Going fast on a motorcycle is relatively easy. Going really, really slowly while remaining upright? That takes rather more skill!
Saturday 5th September saw PECAM throw open the gates for our Slow Speed Handling Skills Open Day, with 21 members of the public joining us between 10am and 3pm. We were particularly pleased to welcome several learner riders – proof that you certainly don’t need an advanced qualification to start developing advanced skills.
More than a dozen PECAM members were on hand, including multiple qualified Observers (our advanced rider coaches), to help riders tackle the challenges.
And we started with the deceptively simple stuff.
Ride in a straight line at walking pace. Stop. Put one foot down. Repeat using the other foot. Easy? You might be surprised.
From there it was onto gentle slaloms, tighter slaloms and our decreasing-space slalom, where riders could actually see their improvement. Then came circles in both directions and U-turns both ways – because, mysteriously, motorcycles and riders often seem to have a favourite side!
For those wanting more, there was the Gymkhana course – bike handling taken to the next level.
Everything was entirely at the rider’s own pace. Do as much or as little as you want, repeat an exercise for as long as you like and ask for coaching only when you want it.
PECAM bikes were also available for demonstrations and for riders wanting to have a go without risking their own expensive pride and joy. The braver souls, naturally, used their own!
Away from the cones, riders could also head out on a 30-mile observed ride, getting hints and tips on their road riding while experiencing what an IAM RoadSmart Advanced Rider Course is actually like.
Keeping everyone suitably caffeinated throughout the day was the Really Awesome Coffee truck – an essential component of any serious motorcycle training programme.
We were also delighted to welcome Harry, the man behind the Beyond the Visor YouTube channel, who tackled the exercises aboard his Triumph Street Triple. We’re looking forward to seeing the resulting video – and finding out whether the cones behaved themselves on camera!
A great day all round, with plenty of learning, improvement, conversation and laughter.
PECAM normally runs two Slow Speed Open Days each year, so if you missed this one, don’t worry.
We’ll put the cones out again next season.