MEET THE COACHES - IAIN BEGG

Magazine posters and daydreams of riding bikes all day led Iain into a career as a police motorcyclist, and eventually a role with Rapid Training, allowing him to pass on his learnings and expertise to fellow riders.

Pro Coach Iain, loving the ride wherever it takes him.

I always dreamed of having a bike, that was just my thing, that was what I wanted to do, ride bikes. My bedroom wall was plastered with bike magazine pullouts and posters.

Even at school I’d just daydream about riding bikes, and I remember being in double history one day, gazing out of the window, and seeing two police motorcyclists on the main road ‘working’. I remember thinking right away, that’s the job for me.

At 16 I got on a moped and progressed through the tests and through the bikes until I eventually got the dream job of being a bike cop and I could ride bikes and get paid for doing it. And even when I wasn’t being paid to ride, I was would cover the miles on my own VFR750 Honda.

Despite all those years riding and covering hundreds and thousands of miles, I still can’t really explain why I ride, or what the lure is or was back then. Enjoyment sounds a bit obvious. Freedom? So does that. But I think it’s the ability to forget about everything else and just focus and concentrate on the ride. Being able to just find that flow state and being able to look back at the end of the day or ride with that feeling of satisfaction that that is as good as it gets.

Now I enjoy being able to help others find that satisfaction by improving their own riding, and riding with friends and fellow coaches, especially the annual Scotland tour.