Another little step

[Psychybikey]

OK, still only in 2nd gear today - an hour isn't really long enough when you have no bike to practice on so I've booked a 2-hr lesson for next week.

But you can go quite fast in 2nd gear, can't you? There were a couple of others using the practice area today (mighty Mod 2s I think), so because I didn't have the entire car park to myself I had to think a bit about where I was going to turn. This involved slightly tighter turns and leaning the bike over a bit. Two weeks ago I would have panicked and stopped. Today I just went for it - in other words, I'm learning to trust the bike.

I also started to get to grips with the footbrake and was quite good by the end of the lesson. The instructor asked me if I do any sewing - I do, a bit - and said to think of it like the pedal of the sewing machine, in that you don't need to press very hard. I can remember this easily because one day I came home from work and found the sewing machine in the bin. My husband was trying to make himself a bivvy bag and he assumed that the harder you press the pedal, the faster the machine will go - of course all that happens is than everything gets into a terrible tangle. You have to be gentle. But my husband couldn't cope with the idea that he was doing it wrong and clearly the machine must be at fault . So that picture in my mind helped me not to stamp on the brake.

Oh, yes, and I did get the sewing machine out of the bin and it works just fine!

[eastanglianbiker]

well done another step in the right direction

[fq-craigus]

Well done keep up the work. Sounds like your determined. Is there anywhere you can take a bike for some practice? Maybe grab yourself a lil 125 if there is and you can brush up on the bits you struggle with

[Psychybikey]

That would be ideal, fq-craigus, sadly it involves saving up...very frustrating but there we are. I'm grabbing a bit of overtime here and there, so car breakdowns and 21-yr-old-apprentice-waged son permitting, I may have enough in a couple of months' time

[spykeeboi]

Well done scaredylady keep it up it will pay off n 2 hrs are much better than one training wise as just as your getting into it u are finishing

Gaz

[Phoenix14325]

Hiya!

I'm a new lady rider too, (a mature student lol). Really got my fingers crossed for you. I understand the nerves-but persevere- a good instructor makes all the difference so glad you've found one that fits. I've had Kalms tablets, chamomile tea and bach rescue remedy before a lesson - I think they helped! See my posts on the newbie section.

Hopefully next year, we might be able to meet up for a ride. I'm not that far away.

X

[Psychybikey]

Yes, indeed, we can be biker bitch buddies!