Ah but my point is that the IAM say that, if you need to brake then you should brake without changing gear. Then when you get to the final desired speed you should change gear. And that doesn't seem right to me in practice. I want to blend increased engine braking into the mix. I stop quicker and safer from high speeds doing this than just braking
So 70, close throttle, brake, it's all brake because no engine braking, as I get to around 40 change down a couple maybe into third, blip throttle and open throttle just enough to match revs, engage drive and ready to be able to use engine braking and do all that whilst lessening brake pressure but still trailing the brake. Then close throttle, much stronger engine braking slow down, and maybe change down to second
Something like that not really considered it before. But I am definitely overlapping gear changes and braking
What the IAM don't want you to do is to change down before braking or instead of braking. As I said above, they say it is OK to change down during the final stages of braking.
And the IAM approach is to ride in a gear that gives you flexibility (= both acceleration & engine braking available). Therefore they would say if you are riding at 70mph and there is inadequate engine braking available you are riding in too higher gear.
Using IAM techniques on an Explorer I ride mostly in 2nd, 3rd & 4th. At 70mph in 3rd there is instantly adequate engine braking without the need to change down for most eventualities. This takes some getting used to = it feels & sounds like you're thrashing the engine, but in reality the rpm will still be safely below the red line. I only use 5th & 6th on long stretches of open main roads or dual carriageways.
The IAM system is merely guidelines.
= They want riders who see & anticipate hazards before they get to them rather than having to react at the last minute.