Nettie finds training fun with instruction from fellow member Mike.

Having returned to biking in the late 1990s and joined GBMCC, life was good and loads of fun. I started going out on runs and found the more I rode, the better my skills became.

Then I met Kevin, also a member of the club, a great mate and someone with whom I could go out riding with in between local GBMCC runs. Kevin was very encouraging and spent time helping me become smoother and a bit quicker. The problem was Kevin got even quicker and I started to feel crap.

It is no reflection on Kevin, but as I tried harder to keep up I became tense and the whole biking experience became unpleasant and I slowed down again. I never said much to Kevin and the boys, but wished things could change.

So I thought, "OK, I'll buy a new bike and see if that helps." Being into blue bikes, 1 saw a 2003 Fireblade 954 and fell in love and got very excited.

"This should make me quicker," I thought. It was quicker, I found it great to ride, but I couldn't ride it any quicker than my old bike.

But luck was on my side, and a week after getting the Blade, I was introduced to a new member, Mike, who does Advanced Training Courses. I was interested but worried about my ability. Would he think I was really crap?

I plucked up the courage and booked myself onto one of Mike's two-day courses. We started at 9am .

The first thing Mike did with me was an assessment ride. I rode ahead through town and out into the country while Mike observed, then after 20 miles or so Mike overtook, we stopped, had a cup of tea and he gave me some feedback.

I won't bore you with all of the details, but what did become clear was that i didn't use the road to my advantage. i wasn't looking for the right things, nor did i position my bike correctly on the road to ensure that i progressed safely.

Teaching by example and with constant commentary over the intercom, over the next few hours Mike showed me how to read the road, how to position myself and how to prepare for corners.

I quickly became hooked. Not only was Mike's training easy to understand, the impact when put into practice made me feel good. We had lots of stops in lay-bys to assess how things were going and great lunches and cups of tea.

All of Mike's training helped me to understand what the bike could do, what I could do with the bike, and by the time we finished the day at 5pm , how I could enjoy what the Blade had to offer.

Mike's reassuring voice helped me focus on the way ahead. I still can hear him telling me to keep my “eyes up” whenever my focus started to waiver. I gained so much confidence that on the first GBMCC run of this year I was met by comments such as, "Nettie, you are quicker this year!" Everyone in our group has noticed the improvement in my riding abilities.

I no longer stay at the back, which is not the best place to be if you are slower, because the last rider has to be 10mph quicker to stay up with the group. I'm nearer the front and I am using my improved overtaking skills.

Mike's instruction and encouragement has changed my biking experience forever. I now use the road to my advantage and have also transferred the skills to the track.

I have completed levels 1 and 2 at the California Superbike School - and I was not the slowest in either group. The track was great and some of the guys in level 2 race at weekends and are seriously fast.

I also learnt what my bike could do, and that the acceleration is the thing for me, not the top speed. Mike's training is based on the Police Class 1 system and, whilst the track is fun, I prefer Mike's methods because the road is my environment, that's where I mostly ride.

I work with trauma patients every day at work, so the more advantages I have when riding and the more I know about cornering, the safer I'm going to be.

Before you buy yet more leathers, or think you need to change your bike, consider spending the money on improving your riding skills and keeping yourself safe whilst “going around the Bend ”.

Give Mike a call or take a look at his website, you won't regret it. Those two days have dramatically improved the way I ride. - Nettie

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