Does time riding equal proficiency?

[jstark47]

Depends where you live. We're getting ramped up to start the MSF on road course next year. Starts with a parking lot then goes onto the road.

Tell us more, I hadn't heard about this. Is this specific to Virginia, or a curriculum MSF is developing for use anywhere?

[Lion_Lady]

Depends where you live. We're getting ramped up to start the MSF on road course next year. Starts with a parking lot then goes onto the road.

The Experienced part of the Experienced Rider Course is a misnomer though. It's designed to be taken a week to a month after the BRC. ???

HUH??? I call BS!! Where on earth do you get this tidbit about the ERC?

I can't think of any just graduated BRC student, ie never been on a motorcycle prior to the BRC, who would get much benefit from the ERC so soon after completion of the BRC. In fact, we generally discourage anyone from taking the ERC until they've got at least one year of riding under their belts.

Real advanced courses are events like a Total Control or Stayin Safe class.

And I'd hardly call Total Control or Stayin Safe "events." They're classes.

P

[storysunfolding]

HUH??? I call BS!! Where on earth do you get this tidbit about the ERC?

I can't think of any just graduated BRC student, ie never been on a motorcycle prior to the BRC, who would get much benefit from the ERC so soon after completion of the BRC. In fact, we generally discourage anyone from taking the ERC until they've got at least one year of riding under their belts.

I know Maryland runs a modified program but that's straight from the MSF, RCT's and all five programs where I've taught. When I first became a ridercoach the old salts still claimed the "one year or 1,000 miles" rule but that was drummed out by the end of my first year. SUpposedly that was a carry over from the old ERC that included the locked tires exercises and the forward and in body positioning.

The current ERC consists of mostly modified exercises from the BRC, a different remedial warm up and a fairly limited "multiple curves" exercise. The goal of the ERC is to fit a student to their bike. Get them comfortable with the same Basic skills taught in the BRC on their own motorcycle. There's nothing advanced or challenging about it. By waiting so long to reinforce those concepts you not only allow bad habits to form but you ignore the RETS underpinings.

On military bases we often get new riders take the BRC, ERC and MSRC all in one week. By the end they are often superior riders to those that have spent years riding due to the fact that their development isn't hindered by the development of irrational fears or bad habits. I'm not a fan of the one week schedule given that students that spread it over two weeks do much better but that's often by necessity. Students far removed from or never having taken a BRC are often the worst students to coach in an ERC do their ineptitude.

The addition of the on road course is actually fairly interesting because it also addresses newer riders. It's actually a local beginner oriented version of a stayin safe class. However, I'd really like the MSF to develop a better intermediate class (That's all the ARC-ST rates in my opinion) and a real advanced course instead of simply promoting the Kevin Schwantz track school

Btw, I called them classes too

[redwing]

My two cents ... motorcycling is expensive...

I think miles only doesn't give one the kind of experience needed to be 'proficent' in motorcycling.
Even though I ride familiar roads I find different problems to contend with. Stop and go traffic. Tailgaters. Rush hour traffic in Baton Rouge and/or Lafayette La.
I try not to ride in the rain but ride at night. I have two 90 degree turns on a gravel road to get from my house to the main road. Two or three times where I had to stop right now; but not where I came to a screaming stop.
My slow riding has improved but more work is needed. Sometimes I mistakenly lean into a slow turn rather than lean out. The few times I made the mistake I safely though not gracfully recovered. My fan club was not impressed.

Thinking about u-turns gives me the runs. A 30 ft u-turn is ok but a 24 ft u-turn is still hair raising. I made a 180 degree turn today in a gravel parking lot but did not turn to lock.

What might the cost of the next level class be?

Robert