Like many others I have long harboured a significant curiosity for two wheeled transport, I've been cycling in London off and on since about 2004, and so it wasn't too much of a stretch to consider motorcycles. It's been a long time coming but on Friday (7 September 2012) I passed my bike test; a staging post on a journey which started back in 2008.
Back in 2008, I was working at Tethys Petroleum and decided on a whim to sign up for my CBT which I duly undertook with an outfit based out of Culham Industrial Estate. I booked a few days before, and pleading urgent meetings left my grandparents early to head off to Culham, to spend the day on a motorbike. Suffice to say I caught the bug, unfortunately work kept me much to busy to take any further action.
Fast forward a few years and a promised invite to a motorcycle stag do again galvanised me into action and I booked my 2nd CBT, the previous having sadly lapsed, and spent another day on bikes. This time in and around West Byfleet & New Haw. AND IT WAS GREAT!!!
Next step was step was the DAS. In true BULL BY THE HORNS style, against the better judgement of my riding instructors at Griggsy's Rider Training, I took a weeks leave from the office to spend a sunny week in late summer MESSING ABOUT ON BIKES. The hope was that I'd breeze through and buy a bike the week after, that's not quite how it's gone but more on that later.
The Riding
Other more eloquent people have written extensively on the joys of two wheels I'll leave that to them for now, suffice to say that apart from the Ulnar Fasciitis I had a great time, and yes a week on a bike is better than work! :)
The Test
Now at risk of boring you I'll just explain that the test is in two parts; MOD1 & MOD2. The first is a test of low(ish) speed riding and control skills, and what's more it's great fun. The latter is the test out on the open road when you have to hold it together, avoid daft mistakes and ride safely for between 20 and 40 minutes.
After a couple of days training; in the Car Park of the British Legion club in New Haw, down a narrow dead end lane somewhere toward Cobham,
After a couple of days training; in the Car Park of the British Legion club in New Haw, down a narrow dead end lane somewhere toward Cobham,
 |
| MOD 1 |
MOD 1
So back to the hazard avoidance; well this is all James Bond...ride at a cone as fast as you dare (30 miles/hour) and then bear down on footpeg and handlebar to Ames you dashing past 5 feet to either side. If you're small I recommend you learn fre, inflate your tires first... ;) It made it a great deal easier, after I'd already passed the test, by the skin of my teeth of course.
So I managed that bit of the test, despite the unexpected change of test venue; next up MOD 2 after 2 days of intensive practice out on the open roads around Aldershot and the Surrey heathlands.
MOD 2
The day dawned bright, and I was raring to go. So much in fact that I managed, in my haste, to leave behind license and MOD 1 certificate. I am incredibly fortunate to have wonderful house mates, one of whom jumped on a train and came to West Byfleet (from Fulham no less) to deliver my license and paperwork directly into my, now sweaty, palms.
CBT - March 2012
DAS - September 2012
Bike: What to buy?
No comments:
Post a Comment