Meet Faisel

            It was a Sunday morning when I rode to Jubilee wharf to meet Terry for my advanced riding course. I was excited but also a little nervous. Terry put me at ease and asked why I wanted to do the course. I explained that I had always considered motorbiking to be too dangerous, but having moved to Cornwall from London where the roads were quieter I succumbed for economical and environmental reasons. The 34 mile round trip each day to work in a van for 1 person did not sit right with me.

It wasn't a midlife crisis! I was all too aware of the risks. Thus the need for me to do the course after passing my DAS in 2019.

Terry took me on the pre-assessment ride and I was pleased to hear at the end that it shouldn't take me long to complete the course. I would be handed over to Rob my instructor and mentor to begin the course in the next few weeks.....

Rob again was very welcoming and put me at ease on the next ride and it was a sharp but enjoyable learning curve from there. The biggest challenge at first seemed to be finding a coffee shop to have our midway break for a debrief during partial lockdown!

Turning the “3”'s on the report to the required “2”'s and “1”'s for the various elements of riding was satisfying as I could see how I was progressing

Over the coming weeks and months Rob gave me a detailed breakdown of my ride and how I could work on my riding to make it safer using the pillar's of (I)nformation, (S)peed, (P)osition (Gear) and (A)cceleration.

The structure of the course with some reading to compound the practical training worked well and Rob instilled confidence in me each week. Even after the rides which didn't go so well!

6 Months later having completed the course I can honestly say I feel much safer on 2 wheels and it's allowed me to experience the true feeling of freedom on the open road that only riders experience. I would recommend it to every rider. Undoubtedly a life saver.