BECOMING A BIKEMASTER
Bikemaster Fast-track. March - September 2020
I had six days instruction on the roads of Kent with Giles Lamb. Over the years since I first found Rapid in 2007, I have learnt a lot and my riding has improved but I felt that my experience and time with Giles took things to a new level. Our course was interrupted by lockdown (and because I contracted Covid-19) and was therefore more extended than would usually be the case.
He took me without fuss, or even without me realising it, from step to step of improvement in every area over each session, building and encouraging confidence and helping to embed so many of the skills and techniques until I found myself relaxing into what felt like fast, flowing and smooth riding, in ways that I had never experienced before. Above all with a lot of confidence and at a pace that felt good to me at least.
Giles cares deeply about his student’s development and puts so much thought and heart into his instruction, to ensure that I progressed under his encouragement without fuss or any feeling of pressure. He has a unique way of describing and giving nicknames to various actions on the bike that really fix it in the mind - I can still remember them all and as I ride I can bring one or the other to mind in seeking to follow and practise his instruction.
I felt that I really mattered to him and that he was as determined as I to see me develop. He was encouraging and honest in equal measure and found exactly the right way to motivate and steer me to address poor learned behaviour from the past. I found myself really wanting to adopt what he taught me and to impress him, in the right way, which is surely the gift of a good teacher. He was also modest about his own skills and quick to comment if he thought he had not got something quite right when he was commentating or demonstrating. His demonstration of technique was hugely helpful and simply following his lead gave me so much to work on and understand.
For my last day I took rode my MV F4 as opposed to the KTM 1290 that is my workhorse. The MV has always intimidated me, that has affected my riding and for some years I have been seeking to master it but this time on the road with Giles was the first time that I began to get an inkling of how I might really boss the bike and get the most out of what is quite an unforgiving beast, without any of the rider aids. After a disappointing day at Blyton when I thought that I would have to give up on the MV as being beyond my 65 years, I am encouraged now to get up and try again on the track and road and am looking forward to the opportunity to do so again.
I learned so much and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I cannot recommend Giles too highly. He is also a great bloke and an interesting man and I hope I can ride with him again to continue honing my skills.
I have over the years taken a number of course and training sessions with different organisations but Rapid is unique and special, both for the quality and experience of its instructors and the method of instruction. Assessment and critique is honest and sharp but also encouraging and adapted to my personality and character on the bike, helping me to develop as an individual in the ways that are best suited to me, rather than seeking to impose some formalised routine. Instruction is highly personalised and really encouraging. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to really learn how to ride. I found the Bikemaster course perfectly designed to help me develop into a better rider than I thought I could ever be.
Now to practise...
Simon Yiend | Rapid rider
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