On the 3rd of December I attended a One on One course run by Paul Riley who runs Skill Master motorcycle services in Sydney.
After some previous banter Paul thought the best course for me, given what I wanted to achieve, was a six hour Slow Speed Control Day followed by a 300km on road Road craft Day. And then depending on how I performed perhaps another day on the Friday.
Having travelled from Tweed Heads to Newcastle on the Monday.
I thought an early start Tuesday, a quick visit to an old mate at Helensburgh and then get checked into the motel close by the venue and all would be fine.
Suffice it to say it took four hours to get from Newcastle to Helensburgh. Wall to wall cages.
I arrived at the Netball Carpark at Miranda on time to find Paul had the course all set up.'
After a bit of chit chat Paul looked at the bike made some adjustments so that it fitted me better.'
Ran through a bit of bike maintenance routines. He is a qualified mechanic.
Then we got to the riding bit.
Probably the thing I liked best about the bloke was his down to earth, no nonsense approach. And the way he explains not just what to do but why it needs to be done that way.
I unfortunately took ill, dropped the bike, (thank God I had fitted MCL tip over bars) and was only able to complete five hours of the first day.
On the morning of the second day. After hugging the porcelain the previous night and in the early hours I rang and cancelled the day.
I was to be met by Paul at 1030 that morning for the 300km day. When I rang he asked me to wait till that time for him
He arrived and offered to transport my bike to wherever I needed to go. I assured him I would be ok. But he still escorted me to the M7 and offered me a refund for the second day of the course.
Paul Riley would be known to some of you paramedics as he was the first Motorcycle Paramedic in NSW and was an Instructor at the Police training facility in Goulburn for Paramedic motorcyclists.
I mentioned going to this course earlier and Biggles posted that perhaps a course could be arranged around Brisbane somewhere.
So I talked to Paul about this and have spoken to Streak and Paul will contact him.'
Unlike others Paul uses mainly Go kart tracks etc and that of course would keep his overheads down as opposed to say renting a racetrack for the day.
I found his rates very reasonable at $330 for six hours.
Just thought I would pass this on for any one that may be interested if a course is arranged in the Brisbane area. Or if you are in the Sydney area.
You can go to
www.skillmaster.com.au if interested.
I know I will use his services again.
I have attended several Stay Upright Courses and a Top Rider course with Bernie Hatton in the past.
Managing to pick up some pointers from all of them.
And I still need all the help I can get. Even if it was instruction on how to pick up a dropped ST1300!
