Learner’s view

Over the years, I have had a few different chances to do a bit of advanced rider training. It has always improved my riding, but I have always faced the same problem. Me.

I am a very goal-oriented person. Give me a target and I will go at it like a rabid dog, chasing it until I get there. But as soon as that happens, I quickly lose interest and find something else to chase. And when it comes to training, it means that a lot of the learning soon dribbles out of my brain, and I have as good as forgotten it.

I was at this same situation a few weeks back when I went out with Ryan from Rapid for a two-day advanced riding coaching session. As I headed off with Ryan following me, I thought that I was doing okay. I ride a lot for work, and have done so for many years, so this was okay. However, as soon as we swapped places and Ryan gave a commentated demonstration ride, I realised how much harder I had to work to ride as well as I possibly could.

The difference between what I had considered a decent level of riding, and what I realised was possible to achieve as part of the training, was like night and day. I had not only fallen in the old trap of not really applying myself since the last bit of training I did, but it also felt like this was a whole new level of riding that I was being introduced to. It seems that there’s advanced training, and proper big boys’ advanced training.

I feel like my riding improved in leaps and bounds during the two days with Ryan, but I’m also conscious that I can aim a lot higher, so I’m not done with this yet – I want more.