I think that's good advice from Big Red Rach.
I'm struggling with that concept myself a little just now. Being 'rapid response' trained myself (not on motorcycles I may add) I was used to a different style of driving which carried over to my riding a little.
I originally learnt the value of 'acceleration sense' on my Roadcraft course in an exerecise called '5 lives'. Essentially, you were given a 'life' for every time you touched the breaks and the winner (3 trainees to a car) was the one who 'survived' the longest.
The idea was to teach how accuratlely to loose roadspeed by accelaration sense so that when you engaged the correct gear you could accelerate away from the hazard.
Due to the need for us to always make 'maximum progress' that meant combining effective acceleration sense with braking to loose road speed. For the latter to be succesful you had to invest a lot of time in handling skills to know what you can rely on the vehicle to do.
'Brakes are for making you slow, gears are for making you go' was out mantra.
The first thing my IAM instructor picked up on was my 'habit' of combining acceleration sense with braking (without the same degree of vehicle familiarity to fall back on I hasten to add). In the beginning I found this particularly difficult (even confusing). Use accelaration sense too late and I was back playing '5 lives' again, too late and you're using engine braking which is a no no. 'Gears are for making you go'.
Anticipating the entire route rather than just the next corner is the key to some extent.
You've got several IAM members on this forum and at least one Observer. Why don't you arrange an informal ride-out with some of them just to pick up a few pointers
This is something that needs some mentoring, it's not really something that you can that effectively try out yourself.
.gif)
Better still, why not join TAM's, just to pick up some pointers if not to complete the test.
They do a one of 'Ride Check' now for just that situation.
I've uploaded the link to the local group in the links section.
Alternatively, I can recommend my local observer, he's helped out many riders outside the IAM and I'm sure I could persuade him to provide you with a little free tuiton.
