Advice regarding becoming...

Discussion in 'UK Motorcycles' started by JackH, Aug 15, 2004.

  1. JackH

    JackH Guest

    ....a bike instructor.

    Anyone?

    A pipe dream maybe, the (non-related) contract I was working on up until
    recently has come to an end, and I've been re-evaluating my options work
    wise.

    I've decided I'd actually like to get into a job doing something I'd enjoy,
    rather than one that just pays the bills, and wondered exactly how difficult
    it would be to become qualified as an instructor, what criteria you need to
    meet licence etc., wise, and how you'd go about breaking into something I
    imagine has plenty of others queuing up to get into.

    TIA
     
    JackH, Aug 15, 2004
    #1
    1. Advertisements

  2. JackH

    Ben Blaney Guest

    a.k.a. "Business Consultant".
     
    Ben Blaney, Aug 15, 2004
    #2
    1. Advertisements

  3. I don't know much about this but the following issues spring to mind -
    some of it is a guess so when those who do know pop up listen to them.

    a) can you cope with the seasonality of the workload and income? you may
    end up unemployed during the winter.
    b) can you teach all kinds of people in a skill that can be hard to
    master?
    c) own business or part of a school?
    d) insurance cover for you / bike / those being instructed (if your own
    business)?
    e) weather
    f) potentially long hours - lots of preparation and also all the post
    course paperwork.
    g) do you have the riding skills to be able to show how to ride wrongly
    as well as correctly? can you inspire confidence if leading a group of
    learner riders?
    h) it is potentially dangerous - could you cope if one of your pupils
    had an accident?
    i) mechanical knowledge - you may need to fix a bike out on the road
    j) beware the illusion of imagining that something you enjoy as a hobby
    will work out as suitable employment. Yes it works for some people but
    it may not work for you.

    Just some thoughts.
     
    Paul Corfield, Aug 15, 2004
    #3
  4. JackH

    Stonge Guest

    So true. About 15 years ago I had the opportunity of becoming a motorcycle
    courier, so I quit my job and started. I hated it. Long days, long hours,
    wet, cold, etc. Wasn't long before I quit!
     
    Stonge, Aug 15, 2004
    #4
  5. Contact a local school or two first and see if they are short of
    instructors and whether they'd like to take you on and train you.
    initially they can train you to do CBT - under the eye of a fully
    trained (at Cardington) instructor.

    Then you can go to Cardington and train for CBT and DAS training in
    your own right.

    The pay is low - if you use your own bike you will need business use
    insurance. In the summer it can be quite pleasant - as long as it's
    not too hot - in the winter it's less nice - in the rain etc.

    Long hours, utter fuckwits (occasionally) who have no idea about
    anything. You meet the full spectrum of humankind.

    I enjoyed doing it for 5 years (part time only as I had a proper job
    during the week), then packed it in and wasn't sorry.
     
    Attilla the Hungry, Aug 15, 2004
    #5
  6. JackH

    JackH Guest

    Erm, not too sure I'd wanna go too far down the rest of that road
    personally, but each to their own!
     
    JackH, Aug 15, 2004
    #6
  7. JackH

    JackH Guest

    I've just decided to shift away from being a pipe organ builder - blokes
    that have been in the workshop for 20+ years are still on less than £7 an
    hour at the firm I was working for on a self employed basis.

    I've been doing it on and off for 13 years, and enough is enough... tis a
    dying trade overall apart from one or two firms that aren't realistically
    commutable from here (1), electronic ones are now for £20k, good enough to
    impressively fill a Cathedral with noise, and they don't need tuning every
    few months either.

    So... I've been looking at my options, none of which are particularly
    appealing; I may try to step back into some kind of IT based rol locally,
    but whilst the money *can* be reasonable if you find your niche, it bores
    the arse off me.

    I'd sooner be doing something I enjoy while earning a bit less than perhaps
    I could otherwise, but within reason.

    (1) And besides most of the work is stay away from home anyway, regardless
    of where the workshop is situated, and which I've had enough of doing, kids
    are growing up etc.
     
    JackH, Aug 15, 2004
    #7
  8. JackH

    Daz Guest

    <snip>

    FWIW my mate's a bike instructor and he reckons:

    a) The pay is shite although he runs his own school so it's not too
    bad for him but working for someone else royally sucks.

    b) It'll kill your enthusiasm for bikes, especially riding on the
    road.

    c) You need a *lot* of patience and a laid back attitude to cope with
    the stress of people that just don't "get it".

    In summary, nice idea in theory but think carefully before going
    ahead.
     
    Daz, Aug 15, 2004
    #8
  9. JackH

    JackH Guest

    Yeah, I've thought this one through - I've never been a fairweather rider,
    and whilst I suffer with swollen joints in the winter, heated grips etc.,
    will help with the worst of that.

    As for lulls etc., SWMBO brings in a salary each month that would get us
    through at a push if it all went a bit Pete Tong.

    One would hope the summer income might be enough to allow one to set some
    aside for the winter.
    I am quite good in this respect - whilst at college, I ended up teaching
    some quite 'challenged' others the basics of structured programming as an
    example. I agree however, teaching riding skills is quite different.
    Part of a school initially, then if I proved myself and I could see a gap in
    the market round here, I'd look into opening my own school. You do however
    need a lot of capital to get one up and running from scratch, especially if
    you are going to offer CBTs, the use of company bikes etc.

    You need suitable premises for one thing, and rather expensive insurance for
    another, never mind, (at least if you're going to do it properly), all the
    protective clothing, helmets and gloves in a vast array of different sizes,
    advertising etc.

    If nothing else, my contacts from when I was in the trade locally not so
    long ago would be an advantage for the latter.
    Dear - at least if self employed and not covered under a schools own policy.
    Not really fussed, rain or shine... snow and ice however, and I'm a pussy.
    If I work for a school, most of the paperwork will be handled by their
    office staff, or at least it seemed to be where I trained for my full
    licence. Long hours don't bother me, and from what I've seen of the schools
    round here, that's not an issue.
    I've had assessed rides in the past, and got good feedback on most. And I
    can ride like a total twat if needs be, too
    ;-)

    In all seriousness, I am a right stickler out on the road for indicating
    when you should etc., as a, barely scratching the surface, example.
    I'd have to... it would be part of my job.
    Not a problem - I'm no works mechanic, but I get by, know what this bit is
    etc.
    Agreed...
     
    JackH, Aug 15, 2004
    #9
  10. JackH

    JackH Guest

    I've done van / car based courier work... you will note I'm not even
    considering becoming a bike courier. ;-)
     
    JackH, Aug 15, 2004
    #10
  11. JackH

    JackH Guest

    Noted.

    I'm just considering it for now, was definitely going to pop along to the
    place I passed my test to enquire soon anyway - got on really well with my
    instructor and became reasonably friendly with him when I worked at the bike
    shop.
     
    JackH, Aug 15, 2004
    #11
  12. JackH

    JackH Guest

    Aye, one girl who was doing her CBT at the same time as me... gears.

    She didn't 'get it'.

    I don't think she got her certificate at the end of the day, anyway.
     
    JackH, Aug 15, 2004
    #12
  13. JackH

    Ben Guest

    This is the main thing IME.

    I've done two jobs where I wanted to turn a hobby I enjoyed into a
    job. The first was as a cycle courier. I found that after a week
    riding every day, the last thing I wanted to do in my free time was
    ride some more.

    The second was as a mechanic in a mountain bike shop. Again, in your
    free time you want to have nothing to do with them. Bit like me and
    computers now. Apart from ukrm, I don't touch the computer at all on
    a weekend or evening because I'm sat in front of one every day.

    If you want my advice, don't take a job directly based on your hobby
    if you want to carry on enjoying your hobby. You said in another post
    your are in the pipe-organ building trade? Does that not give you any
    transferable engineering skills you could use?
     
    Ben, Aug 15, 2004
    #13
  14. JackH

    JackH Guest

    Not really - I've been mainly involved with the tuning and on-site
    dismantling / rebuilding side, as we strip the necessary parts out, clean
    the pipework, send all components that need refurbishing back to the
    workshop, then return in a few weeks to put it all back together.

    Plus we invariably end up undertaking a few modifications along the way,
    where agreed between the boss man and the client.

    Fresh wiring, routing it round the church, yup - done plenty of that, and
    soldering... but, with nothing on paper other than 'experience', not really
    something I feel I could transfer into something more mainstream.
     
    JackH, Aug 15, 2004
    #14
  15. JackH

    Molly Guest

    Nice!
     
    Molly, Aug 15, 2004
    #15
  16. JackH

    Molly Guest

    You keep saying the mantra DFC DFC DFC.
    Fair summary.
     
    Molly, Aug 15, 2004
    #16
  17. JackH

    Molly Guest

    How long ago did you pass your bike test and do you have any motoring
    convictions?
     
    Molly, Aug 15, 2004
    #17
  18. JackH

    JackH Guest

    Passed my test 4 years ago.

    I've got three points on my licence dating back to November 2001, so I
    accept I may have to wait til these are off before I can qualify.
     
    JackH, Aug 15, 2004
    #18
  19. JackH

    Molly Guest

    To be honest I quite enjoy it but it can be very stressful especially
    when the students decided to play tag with the
    on-coming traffic.
     
    Molly, Aug 15, 2004
    #19
  20. Wuss. Put 'airs on yer chest, that will.

    Nowt wrong with a bit of 'ard work, lad.
     
    Whinging Courier, Aug 15, 2004
    #20
    1. Advertisements

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.