IAM RoadSmart Advanced Rider training

Prepare to be challenged…

We’ve created an enjoyable and supportive Advanced Rider course to give you additional knowledge and skills to make your on-road experiences safer and more fulfilling.

We want to help you enjoy your passion, grow friendships, and create memorable experiences on your bike, now and in the future.

What does becoming a more skilful rider mean to you? Better road positioning? Enhanced observation skills? Or simply greater bike control?

Whichever aspect of riding you’re looking to improve, our course brings your skills up to an advanced level, helping you to get more out of riding and preparing you for any on-road scenario.

For the course, you’ll be paired with one of our highly skilled Observers, themselves Advanced Riders who hold an additional Institute of the Motor Industry qualification.

Our Observers will meet you in location that is convenient for you both. This can be where we meet as a group, or you can discuss a different, mutually convenient location to meet your Observer once you have been assigned.

Over a series of observed rides, you’ll develop your core riding skills and learn how to continuously apply the ‘IPSGA’ framework (Information, Position, Speed, Gear, Acceleration) to a variety of on-road situations including on bends, motorways, and during overtakes.

We’ll send you a handbook to help you keep track of your progress, and you’ll have time to practise and hone your new skills between each session.

After each session you’ll receive a thorough debrief and some development areas to practice before you next meet your Observer. Once you’ve achieved the required standard, you’ll go out with one of our senior Observers for a pre-test and, assuming all goes well, you’ll then go forward to take your test.

Why Advanced Riding?

Advanced riding is about challenging your own standards and gaining the knowledge and skills to be confident and in control, whether you are in a busy city or on a quiet country lane and regardless of weather conditions.

Riding a motorcycle on today’s roads requires a multitude of skills; bikers are subject to more potential risks than other road users due to inattentive and unobservant road users around you.

By developing your observation and riding skills you will learn to ride defensively and be better able to avoid routine hazards that we motorcyclists face every day.

Throughout the course you will develop better techniques of machine control and observation that will give you greater confidence, assurance and lead to more enjoyment while making the most of your bike's capabilities.

Using the IAM RoadSmart training programme, you will develop key riding skills and principles of the riding system used by Police and emergency riders.

Advanced rider training has been shown to benefit both new and seasoned riders, better equipping them to avoid many of the typical hazards that affect the motorcycling sector.

What happens next?

Once you have signed up for the RoadSmart course, LADAM will be informed and we will make contact with you, usually via e-mail. LADAM meet every two weeks (see Calendar & Meeting Place page) and at your first meet you will be allocated an Observer. Some of our Observers can do weekdays or more flexible hours if those are preferable for you.

Throughout your training you may work with more than one Observer and will have the opportunity for some group training rides as well.

Advanced riding course rides are usually on a one to one basis and your Observer will follow you on the road and provide verbal and written feedback on your strengths and areas for development based on the IAM RoadSmart course book that you will receive after enrolment.

After a sufficient number of observed rides (which can vary, but on average you will have 6 to 12) and when you are deemed ready, you will be taken out by a different club Observer for a "pre-test" ride. When you and your Observers are in agreement that it is appropriate, you will be put forward for your Advanced test.

The test is conducted in much the same way as the observed rides, but this time by an independent IAM RoadSmart qualified Examiner, not by any of the club Observers. There is no written element to the test.

Upon successful completion of the test you will be awarded a certificate and will be a full IAM RoadSmart member.

Training with LADAM

LADAM has a dedicated team of observers, who have trained and been assessed to the high standards that the IAM require.

Once you have been paired with an observer, you will meet regularly (usually once a fortnight) to go out on an observed ride.

Your observer will monitor your ride and offer feedback on what is working well and where improvements can be made. This may be done via radio or face to face at the end of ride debrief.

After your ride you will be debriefed by your observer and you can discuss how your skills are developing. These debriefs will also discuss the theory behind the techniques being shown.

There are scorecards included with your RoadSmart handbook that help you keep track of your progress and highlight areas for practise between observed rides.

Further Training and Club Events

Having passed your test, you may wish to continue training and LADAM can help you develop your skills further through:

  • Becoming an Observer

  • IAMRS Masters Training

  • Slow Handling Skills

  • Cornering Events

LADAM also has a social side, giving our members the opportunity to ride and interact with like minded, advanced riders.

  • Regular Club Saturday Group Rides

  • Monthly longer Group Rides

  • Summer Chip Shop Runs

  • LADAM tours

  • Social nights

  • Club Nights with guest speakers

“I can honestly say that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the whole process and found every part of it rewarding.”

— Zoe Eastwell