I'll back up Nev & Dr AT on the value of the course they mention At Batemans Bay in 2005 & Tom Groggin in 2006. I was at both of them, probably only picked up about 5% of what Miles was trying to show us but that was enough for me to improve my riding by about 200% ( I still a sook in sand & water crossings.) I'm certain that the things he showed have saved my arse on numerous occasions insted of me getting an ambulance ride. $ well spent
If you have raced off road you are way ahead and better than I am then. My weakness is sand, I would really like to get some training from someone good at it. I will probably take a course in Victoria, nothing here in Tas as far as I know.
Coming from a dirt background, I found it really helpfull to do the course on my africa twin rather than an enduro bike. I guess I already had most of the basics miles was teaching but had never really taken the trouble to consolidate them / adapt them into adv usage. ( I was dirt riding adv bikes rather than adv riding them, to some extent) . I'm definitely not saying this applies to everyone, but I suspect if redback has done clubman level enduro riding he'd benefot from two days applying old dirt skills on a big gs with decent rubber? Then again, hiring a dirt bike for the weekend might be cheaper than putting dirt rubber on a gs 12 ?
I would have to go with Steve on this one. My first and last big bike has been the R1150GS. Everything I have learnt dirt bike riding over the decades Enabled me to apply to riding the GS on dirt. Confidence is very important which can come easier on a smaller bike.
Anyone know of good courses in the Black out State (SA). I need to do some training to go from noob to noob+ and while I love a good trip over the border a local program would be cheaper overall.
I would love to use a smaller bike for this but I don't have access to a smaller ADV type bike, I sold my old 650GS which probably would have been perfect, so the 1200 it is and I really need to get familiar with it, I should be fine, I'll probably spend most of the time worried about Ness, she's the one that needs the confidence more. I spoke to Lyndon about this and asked about the skill level he is teaching for this course and explained the daughter and I's skill level and he seemed to think the course would be very beneficial for us, going on to say there's a certain knack to riding an ADV bike.
I came to dirt from a road riding background, with some road racing. In my late 30s I started teaching road and track courses. I was in my 40s living in the bush when I got serious about dirt, with my first MX event on my 44th birthday as it happened. Then I started teaching dirt stuff, which latterly morphed into teaching ADV stuff, which has morphed into not much teaching at all these days. Being an analytical engineering type, I needed to figure out what was happening, I need data to do it, just doing it 'because' is a challenge for me. We all learn things differently, I need to know why. Then after I retired I started the ADV thing, and what I love about a good ADV ride is that I can employ and combine everything I've learnt road riding, road racing, motocross, enduro and trials on the day. There is in my view a myth out there that says dirt bikes are different, as are ADV bikes, and therefore they need to be ridden differently. Its sort of right sometimes, but not because they are different, they all have 2 wheels and an engine, its that different situations require a different emphasis of your skillset.
I suspect the reality is that adv bikes themselves haven't yet caught up with the improved skills we developed around the turn of the century when dirt bike suspension / geometry and power delivery took a big step forward? Most of the basic skills of getting a bike along the trail are the same, but I can't imagine lining up a greasy rutted out down hill and bunny hopping between the rigdes on a big gs? Miles was concentrating on body language / throttle and brake control - essentially smooth dirt riding like we had to do in the 80's on our undersuspended dirt bikes. There was very little focus on pumping suspension ( apart from preloading forks before crossing logs) - I guess that's what I mean by the difference between dirt and adv riding?
Unfortunately the majority of the good stuff.. As usual....is over east. For us west Aussies I think we have one group that have started an adv park for training and courses. Don't they use the Aussie 4wd caravan and camping shows to display adv rider courses and equipment?
Not in NSW that I've noticed, more Freestyle MX show and trials that I've seen. Not a lot of ADV training over here either apart from BMW Motorad (GS offroad training)they seem to be the one that does the most courses and Academy offroad, most of the other are more geared to road bikes or learner training.
Stay Upright run specific ADV courses, usually at Dargle these days; https://www.stayupright.com.au/courses/su-dirt/ We used to run them in the ACT but its unfortunately fallen by the wayside for a few reasons.
Aren't the Stay upright courses run with Academy Offroad?? I notice they have courses out there also.
I feel your pain then. But im also quite surprised. I've watched a you tube video of a bloke who attends the GS rides, and they look brilliant, perfect for us adv riders, except I can only assume it's only for GS owners / riders. Mainly because they cost and absolute fortune..... . But the fella who goes to these courses is based here in Perth. Recently here in WA we've had these guys open up http://www.westmotopark.com.au Looks great, but much like you other folks, it's majority of the time aimed at enduro and MX... But beggers can't be choosers I guess. It's better than nothing. Just like the mechanics side of. Bikes, there isn't much money in the training, unless you're doing on road stuff for peoples. Licences. Were lucky in Australia, but also unlucky in the fact we don't have the population or enough people keen to spend good money on training. I may be wrong but when you look at places like the UK and the USA who have mass amounts of people willing to do these multi day courses, I can only assume us Aussies don't. Plus we are Aussies.... We enjoy our "she'll be right" attitude and just give it a go
There's something about our culture that we don't like being taught how to do things, especially by a tall poppy. We've had multiple generations of upper level riders who unsuccesfully tried to pass on their skills - stephen gall, heffo, etc. , yet we prefer to be taught by upper middle level riders ( miles, for example - very skilled but definitely not a world class racer) . By contrast, shane watts has a succesfull teaching carrer in the states - they seem to value ex world champs teaching skills , enough that it's worth his while beng a fifo teacher ( and he doesn't seem to run a lot of courses in oz?)
@Dr AT couldnt have said it better myself. I have fallen into this, Aussie attitide trap. We can be pretty stupborn us Aussies. But also tight as a ducks arse. We have one of the greatest counties for adv riding, and any outdoor sport in general but we like to do it out own way? With our she'll be right attitude. Which is great in my opinion. Is there an answer to all of this.... Pffft who knows. As a fairly average adv rider, I know I need some training, and considering I've spend thousands upon thousands to basically be that "all the gear, no idea" rider, I wish I did a course before I did spend all that money. Live and learn I suppose. She'll be right