Didn't complete my CBT - disappointed

[Craphouserat]

fergus said:

Craphouserat said:

....he was willing to take me out on the Sunday after my CBT, just me and him....

romance isn't dead then.... I hope he paid for the cinema?

Adjusting to riding a bike after driving a car for a long time, can be tricky, as your hand/brain/foot coordination has evolved to control a car. I'd recommend trying to physically just spend time on a bike. If you can get hold of a low powered dirt bike and practice in a friendly farmer's field, this will allow you a lot of unpressured time to get used to the controls on a bike.

with respect to the gear lever, just remember the "1 down 5 up" line. If you do accidentally go into neutral, there should be an indicator light on the dash. If you make sure you don't rush things, there is no need for this to induce a panic.
When shifting from 1st to 2nd, make sure you are positive with your foot, this will ensure you don't catch neutral. Also be aware that on some of the bikes you are likely to learn on, you *may* encounter 'false neutrals' between *any* of the gears. If this happens, just shift UP a gear with your foor (no need to use the clutch) and the gear will snick into place. With practice, you can go up and down the box fairly easily w/o using the clutch. Leave this till later though (esp. going down the box, as you may lock the rear wheel!)

Are you jealous fergus ?

[surfsofa]

Got mine booked at the Taplow place for mid-April. Can't wait!

[B(Route)]

I remember your original post about taking up biking where I said that regardless of your previous experience with fast cars/trackdays, bikes are a completely different kettle of fish and car experience is irrelevant.

Some people can pick it up instantly, others can never get to grips with it.

Dont give up though.

[Sossige]

[quote=B(Route)]Dont give up though.

[/quote]

Not going to

[Don Veloci]

Rubin215 said:

Some bike schools charge for a second attendance, some don't. I see Two Wheels in Edinburgh mentioned previously; they don't charge for extra tuition, yet the other popular Edinburgh school, CSM, do (I've worked for both and would still recommend Two Wheels!).

Hi, are you still working part time for twowheels? I'm really bad with names but it seems co-incidental that you're in the fire service and a bike instructor.
You wouldn't be the last guy to instruct me on a pissing wet Saturday (8th March) morning prior to my re-arranged test on the Monday?

[Fats25]

Sossige said:

Fats25 said:

Where abouts are you in the South East?

Borders of Berkshire/Surrey/Hampshire.

Ok - I am in Kent and know a very good place called CSN - I passed with them, so did my Mrs and a number of my mates. Probably a bit too far for you though.....

[PulsatingStar]

Sossige said:

Hello all -

Some of you might have read previous posts of mine where I said that I was considering moving from having a 4 wheeled toy (currently an Elise) to a bike. I've owned and driven other performance cars in my times; couple of Caterhams, Honda NSX and a Honda Accord Type R - so I thought that I'd be OK with a bike; I've had loads of track experience on 4 wheels and a couple of pillions on a ZX6R, so I thought I'd be made.

I didn't complete my CBT yesterday and I'm gutted; although I am still convinced that biking is "for me" and I've emailed the riding school to book another CBT up at a discounted price.

With the CBT, I didn't get out onto the road. I struggled with it all to be honest; the gearing seemed alien and I didn't really get on with the rear braking either. I think they felt that I just wasn't ready and to be honest, four hours before letting you out on the road probably isn't enough - certainly wasn't for me.

I felt that the experience with sports cars and track driving would prove to be helpful - in fact, I reckon driving experience probably made it worse as it just felt so different and I don't think my mind could cope with it all. I probably panicked as well which made it worse!

Ironically, I did best at the U turn - just messed everything else up. One of the things I struggled with (and probably focussed too much on) was the gearing, in particular the first to neutral vs first to second and the second to first vs second to neutral. I couldn't really that work out and "click" with how they were different. Some of the time I thought I'd be in neutral and wasn't....

I'm resolved to do it - but I'd appreciate words of encouragement and advice; I don't want to take more than two attempts for a CBT!

Im in a pretty similar situation, I just took my CBT today. It was far more intimidating than Id really expected, especially when it turned out that despite half the kids in there looking about 10 they seemingly had loads of bike experience where mine amounted to 5 mins on a Honda Melody 10 years ago.

As expected, I struggled a bit with the cluth and gears. Didnt have a first to nutral problem though, on the 125 I was riding you just click it up and it goes straight to 2nd. To get neutral you had to do a really fiddly half click but we were also told not to use it really, unless parking up. I found it hard shifting into 2nd in the carpark because really it was too small to be using 2nd gear, though if id gone back at the end of the day I suspect id have been fine.

Once I got out on the road it was much better. Aside from a shaky first 10 minutes, it gelled together way easier than the carpark. Using the gears seems more natural as theres just so much more room to do it in. This also seemed to sort out the slight braking issue I had as braking seemed more proper too. If anything though it stopped my using the front brake which probably isnt good.

Anyway, first step down for me. Good luck with it next time.

Lee

[Hooli]

PulsatingStar said:

If anything though it stopped my using the front brake which probably isnt good.

most common fault for new riders who already drove is over braking on the back compared to the front. i do it myself even though i've been trying not to for ages. funny thing is i'll have days when i just stop on the front & others when i only use the rear. i dont decide too, seems my body picks one & sticks to it - odd.

[Dave_M]

I had a wierd CBT too. Fantastic sunny morning, paired with a 16 year old who had a new bike waiting for him but had moto cross experience. Me: car driver 3 times his age.

The car park bit was fun, he was fantastic with his control on a 125 (problem coming here), me struggling with the concept of slipping the clutch etc. And we had a MOT tester watching our instructor. Then the snow came and the rain.

Time to go on the road (after a couple of battery changes for the head sets and the sun comes out). Tester says to the lad 'go on the road on that and I'll take your licence'. The school should have given him a 50. Panic for an hour whilst another bike is found. Out on the road I lead, no problems until the U turn. Several attempts and I get through it. Then it's the youngsters turn to lead and he is frightened of the traffic and his confidence goes, so we are very slow. Change the batteries again. Not easy as it's a Sunday and by now its about 5pm. Then, his bike dies. In the middle of a quite tough estate with lots of people laughing. The tester and I try and start the bike with no success. CBT abandoned at about 7pm.

All went well 2nd time round though. Managed to fail the DAS due to foot down on the U turn, but passed 2nd time round with no problem.

Stick at it, it's great fun when you've succeeded!!

[Rubin215]

Dave_M said:

I had a wierd CBT too. Fantastic sunny morning, paired with a 16 year old who had a new bike waiting for him but had moto cross experience.

Time to go on the road (after a couple of battery changes for the head sets and the sun comes out). Tester says to the lad 'go on the road on that and I'll take your licence'. The school should have given him a 50. Panic for an hour whilst another bike is found.

Instructor should have had his card pulled by the assessor for letting the 16 year old on a 125 bike at all, even in the training area; big no no (it's the driving standards agency who regulate training by the way, not the ministry of transport!).
Restriction of license due to age applies to the off road section of training too, otherwise you could have schoolkids learning on Hayabusa's...

[Dave_M]

I hadn't thought of that. He was hot on not letting him go on the road, but I didn't realise it applied to the off road section although it makes complete sense.

I felt so sorry for the young lad as he had a new bike waiting but couldn't use it.

[R4PID]

I did my CBT on Saturday having never ridden a geared bike in my life. To prepare though I trained my mind to think through the process usually before bed. It seemed to work. It does take a while to get used to but visualising it first helped alot.

Still, the instructors at my place were ok but didn't really give much comment on what went well. Their training method was mostly harsh, loaded, indirect questions which they wanted you to get wrong so they could make a point. OK as a teaching method for a while, as I guess you remember it but towards the end of the day I'd had enough and just stared blankly back at them. It didn't make me want to complete my DAS with them.

I got through it all, even the 2 hour ride in the pouring rain (thats what its all about right!?). However, I was still left none the wiser from the instructors as to how well I'd taken to it.

I'm looking at Lightning in Reading, Berkshire for my DAS course. They have an excellent web page and seem a bit more friendly.

Edited by R4PID on Monday 31st March 11:28

[Sossige]

R4PID - who did you do your CBT with then? Were they also in Berks?

[R4PID]

PM sent.

[Sossige]

R4PID said:

PM sent.

Thanks, was going to reply but you don't accept PMs?

[R4PID]

Sossige said:

R4PID said:

PM sent.

Thanks, was going to reply but you don't accept PMs?

strange, try now..

[Sossige]

R4PID said:

strange, try now..

PM sent.