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Everything posted by Phooey
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Today, I have decided to give the Nob of the day award to ... the local council. Outside my son's school is a road. Nothing unusual about that. This road, called Elton Road, is a one way street. And this one way street has parking spaces controlled by parking meters on one side (being very close to the city centre it is nearly always full) and enough room for a single file traffic flow. No problem I hear you all say. It is a one way street and single file is all that is needed. Except, at the bottom of the road where the NO ENTRY sign should be to stop traffic coming up the 'wrong way', some clever ar*ehole of a bureaucrat has decided to put NO ENTRY EXCEPT FOR BUSES! Every morning is a fu..... nightmare trying to deal with dozens of school kids from 5 - 18 AND having to contend with service buses driving on the pavement and causing the kids to run for their lives, often into the paths of cars trying to get down the road. What clever ar*ehole thought up that idea? Who ever he or she is, gets my NOB OF THE DAY award! I have contacted my local MP who assures me that she will speak to the council office. Yeah I bet!
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Good on ya! I remember doing my CBT after 30 years of being off of a bike and got back into it really quickly and, like you, I couldn't wait to get back to Mod 1. It's a great feeling
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I think I would do a CBT now and get yourself a 125 to get to work on and then spend the next 6 months until you get to 24 gaining some road experience. Pass the theory and as soon after my 24th birthday as possible, take a DAS course. You can move up to any size bike whenever you want to and you never have to take another bike test.
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Bike security idea's wanted
Phooey replied to Phooey's topic in Clothing, Luggage, Accessories and Security
Thanks guys. I appreciate all of your suggestions and idea's. I might even swop the shih tzu in for one of those akita's ... confession, I had to google it -
Bike security idea's wanted
Phooey replied to Phooey's topic in Clothing, Luggage, Accessories and Security
I understand that, polecat, but I am thinking if they want it I'll make the bar stuards work for it! -
Bike security idea's wanted
Phooey replied to Phooey's topic in Clothing, Luggage, Accessories and Security
Hmmm ... I have a back garden and a shih zhu, will that work, littlecat? -
Not sure if this is the best place for this but, I have a question. What is the best way to secure your bike and prevent it from being nicked? I don't have anything yet and I am just getting an idea of what is available and possible. So assuming that my pride and joy arrives with no mobiliser or alarm, what are the options for fitting aftermarket devices and are they worth it? I mean, can they easily be overridden or disabled? Secondly, what about locks and chains. What is the best option? I was thinking of cementing a U-shaped piece of iron into a solid side wall and using a decent sized chain to chain the bike to it. Any other options that might be equally as effective?
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Archeologists have just uncovered the first lesbian dinosaur. They have named it Licalotopuss. Next to her was the first gay dinosaur: Megasorass.
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I am not an experienced rider but I am a very experienced driver and I can assure you that your cautious approach to lane changing and overtaking is not unusual for a beginner. It is a worrying thought to have to put yourself in the path of another vehicle coming up behind you. My advice is take your time. It takes time to be able to judge the speed of approaching traffic when you are able to look directly at them; it is even more difficult when you only have the reflection in your mirror to work with. Use your mirrors often and you will be able to see how long it takes a vehicle to reach and overtake you. You will start with very crude judgements at first. The vehicle is either getting closer to you or moving further away then how fast is it approaching you or moving away. Take your time and try not to worry. If you are really that nervous about changing lanes I suggest you book an hour or two with a school and ask for lots of lane changing practice. As for moving back in; that comes with practice too! hope this helps.
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Exactly why flashing of headlights should be punishable by hanging from the testicles until very, very sorry! It is dangerous not being kind. Slow down and allow them to make up their own damned mind ... safer for all then.
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The lining is sort of mesh type thing and it is non sticky! They are comfortable enough when sitting just makes my legs look unnaturally deformed when I walk. They feel OK, just looks ... well, weird!
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Ok, so here is another weird question for you all. I have recently bought textile motorbike Reissa Waterproof CE Armoured jacket and trousers. The jacket is fantastic, apart from too hot! Now that is another story - lol. I took my mod 1 with my new bike gear and proudly wore it during the wonderfully hot July sun and by the end of the day the sweat was literally running down my back and my legs. I couldn't wait until my instructor said we had finished with the bikes so that I could get the jacket off. She, my instructor, burst out laughing and said no wonder I was so hot. I had left the winter lining in both jacket and trousers! lol Anyway, back to the question. The jacket is great. Very comfortable if not too hot, even with the winter lining out now. The trousers though feel really weird. The armour plating for my knee's cover my shins when I walk, although they rise to my knee's when sat on the bike. It feels like I have two broken legs till I sit down. Is this the experience everyone has or are my trouswers a bit weird, or maybe I am a bit weird? Interested to hear your thoughts.
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congratulations to kitty ( chira)
Phooey replied to littlecat's topic in CBT, Test and Advanced Training Information
Congratulations indeed. -
Theory passed + notes for new takers
Phooey replied to tmcraig's topic in CBT, Test and Advanced Training Information
Well done Craig. Respectable scores. Every hurdle can be a 'biggy' if you are taking it! It is not so much the number of times that you click that creates a 'cheat' zero score. It is about how it is clicked. You can click 10 or 11 times in a single clip if there is a lot happening and you feel that there is sufficient justification. What causes the problem is systematically or rhythmically clicking throughout the clip. The software is written to ensure that you are responding to potential hazards and not clicking to 'edge your bets' and hope to cover the hazard. -
CBT and Theory now passed!
Phooey replied to thunderpantz's topic in CBT, Test and Advanced Training Information
You'll be ok. I returned to the saddle after a thirty something year break and within half hour back on the 125cc in CBT training I felt at home again. Start of Mod 1 and having a 600cc between my legs I was very nervous. But, within an hour I was totally comfortable and all nerves disappeared until the test which went well with no faults. Mod 2 went really well too, then came the test and I was convinced that I had failed but passed with four riding faults. It always feel worse than it really is. As the others have said, sit back and relax! Don't sit back too far though or you'll fall off of the back! -
Bike Tests & Training
Phooey replied to JoshJ1's topic in CBT, Test and Advanced Training Information
How old are you josh? That might make a big different in what you can do. If you are under 24 years old you wont be able to do DAS no matter how much money you have -
Bike licence obtained :D
Phooey replied to Phooey's topic in CBT, Test and Advanced Training Information
That's an option too, oh jay. Assuming I can find a blue one! lol -
Module 2 - members test experiences
Phooey replied to a topic in CBT, Test and Advanced Training Information
I passed my mod 2 yesterday although I have to say that I am amazed that I did. I arrived at my training office at 8:30 am ready for a days training and test at 2:59 the same afternoon. Then at 12:30 we decided that it was lunch time. While we were in the cafe having lunch my instructor got a text asking if we would like to bring the test forward to 1 pm. Total of 3 (ish) hours training and test was about to happen. Not feeling at all confident but hey ... it was going to happen so what the hell. Arrived at test centre and I couldn't believe my eyes when the examiner came out and introduced himself to the candidate before me. I recognised him from my previous life as a driving instructor. I didn't even know that he did motorcycle tests. Anyway, I am now pretty convinced that I wasn't going to pass. We never really got on and on more than one occasion had some cross words with each other. Usually over pettiness like she was an inch over the stop line sort of thing. (I know it is still wrong but you have to support your students don't you?) So, added frustration to the nerves. Eventually my turn came and called my name and smiled as I made myself known. Went through the usual can I see your paperwork and which ear would you like to have the radio on etc etc ... I am now starting to think that he didn't recognise me. It was a number of years since I was an instructor and I have changed quite a bit ... grown a beard and shaved the head. 'Lead the way to your machine then ...' followed by reading a number plate and three easy show me tell me question. Brilliant I thought, he doesn't recognise me. 'Start your bike then and I'll do a radio check before we leave the centre'. He walked to his bike, put the board into his top box and hooked up the radio. 'can you hear me ok?' I gave him the thumbs up to let him know I heard him and he said 'when you're ready ride out of the test centre and turn left. Follow the road ahead ... well you know the drill'. I'm thinking, that's not right. I must have paused for a second or two too long because he rode over to me and asked if I could hear him ok. I said 'yes, I was just thrown by your 'you know the drill' comment.' 'Well, you been up here often enough with your car candidates haven't you?' smiled and waved me on. Test ... icles, I thought. Only less polite. He remembers me. Now the test was terrible I couldn't relax after that comment. I rolled back a few inches at a junction because I didn't get the bite before releasing the back brake, and then over did it and went a little too close to the kerb after turning right. I was so peeved at this that I just wanted to go back to the centre, get the radio gear off and go home. Without his instruction I decided to check mirrors, signalled left and after live saver turned left back onto the main drag back to the test centre. His next instruction was to follow the roundabout ahead and repeated it more than once as if I didn't hear him. I followed his directions through the rest of the test and just wished away the minutes till we got back. Eventually we did arrive back at the test centre and I parked up took my helmet off and went over to my instructor to tell her that I had failed. I followed the examiner into the radio room and he said 'I'm pleased to tell you, you have passed'. I couldn't believe the next thing I heard ... my voice, ME saying 'are you kidding me?' quite sarcastically. He faulted going too near the kerb but the roll back was ok apparantly! He asked me about the left turn back to the test centre and I said I thought I had heard that instruction. He laughed and congratulated me. I always said that examiner was a nice guy! lol -
I'm pretty sure that you will have to do the mod 1 again too! I stand corrected if I am wrong. I thought the rule was you had to pass mod 2 within two years of your theory test or you take theory, mod 1 again OR if you are exempt from taking the theory, mod 2 must be passed within six months of taking mod 1, or you have to take mod 1 again!
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Dav3y, it will be the date that you passed your mod 2 because you have the entitlement from that date and not from the date they process the licence. Imagine the uproar if you passed your test today and tomorrow you decided to go for a ride and got stopped by the police and charged with not having a licence because DVLA didn't process it till the day after? The only exception to this rule is when you apply for your FIRST driving licence. You cannot drive or ride until you receive it. All other situation are OK because you are still entitled to drive/ride on that classification. Hope that makes sense?
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mod 1 mod 2 DAS confusion
Phooey replied to tmcraig's topic in CBT, Test and Advanced Training Information
tmcraig, hazard perception element is easier than you might think. Put yourself in the position of the rider/driver on the vid. When you see that child running toward the pedestrian crossing you would react in real life so react in the vid ... click the mouse! All they are looking for is to be sure that you recognise a potential hazard and respond to it. Something to remember too, the actual vids on the test seem to be better quality and run slower than any practice DVD I have ever seen. Click whenever you see a hazard or when that hazard develops into more of a hazard. Example: you see a zebra crossing with pedestrians walking on the pavement toward it [click] the pedestrain looks back over her shoulder [click] she turns to cross the crossing [click] - you are pretty certain to get into the window from that. A word of warning though - avoid constant clicking just incase! This will flag a cheat because the programme will think you are trying to cheat by constantly clicking and you will score 0 for that clip. I would advise getting hold of a practice DVD, your library might have one, and go through as many clips as possible but only once each because you will learn where the hazard is and then it wont be a real test of your responces. Good luck. -
Bike licence obtained :D
Phooey replied to Phooey's topic in CBT, Test and Advanced Training Information
Thanks guys. You are absolutely right Tango. I need to try out lots of bikes Any chance of you helping me to convince the wife that a visit to Fowlers IS essential? I saw a SV in Fowlers a while ago and sat on it but it felt too big! Well, too tall. I was on tip-toes. Not a position I feel comfortable with. I trained on the CBF600 and that felt comfortable. Both feet flat on the ground but I wanted something just a little more sporty - hense ZZR600 and Thundercat as options. Both with seat heights of around 780 which is similar to the CBF. I am not going to rush the purchase. We are really tight on money at the moment (£1500 max budget) so I want to make sure that I am going to be happy with what I get for the foreseeable future. -
Bike licence obtained :D
Phooey replied to Phooey's topic in CBT, Test and Advanced Training Information
Thanks, GazzyG. Yes, I have never ridden one but they look nice. I have a relatively small budge (£1500 ish) so will have to get an older one but time will tell. Maybe I should be extra nice to the other half? lol -
Absolutely over the moon! Just got back from mod 2 and passed. Now to find a bike ... after saving some pennies that is