Newbie biker?

[tomtom]

Following an appalling week of service on the trains in and out of London, my thoughts of getting a bike to commute on (and maybe for fun too ) have started to take hold again.

How realistic is the idea? What hoops will I have to jump through?

I hold a full UK driving licence and am 22 (does that mean I can do 'direct access'? I seem to recall a friend doing it that way a few years back).

Basically I have little idea about the way the various licences/access routes work. Teach me, o wise ones!

Thanks.

edit: I should say that I'm asking this from the POV of riding in London rush hour, the sticky at the top has plenty of the basic info.

Edited by tomtom on Wednesday 4th July 14:00

[Steve_T]

Just seen your edit. You can get all the costs from searching this forum on direct access. You need to do a theory test, CBT, some direct access training probably the first day on a 125 and all others on a 500 and then take your test. You can do your training on weekends, so you don't need time off. The theory test can be done anytime, so get it out the way early on. After I passed I bought a bike did a dry run of my route to work on a Sunday and started riding in on a Monday. I'd suggest you don't spend a lot of money on a commuting tool, something like an old Yam Fazer is ideal. That way if it's not for you, you'll not lose much when you sell. Once you've got a bit of experience and you have a feel for what you want from a bike, then maybe get something a bit nicer, or a second bike - the world's your lobster. The only other thing I'd suggest is to get on a course at a local college and learn to spanner your bike. It'll save you lots of money.

Steve.

Edited by Steve_T on Wednesday 4th July 14:27

[Chilli]

Steve_T said:

Just seen your edit. You can get all the costs from searching this forum on direct access. You need to do a theory test, CBT, some direct access training probably the first day on a 125 and all others on a 500 and then take your test. You can do your training on weekends, so you don't need time off. The theory test can be done anytime, so get it out the way early on. After I passed I bought a bike did a dry run of my route to work on a Sunday and started riding in on a Monday. I'd suggest you don't spend a lot of money on a commuting tool, something like an old Yam Fazer is ideal. That way if it's not for you, you'll not lose much when you sell. Once you've got a bit of experience and you have a feel for what you want from a bike, then maybe get something a bit nicer, or a second bike - the world's your lobster. The only other thing I'd suggest is to get on a course at a local college and learn to spanner your bike. It'll save you lots of money.

Steve.

Edited by Steve_T on Wednesday 4th July 14:27

This about sums it up!

Welcome to BB by the way..... I bet you thought your Elise was fast eh??!!

[Rawwr]

Why do I get the feeling I know this Tom and that I followed his Elise the other night?

[tomtom]

You feel right, Martin.

Thanks guys, very useful.

Edited by tomtom on Wednesday 4th July 15:58

[Rawwr]

Hah.

Admit it, you think my bike's sexy and you just want to be like me. That's it, isn't it?

[tomtom]

Got it in one.

[Rawwr]

Damnit. What a time to not be able to post on SELOC

[rsv gone!]

Rawwr said:

Why do I get the feeling I know this Tom and that I followed his Elise the other night?

Followed?

[Rawwr]

Oh, and you might find Absolute Rider Training in Royston a good bet. Both Karen, David and I used them and we all passed first time

http://www.absoluteridertraining.co.uk/

[Rawwr]

rsv gone! said:

Rawwr said:

Why do I get the feeling I know this Tom and that I followed his Elise the other night?

Followed?

Hey, it was dark on an unfamiliar road - I just needed to use his headlights

[tomtom]

Rawwr said:

Oh, and you might find Absolute Rider Training in Royston a good bet. Both Karen, David and I used them and we all passed first time

http://www.absoluteridertraining.co.uk/

Excellent, thanks.

PS I'm keeping the Elise.

Edited by tomtom on Wednesday 4th July 16:32

[Rawwr]

tomtom said:

Rawwr said:

Oh, and you might find Absolute Rider Training in Royston a good bet. Both Karen, David and I used them and we all passed first time

http://www.absoluteridertraining.co.uk/

Excellent, thanks.

PS I'm keeping the Elise.

Edited by tomtom on Wednesday 4th July 16:32

Yeah, that's how it starts. Then you get the sunny days and the choice is quite simple

[Chilli]

Rawwr said:

tomtom said:

Rawwr said:

Oh, and you might find Absolute Rider Training in Royston a good bet. Both Karen, David and I used them and we all passed first time

http://www.absoluteridertraining.co.uk/

Excellent, thanks.

PS I'm keeping the Elise.

Edited by tomtom on Wednesday 4th July 16:32

Yeah, that's how it starts. Then you get the sunny days and the choice is quite simple

Absolutely
This time next year, you'll have 2 bikes (one all out screamer, an something a little more comfy) and be ploughing all your cash into them......and a Mundano for the weekly shop!!!
Good luck though.