#Ride5000miles members pick up new skills during the pandemic

Covid-19 has forced many riders to think about everything differently and it’s seen #ride5000miles members pushing beyond their usual riding regimes.

From trackdays, to off-road experiences and everything in between, the 12,700-member Facebook group is filled with tales of bikers pushing themselves to learn different motorcycling disciplines while still racking up the miles.

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Suffolk-based Janette Jolly took part in a Ron Haslam Race School Premier Experience at Donington Park recently. Having only been back on the road for 18 months, following a break of around 19 years, the 47-year-old said it helped improve her cornering massively.

“We got three sessions and I loved it,” the Honda CR650F rider told MCN. “When I got back on my own bike, I rode much more instinctively.

“I’d had 19 years off the front seat and that just gave me the confidence to ride the bike,” Janette continued. “Now I can corner more like I did on track, it’s given me the confidence to be smooth and that’s amazing.”

Meanwhile, 36-year-old town planner, Tom Collins, has been over to Rufforth Airfield, in North Yorkshire, for the Machine Control 1 course at i2i Motorcycle Academy.

Having gained his licence at the end of 2016, Nottingham-based Tom says the day gave him new levels of confidence on his BMW R1200RT.

Tom admitted that before the session he’d struggled with tightening corners and would often grab the front brake, which led to him running wide. After the course, which covered everything from direction changes, to braking and slow-speed handling, Tom now feels more in control.

He said: “I’m now able to go around corners much more cleanly, or at a greater speed and feel more in control. It feels like the cornerstone on which all riding should be built!”