The process of becoming an Advanced Rider often seems either daunting, or to some, even futile.

The image of advanced riders being either grey haired pipe smokers, or an experienced elite with no time for anyone except themselves, could not be be further from the truth.

TVAM is made up of many bikers of all shapes and sizes, ages, sexes, creeds, and riding a range of bikes from 1+ litre sports models to 1960's classics, and from tourers to cruisers. You will find Bandits, GSXRs, Triumph Bonnies, Pans, BMWs, VFRs, Ducatis, Harleys and Blades all parked next to each other at our regular meetings. If you have a bike, have passed your test, and would like to improve your riding whilst having fun, then TVAM is the club for you.

Once a month at St Crispins school in Wokingham the clubs meets. TVAM welcomes all bikers. You will meet far more motorcyclists here than you will at Rykas or the Ace Cafe (although you will often find TVAM members at both of these fine establishments). Each meeting is attended by upwards of 200 keen fun loving bikers, and more in the summer. Newcomers are especially welcome and are greeted by the team on the door who will urge you to grab a cup of tea and make your way to the special welcome briefing for all potential new members.

On this first visit you will be matched up with an Observer for a ride out around a range of roads in the local area. The Observer is an experienced motorcyclist who has reached the necessary standards to become an IAM Group Observer or Senior Observer. However the Observer is there to listen to you, discuss your riding and give you a friendly assessment of your skills. Many riders are surprised to learn that they are already well on the way to becoming an advanced rider. Others find some aspects of motorcyling a little daunting, or feel that they are unable to build their confidence beyond a certain level. Either way the Observer is there to help.

After an observed ride you will be given a debriefing by your Observer. These sessions are not coach and pupil, but rather a discussion of what the ride involved, stressing the good bits and the bits that could have been done better. Observers will systematically take you through from the absolute basics of survival and safety through to the more refined elements of your riding such as positioning, smoothness and the progressive aspects of your ride.

If, after your first visit, you like what you see then you can simlpy continue the process by joining the club. This provides you with, as well as a range of social activities, the right to return every month to the Sunday meetings and participate in an observed ride. But most of all it means that you will be allocated your own permanent Observer who will coach you through to test level riding standard.

It will cost you £112 to join TVAM. This includes all the training you need to acheive the standard of the IAM Advanced Test and the cost of the test. TVAM also offers subsidised training courses such as slow riding, advanced machine control, track based training and first aid/first on scene.  TVAM annual membership is then £27.

The new fee of £112 is made up of: £54 IAM Test fee, £18 IAM Associate Member fee, £27 TVAM Annual Membership fee and £13 Associate joining fee and includes the IAM "How To Be An Advanced Motorcyclist" book.

There is no rush to pass your advanced test. Your Observer will guide you through the process at a pace that best suits you. In the final stages of your coaching your Observer will arrange a "Cross Check" this is a ride out with another Observer that simulates the condition of the test and serves as a cross check to ensure you have a good chance of passing.

The test itself will be so much like all of the observed rides that you are now familiar with. By the time you take your test the actions, planning and skills you have developed that make you a safer, smoother and more progressive rider will be second nature.

Tests are typically carried out by the most well trained, highly skilled set of riders available to the IAM. In other words, off duty, serving, Class One Police riders, who themselves have a passion for biking. The tests are informal, friendly and the tester will do all he/she can to put you at ease.

While undertaking Observer coaching the club offers a number of social activities, including graded social rides on most Sundays, weekends away, track days and the New Year's Ball. The social rides are graded from progressive through to lesiurely, and use the 2nd rider marker system so no one need feel they have to keep up with the rider in front. All runs have some sort of theme. An example is a run to visit Cloud's Hill in Dorset to discover the history of T.E.Lawrence, perhaps one of the most famous motorcyclist of all time.

The Green Team is dedicated to providing full members (those that have passed their advanced test) with a focal point within the club, and to offer the chance to further enhance their riding skills. This includes refresher observed rides, external training at a cost, track training days, and run leader training. The Green Team also provides the "meeters and greeters" for welcoming new members.

Simple social events such as barbeque's are also frequently organised.

Once you have passed your test you may wish to become an observer and to help others to pass their tests. This can be a very rewarding activity as you can be sure that by coaching motorcyclists to become better riders you are improving their safety and significantly reducing the chances of being killed or seriously injured.

As TVAM is a large group it has a demand for new observers all the time, and as with the advanced test the club has a structured coaching program to bring riders up to the standard to become a group observer. TVAM believes it sets a higher standard for it's observers than any other IAM motorcyclist group and is particularly proud of the high standards it achieves.

TVAM uses Rapid Training, a training organisation operated by experienced Class One police riders to maintain the riding skills of its observers.

Finally, available to anyone who has passed their test is the IAM Special Assessment, this is the highest level of advanced riding assessment available to a civilian and represents the pinnacle of advanced road skills.