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Xl1200r
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2012 - 11:04 am: | 
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OOOoohhhhhh.... now I'm shopping for new gear!!! |
Fltwistygirl
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2012 - 06:15 pm: |
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"Another training center in Maryland wants you to wear full face helmets while riding demos. I wear a half helmet when teaching on the range, ride with full face to and from the training center".
Ugh, I would not like the mandatory FF stuff, I wear a half helmet on range also. The only time I wear a FF on the range is when it is raining sideways, like it did one weekend last October. 10 inches in two days & it always seemed to come down harder for my demos. In my half helmet, it was like someone was shooting a nail gun at my face. Bet most rain riding half-helmet wearing street bikers have a windshield.
And, any idea why the other school requires FF helmets? I think its the same in all of Georgia, although I do not know any coaches there to confirm.
So were coaches dumping bikes on demos or why the change to jackets in MD? Gawd, we'd have coaches keeling over from the heat then an uproar here if FL made that change.
And yes, the gear shopping and subsequent writing off is very fun! |
Littlebuggles
| | Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2012 - 03:49 am: |
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Students often mimic what their teachers do, sometimes badly (that's why riding demos right is so important). I would be surprised if they are not requiring it of you, so that students see you sporting proper riding gear.
We use long sleeve tees here. Or sport type l/s tees with the breathable material.
I tended to wait until at the range to put on the sunscreen, rather than get it inside my helmet from my neck and face, even before I started shaving my head that was my preference.
Mark, remember that while the shopping is fun, it's still money out of your pocket, and then it is deducted at the end of the tax year.
Some other random but related stuff:
I found a folding Australian "cowboy" type hat that was water proof leather and kept the sun off so much better than a ball cap. I'd fold it up and stuff it in the small of my pants while riding demos. A fabric one of the same nature would probably have been even better.
Modular helmets are nice, especially if you are teaching alone. I like mesh jackets for summer time riding.
Since being an instructor required me to ride regularly I kept all my bike fuel receipts and was able to deduct a percentage of those costs. If you track your mileage to/from work, you can take a deduction for depreciation on that vehicle as well. Using all the deductions and discounts can require a fair bit of time, just keeping your records organized if you don't get a system for yourself quick. |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2012 - 10:41 am: |
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Someone a long time ago gave me an "Umbrella Hat." I've been known to wear that on the range. My free Buell Hydropack (remember that one?) also comes in handy.
As a quick aside: Can anyone tell me why, here on BadWeb, the word "Buell" is being flagged as possibly misspelled all of a sudden?? |
Xl1200r
| | Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2012 - 08:51 pm: |
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Well, I met with the owner of the school, very nice guy. Nothing he told me really any surprise - I think he was taken back by my age - says he pretty much doesn't get anyone interested under the age of 40 and I've bested that by 12 years.
There's no non-compete, and he even encouraged me to work at other ranges if I'm looking for more "shifts" and he can't give me any. There's also no requirement for how many classes I need to teach per season/year aside from the MSF minimums. He said I can give him a scheduling guideline (weekends I can, can't and how many classes I want) and he works it in as best he can. Says his home is more like a bed and breakfast on the weekend for coaches that don't want to ride/drive all the way home between a friday night/sat morning class.
Overall I got a really good vibe and the little bit of info he gave as to their teaching techniques resonate with me.
As far as the gear question, He likes to see full-face helmets, but as long as they are current DOT approved and have eye protection he's okay with it. Riding boots, full-fingered gloves and a jacket are also required to ride demos. Riding pants are not necessary but encouraged.
They do 2 coaches per class of 12 students (typically), so a modular helmet may not be needed. Obviously I'll wait until I've audited a few to decide.
He also said I'm more than welcome to become an instructor for the ARC and he's even able to train trainers for Lee Parks Total Control, though he doesn't offer it as a class anymore.
I'm excited. April 20 is the first weekend they're teaching and he wants me to show up then to audit and make sure it's something I'm interested in. |
Babired
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2012 - 10:22 am: |
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X11200r that's awesome go for the ARC training they teach how to hang off a little different from Lee Parks class. And you trainer trains Total Control instructors? who is he? is he on Lee parks site?
Belinda yes we have to wear riding jackets to ride demos the state requires it set the example and the state tried for years to get us to wear riding pants too, but so far that has fallen through. One training center in maryland trying to lead the pack is setting their standards hi for the instructors who teach there wearing full face helmets only but not mandentory, so last year I ignored the request and teach with my DOT half. Its a great school but the manager there just piles up on the rules and instructions making it a pain in the a** to teach for him. One thing to look for is an extended hand from the manager welcoming you, not here are all the rules to live by. |
Xl1200r
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2012 - 10:39 am: |
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His name is Marc Connelly and he is on the Lee Parks site, about halfway down.
http://www.totalcontroltraining.net/HTML/Instructo rs.html |
Babired
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2012 - 12:05 pm: |
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cool If I was you I would re-arrange my whole next summer to become a rider coach and join up with Marc. You have a golden opportunity to go further than the average MSF rider coach getting on board with him. I was lucky when TCARC came to my school and was asked to become a TC instructor! Another thing you will find like Jamiec and Belinda has said earlier on this thread, some instructors show up in cars, is that some of the rider coaches you teach with are extremely limited in the information they teach, they just know what the MSF gives them and they get good at it and go no farther. You have a guy who has a greater understanding of teaching MC safety. I've taught Total Control with David Beyer, Dennis Krepps, Bert S and my TC mentor is Tracy Martin |
Fltwistygirl
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2012 - 12:49 pm: |
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"Students often mimic what their teachers do, sometimes badly (that's why riding demos right is so important)."
I totally agree with ya there Little buggles.
"I would be surprised if they are not requiring it of you, so that students see you sporting proper riding gear."
No offense, but have you ever taught a class in Florida in August? Others who have may disagree, but I just don't think it is practical on a day with a 110 heat index to be either a) gearing up with the riding pants, jacket and FF helmet for each demo then taking them off or b) walking around with the extra gear on in that heat during those exercises. One of the keys for heat management besides hydration, sunblock, and encouraging them to dress properly (i.e. light colored clothing, no long black tees) is keeping students and exercises moving along. Speeding up transitions thru efficient coaching would not be helped by additional gear that may not be practical on the range in this climate. There may be times in Minnesota I may not mind it. The extra layers may actually be welcomed! Different gear for different conditions.
As far as them learning by example, if I am second coach in on day one (we have a two day class format), I try to time my arrival at the classroom so I arrive ATGATT while they are talking about riding gear. The first coach can feel free to use me as a living, breathing, talking training aid. If the students pick up on the fact that I have two helmets, I explain I wear my half helmet on the range only, & would never dream of wearing it on the street, but that's my choice. And in Florida, if they are of age, it will be their choice if they wear a helmet, and if so, which type. Use same logic with my non armored range boots, non-armored range gloves, work shirt and work pants.
XL1200r-That sounds like a fantastic opportunity all the way around! Congrats!
B. |
Baf
| | Posted on Friday, February 03, 2012 - 10:59 am: |
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Marc from ADK MC? That's who I took my MSF class with last year (not Marc himself, but his company), at Suny Adirondack up in Queensbury.
The instructors I had were awesome, and the course was quite fun. When I took it, they only required long sleeves, eye protection, DOT helmet, and appropriate footwear (for students). I don't recall if the demo riders wore jackets or not.
You may still want a modular helmet though. As far as there being two instructors, at least in the class I was in, they took turns explaining stuff and riding the demos. Then again, it was only a minute or two of demo riding followed by a decent chunk of time for student riding.
(Message edited by BAF on February 03, 2012) |
Xl1200r
| | Posted on Friday, February 03, 2012 - 12:04 pm: |
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I'll have plenty of audits and sit-ins to figure out if I'll want/need one. |
Buelliedan
| | Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2012 - 06:42 pm: |
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When I taught in TX we wore long sleeve t-shirts, jeans, boots and any DOT helmet of our choice. I chose to wear an open face. As others have said no-way in summer you could do a jacket and full face for every demo. You would die!!!
Plus with a full face you cannot talk to the students properly during the demo as is often needed especialy when doing the figure eight box.. |
Xl1200r
| | Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2012 - 07:43 pm: |
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They use two coaches per 12-person class, one does the demos and the other narrates, so no need to talk while riding. |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Sunday, February 12, 2012 - 04:10 pm: |
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A solo RiderCoach can teach a class of up to six students. It is typical in that case to talk while riding the demo. |
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