RyanAyr

OK so I wasn't actually terrible at all today...I passed I don't know what it was but I just picked it up straight away and I managed to do most things correctly. I loved being out on the road too it was a very freeing experience even though I got caught in the rain I still loved it. The girl that was doing her 3rd attempt didn't get to go out on the road today...her goal is to pass by her 6th attempt??? WOW!!! She has her own bike and everything waiting for her that her hubby bought her for Valentines day. I really felt for her today because all she wanted to do was ride in first gear in a straight line. By the end of the yard lesson though she was doing really well and managing to get to second gear without panicking. Anyway back to my goods and not so goods...All the stuff in the yard was fine and I managed it all...U turn etc with no probs. Out on the roads I didn't panic at all however i did give it too much oomph going round a few corners but a few warning words from my instructor put me straight. Roundabouts with lifesavers etc were no probs. I did go a bit fast at times going through some housing estates but again I reigned it in. My hill start was a bit pants on my first attempt...I managed to fall off again and even the instructor didn't even know how I managed it so that gave us a good giggle. After that though I was fine all the way back to base. So I got my lovely pinky purpley certificate. So now comes the fun part...BIKE SHOPPING!!!

Deso- The reason I'm doing it on a geared bike is so I've had practice with gears before I'm out on the road. It's a geared bike I'll be buying so doing my CBT on an automatic won't really be beneficial. How would I get my bike home from the shop if I'd never had experience of gears? Push it? Your suggestion is like telling someone to pass their car test in an automatic then buy a manual car to figure the gears out in. I think I'm doing it the right way for me. Anyway Part 2 is tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it. I shall of course update y'all with how it goes. Thanks again for ur kind replies and sage wisdom. I shall be relaxed and confident tomorrow whilst having fun.

Cheers Troops I think I may have been a bit harder on my self than I intended to. I'd paid for 3 attempts anyway in a bid to keep the pressure off but I think being coupled with a young guy who was really good kinda threw me. I know I'm with a female next time but I obviously don't know her abilities. Anyway I'm looking forward to it and trying not to get too worked up about it. The instructor did say we'd be straight out to the yard next time as I'd done the talks so hopefully I'll have more time to get used to the basic controls etc. I need to be less heavy handed lol...but there is just so much to do in order to ride safely...every limb does something at the same time lol.

Hey the religion angle thing made me think of this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... -hood.html I realize I've probably not posted the link correctly and I apologise...just copy and paste.

So on Friday 21/03/14 I had my CBT. I got there early and stood about having a few puffs on my electronic cig when a young boy and his dad arrived kitted out in branded Yamaha clothes and all his own safety gear. The boy had just turned 16 so was getting his 50cc Twist n Go licence but apparently has been riding for years on geared 125's off road. Yamaha boy was telling me how easy it is to do gears and how I'd pick it up in a pinch and he's got his own 125 and how his Dad is a biker and his Grandad is a biker and his Gran is a biker and his next door neighbours goat is a biker (well not really but you get the idea.) So I figure well surely it can't be that hard if Yamaha boy can do it...how wrong was I? So all the usual rigmarole followed...checking my licence, parting with my hard earned cash, eye sight test, safety gear chat, a look round the bikes, general maintenance etc. Time to get kitted up in their safety gear then away in his car to the yard with the bike and Twist n Go on the trailer. So the bike is a Honda CG125 and seemed OK...a bit scraped but that's to be expected. So I swing my wee leg over and away we go... It was no probs at first riding in a straight line in first gear, turning left to ride in a circle then come to a controlled stop. Yamaha boy was of course zooming around no probs having no bother. When it came to changing gears however the problems arose for me. I just couldn't get my head (or hands and feet) around it. Then when I was cornering I kept accidentally revving it up so it was like kangaroo petrol...of course I panicked a bit and slammed on the front brake and fell off. It just got worse from then on in. I fell off another twice, bike landing on top of me while I lay squeejeed laughing hysterically like some sort of crazed person...Yamaha boy of course giggling away between figure of eights and pulling off excellent emergency stops. My figure of eights were awful because of the turning/revving issue. My U-turn took up half of the entire yard. The wind had picked up enough for me to near enough shit myself whenever I pulled away. I was never more glad when the instructor put the bikes back on the trailer and we were heading back to base. Of course I wasn't going out on the road in the afternoon and Thank Feck for that! It made it worse because Yamaha boy was obviously good at it on his Twist n Go and the fact he'd been biking before he could crawl. I did feel as though I was holding him back a bit and I felt I could've done with more time going over basic controls. The instructor was great though, very patient and telling me not to put too much pressure on myself as he wasn't going to and reminding me everyone learns differently and at their own pace. Anyway I'm back out on Thursday so hopefully I will have grasped it by then. It was my very very first time on a bike and I'm dying to pass so I can get my own...especially now the weather is picking up. Anyway I'll keep you guys posted on how it GOES. Oh and just in case...STAY OFF THE ROADS IN AYR ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON!!!

Yeah I plan to enjoy it with no pressure of trying to rush through it in the one day...if it takes 2 days then so be it. This forum has been of immense help and I'm so glad I stumbled across it. You folks rock!!!

Hey Guys and Gals Title says it all really. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Doing it at West Coast Bike Training in Ayr they came highly recommended and have loads of positive reviews. I will of course be posting my experience tomorrow night (whilst I'm working Night Shift) Many Thanks in advance