IAM Advanced Motorcycle Training with WOMT by Erin Ross

A journey to Accuracy, Confidence and Elegance; why Women Only Motorcycle Training is ace!

I undertook my CBT with a company in North Birmingham, it was a little bit of a gung-ho affair. Having bought a little Honda 125 second hand I began trying to figure out how to become a motorcycle rider. I thought that miles would make me better so even embarked on a solo ride out to lake Vyrnwy. 

After a year I looked to do training for a full licence but everywhere seemed to offer a week of training combined with both test parts. The expense and risk of failure and cost of repetition put me off. On asking around at a Motorcycle show I was directed to Laura Smith and WOMT. It was exactly what I needed, training at the pace I needed, honest feedback on my abilities and yes it ended in first time passes for both mod 1 and mod 2. 

New Bike Time

Fantastic, I went out bought a Triumph Tiger 660, the DVSA were happy I knew how to ride so off I went.  Except something was not right. The other people I know who ride (none live local to me, I was riding out solo, all of them are male) kept saying just keep going out, more miles you’ll gain confidence. I was advised to read Motorcycle Road craft, hmm there was a lot in there that was not part of learning to pass my test? 

My confidence didn’t grow but my pre ride nerves did. I found I was physically shaking as I was approaching my bike in the garage and it was a battle in the mind to get on and go out. Even when out on my bike I was aware I lacked something. 

When Laura was teaching me for the bike test she move effortlessly around the road confidently approaching every hazard, she never seemed phased.  At the time I naïvely thought post big bike test this is how I would be looking, however, I found I did not enjoy riding, it was a battle. 

The men in my life that ride didn’t seem to have this problem, perhaps women’s survival instincts are just stronger? I knew I needed more training to survive and hopefully thrive on a bike.

Motorcycle Mentorship with Laura

Six months post test I arranged 1 to 1 training sessions with Laura. That first session was priceless. She asked what I needed, I felt my list was a little crazy but I was honest with her and she worked wonders. I explained the battle to just get the bike out the garage, she fixed that. She gave me familiarisation with my bike, got me manually handling it, practiced safely getting off my driveway. We practiced slow control, planning where to park up, riding on motorways, safe group riding. The world of IPSGA was explained to me in theory and then demonstrated on the road. I got given bike homework, and proudly sent the odd pic to Laura to show I was getting out and practicing. 

Introduction to Advanced Training

I also undertook the Take Control course with Laura. All of this culminated in me joining Laura on a tour to France for more advanced training. I had already seen a huge improvement in my riding but from the 1 to 1 lessons but there was another step change from completing the tour in France. I met some great people on that tour and felt confident group riding with them as they had the same great training.

IAM Confusion

With my improved skill level, confidence and a new riding buddy I spent the next few months enjoying many ride outs and two tours in Wales, one of which was solo. I was okay at riding but I wanted to be better, continue improving my skills and stay safe on the road. I joined a local IAMs group. My observer was happy to hear I had done some advanced training and understood IPSGA. On my observed rides we went down some fantastic roads. I was told the bike should “feel like its on rails” as it goes round corners. After some pointers my corner got a bit quicker and I was receiving positive feedback however on reflection I wonder if my interpretation of “on rails” was what my observer meant? 

Hanging On By My Fingernails

He helped improve areas of my riding but my “on rails” corners to me felt a mix of exhilarating and terrifying. It was suggested I was going in too fast to corners, true I was always having to brake a little or feel like I was hanging on by my fingers nails round the corners. He said he would give me a demo and said “follow me, try to stay on my back wheel”. 

At Maximum Capacity

I feel he overestimated my ability. I struggled to keep up, as well as try to see what he was demonstrating, as he talked through his ride. I ended up going into corners even faster! I couldn’t process all information as we progressed along the beautifully twisty road. 

We also discussed overtake options on this ride and previous rides. I knew I my overtaking was not great. I could get in a slap-dash, single phase ‘zip by’ overtake like most bikers, but I really struggled with crossing the centre line to just have a look to improve my view and then ask myself was the over take on or off. Again I think my sense of self preservation holds me back but also my awareness that my “on rails” corners are not right. 

Ultimately, at the end of that observed ride, I ended up mentally frazzled and instead of joining the social ride back, I opted to ride my own route home. I was disappointed in myself that I couldn’t get it, angry I had not spoken up to say the demo was not working for me, and ultimately just wanted to put the bike away for winter and forget riding for a while.  

“You’re wasting money, try different trainers, watch more YouTube videos, just get on and do it you’ll get the hang of it” – IAM Observer and ‘friends’.

I reached out to the WOMT group chat explaining my recent experiences and seeking pointers on corners and overtakes. The ladies on there are brilliant and Laura keeps everything in check. I also mentioned to the other motorcycle riders in my life (including my observer) that I was going to book some lessons 1 on 1 to fix my corners and improve my overtakes, wow was I met with a lot of negativity: you’re wasting money, try different trainers, watch more YouTube videos, just get on and do it you’ll get the hang of it.  I ignored them and booked my lesson. 

A 1:1 Advanced Motorcycle Training Day Booked with Laura

There was Laura, theory first, on the road demo, gracefully dancing her bike effortlessly, accurately and confidently around the roads. She was on the comms talking me through it all, totally worth every penny. 

On my next IAMs observed ride out it was like I could see the perfect line to take on the road around almost every bend. There was no braking at the last minute, no mix of exhilaration and terror on the bend, I was calm, it felt effortless, my observer could see the improvement, I could feel a huge improvement! I was starting to look a little bit like Laura’s accurate, confident and effortless riding. As I write this I have bike homework and have my next advanced lesson booked to work on overtaking and I am excited for it!

The way Laura presents the training, the feedback you get, the pace she evolves your riding at, for me as been brilliant. My knowledge, skills, confidence and enjoyment of my bike (now a lovely Honda NT1100 as I plan to tour) is growing. I want to be accurate, confident and look effortless and elegant riding my motorbike.

Women Only Motorcycle Training is Professional

Laura and WOMT has been instrumental to my journey toward that goal. I have had plenty of help and advice from other riders, some bad, some good, I have learned from other riders but for me understanding the knowledge, getting feedback, seeing the skill demonstrated at the professional level has made all the difference.  When you see Laura ride you have not doubt you are learning from one of, if not the best instructors available.

For me learning how to ride really started after I had passed my full bike licence and it continues today. In a car you have so much crash protection, on a bike you are vulnerable and it can be life changing if it goes wrong. I will be checking in with Laura for a 1 to 1 lesson every now and then to keep my skill level up, it is money well spent as far as I am concerned. I have a new hobby I love and I want to keep improving and enjoying my rides. I hope Laura can inspire you too to be accurate, confident and effortless on your motorbike.

Erin Ross | WOMT Advanced Training Student.