CBT passed but zero confidence to go on the road

[Guest]

Hi everyone!

I'm new to this forum and to the world of bikes

So basically I passed my CBT on a geared bike in August '14.

Got myself a 125, insured it, and been practising in a private car park every day. Now I'm terrified of going on the road alone I can control the bike well and I havent stalled it so far but I do need to improve on slow riding as I get nervous around bends and turns. Is this normal?

I have contacted almost every riding school in my city and none of them are offering one to one private tuition where I can use my own bike. And some are even telling me to do the CBT again even though I passed it and have a certificate?!!!

Every time I practice I decide that today is the day I'm going on the road but I end up feeling so scared for some reason.

I have ran out of options and I'm so desperate to get over this fear.

How was it the first time you went on the road?

Any help/suggestions would be so much appreciated.

Thanks!

[Tango]

Welcome to TMBF.....pop over to the newbies section and introduce yourself to the folks......

If you put your location in your profile there may be some members here that live local that wouldn't mind going out on the road with you to give you more confidence.....

[Tango]

We're not too far from Bedfordshire.....so it's a possibility that we could come over some time and head out on the road with you.....

[Bonniebird]

In fact, Tango and I aren't far from you in Cambridgeshire. We regularly do a route into Kimbolton, higham ferrars, Sharnbrook, Sandy etc..... if that's any good to you

[Guest]

Oh that would be amazing! But I've literally not stepped out on the road (except for my CBT).

Will that be an issue?

[Bonniebird]

Not at all. Not sure when though. We are out this coming Sunday up at Donnington. I maybe able to do Saturday but Tango can't. We may have some time on 28th. We have a bikey photoshoot near Milton Keynes in the afternoon so will be out and about.

PM us and we'll try and sort something

[runningman]

I'm in Bedfordshire. Where about are you?

Have you tried 1on1Training (Martyn) in Barton le Clay for 1 on 1 tuition?

[Phoenix14325]

Hiya!

I'm a new lady rider and I know EXACTLY how you feel. I did my cbt, which was very stressful, then booked a full days tuition after that. Then got my bike.

I started off doing tiny circuits round where I live, lots of iffy starts and stops, stalls, wrong gears etc. in between circuits it would be a cigarette, chamomile tea and a Kalms tablet! I also chose the time of day when I knew there'd be little traffic, like 7.30 on a Sunday morning.

At the end of each day I'd work out what wasn't going right and think thru what I needed to work on.

The circuits have got longer, I sometimes talk myself thru what I need to do but also lots of deep breaths and telling myself that I do know enough to get me from a to b safely, even if a to b is only a couple of miles.

I've had to go out on my own as I'm single but it's a mid life crisis that wouldn't go away, and I wanted to do it so much!

All the best. X

[Glorian]

One tip. Make sure you're not looking at the ground that will make you wobbly and unstable. Clearly look ahead of where you want to go and the bike should turn easily. Gently apply the rear brake if it feels like it's going to fast and keep the revs at a good range.

Might sound silly but i had issue with keeping the revs up as the noise startled me a little hah!

[Phoenix14325]

Ps, I found a very good, amusing but helpful article, on a site h2g2, controlling a motorbike at low speed. (Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy) also try youtube, lots of instructional uploads)

[al_stu]

Ps, I found a very good, amusing but helpful article, on a site h2g2, controlling a motorbike at low speed. (Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy) also try youtube, lots of instructional uploads)

 

Be careful on YouTube, there's some really awful advice as well as good...I suspect a certain forum member who took advice online then crashed will jump on shortly to say the same

[Phoenix14325]

I know what you mean re youtube, but I've picked up a few useful tips on slow riding, cbt, mod1/2, hazard perception and road awareness. Leaving the advanced cornering for the more experienced!

[Throttled]

Hiya!

I'm a new lady rider and I know EXACTLY how you feel. I did my cbt, which was very stressful, then booked a full days tuition after that. Then got my bike.

I started off doing tiny circuits round where I live, lots of iffy starts and stops, stalls, wrong gears etc. in between circuits it would be a cigarette, chamomile tea and a Kalms tablet! I also chose the time of day when I knew there'd be little traffic, like 7.30 on a Sunday morning.

At the end of each day I'd work out what wasn't going right and think thru what I needed to work on.

The circuits have got longer, I sometimes talk myself thru what I need to do but also lots of deep breaths and telling myself that I do know enough to get me from a to b safely, even if a to b is only a couple of miles.

I've had to go out on my own as I'm single but it's a mid life crisis that wouldn't go away, and I wanted to do it so much!

All the best. X

 

When I was a new man rider, I did exactly the same as you (apart from no cigarettes and lots of coffee)