Bikesafe was hugely rewarding
Dreading the thought of being observed
Firstly, please allow me to thank the Warwickshire Bikesafe team for running the BikeSafe course.I found it a hugely rewarding day and, having been practising the techniques for the past week, can say that it has definitely made me a better rider. Riding a route that would leave me feeling tired, tense and needing a rest now seems like a doddle.
Having passed my test eleven years ago, I was dreading the thought of being observed by any riders, let alone by the police. But the team were so friendly on the day that I felt at ease right away, even whilst taking part in the observed ride. The media shown during the classroom session was a little dated, however I don’t think that it detracted anything from the value of the video. It still managed to get across all of the information and in a clear and easy to follow way.
Learnt more in that one day than I have in eleven years of riding
I think the format of the day worked really well, with the classroom session and observed ride having roughly equal amounts of time. There is a lot of information to take during the first part, so maybe having a slightly longer break in between may help. No more than 20 minutes, but maybe just enough to have a longer chat with your assigned rider before you head out. Having said this, our assigned rider Andy did make sure that we had plenty of opportunities to stop, ask questions, check in with him and, just as importantly – enjoy ourselves!
As I said, the day was fantastic, really well put together and incredibly good value for money. I learnt more in that one day than I have in eleven years of riding. It’s given me so much more confidence on the road and has definitely made me a safer rider. Thank you,
Written by: Jack Lewin
Attended Warwickshire BikeSafe (28/07/19)
