Debs

I have the same problem - most women's legs are just more shaped than most men's. You can get specific ladies boots that may fit better but generally its just a case of trying lots on until you find something that fits. I have Sidi black rain evos (ironically as does my OH) and these are OK or me

 

I have the Sidi black rain evo as well for the very same reason!

Thanks... I am defo going to find a pair of these to try. Much appreciated

Cheers Stu

I wanted the Daytona Ladystar for a bit of extra height but I couldn't get the arch of my foot into them, literally couldn't get my foot in! Was very much the ugly sister in the Cinderella story

Haha yes that is exactly how I have been feeling... like a friggin ugly sister situation!

Cheers I will check the boots and the blog out

I am trying on just about everything on the shelf... touring, race the lot... to no avail!

Thanks Bonniebird I will try to find the Sidi's as they are ones I haven't tried yet!

Hi...

I am really struggling to find boots to fit...

I am a size 5 with slim to average ankle / calf measurents but if I can actually get my feet into them I can't fasten the buggers up! Is it just me having this problem or is it a widespread issue?

I have the theory test on the same date and have really struggled to get the right learning materials!

This is what I have found... The DSA DVD, it's a pack for £19.99

http://www.tsoshop.co.uk/bookstore.asp? ... KID=003568

It's the motorcycle theory pack... containing the Theory Test DVD and a Hazard Parception DVD it's IBSN is 9789999105477

The DSA do loads of different combinations of packs and some don't contain the hazard parception one.

Hope this is of help to you and good luck

Yep.. he did.

I know what it was. I was approachina give way on a wide open junction which was on an slight hill. We was turning left. I looked right to see if was clear and it was so I theought no need to stop. I then had a second thought and decided to stop... while on a hill with camber todards the curb and I was in the priocess of turning.

I the bike lent over and I couldn't hold it so made the executive decision, for somereason to do a sideways dive immediately turning into a backward roll. Ending up on my back like a stranded turtle! Not the look I was going for!

I feel like a plank! But in a really silly and bizarre way it has calmed me down with the really stupid nerves!

I am doing my DAS at the moment and have just completed day 2... I suffer really bad with nerves. I never used to be like this and don't know why I am now but they effect me really bad.

This morning I just couldn't ride with it... the first hour was really bad. I started to do really well in the afternoon and then on the way back to the centre I dropped it at a junction! It is strange but I have a completely different slant on it now... my ego took a huge dent as now my instructor thinks I am a douche!

I have not dropped a bike yet but I now know I will but this thread has made me laugh until I am crying!

Please post more stories

I love driving, I love cars and I am obsessed with bikes!

I drive an Audi A4 Tdi. It's a few years old now. She is called priscilla!

Driver's of HGVs should be wary of the conduct they display on the road as their licence is vocational and how they behave can determine if they are of the correct temprament to be in charge of such a large vehicle.

The licence they hold can be suspended without a court case.

If you are intimidated by their behaviour and you consider that it is bullying or bad tempered or just plain driving below the standard you would expect report the registration number with date time and place to 0300 123 9000.

I have had the misfortune of attending incidents involving two wheelers and artics at roundabouts and there is unfortunately only one casualty, whoever is at fault.

I agree with the previous posters regarding making the lane your own. Make yourself as visible as possible, down in front of a big lorry you can be in a huge blind spot.

He had to catch me up on the road leading to the road about, so I don't think in this instance that I was in his blind spot however, by the time he had got as close to be as he did I doubt he could have seen me. I was pretty much stopped when he drove up my backside, inches if that from my back wheel where he started honking. Looking back actually it was really scary... I knew at the time if I lost y balance and fell off I would have been under that artic without doubt.

I am now actually starting to dred seeing another at a roundabout, you know the more you think about it, it starts to worry you! I really don't want to have any fears like thta as I have been doing really well!

Thanks for your reply Mighty Mariner

Sometimes I think L plates cause more problems than they do assist... I hate them! lol

I am leaning to flip the bird at 30mph+

I will be wary of them in the future then on my bike.... in my car will be another story, I can feel a very slow drive coming on!!!

hiya debs, im an hgv driver and as said earlier we're not all like that, this guy could've been distracted by something else and maybe thought you would've exited quicker, but this is by no means an excuse, He or she was well out of order and either had a finger up his arse or as got something against bikers or just maybe is a total tw*t, as dan said generally truckers are aware of what is going on and will drive accordingly so please dont adjust your way of riding to suit others, ride to how you feel comfortable, don't be pressured by any other road users, while your in that lane,then use it as your own.... i'll apologise for the cock of a driver. was it an artic or a 7.5 tonner wishing he was a real trucker cos they are the worst ones.... no offence fred

@ martyc there not all fat ,and i aint fat either marty

I don't think you should have to apologise on behalf of a moron like that but thank you for being really nice! It was a proper big artic... you know the type that carries scrap.

Thank you for you advice to about riding as I feel comfortable and not letting other road user's pushing me.... your the first person to offer that. I will actually remember that everytime I am out now... "while in that lane use it as your own"

Thanks for that

You should of took is number and any company logo info and reported him. Dont paint all hgv drivers with the same brush im a hgv driver and i can assure you most of them are excellent drivers, Much better trained and aware of there surroundings than your average driver. But that said it must have been very intimidating for you.

@ martyc there not all fat

Please be assured I don't think that this is representative of HGV drivers

I appreciate that they are professional driver's too and actually expect that they are as you say less troublesome than other vehicles. So my it was an utter shock to the reaction that I got.

I thought about it all after and considered my approach to the round about, I may have piddled him or her off on the road before habd as it's a national speed limit on a single lane but and I stayed at 40! I know I need to pick my speed up! But after this road I had gone round the first round about and onto the second roundabout which is where I got all the grief from him/her!

I did want to use the bikes power to get out of the way but I didn't want to panick and dump the clutch or wobble or worse! It was a little intimidating.... that's the one thing I have been pleased with during my learning so far... I do not feel at all exposed on the road while on a bike and am happy to be amognst other vehicles but I have to admit this was a bit too extreme version of 'amognst' for me. In honesty it was one of those moments where you think... this actually could really kill me and I just knew I had to stay calm as the lorry driver had clearly lost it so wasn't thinking straight. The last thing this situation needed was 2 of us not thinking straight!

I passed my CBT 2 weeks ago and have the use of a friends NSR 125 for a bit of practice....

Today was my second time out on it but first real ride out on the roads through town. But I am not too familiar with the area as my friend has just moved there.

I got to a round about and was taking the first exit which as it happened was more like a left turn. I made my observations, saw a HGV behind me. Left indicator went on and moved over to the left and slowed down on approach to the round about, as doing so gaging the traffic on round about, I new I had to stop. Half way through this the HGV behind me started to honk his horn repeatedly... which when they are that close it's f**king loud! I looked him my morror and just saw a section of the front grill of the lorry. He was inches from me and still honking!

I had to really focous not to get completely thrown off by it... I don't know how I did but I managed to stay calm dispite my heart being in my mouth and made my manouvre. If I'd have had a complete mess up and dropped the bike I would have been under the lorry!

I think I can say that I am not a speed demon and my approach to the round about was probably just inder 30 mph (it's a 30 zone) but I would readily admit today I could have picked up my speed better on round abouts like I was on. But does this happen to other people and any advice on how you deal with it.

Debs

Dan and TheWife

Techno

BB

iwannagofast

Northern Monkey

Bex (possibly and maybe + 1)

Remy (+ maybe two friends)

CobbZ (+ possibly TheSadie)

DeeJay

Susieque+rennie

Boothy (if i get a 125 in time)

craig

mojobanana

Decor58

Yorbandit+1

f4113n

Suzilew

Takanta

Jixerman

vicki+1 and a half

Guy + (maybe Gary)

Danny-B-

Spafe

nman1

Horseynat30101 +1 (maybe)

Grumpy Old Git

Wannars125 + 1 depending on date

eastanglianbiker depending on the mrs health

Bullet5 (depending on family events)

Cruz +1 (subject to date)

Ingah - maybe (depending on the date and the location and if the stars are correctly aligned - i.e. whether the CB500 is working or not)

MHarrison94 (depends on the date)

Mighty Mariner + 1 if back from Germany

PhilGale +1 maybe, depending on time and location (not been bothered with other thread)

Stu & Trace

Chris, depending on date (work/holiday etc) and location (if I can be arsed to get there )

mattyb depending on date

Jakey_boy

Jin

Megawatt and a mate

Nell

keithy weefy with or without rear ballast

mark1fazer.........................................................

**Debs**

Thanks! I wouldn't ever do something like that again in that weather!

I started to think... what the hell did I ever want to do this for! Then on the way back to the centre I was that cold I really couldn't feel my hands at all and just wanted to stop. So I started saying to my self... your riding an R6 through Valencia and it's a really hot sunny day! That's what got me back to the bike school! lol

Thanks guys,

Doncaster and heywood a little too far for me but I have been given one n preston to look at and also will give John at mercury a call too, so thanks for that.

I found somewhere to do my CBT... which I did yesterday and passed! Really harsh weather though as I was soaked to the skin and by the end of the day couldn't move my hands at all! Big lesson leant... I am probably going to be a fair weather rider

CBT cost £80 where I did it and the original place I called who told me that I wouldn't manage a Direct Access Course was charging £135.

Hi TC

I am in Blackburn... I looked at the belle vue one and will have a another look and maybe make some enquiries, thanks

Thanks iiisecondcreep... congrats on passing.

I spoke with an instructor who my friend recommended and he did sound friendly and professional. So on that basis I booked my CBT with them. By the way the school I was speaking to didn't ask anything about my height or previous experience or ability! I was suprised as I had heard really good tings about the school!

Thanks spafe2302..... it did make me feel a bit deflated but I will not let it put me off I am bike obsessed!

I was thinking that he was basing it on the fact that I am female... but I don't like to jump to this conclusion straight off!

It made me get a bit worried as I mentioned it to a friend who races semi-pro and he has arranged my CBT - which was great of him but I am feeling a little worried that I am going to end up potentially paying more or being pushed into weekly lessons for the rest of my life instead of just doing the DAS! Hence my post here!

Thanks for your reply sparkeh9

Hi Guys

I am going to to my CBT this weekend with the view of doing the DAS course. But I was just wanting to hear of people's reviews on bike schools in the northwest.

I had phoned one of my local training centre's only to be told on the phone that I probably wouldn't 'manage' the direct access course (they had never seen me ride!).... so I am going somewhere on the recommendation of one person but as with these things, someone else said this place has had a bad review!

I just want to train to get my bike licence and ride well and safe but as quick and cost effective as possible. Without having the piddle taken out of me or being ripped off and fobbed off for whatever reason.

Any recommendations or opinions on good places to learn would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

I had to chew gum on my first lesson.... my instructor gave it me as I was a little nervous

It helped and it wasn't a problem wearing my helmet!