mailee66

I am a guy but around your weight and short legged too. For the manual handling of the bike section my instructor gave me a very good tip. Hold both grips on the bars with the front brake on, lean back so your weight is pulling on the bars and then slowly release the brake and it will start rolling, then just keep pulling backwards. He also told me to do it like a three point turn instead of a half circle into the next bay and this did make it easier for me too. Remember to keep the bike as upright as you can and go slowly it isn't a race. Also don't forget your shoulder checks before moving the bike. HTH.

Congratulations, next one is easy all the best.

Congrats Bex, well done.

Good luck guys. Remember take your time and take deep breaths before each manoeuvre.

Once you start to move get your foot up on the peg as it is much easier to balance this way. If you trail your feet (Which is a no no on the test) it puts your balance off and you will wobble. HTH.

Is it very expensive to go? Looked up the price of tickets but couldn't find them on the site??

Well today I spent the day in Leicester at my sons Graduation. He has also just secured a job with a software company near Winchester. I don't suppose I need to tell you how proud I am of him gaining a first in the Bachelors degree class. Here is the star of my eye.

Deso's right, keep you head up and look ahead. After your lifesaver turn your head and look where you want to go keeping your head up again. Never look at the kurb or you will end up hitting it.

Years ago when I wanted my first bike my mother was aghast and was convinced i would die in a ball of fire. As for my father....he couldn't wait for me to buy it so he could have a go. when he did he took it round the block and came back stating "Talk about build me up buttercup, you gotta get a faster one"

Just got back from a ride out to East Kirkby to see the Lancaster taxi. It was a great night out for bikers and an awesome sight of the Lanc with it's engines under throttle.

There was some pretty fine looking bikes there too!

Gaz will access you on the ride out and will give you some idea of how long it will take. If you have been riding a 125 you should be fine on the slow manoeuvres and should get the MOD 1 in no time. That ER6 is pretty agile and easy on the slow stuff, I don't think you will too much trouble mate. My problem was the avoidance as I either kicked the cone or went through the speed trap too slow!

I always keep my feet on the pegs as my balance is better that way. Has to be pretty tight to put them down...usually a three pointer in that case. Strange thing is it seems easier turning to the right??

Had a good day out at this today. Lots of bikes and some good bargains to be had.

Bike parking was pretty full when we got there.

Some nice bikes there too.

This was definitely a bit unusual!

Also a warning to never let the kids loose with a spraygun!  

And some cool pushbikes!

So many bargains I had to get an extra pair of panniers!  

Stopped off at Willingham woods on the way back for a brew and saw this little beauty.

Glad to hear you got on ok with the training Stan. Yes Gaz is very patient, even when I dropped the bike at a junction he was so cool and relaxed about it and put me at my ease. (no damage, just stopped and lowered it down) I am a short a*se and got on fine with the ER6 as it is well balanced. It is expensive, yes and it did take a lot of time and money for me to pass (£1100 and about four months in my case) I did fail the MOD 1 three times though! (my own fault) But the instruction I received was first class and has turned me into a competent rider. Now it is all over I consider it worth every penny for the big grin on my face.

They are all good instructors at Airfield. I do know Russ too but never had him when I attended. I would certainly recommend Gaz as he took me for most of my training along with Shaun. I had a great time with them and there is no feeling like riding behind your instructor back to the school when you have just passed your MOD 2. I look forward to hearing how it went on Saturday (Today). Good luck.

Mine was around 4 months Stan. I did need three attempts at the MOD 1 but got MOD 2 first time. I had two hour lessons each week but had to change bikes in between due to the law changing half way through my training! Another hold up was due to the examiners being on strike so had a MOD 1 cancelled! I had ridden bikes back in the 70's and had been driving cars since then so had to get back into it. It was expensive but worth every penny once I passed and I am so glad I did it. Big grin factor now.

I never speed on the bike.....since getting two points in the van! I am now always watching the speedo.......not the road.

Just got back from Louth bike night and it was a great do. here are a few pics of the event:

Nice one Deso. That looks a good quality video to me. I notice I am not alone in ragging it up Cabourne hill, I get such a buzz from that. Stainton le Vale is very picturesque for a video ride through too my mate often takes that route with his camera.

my mate and I both bought a Viper helmet with Bluetooth 4 fitted. Easy to pair the helmets together and a good clear sound bike to bike at close range. It does state a range of 800mtrs but I very much doubt it as we have lost the signal at half that range. The system is full duplex and also connects to the phone which can be answered by a tap on the side of the helmet. I also have it paired to the sat nav on my phone (Samsung Galaxy) and it works great and is very clear. Another great feature is that it even picks up my voice with the flip front raised! I have no idea where the mike is but it picks up well. Battery lasts well and I only need to charge it after about three ride outs. Now the downfall of it is wind noise which makes it inaudible at anything over 50 mph! All you get is a muffled sound which is not a lot of use. But around town and paired with a pillion, sat nav, phone, music it is fine at low speeds.

That looks so awkward for the rider in the video. I could see the bike being dropped at some point with all of the tip toe shuffling going on each time you stop! Think it would be safer to get the bike lowered or buy a lower bike IMHO.

It is that easy Stan. I studied the ones on line and took the test with no problems. I found a couple of questions that were not mentioned before but it was just common sense answers to them. Don't worry about it just go do it.

Was that with Gaz and Shaun at Airfield, Stan?

Got to be The long Good Friday for me too. Whatever he was in has been good though, He was such a good actor, shame at the loss.

Ok, here we go. I managed to get out between the showers, well the thunderstorm that's out there now!