Equipping yourself

Transcript of video content

Now my first port of call is here in the bookings hall. I have no idea what's going on but meet one of the examiners, Stephen Thomas.

Hi Steve.

Hello Miles.

How are you?.

Not too bad, mate.

Could you just tell me - I mean, great hall, my first point of call.

I have no idea what's involved in what you have to learn on the Knowledge.

Well first of all you've got to know all of London and that is a big commitment time-wise ie you've got to do written exams, oral appearances in front on the examiner, and it is the length of time involved in.

Is this all - this is all at the same stage is it? or is it at different stages?.

No - it starts off, you get the initial talk, then you're given a certain amount of time: 6 months to do the first so many runs then you get a mock exam then eventually there's the final exam.

Once you've passed the final exam to say that we think you've done enough ground work, you then - that is when you come up on appearances.

And all of this has to come out of my own pocket?.

We don't pay for anything, it's down to you to sort out that part.

My goodness, show me around?.

Yeah, by all means.

How long have you been an examiner?.

Nearly five years now.

Five years - and how long would it take some one to do the knowledge itself?.

If they've done it full time, probably two years, but it can go from any time onwards.

You've obviously got to buy your own equipment to do it on; the bike, the helmet, the gloves, boots etc all your maps, books from the colleges.

And then it's obviously the time that you're spending doing it - you're not getting paid for it.

So those are the cost implications when you can fit it in amongst your domestic circumstances and your career.