Bike Instructors Suffering Hard Times?

Smooth · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Karma :

I've noticed that the bike instructor's shop from which I did my CBT appears to have closed and been emptied out over the last few weeks. I didn't exactly see eye-to-eye with the chap, but it's a shame if it has gone under and the staff lost their jobs.

Are bike instructors having a particularly bad time of it lately?
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Skudd · Super Spammer Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Karma :

Knacker · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Karma :

The bloke who i did my training with is now a techy bloke for ride magazine Shocked

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Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

Yup , Ged of Ace rider gave Alan the push and now does the instructing himself , there used to be 4 instructors there.

Same with riverview, they gave one of theirs a push too.
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Graprilia · Brolly Dolly Joined: 02 May 2007 Karma :

i would of thought it would be the opposite.

i thought in the current climate people cant afford the petrol/tax/congestion charge for there cars,so would trade them in for a 50 or 125 and book CBTs etc.

i must be wrong
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cyberglass · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Karma :

Bike training centers always slow down during the winter. the place i took my lessons is down to 3-4 lessons a week and a couple of cbts between 4 guys Shocked

Rookies dont wanna learn if they might get cold. bless there little cotton socks Very Happy

It will all pick up again as we head into spring Thumbs Up

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Graprilia · Brolly Dolly Joined: 02 May 2007 Karma :

Graprilia · Brolly Dolly Joined: 02 May 2007 Karma :

but surely that would mean it slows down every year during the winter making it no different this year. But i dont think that was MC Bodges point.
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Smooth · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Karma :

Exactly.

I was interested to know if the new rules/laws/economy were causing particular problems or if it was just the one that I know of that has gone.
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Tarmacsurfer · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Karma :

Quite a few schools are closing/downsizing. It's partly the changes in testing law and I would also say there's been a profound shift in the way society views bikes.

It used to be a cheap way to get around, simple vehicles that were cheap to run and could be worked on with a few tools, it was a strongly social thing as well, we'd often all end up around a mates place of a weekend doing various things to assorted machines and helping each other along the way. Someone would know carbs inside out, someone else would be handy with forks, etc etc. Nowadays bikes are considered a luxury item, they're portrayed as toys to be used by people with spare cash, ridden and cleaned then stuck into a dealer/mechanic when service time rolls around or something breaks. Because of this there is obviously less demand, particularly with the economic slide.
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MattEMulsion · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Karma :

I think as well there are a certain percentage of people who take their bike test & training as an 'extra' thing/activity rather than out of necessity. I for one held a car licence for 6 or so years before I thought about jumping on a bike. With the onset of this credit crunch and recession people just haven't got the cash to spare or don't want to blow it on something they don't really need, hence a slight downturn in the bike school business. But don't forget pretty much every industry here is suffering at the minute, very few business are currently growing, most are contracting in size.
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Mord · Nearly there... Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Karma :

deanoet · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Karma :

tutton · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jan 2008 Karma :

The first one i chose got enough money out of me the robbin b8stard Laughing

. but he said along with another big one while on training we met them and apparently its dribs and drabs. so hes doing half a week building half instructing.
The new place ive looked at going to for a better class instruction seem to be doing well lol!
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Mudskipper · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

Smooth · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Karma :

magpiemale · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Karma :

Okay if there is just one of you, or at a push 2 of you
But if you have kids to get to school and a dog to take for a walk then a bike isnt practical.

May be cheaper to use to get to and from work. but if it means running one as well as a car it isnt cheaper.

A lot of companies now are family friendly as well. So mum and dad dont need their own car to get to and from work, as they can work around school hours if needed.
Only running 1 car, then adding a bike just makes it dearer[/quote]

I have 3 dogs and a car with a bike.Since riding for just over 4 years I will not drive the car I just love biking.I got the car so my wife could get to work in winter instead of using a underpass,which for any woman is unsafe in the dark.Also to get the shopping in and take the dogs to the woods.
Biking isn't cheap but after the test is taken then it is better than a car depending on which bike purchased.But because riding my bike brings a smile to my face then as barclaycard would say priceless or o'loreal I am worth it. hehehe
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NSR125 1992 (sold) kawasaki Z750S,fazer FZ1 07 now gone present bike 2012 fz1s Fazer,beowulf rad protector,heated grips,sw motech gps holder,power socket.

cicatrez · Crazy Courier Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Karma :

The insurance alone on my car managed to cover me for CBT, insurance, and a bike, + MOT, tax, and helmet+gear. Thats even before I get into savings made from petrol.my 40mile commute would cost £6-8 in petrol for the car. But on the bike its not even £1.50.
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magpiemale · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Karma :

You could migrate to a bmw f800 and still get over 60mpg as some have reported.No need to stick to 125's for economy for a long time.
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NSR125 1992 (sold) kawasaki Z750S,fazer FZ1 07 now gone present bike 2012 fz1s Fazer,beowulf rad protector,heated grips,sw motech gps holder,power socket.

biketeacherda... · Nova Slayer Joined: 04 Mar 2004 Karma :

i havent noticed a slow down my self i am always busy i was testing on xmas eve with students and back to work on the 28th december and am fully booked up until middle of march, i dont teach cbts there is little or no point by the time all the expences have been paid i do mainly Das/A2 courses which includes the cbt if required (most do) teaching 2 people at a time each week.

i know some of the bigger schools have put there instructors on 4 day week near me so something must be going on and remeber the new test starts on april fools day yes 1 april can you believe it then soon after there moving to 2 part testing the xxxkers.
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