thomastown for my lovely to attend Last wednesday, and after the studying of the book and the butterflys had started she headed off to the 8.30 am start. I had made the instructor very aware that I was booking this for my fragile lovely and she had no experiance behind the bars of a bike ( apart from being a great pillion) and never driven a manual car , he replied " no worries mate she'll come hear a complete novice and leave here riding like a "fu%#ing champion"

The class size was 11 males who all confessed to be manual drivers and 1 scared lovey as stated above, by 10.00 am they had her perched up on the trusty honda making her do stop starts using clutch and throttle up and down the yard, feeling uncomfortable she hopped off the bike and walked the bike through the turns and then proceeded to practice the clutch starts.during this confusion and the 11 others buzzing past poor lovey she grabbed a hand full of throttle and the was told "break break " she then greabbed on the front break trapping the throttle flat out as she went tearing across the yard narrowly avoiding the other riders.

she stopped the bike , and shit scared hopped off and returned to the office upset and embarresd. only then did the instructor think of giving her a scooter to practice on to get her ballance on . the 2 instructors on site had made derrogative remarks to some of the other riders wanting to practice on the scooters , this made the situation even more difficult, and even the teary eyes of the office chicks begging lovey to give it another try could not convince the 1hour old student to stay (thanks anyway girls)

Now I have had a long and wonderfull affiliation with Armstrongs and over the 15 years since my first encounter with them have reffer'd many friends to them to learn. But now as the 2 main trainers (garry and Stuart) have left and have been replaced by these TOOLS I will take my recomendations elseware.

It seems that the focus on good rider training has been "sold out" to the numbers game and this can only mean poorer riders being licenced by these people, why cant they offer rider introduction courses like the ones I have just found out about ( thanks Tape!!) instead of just jammin it all into a one dayer...oh and by the way...no mention of a rebook for the $240.00 i had forked over to them

Hi,I know it,s a long way to Hastings{Vic} but the boy,s at Baylink would never do that shit,they looked after my daughter,1st class and when I came back to riding they gave me hours on the bike before the license test,and always were there to help and encourage,

Hmmmmmmmm rider training should be ONE ON ONE. Assessment can be done in groups, but training should be one on one, suited to the student at hand. I have a lot of requests to train in groups ('oh, I want to learn at the same time as my friend') but I refuse- it doesn't work IMHO- people progress at different rates, people learn in different styles (kinesthetic, auditory, visual etc) and it is plain dangerous to have learners riding around one another.
I'm sorry your missus has had the experience that she had. I hope it doesn't deter her from riding.
I'm not about to infer that I am the best instructor around, but I strongly believe in the above.....

Mate, that is a very ordinary situation to happen. In NSW we teach in groups of five which is OK if you can get everyone to a similar level. What we do when someone is struggling to meet the competency requirements for each level is give them one on one training until thay are there. This normally happens in a lunch break or before the start of the second day etc.

Rule No1 though is that you never demean or belittle a student that struggles. As soon as you do that you've lost them.

There is no way in the world any student should be subjected to the shit your other half went through. I'd let the training mob or the Vic equivalent of the RTA know about it as dickheads like those instructors shouldn't still be in the scheme.

Try and get her to stick with it. I taught a young lady who had similar pre training skills to your other half who took three goes to get through the course. She now instructs with the Superbike school.

Cheers

I went to HART, wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

We had a very similar situation up here In Qld with Noyce Honda's Q-Ride. Janelle, my mate whos been riding road bikes for 12 years on his 'L's & his girlfriend went to various lessons & then were assessed togther. One particuar instructor, SCOTT were patronising to the Girls. I stressed that kid gloves were required but that Janelle was very capable as i had taught her some basics on a Yamaha tt90 auto kids dirt bike, then my mates zzr250 in a grassy vacant bloke & finally she had been riding my fzr600 up & down a deserted street close to my home.

Janelle wasn't comfortable with her new boots & gloves on but was trying her best to come to terms with over coming the nerves & complete the required tasks. The FUK HED let her drop the VT750 3 times before he actually took her seriously about the clutch slipping out of her fingers with her gloves on. Janelle had asked the lever be adjusted but only AFTER the 3 jump starts & consequent gravel plants did he bother to look at it & then modify it to suit.

On the actual riding test he deserted Janelle on her first ever hill start (which was a steep turn left & give way scenario) She stalled it & froze. I had asked to follow at the back of the test for my own experience to maybe help teach other new riders better. So i buzzed up the inside of the other 2 bikes & talked her through it. She was so courageous to continue with the rest of the test I would of got of the bike & let him worry about getting it the 5ks back to the shop.

There was other issues as well but I'm sure you get the idea so ....
I was that ANGRY when they got back to the shop i had to make myself stay outside as i didnt want to embarrass Janelle by tearing the instructor a new one. She past but imho it was another 6 weeks riding till i would of let her rode on her own in traffic.

The system is better then the old days but way to often its just a job to some clown on wages working for a dealership up here.

I hope your lovely recovers & continues to obtain her licence. It's worth it Janelle is now having a pretty good time on the bike & just starting to get off the bike a little on corners
Cheers Brett

I went to HART, wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

I went to HART too, and it was the first time for me behind the bars.
They were patient with me (I was a duffer) and I thought did a good job. The instructor had a quiet word to me when I was having difficulty, and was concerned about the other students as well.
Is there a HART in Victoria?

Is there a HART in Victoria?

2 at least, their main complex in Tullamarine that has the simulator as well and another in Kilsyth I believe.

FWIW I went to Armstrongs for my learners and license. Was most impressed with the learner bloke that was there at the time (can't remember his name but a dark skinned bloke).

Very unimpressed with the license bloke, was Jan 27th and like 40C or some shite, friggin hot anywyas and he just wanted to go home and have abeer I reckon.

Start of the day my counter steering (along with everyone else's) was shithouse, by end of day some 2 hours later I had my P's at no cost due to shortness of the day but my counter steering was still no better I reckon.

Thats ass... I would go down there and ask for money back

Geez, that's shocking.

I did training in a group of 3 or 4 (different days), with different skill levels (although all pretty low!), and we got a *much* better 'easing in' sort of lesson. Pushed around the carpark to get the idea of turning, etc.

I reckon it comes down to the individual instructors, and that's a bit of a lottery unless someone can give you a recommendation. Maybe we should start a sticky thread with everyone rating any training they've had? And then we could count down the 15 minutes it'll take before someone sues us!

Danny

Shit that's so nasty. I tell ya it pisses me off when we get treated as dumb women It does happen though.
Lucky for me my partner is a trainer at Ridetek and he tought me to ride I had myself never been on the front of a bike and was shit scared to even get on one as I lost two brother in laws.
If their is anything we can do just let us know and I am very sure we would love to help out.

Cheers

I have since made enquiries @ HART and STAYUPRIGHT they hold 2-3 day courses for beginners that includes pushing bikes around the track and ballance dynamics & counter steer principals....shall look at pencilin lovy in next year....spose it saves me havin to look for a 250 for chirstmas for her...lol

thanks for ya kind words

chris

I have since made enquiries @ HART and STAYUPRIGHT they hold 2-3 day courses for beginners that includes pushing bikes around the track and ballance dynamics & counter steer principals....shall look at pencilin lovy in next year....spose it saves me havin to look for a 250 for chirstmas for her...lol

thanks for ya kind words

chris

oK.. Yah gotta stop calling her "lovey" you are setting her up for failure... You gotta start calling her "tiger" and stuff.... get her machismo level up...

hmm i passed my l's with flyinf coupers and imporoved my starts out of site that was in tassie with "stay upright"


But my p's are a diffrent soty iv been for the twice and no lukc, its a really impracticle situation weaving in and out of witches hats doing 2k's and i cant do it ! immposible ! and the instructor that i KEEP getting just aint interested . . .

... i ride better than my mum and she has had her licence for about 4 years , whats the go :S

hmm i passed my l's with flyinf coupers and imporoved my starts out of site that was in tassie with "stay upright"


But my p's are a diffrent soty iv been for the twice and no lukc, its a really impracticle situation weaving in and out of witches hats doing 2k's and i cant do it ! immposible ! and the instructor that i KEEP getting just aint interested . . .

... i ride better than my mum and she has had her licence for about 4 years , whats the go :S

perhaps you should practise out in a car park for a while....