Psychybikey

I've fallen off my fair share of horses, too. At least the bike doesn't gallop away over the horizon.

Plusses: Got onto big bike (500cc, quite big enough for me, thank you) Did some perfect U turns No problems with figure of 8 and slalom Instructor said "I can see the ability is there" Instructor did not shout at me for dropping his bike Instructor did not tell me to go away and practice some more on my 125 before I go for more lessons Instructor has set another date for my Mod 1 Minuses: Fell off big bike (separate from the drop) Bent clutch lever Landed under 400 lb of bike, smacked head, had to discard helmet as a precaution (I'd been thinking of getting rid, anyway and I have two others) Big Tom & Jerry bruises Currently can't lift arm above shoulder and have cancelled tonight's exercise class Have had to postpone Mod 1 because there was only time for one more lesson before the original date Feel like a total idiot and am so furious and angry with myself

What did he say? Fingers crossed.

That's the thing, if I'm supposed to keep an eye on the speed so I know it's fast enough, how can I look where I'm going? That moment it takes to look at your speedo is all it takes to lose any speed you've gained, or prevent it from building up. So you must have to know what it feels like. The actual swerve hasn't been too bad, but I consistently fail to reach quite the required speed. I've succeeded once, I think, and every other time it's been just enough below the required speed to make me have a fail (not even a minor - I've had plenty of those!).

Well guys, I seem to have finally mastered the U turn. It's only taken three years. My instructor is getting me up to test standard on the 125 then moving me across to the 500. I can manage most of the stuff but am really struggling to hit the required speed for the swerve test, in the space available. Is this easier on the bigger bike? I should be on that next lesson but he's not going to make me do the harder manoeuvres till I get used to handling it. I have ridden 500s before in various training sessions and he has (very wisely I think) put me back on a bike where I'm comfortable with the technique. For anyone who doesn't know my posts, I have had a somewhat chequered learning history and I have not been with the same instructor for three years! This one is the first person who has given me any confidence and he believes I can do it. I just wish I could believe it myself.

Hard luck. It is a stupid test and as any fule kno, harder for experienced drivers than for beginners. I have had to take mine twice (owing to being such a slow learner that I've had to repeat my CBT too) and the practice sessions were simply disheartening. On my second attempt, I had a question discounted and scored zero for clicking 'inappropriately'. Thank goodness this was the last question of the test, because if that notice had come up earlier I would have simply gone to pieces. I still passed, so for anybody reading this, it's worth remembering that you can have an answer thrown out and still pass as long as you score enough in the others, so don't panic if the 'you will score zero for this clip' notice comes up during the test and don't let it put you off.

I'm afraid this isn't good enough for the test. There cannot be a valid reason for not performing a lifesaver in the test and it is a fail if you don't. It's utterly, utterly stupid that we have to pretend that there are imaginary cars behind us in the enclosed area where we are on the only vehicle, but the examiner will say "as if you are on a public road" and that's what you have to do. In spite of the fact that actually, if I were on a public road, I would keep looking all the time and not be looking back and forth. And in fact would not do a u turn and have no intention of ever doing one.

And no, I'm not telling you when it is! It's closer than I'd like (I'd be happy if it was within the next 18 months so I wouldn't have to do yet another CBT) but far enough away that my instructor thinks I will have at least a chance of passing. Sadly he is so booked up that there is no time for more than two more lessons beforehand. This does not mean two lessons soon. But the things I struggle with I can practice alone anyway, when I get my bike back. My big problem with the final shoulder check is that it unbalances me. And it has to be done so soon after moving off, because there is so little space before you have to start your turn. I tend to do it in a hurry and therefore not make it obvious enough to the examiner. And apparently it's not good enough to just keep looking continuously from the first stationary check, you have to look again after your forward look. Somebody suggested that I count instead. You know how soldiers count when they're learning drill (I speak from experience)? So that they don't have to decide when to do something, but just do it when the number says so. I found that this helped. The number that works for me is to do the check on 4, then count another 2 and then start the turn. This does two things. It removes the need to decide when, so I can do it consistently because number 4 tells me when. It also gives me something to focus on, since I cannot count and think simultaneously (ask my maths teachers). And that in turn reduces the anxiety and therefore the tension. Come to think of it, it's not a million miles from the relaxation exercises I teach my patients. The thing to do now is get it right first time every time, and THAT is the really big problem. You only get one chance in the test.

Indeed I do ☺ Sounds like you two have some dodgy secrets regards your time away.. What goes on in the hayloft stays in the hayloft..........

Indeed I do ☺

Oh yes. I have a sneaking suspicion that my prep school and the prep school in the books were one and the same...! You hav face like tomato and spend time skipping about sa Hullo clouds hullo sky hullo sun etc Fotherington-Thomas, I believe. And I haven't read it for 50 years!

I don't 100% agree that sooner or later someone will say something that will annoy me. I'm on other forums where this doesn't happen and it all depends on the demographic, and at what point the admins step in to stop free speech becoming abuse. It's supposed to be fun, after all - plenty of opportunities in life for abuse and arguing with real people, never mind the ones that wouldn't dare say it to your face. And that's all I have t say about that

Ah, you've read Nigel Molesworth too!

It's like when I started going to the Chill Factore. The guy at the dry ski slope said everybody goes back there in the end, and I did...

Forgive my infidelity, people. I have spent lots of time on another forum but gradually become disenchanted with certain attitudes, unsolicited advice and hostility. I think this will be a better place for support and advice. I've had to repeat my CBT and my theory test because so much time has gone by. I hope I pass my test within the next two years because I will be retiring then and won't be able to afford lessons after that. My road riding is fine and I have ridden all kinds of roads in all kinds of conditions, certainly got plenty of experience now, but still struggling with the stupid slow manoeuvres.

Not going to do a thing with this. No stickers, no additions (I have more or less stopped dropping bikes so hope to less need for crash bars), no spotlights. I bought it from a garage but the previous owner lived just up the road from where I work. I saw her husband (she died this year) in the garden so I jumped out of my car to speak to him because I thought he'd be pleased to know it has come to a good home. He was such a nice man and I want him to know it's loved. My husband has found a few excuses to ride it. The bike has been to Cornwall, Devon and the Isle Of Man when the wife was still riding, but has been parked up for a few years, just going out once a year for its MOT. There are a couple of little things to iron out as a result of its having been in storage for a while so they can be dealt with before I get on. I wish we knew somebody with a private estate so I could have a go.

This is a long way off and I will have to do my CBT again. But this bargain came up, too good to miss. 18 years old and only done 7,600 miles. Instant love, a good price, great condition; being sold by the widower of the previous owner. A huge incentive, as if one were needed, to pass my test.

I have been driving for over 42 years. This meant I had some things holding me back at first, notably the use of the clutch. I'm not too worried about Mod 2 when it comes because I know it will just be about showing that I can be safe on the roads. But I can't do that till I've done the stupid Mod 1.

And indeed I do, but there are two issues there: 1, I am probably developing bad habits - well, I know I am - and 2, I need to be taught what to do to get through the test, which I do need an instructor for.

Thank you. I certainly will.

This school - a 'larger' school does have a good reputation, fills its Facebook page with its successful candidates, 100% pass rate nearly every week - I just don't think it's now the right school for me and there is no excuse for somebody knocking you down and destroying your confidence, even if you're hopeless. The new guy, the one-man band, has come from personal recommendation from two other female riders, and he takes one pupil in the morning and one in the afternoon, so you get individual attention. The lessons, because of this, are open-ended - at least two hours, but you can have longer if it's going well or there's something you want to nail before you finish. He told me he thinks I'll make a good motorcyclist. Size, as they say, isn't everything. Also of course you have to decide how far you are prepared to travel. I have to take time off work for lessons. But thanks for the advice

Yes. And not only that, I don't think I should hand over my hard-earned cash (and it is hard-earned) in exchange for negativity, criticism and discouragement. I am the paying customer, after all. I can get all that stuff at work for nothing! Anyway, as I say, I intend to put it behind me now. I think I might be quite happy to stay on a 125 but we'll see how it goes.

So, very pleased today. I didn't get off a 125 and didn't get onto the road, but I made more progress today than I have done in my previous 3 or 4 lessons and I only wish I'd known about Marches Motorcycle Training, Oswestry, a year ago. I actually learnt something and received praise for getting things right. And the instructor said he thinks I'll make a good motorcyclist.

To be fair, Joeman, they did get me through my CBT and the owner did say my problems were all in my head and I feel a bit of loyalty towards him for that. And they do seem to have heaps of passes, not just youngsters but all ages, but very few women, which probably just reflects that there might be fewer women learners. But even he will now make negative remarks "I don't want to put you on a big bike until you're more consistent on your 125," which sounds fair enough, but then when you come to book a lesson and his immediate response is "Are you more consistent yet?" it's a bit disheartening. He even forgot that on the one lesson he took me for when they still had the 500ccs, he said I looked comfortable on the bike, he even forgot that I'd ever been on one! They do have one instructor who is very good, he gave me positive feedback for every single thing I got right and was patient with everything I got wrong. He said some people need 6 lessons, some need 66, it's okay, they get there in the end. But I can't just rely on being able to book one individual, it's months between lessons anyway, and if I can't guarantee getting him I'm not prepared to keep paying good money to be squashed and discouraged.