Some time ago, Malc mentioned some A4 ‘graffiti’ on the office wall:
“Remember the ‘Farmer Brown’ test - ‘if it looks stupid, it probably is’ - so don’t do it!”
It’s something we could usefully remember as riders, particularly when taking advanced training. Just because someone or some organisation tells you it’s ‘advanced’, it doesn’t mean you HAVE to do it.
Another useful tip I picked up from my old MSF instructor buddy Don Kime. He said:
“Skills should be like money… spend some by all means, but put some in the bank… that way we avoid running up an overdraft we can’t pay back.”
Unfortunately a lot of our advanced training (and thus perception of what is ’skilled’ riding actually is) is about shaving off our margins for error in the misguided belief that as we’re ’skilled’ we don’t need so much margin for error in the first place! Same problem with the people who think they can ride faster because they have better brakes/tyres/ABS/CBS and the latest must-have gadget, traction control.
Just learning skills or relying on aids won’t make you a better rider automatically. ‘Skills’ and mechanical aids don’t absorb impact.
Nor does lots of riding. Another from Malc:
“Contrary to popular belief, practice does not make perfect. Practice makes permanent.”
So what you need to ensure you do is practice the perfect!
One of my own:
“So long as you aren’t a mobile roadblock yourself, a bit of overcaution won’t kill you. “
Out there is the real world, and if you want to ride with a little less risk by riding a little slower than the road could allow, what’s so wrong with a bit of a bigger margin for error and a slightly later arrival time? It’s usually a lot more relaxed too.
Some asked a question of me, once:
“What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?”
And my answer was:
“Listen carefully to all advice – then make your own decisions.”
Don’t be a clone rider. Make your own choices about how you incorporate skills and advice.
Thanks Kevin – this is as much a life skills point as a Motorcycling one. I used to assume (and perhaps hope for myself) that as people got older and more experienced that they would mellow. Unfortunately my own experience with certain individuals has proved that some folks just get stuck at a point in their development.
A little point I would add to your final sentence is that people should listen carefully, then incorporate skills and advice based on their own decisions. We shouldn’t assume we know it all already, but similarly – we shouldn’t do ourselves down if we can’t do certain things that others find easy.