GreenDogs learning to Pass Mod2 Journal

[Comrade]

Titled pass mod2 simply because thats what it is, learning to be a master rider ( ooo er ) would take years, this should take a month or so! I have had 4/5 lessons of professional tuition as i believe you need some to understand what standard of riding is expected of you.

Today depsite the wind im planning to get some dual carriageway work done and try different road systems, as getting down to centre is a 40 mile trip, until i get a date for test il go much more local for practicing.

Planned mod 2 is December 2011

Training aids are:

The Official DSA Guide to Riding - The Essential Skills Book & The Official DSA Guide to Learning to Ride

Todays practice will be :

Full use of OSM/PSL

Pulling up between parked cars

Angle starts

I hope to achieve a constant standard use of osmpsl procedure , also i have big issues with nerves riding places i aint been before , so closer to date i will have to go to Darlington to settle my nerves a bit!

Edited December 2, 2011 by Comrade

[Comrade]

Today OSM PSL used in every available situation.

Parking between cars solved my issues with this by getting OSM/PSL done in good time, reducing speed so i can move in freely. This led to the Angled start, looking through car windows and inching bike to increase zone of vision helped greatly

Angled start, seems ok no real problems, slight hesitation before pulling out but i think that can be solved by readying bike earlier i.e just before last lifesaver before moving off

Hill start, easy enough dont have any problems with clutch control thankfully!

Things to do.

Well on my commute to work i don't get much variation, junctions and roundabouts and hazard avoidance. Application of OSM/PSL to be used consistently and be aware when i don't or miss a mirror check.

[Comrade]

Todays training will first be a recap of last lesson , of the manoeuvre's :

Angled start

Hill Start

Parking between cars

These are integral part of my learning as they are something i rarely have to on bike, they seem nothing but i feel it could be a bogey part for me.

As with everything are use of OSM/SPL

Main part of todays lesson will be inner city riding, purpose of this is three fold:

Deal with traffic systems that im not familiar with to make me focus on road signs whilst using OSMPSL

Accustom my self to being surrounded by traffic on both sides

Better use of lane discipline

[Comrade]

Todays training will first be a recap of last lesson , of the manoeuvre's :

Angled start

Hill Start

Parking between cars

These are integral part of my learning as they are something i rarely have to on bike, they seem nothing but i feel it could be a bogey part for me.

As with everything are use of OSM/SPL

Main part of todays lesson will be inner city riding, purpose of this is three fold:

Deal with traffic systems that im not familiar with to make me focus on road signs whilst using OSMPSL

Accustom my self to being surrounded by traffic on both sides

Better use of lane discipline

[Comrade]

Todays practice wasnt so good, i could blame new meds and man flu but i wont!

Angle start - observations are still good, forgot indicator twice, luckly no traffic, but its not a habit i want to develop

Hill start still good,no real issues with clutch and balance.

Parking between cars still easy enough now.

Things that seem to be developing:

Lazy with mirrors, not consistent must remember Lifevsaver check is not the only observation i must do.

Riding around inner city, not to bad really but must spend more time amongst heavy traffic to help me focus and not to be put off by it.

Lane discipline is generally ok, nothing dangerous or faulty that i can discern.

Have notice my lane position can be close to white line when on sloping corners for some reason.

Good points:

Im recognising faults

Bike handling is fine

2 out of 3 manoeuvres are dialled in now

Bad points:

1 manoeuvre still needs perfecting

OSMPSL stills needs reinforcing

focus/ concentration needs to be better

Summary:

Bit disappointing given that ive been riding nearly 10 month and im doing silly minor mistakes, on the whole i dont feel im doing enough mistakes or any serious faults, that would cause me to fail.

As they say Repetition is the mother of perfection ( well correct repetition anyway! )

[Comrade]

Back to Darlington again.

Not sure about how it went, not as well as i wanted it to. Crazy drivers and lots , some not indicating some incorrectly indicating some basically just doing unexpected stuff. I certainly feel i picked up minor faults but nothing serious. also discovered how cold you can become in fog and cold conditions made for a very debilitating riding.

The good stuff is that im getting used to the roads and notice the variable speed restrictions.

So 3 hours in total of travelling on dual carriageways , one way systems, variable speed zones, shit weather and crazy drivers or and one serious ar*ehole bike rider who thought it would be epic fun to keep pulling along side me waving then dropping back and doing it over and over again.

Nothing i felt i done would fail me certainly some minors i feel for hesitation due to drivers not indicating

Things have improved:

Constant use of mirrors

OSM/PSL is used without thinking

Basic safe riding, im not even sure how i can make this degree of riding better without using advanced lane positioning , which im advised against for test

[Comrade]

Few weeks out now.

OSM/PSL is pretty much sorted, timing is just about spot on now. Only things to watch out for is other drivers doing unexpected stuff!

Roads are gona be wet no doubt so 4 second rule for riding behind traffic, low lying sun is a problem even with inner visor.

Its pretty much just riding around watching for Darlingtons hot spots of traffic where people get confused about what they suppose to be doing.

Not sure now what else to think about when riding , im pretty much riding as safely as i can , if it aint good enough for test then il just try again!

[Comrade]

many all ready know about this event that took place but im gona add it:

Dont go to test centre , practice 4 hours in cold, then go for test and be told " because you took mod1 on 500cc i cana take you out on your 125 cc for A2 licence, im very sorry "

To practice for 3 months every week end making 80 mile trip every sunday in the cold then not to be given the chance to do mod2 because of some fine print on back of mod1 pass sheet ( anyone actually read it ? )

£75 quid down drain!

Adapt, overcome and try again!

[Tango]

Bad luck mate........but all is not lost, the practice is still good experience and you can just adapt it to a 500cc to get you through. Hope you get a new test sorted and get through OK....fingers crossed for ya....

[inbed79]

bad luck how come you did your mod one on a 500cc did you not ask your instructor first about your mod2 it does say when you book your mod2 test on the dvla web site you must take your mod 2 on the same size bike

that you passed your mod 1

[Comrade]

Well anyways... all done now, so its possible to get yourself through your test, get the DSA books, follow some other instructors at test centre , dont watch the pupil-watch the instructor as he will ride correctly. Be very honest and critical of your riding , oh yea and dont forget to read instructions when booking tests