CBT - They're all trying to kill me!!
Discussion
Well, I did my CBT today - and passed.
After a week of glorious sunshine, it's been persisting down all day, which resulted in a very damp crotch, and not in the good way.
After the practice on the "fake" road at the training centre, it was out on the real roads.
I thought I was doing about fifty, and looked at my speedo, to see I was actually doing about 23mph!!
And then onto the dual carriageway, where I managed to get up to about 60 - it was possibly the most frightening experience of my life, and I felt extremely vulnerable, and as though every car driver was trying to kill me, with a couple having more than one attempt at it! At least all the other bikers I saw gave me "the nod".
And you can imagine how much mickey taking there was from the instructor when he found out I was ex traffic BiB!
I've not been put off though, and will be back to do my direct access in three or four weeks.
After a week of glorious sunshine, it's been persisting down all day, which resulted in a very damp crotch, and not in the good way.
After the practice on the "fake" road at the training centre, it was out on the real roads.
I thought I was doing about fifty, and looked at my speedo, to see I was actually doing about 23mph!!
And then onto the dual carriageway, where I managed to get up to about 60 - it was possibly the most frightening experience of my life, and I felt extremely vulnerable, and as though every car driver was trying to kill me, with a couple having more than one attempt at it! At least all the other bikers I saw gave me "the nod".
And you can imagine how much mickey taking there was from the instructor when he found out I was ex traffic BiB!
I've not been put off though, and will be back to do my direct access in three or four weeks.
Dual carriageways are pretty scary the first time you try it, especially on unfaired or smaller bikes. Not being used to the wind blast and the "terror tension" in your shoulders makes the whole experience even more wobbly.
I'm sure you'll get used to it. The fekers in cages are trying to kill you though, sorry!
Congrats on getting going on the bike. I gave up for a while because my wife was not keen on the idea. Had to go back in the end though.
I'm sure you'll get used to it. The fekers in cages are trying to kill you though, sorry!
Congrats on getting going on the bike. I gave up for a while because my wife was not keen on the idea. Had to go back in the end though.
when i did my cbt, the bikes felt so fast! they were obviously only 125cc's, it was quite embarassing when i said to my mate (with a zx-9r...) that it felt fast...haha, his reaction was...interesting! 
you do soon get used to it though, when you get the 500s it's much better - do you know which 500s you use?
you do soon get used to it though, when you get the 500s it's much better - do you know which 500s you use?
Your confidence will increase quickly - amusing post, you'll be fine just keep on racking the miles up now...
I broke my personal land speed record today (on my personal track
) 
Before anybody has a go at me, things were very quiet!
Edit to remove the speed
>> Edited by shot2bits on Saturday 13th May 21:09
I broke my personal land speed record today (on my personal track
) Before anybody has a go at me, things were very quiet!
Edit to remove the speed
>> Edited by shot2bits on Saturday 13th May 21:09
Dibble said:
Well, I did my CBT today - and passed.
After a week of glorious sunshine, it's been persisting down all day, which resulted in a very damp crotch, and not in the good way.
After the practice on the "fake" road at the training centre, it was out on the real roads.
I thought I was doing about fifty, and looked at my speedo, to see I was actually doing about 23mph!!
And then onto the dual carriageway, where I managed to get up to about 60 - it was possibly the most frightening experience of my life, and I felt extremely vulnerable, and as though every car driver was trying to kill me, with a couple having more than one attempt at it! At least all the other bikers I saw gave me "the nod".
And you can imagine how much mickey taking there was from the instructor when he found out I was ex traffic BiB!
I've not been put off though, and will be back to do my direct access in three or four weeks.
Sounds about right, it gets better.
Somtimes i even get up to 70 on my bike now!!!!
Dibble said:
Well, I did my CBT today - and passed.
After a week of glorious sunshine, it's been persisting down all day, which resulted in a very damp crotch, and not in the good way.
After the practice on the "fake" road at the training centre, it was out on the real roads.
I thought I was doing about fifty, and looked at my speedo, to see I was actually doing about 23mph!!
And then onto the dual carriageway, where I managed to get up to about 60 - it was possibly the most frightening experience of my life, and I felt extremely vulnerable, and as though every car driver was trying to kill me, with a couple having more than one attempt at it! At least all the other bikers I saw gave me "the nod".
And you can imagine how much mickey taking there was from the instructor when he found out I was ex traffic BiB!
I've not been put off though, and will be back to do my direct access in three or four weeks.
Well done. coincidently mine was on day more suited to ducks.
I road home to tell the wife and promptly dropped it turning into the drive
and what was worse in front of 'she who must be obeyed' she was not keen on me getting a bike after that 
, anyway 16 years later here I am still loving it and still assuming that the 
are out to kill me. Dibble said:
I've not been put off though, and will be back to do my direct access in three or four weeks.
I found the bigger bikes are much less scary to ride than the little 125 job I did my CBT on, the wider tyres give you a lot more condifence that it will go round a corner compared to the bicycle wheels they seem to put on the little bikes!
Excellent stuff dibble!
I remember my first days training on a 125, I was leading and we were following a BSM Corsa, then I heard through the earpiece "look for the overtake after this corner" - it felt soooo good as us biker learners overtook the driving school car
and 
hehe
Just wait til you get your hands on the 500cc!
All the best,
Paul
I remember my first days training on a 125, I was leading and we were following a BSM Corsa, then I heard through the earpiece "look for the overtake after this corner" - it felt soooo good as us biker learners overtook the driving school car
and hehe Just wait til you get your hands on the 500cc!
All the best,
Paul
I remember my CBT on a Honda CG125 across the A1 at Letchworth. As you say, felt like 70 but I was only doing just over 40.
As FN says above, the larger bikes are much nicer to ride - much more stable. Don't waste another moment on the 125s - I did all of my direct access training on the 500 and only used the 125 for the CBT.
As FN says above, the larger bikes are much nicer to ride - much more stable. Don't waste another moment on the 125s - I did all of my direct access training on the 500 and only used the 125 for the CBT.
It's just a confidence thing and better to be apprehensive at thi stage rather than over-confident.
We probably all felt the same when we first started the CBT and, personally, I found the car park session more difficult than the road session - and it is all rather a lot to take in at first plus, as you say, you feel a lot more vulnerable.
You will feel happier and more stable on your DAS and your confidence will build as you ride more.
Being involved with any emergency crew, of any type, probably makes you more aware than most of the implications of an accident and so 'fear' or nervousness is bound to be a concern.
You'll soon relax and enjoy.
Once you have passed your test, your confidence and enjoyment will grow daily.
Try to ride in all conditions and not just in fine weather, cos it will help your riding no end...
We probably all felt the same when we first started the CBT and, personally, I found the car park session more difficult than the road session - and it is all rather a lot to take in at first plus, as you say, you feel a lot more vulnerable.
You will feel happier and more stable on your DAS and your confidence will build as you ride more.
Being involved with any emergency crew, of any type, probably makes you more aware than most of the implications of an accident and so 'fear' or nervousness is bound to be a concern.
You'll soon relax and enjoy.
Once you have passed your test, your confidence and enjoyment will grow daily.
Try to ride in all conditions and not just in fine weather, cos it will help your riding no end...
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