GETTING BACK IN THE SADDLE
Three years ago I was involved in a big smash when a driver pulled out on me from a side road as I was reviewing an adventure bike.
The result was both shoulders and a couple of ribs broken and my right knee badly damaged. I was off work for an extended period and unable to ride a motorcycle for an even longer spell.
So, I speak from experience when I say that getting back on a bike after a ‘big off’ means overcoming both physical and mental barriers. But various courses are available geared at helping with this process.
One such, is the free Back to Biking service provided to its customers by Minster Law. The firm specialises in personal injury cases, particularly involving motorbikes.
The course involves three phases and, for the first of those, I joined other participants at the famous Brooklands Museum in Surrey.
The first step was to have a conversation with ex-police psychologist Carol Sharp, who specialises in driving rehabilitation. Carol assesses where you are in terms of getting back on the road, the ways you may have been affected mentally by your accident and she offers techniques to overcome possible difficulties.
The next stage was to don a pair of VR 3D goggles and climb aboard a motorcycle simulator. You then ‘ride’ through a series of road conditions, with Carol on hand to offer advice.
Phase two of the course, was a step up to the real thing – riding a bike in a closed environment, supervised and aided by instructors from Phoenix Motorcycle Training. The morning session was spent in the classroom and then out on the tarmac riding around cones and a short course, building confidence and improving machine handling skills.
In the afternoon, we headed out on to the road in the company of our instructors. The final phase is a ride-out with a group of experienced bikers.
All participants agreed that following the completion of the first two phases, confidence was much improved.
Dragos Niculae, 35, who had been knocked off while commuting, said: “It’s been difficult to confront something that changed my life so dramatically. But I’m also still so passionate about biking.
“I felt really nervous about getting back on one for the first time, but I found my private counselling session really helpful.”
After phase two, Dragos added: “All the advice and instruction has made such a difference to my riding, and my view of other road users. But, more importantly, it has given me so much confidence to ride.”