Progress was made!

[ChrisBiggsUK]

For those of you who have been following my journey from complete novice to attempted biker, today was a huge (for me) milestone.

I had a Doctors appointment.  In the past, I'd just walk to the Doctors and back.  Today, however, I threw caution to the wind and decided no!  Not today, pavement!  Today, I go by road!  And so I did!

I went out on the bike for a lunchtime Doctors appointment, and then on to the pharmacy, with all the associated Friday lunchtime traffic and the extra pedestrians around the school and college, and did so with no errors!  Shifting up, shifting down, stopping and moving off.  Everything went perfectly.  While I know I'm still a long way off being as awesome a rider as many of you fine people are, I'm getting there.  Slowly but surely, I'm getting there!

We are about a Month on from my CBT now and as those of you who have followed will know, things have been slow going for me.  43 years a pedestrian, and never having driven a car, to riding a proper bike, has been one hell of a learning experience.  

To those of you who may be struggling with your CBT, or who may be nervous about your first steps afterward, please trust me when I say that you should take things easy, all in your own time, acknowledge your weaknesses and work on them and don't get overconfident about your strengths.  Every day is a new experience.  Every mistake is a learning opportunity.  Every ride you can push yourself just a little further and a little more out of your comfort zone.  If I can do it, you can too!  Mindset is key.  

I'm really starting to get the hang of this.  

Oh, and if, by chance, you person reading this was one of the two bikers who waved at me while I was on my way to the Doctors, I apologise for not waving back.  I'm new.  I'm learning.  I'll wave back doubly as hard as soon as I am able but, for now, just accept this forum post as my wave back.  *WAVE*.

I'm now positively itching to get back out on the bike again tomorrow.  

I've caught the bug.

[husoi]

Well done you.

 

Maybe a bit late, there is no known cure for bike bug bite

Unless you get married to a biker hater

[Davidtav]

Don’t worry about not waving. Nobody will be offended. 

[Tiggie]

Try giving a quick side nod. Easier and quicker   I still do it in the car much to my wife's amusement 

 

Though you'll find in bike season around the busy spots you won't bother anyway as there is so many bikers it gets annoying 

[Bender]

Small steps and enjoying it is the way to go, as Tig said don't worry about wave, nod is safer when your still learning  

[Simon Davey]

This is great Chris, keep it up.