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Can't agree with this more. I had my level 3 today and dropped out at the second exercise because I got so spooked by the other riders. I thought I had enough experience, 3 skills sessions at LVV and over 50hrs at HHV this year. But 7 out of 9 riders in my group had never done a skills session and had never done and didn't know how to do pairs above the blue with one lap changes. I thought it was basic that you should have done these exercises beforehand, but it isn't. Riders going into stage 3 could've only had a couple hours of track time and done no research into the exercises expected and unfortunately I had 7 of these in my group. Anyway had a cry and I've got over it, £20 down, don't make the same mistake!
zeez
As many as it takes for you to feel confident. Just book a block of skills sessions for a month, 3&4 happen at the same time and you'll get familiar with the coaches. If you're getting on fine but having to wait for your stage 3 accreditation just explain that to the coach and ask if you can jump in the stage 4 skills group for the evening.
Edit: what they're asking you to do isn't difficult, but experience of how other riders behave will be invaluable. You could book stage3 now, but if you end up in a shit group are you going to hold it together and still come across as a confident rider that deserves to move up?