05-15-2016, 12:31 AM
Very interesting discussion. I took the Basic Rider Course when I started riding about 10 years ago. I found it to be very helpful and it certainly did not fill me with delusions of being a Pedrosa, Hayden or Marquez. I find it hard to imagine the course would do that for anyone. Very basic skills were taught with minimal practice and surface level theory. The impression I walked away with was that I could certainly ride a motorcycle and that I possessed only rudimentary skills. I knew I had (and continue to have) a lot to learn.
There's some logic to the thinking that advanced rider training, in particular, from one of the various racing schools, might result in over-confidence, speeding and unnecessary risk taking on the streets. I've heard some say that after race school training they appreciate that speed is for the track and it lessens their "need" to go recklessly canyon carving, dragging knees and hitting triple digits on public roads. I suspect there's some truth to that though I also suspect that many would find it difficult to resist the temptation to take fun corners at speed when you "know" you have the skills to do so "safely."
Does rider training make you a better rider? I believe it can and usually does. Assuming you put into practice the skills taught, having a professional coach or teacher observe your riding, make corrections, teach new techniques and explain the theory behind why and how it all comes together will result in you becoming a better rider. Of course, that begs the question of how are we defining "better." If we're only talking about riding technique and skills, then advanced rider training would seem to do that more often than not. If we add "judgment," then it seems all bets are off and it becomes more an issue of personality and maturity. I suppose that's the point of the study - training appears to affect rider judgment by instilling over-confidence, increased risk taking and over-estimation of skills.
Thanks for posting this Pterodactyl. Very thought provoking.
There's some logic to the thinking that advanced rider training, in particular, from one of the various racing schools, might result in over-confidence, speeding and unnecessary risk taking on the streets. I've heard some say that after race school training they appreciate that speed is for the track and it lessens their "need" to go recklessly canyon carving, dragging knees and hitting triple digits on public roads. I suspect there's some truth to that though I also suspect that many would find it difficult to resist the temptation to take fun corners at speed when you "know" you have the skills to do so "safely."
Does rider training make you a better rider? I believe it can and usually does. Assuming you put into practice the skills taught, having a professional coach or teacher observe your riding, make corrections, teach new techniques and explain the theory behind why and how it all comes together will result in you becoming a better rider. Of course, that begs the question of how are we defining "better." If we're only talking about riding technique and skills, then advanced rider training would seem to do that more often than not. If we add "judgment," then it seems all bets are off and it becomes more an issue of personality and maturity. I suppose that's the point of the study - training appears to affect rider judgment by instilling over-confidence, increased risk taking and over-estimation of skills.
Thanks for posting this Pterodactyl. Very thought provoking.