CJFargo

I'm in the exact same position. Just last weekend I tried a practice lesson but was stopped and told I was too nervous (see my post elsewhere). Of course I'm bloody nervous. I'm doing something I've never done before but how am I supposed to get better and get confident if you don't let me practice in my own time??? Anyway, it could be worth speaking to a few instructors, explaining your situation and telling them precisely what you want from a lesson. It's no skin off their chin if they take your money to let you practice but, if they insist that it has to be a CBT, at least that's good experience too. Any time you can spend in the saddle is a learning opportunity. I think there is more pressure when people say "Passing your CBT is easy - it's not really a test so you can't fail", like the instructor is obligated to pass you just for turning up and then you feel like the worst failure in the world if you don't walk away with that piece of paper. Everyone learns at their own pace. I'm trying to teach myself guitar as well and I just practice what I can when I can. I get better slowly but thank God there's nobody judging me because I would spend the rest of my life in the triangle section with the other tone-deaf kids. Give up if it stops being fun or stops being cool, but don't give up just because someone made you believe you can't do it like I almost did.

Thanks everyone. Appreciate your feedback. I think I'll do as suggested and look for another instructor. All I need is someone who'll allow me to practice until I'm happy and confident, whether that takes ten minutes or two hours.

So I'm very new to biking. It's something I only began to think about recently. Call it a midlife crisis thing. I've had a couple of lessons before attempting my CBT and I've been told that I appear too nervous or anxious and the lesson has been stopped. Sure, I'm always a little nervous doing something new (and potentially dangerous). Aren't most people? But am I really so anxious that I can't ride at all? On another lesson, I have managed to perform circles and figure-eights on a manual so maybe I just have good days and bad days. I mean, I've been driving a car for 20 years and never had a problem like this. Anyway, I need to decide what my next move is going to be and would appreciate some thoughts from you good people: Option 1: find a way to overcome my anxiety, whether by medication or meditation, or just hope that I have a good day and do my CBT on a geared bike Option 2: pass my CBT on an automatic then, once I don't have that to worry about, take extra lessons to ride a geared bike before I go out and buy one Option 3: pass my CBT on an automatic and then stick to automatics. I'll admit that I had only thought of automatics in terms of scooters but, after doing a little research, there are some decent automatic bikes out there and I can see the advantages. Option 4: give up entirely. I really don't want to do this. Thanking you in advance.

Hi everyone. Brand new learner here based in West Midlands.