Letters from students:

Tony

I wanted to express my deepest thanks for the excellent tuition I received through Smart Rider.

I have read your testimonial page and like most cynics my age thought that if only half of it was true I would be well looked after. I can honestly say you exceeded my expectations and lived up to the statements from your previous students.

Firstly, the bikes. I noticed that your bikes were always cleaned and well maintained (I was shocked to see some of the other training schools offerings during the tests - with dirty, noisy and some mechanically unfit - your bikes always inspired confidence from the start)

Secondly, I never felt rushed to do something that I didn't have the confidence to do, but equally, your encouragement to extend my limits as part of the training experience was something that i enjoyed the most and I have to admit that my car driving has improved considerably now that I am even more alert to the road environment.

Finally, (but by no means least!) your attention to detail, the fact that you take the time to explain the significance of good roadcraft and not just to pass a test and you do that with good grace, humour and great enthusiasm make for a great training experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my tuition and would highly recommend you to any prospective student.

I will be coming back for more

David Gibson May 2010

Just wanted to say a huge thank you to you Tony for getting me through my Direct Access. Completely thrilled. For everyone that will read this, i was a complete beginner when i signed up for my lessons. Never having ridden a bike in my life and being pillion only a handful of times, i threw myself in at the deep end. I couldn't have asked for better tuition. After doing my cbt, i went straight on for 10 hours worth of lessons towards my mod 1 test which i completed with 0 minors. Finally on to my next 10 hours and then my mod 2 which i also passed first time with 2 minors. I have now purchased my very first bike, a Fazer 600 and love every minute im out on it. For anyone with any doubts weather they could get through these tests, go see Tony. He makes everything very easy to understand and is a top bloke to get on with. He got me through it!

So thanks again Tony, i’m a very happy girl.
Please feel free to post this on your website.

Samantha Allum April 2010

Tony

I would just like to say thank you for all your hard work getting me through the  CBT, module 1 and module 2 tests. It is quite obvious from your whole approach and your teaching methods that bikes and riding are a passion. I can still hear your voice in my ear, telling me to cancel the indicators( how many time you must have said that to me) or mirrors and shoulder checks etc etc. I think you deserve a medal for your persistence and determination,with what must have been your most exasperating student and without once losing your cool. The manner in which you teach makes the whole experience both rewarding and enjoyable and I would have no hesitation in recommending you to anyone considering learning to ride, once again many thanks.

Please feel free to use this testimonial on your web page.

David Rayment

Dear Tony,

I just wanted to write to say thank you so much for the excellent module 2 training you gave me in Bury last week, which I’ve no doubt helped me pass my practical test today with only one minor fault.
Your extremely high standards of teaching and professionalism combined with first-class customer care is something quite refreshing and rare. As a female motorcyclist returning to bikes after a very long time I really appreciated your warm, friendly attitude, encouragement and praise. Perhaps nicest of all was the feeling of being ‘looked-after’ with unlimited bottles of chilled water on very hot days, coffees and simply being given your complete attention. Other training schools should take note!
I am very happy for you to use this testimonial on your web site and I really look forward to the next stage of my training.

Kind regards

Leanda

Tony

Wanted to write and say MASSIVE THANKS for all your patience and wonderful training.  I have almost stopped grinning, one of the best days of my life yesterday!!

U Turns, hey easy really!!  Who needs a leaf as a marker?  One day I'll remember to always cancel my indicators too.

If anyone reading this is in any doubt about using Tony and Smart Rider, don't think twice, Tony is just fantastic.  His manner and way of training are exemplary, the time he takes to explain why you are doing something just makes it all seem so relevant. 

For the next few weeks I know that I'll have your voice still in my ear reminding me of all the silly things that are so easy to forget but are so important.

I'll be back - would love to take my training further and do your advanced course.

Thanks again.

Vanessa

Please feel free to use this on your website

Hi Tony, just wanted to thank you for all your hard work getting me through my cbt and my test today (18/06/08), your a fantastic trainer, your very patient even when i really could not do U turns. im looking forward to getting on a bike and enjoying the freedom, thanks so much again your a real hero,

Maxine Clements

please feel free to put this on your web site.

Tony,
Before I start...........you have my permission to use this email for any advertising on your website etc.
I would just like to say a massive thank you to you for all your hard work to get me through my test first time!
It really is nothing to be nervous about, it is all very relaxed!
I am out and about on the road now, I miss hearing the 'mirrors, shoulder checks, signal, and move across' in my ear whilst riding around Bury!!!!!!
The DAS course layout is excellent, 3 hours a day is just enough, and the 2 days off come at the right time for you to relax a bit before your test! Or sulk for 2 days if you cant complete the 'U' turn on the Saturday, and drop the bike!(like I did!) But even if you do fall off or drop the bike dont worry, Tony will be to concerned on how the bike is to notice what strange position you land in!!!! Only joking its not as bad as it seems!
Over all I really enjoyed the course and the coffee from the vending machine in Max Moto!
Im still smiling now, just bite the bullet and do it, and most of all enjoy it!
Thanks again Tony!
                                          Kim Ackroyd

Tony

Thanks for all your hard work, advice and knowledge and getting me through my CBT and test first time. You say it's down to us to do it but we couldn't do it without your help and guidance. At times it feels as though you're nagging but you're always right. One week on and I still can't believe that I've passed my test. No I've just to save up for a motorbike!

Thanks once again for all your help and support.

Adrian 

PS It's okay if you'd like to put this on your website. 

Dear Tony,

Just a little email to say thanks so much for all your hard work getting me through my test. As im sure you will remember, riding a bike with gears was far from natural to me as I found out when I did my CBT.

Feeling a little disheartened I trusted the recommendations I was given from friends and booked 16 hour direct access course with you as soon as the CBT course had finished. The one 2 one tuition was excellent and the constructive criticism gave me a lot to think about between the lessons and day by day I felt my self improving. Test day came and despite appalling weather I managed a pass with just one fault. Not only has your advice and guidance enabled me to pass but it has also made me a much more observant driver.

thanks again

Andy

Dear Tony,

I am writing to you to thank you for the effort you put in to train me to a standard to pass the test.

As you know I came to you after failing with another school and having left things for nearly ten months. I really appreciated the fact that you steered me to the 125 after I had difficulty with the slow speed control on the 500. I found that the three hour sessions were about right and cannot suggest any particular ways you could improve you tuition. I also appreciated your readiness to adjust the controls on the bike to suit me.

Once again I would like to thank both you and Glen for your work which finally allowed me to pass the test. I really had got to the point where I felt the test was unpassable.

Kind regards,

Charles

Hi Tony,

I just wanted to drop you a line to say thanks again for all the training and advice which helped me to pass my bike test. I am still over the moon and grinning like a Cheshire cat, even though it was over a month ago.

I found the training very straight forward, uncomplicated and well paced. I also liked the way you always gave a demonstration of how a manoeuvre should look. My main problem was the lack of self confidence, but you even managed to work on that, building it a bit more with each lesson. I too, have found that the training has helped to brush up my car driving skills, making me more aware of all that is going on around me.

I can not thank you enough for all that you taught me during my training and will be recommending you to everybody who is thinking of taking their bike test.

Thanks again,
See you on the road sometime!

Sarah Ward

P.S.  Please feel free to use all or part of this on your website

Tony

I just wanted to send you an email to thank you for the training you provided which enabled me to pass my full license FIRST TIME. I have been thinking on the question you posed me when I had completed my test, "is there anything you think we should have done differently?"  And I can definitely say no.

The training was pitched perfectly to allow me to gain confidence at a steady rate without overwhelming me with new information.

The first lessons 3 hour run out of town is a brilliant idea as it introduced me to the motorbike and what it is capable of without me having to deal with the complexities of riding in town traffic. I will probably never forget the time you said " round the roundabout, into  3rd, when it's straight, open it up.", it took a while for the grin to vanish. It allowed me to get the measure of the bikes capabilities and therefore ride confidently.

Your teaching style is excellent, informal but delivered with the solid authority of all your years riding experience. Most of the time I felt like I was out on a ride with a friend rather than being taught.

To close I will be giving you a call towards the end of this month to book a few hours extra tuition once I've had a week to get used to my Breva, unless I see you at MaxMoto when I collect it. if so we'll sort something out then.

Yours

Dave Morris

You can use any or all of this email for promotion if you wish.

Dear Tony

I just wanted to Thank You once again for all the training which you provided to enable me to pass my Bike Test.

As you know I had attended a couple of other Bike Schools before I 'found' Smart Rider. There are a few aspects of the training you provided, of which I wanted to make particular note, as I believe these were what really made the difference for me.

Your patience is boundless; you always seek to gain clear understanding before giving an explanation about a particular skill. Your explanations are always methodical, clear and succinct. You often offered a practical demonstration, of a skill I was focussing on (e.g. road position at roundabouts) for me to follow.

As you will remember I had particular problems with slow speed manoeuvres, your explanations of how to undertake these was exceptional, you made clutch control sound so easy, rear brake use so logical and really took the mystery out of u turns!!! (I no longer have an inbuilt fear of them!).

You were the first instructor to describe 'counting down' the gears, which I have found especially useful with gear selection, when stopping at a junction is not required (i.e. ensuring the correct gear to pull away has been selected).

The principles of planning & forward observation resulting in a smoother ride have really helped me to enjoy my riding (especially now I have passed!). Only riding in 2 hour sessions has also helped me enjoy the lessons & therefore rides more (formerly, I was often exhausted after 4-6 hours on the bike).

Finally, providing modern bikes, with good gears & clutch made the bike so easy to ride (not my experience with previous Training Schools), you always checked what I wanted/needed from the lesson & then ensured we covered this.

So, in summary Tony … THANK YOU!!! You helped me to pass my bike test, but more than that, prepared me for biking in the future!! I look forward to meeting up soon, for advanced training.

Kind regards

Deirdre Malin

PS I am more than happy for you to use any/all of this for your website; I am a very happy client.

Extracts from other letters & cards:

I felt that I learned more in two hours than in the previous two years riding on my own,---- By concentrating on your instructions, particularly observation, I have sharpened up my car driving skills, so that is an additional bonus. - Adrian

Thanks for the great training and resultant test pass. - Kevin

Thanks a million for being a great instructor and for making my long awaited ambition come true. - Colin

Thank you for all your help, My Riding Skills have improved immensely, I feel that I am a better, more confident rider. - Emma

Thank you for all your help and support - Senga

Thank you for your tremendous patience, persistence & perseverance, the training has been excellent. - Gail

Thanks for getting me through it. See you on the open road (or more likely at MaxMoto). - Emma