Sparky65

Apologies if this has been posted already but I had a look and couldn't see it. Anyone taking their Mod 1 from May 16 will do a revised test. Details here on the DSA website: http://www.dft.gov.uk/dsa/News.asp?id=SXFB2A-A783A660&cat=593 I did Mod 1 on Wednesday. I think I'm glad I did the test as it is, rather than as it will be - but I guess that's because I passed.

I went for a pre-Mod 1 lesson at Route 66 in Motherwell on Tuesday and got talking to an elderly gent who I reckon must have been 75 if he was a day. He told me he'd undergone a quadruple heart by-pass operation and he'd promised himself that "if he survived it" he would return to motorcycling after being away from bikes for many years. He did ... and he has. He was taking Mod 2 on Wednesday on his 125 and said he was quite happy to be restricted to 33bhp because that was "plenty enough for me at my age, ok son?". I really hope he passed.

Question 1: Yes. Here's the link to my local Mod 1 centre. The "Book test" button is on the right. http://www.dft.gov.uk/dsa/AddressDetail ... howRoute=0 Question 2: Almost certainly "no". If I'm wrong, I haven't heard of an individual being given practice time on a test pad. Good luck!

Did Mod 1 at the Shieldhall DSA Centre in Glasgow this morning and passed at the first attempt - well pleased with the result. My test was booked for 0840 (or so I thought) so I arrived at 0815, to be told the centre had no record of me for the 0840 slot. Several phone calls later and it transpired the test slot had been cancelled because no name had been put against it. This was because the training school had been holding the slot but hadn't submitted my name as the candidate. Ach well, these things happen. Big thanks to the examiner and the instructor, who got it sorted out with five minutes to go. Meanwhile, I was a bag of nerves, shuffling around, not knowing whether or not it was going to happen. I'd had a two-hour lesson on Sunday (first time on a big bike - a Kawasaki ER-6F) after which my confidence was absolutely rock-bottom. I had a two-and-a-half hour lesson yesterday and the difference was like night and day. I still wasn't brimming with confidence but I knew that if I failed today, I could at least do all the manoeuvres individually and it would just be a case of stringing them all together next time. In the event, I had just one fault - not looking over my shoulder before the slow control. Hit 52kph and 56kph respectively on the swerve and emergency stop. Now for the second of this week's challenges, running the London Marathon on Sunday. Life would be boring if we didn't make it interesting. Aiming for Mod 2 at the end of May. Oh - and thanks to everyone who's contributed advice on this forum. I've read loads of tips and they've helped me big time.

Kenny, if you're still loooking and it's convenient for you, try Route 66 in Motherwell. I've been going there for lessons and passed Mod 1 at Shieldhall at the first attempt this morning - so that's saying something!

Passed my theory test this week and have the DSA hazard perception DVD to loan if anyone wants it. I also have the AA bike theory book to loan. I used this material and the official DSA theory test book (I need to hang onto this book) - 49/50 on multiple choice, 70/75 on hazard. Btw, that dropped multiple choice question hurts, especially because I had the right answer then changed it on review PM me if you need the stuff. Highly recommend Eknath Kadam's £2.99 iPhone app as well.

Safety is always a big discussion point so I thought some folk might be interested in roadid.com, a website which sells wristbands you can personalise with your own details. I've bought two bands from them, one for running and the other for wearing all day including when I'm on the road. Your details are laser-etched onto the metal plate - I have my name, date of birth, next-of-kin, blood group and the fact that I have no allergies. The site is based in Kentucky, US, and its international delivery service is very efficient. To stress, I have no interest in the site other than as a very satisfied customer who feels just a wee bit safer knowing that if the worst did happen - either while running or riding - there might be something on the wristband that makes the difference. Ps. I checked with the mods before posting this.

Thinking about buying a pair of Rukka Mars gloves, particularly after this morning's commute which deadened my fingertips and thumbs after about three-quarters of an hour on the road. Any thoughts on the effectiveness of Rukka gloves?

Try Hein Gericke, just down the road from Stockwell tube station: 320 Clapham Road. Here it is on Google maps

Hi, has anyone tried putting one of the sat nav apps from the iTunes store on their iPhone and using it during a journey? When I say "using it during a journey", I don't mean putting it on a mount on a bike. I mean just keeping it in a jacket/trouser pocket and taking it out now and again to check the route (while pulled over and stopped). I ask because I wonder if the iPhone is capable of holding the signal without being in a custom-made cradle which has a built-in GPS receiver. The apps I've been looking at are Co-pilot and Navigon. Thanks.