Today is the day! CBT Incoming!

[ChrisBiggsUK]

Thank you everyone!  

It took me a couple of weeks, and a bit of extra one on one training, but I've finally done it!  I honestly didn't think I had passed, or even that that was what we were doing today (I was under the impression we were just driving round to give me more time on the bike, more of a feel for it, and get more used to it before re-doing the cbt at a later date), but it turns out that I did indeed do it!

I still have a problem with gears, I know this.  Shifting down in gears when coming to a stop at lights etc is still the bane of my life.  As is moving off from a stop (though I am somewhat better at this than I was) I know that with time and practice, everything will become second nature and will fall into place.  Though I now have a nice shiny certificate, that doesn't mean I can just hit the road and go hell-for-leather.  No.  That certificate means, to me, that I can now actually start down the long road of learning.  Practicing.  Honing skills.  I intend to jump right in and get as much practice and practical experience as I can.  Only by doing will I actually learn.  Only by acknowledging what my weaknesses are and trying to strengthen them will I improve.  Only by getting myself out of my comfort zone, albeit in my own pace, will I be able to ride confidently.  Though there were some mis-steps along the way, and it took a couple of weeks, I've finally done it!

Not going to be doing any of that tomorrow though.  Tomorrow morning, after rush hour, I'm going to get up to the dealership, get my bike, get it home (in one piece hopefully) and get it all chained up to the wall anchor (which my Wife sighed at when she saw the size of the holes I drilled into the wall) and under its cover.  As much as I'm excited to get out there on the road on my own, and feel the wind in my ever receding hairline, I need to take things slowly.  Today was huge!  Twisty lanes, high speeds, traffic, dual carriageways, roadworks.  Tomorrow, just getting the bike home (and past a roundabout that I know I will struggle with) on my own without any backup will be difficult enough.  Baby steps.

Tonight though... Tonight I have my celebratory coffee and chocolate digestives.

I splurged and bought actual McVities ones.  Thats how you know I'm celebrating!

[bonio]

Well done mate.

[Bungleaio]

Glad to hear you've got there, don't worry about what you can't do very well at the moment, you're learning and no one is perfect from the off. All you need to do is be aware of what you aren't very good at and try and improve.

 

Most of all enjoy the process, and welcome to being one of us.

[Bender]

Well done  

 

Things to bear on mind, don't ride in the gutter in fear of other traffic, stick to your road position, don't be intimidated, it's safer sticking to where you should be.

 

Try not to overthink things like avoiding roundabouts, in fact go to the thing as many times as you can start when it's quiet, rush hours not that bad there is a limit to how quick anything moves  

 

And remember enjoy riding don't get stressed