Becoming an 'Easy Rider' pt6

So after passing my Final Assessment with the school, which is basically seeing how you're doing riding out and about on the road, you can then put in for the Level 1 & 2 test with the RTA examiner. Now they only do this test on a Tuesday, so if you finished your classes and final assessment the week before, it's a long gab in between with no riding - unless you have a mate with a bike and find some deserted place to practice - so you're pretty much forced to book extra lessons in the meantime - money, money, money!

This morning I rocked up at 7 am, along with the other NINE people taking the test and the examiner. Rather than doing people individually, the examiner had two people on the go at once, which actually put me a bit more at ease as it was more like our normal riding scenario. In the gap between the cones and the 'slow ride' area I dropped a foot DOH! I was so nervous I wash shaking all over the place and just couldn't get my balance. However, much to my surprise the examiner saw how anxious I was and said he'd look the other way this time - phew! The rest of that test was fine and he passed me.

Level 2, however, was just horrible! I know that curving to the left, for me, is far more difficult than to the right - in fact it seems to be that way for the majority of people for some bizarre reason (note to self - must look into that!) - so of course you do the left curve first. That went ok, I was much better on the right, as I knew I would be.

Then the dreaded, dun, dun, duuuuuun, light box! You all line up and one by one ride towards the lights and see if you're going to get a left, a right or an emergency stop. My right swerve was ok, not the best, the first emergency stop was also ok, then disaster! I got thrown a second emergency stop, hammered on the front brake, went into a skid and lost the bike - when they start to fall it's all over, nothing is going to stop it from hitting the deck and you with it. Gutted! That of course is an instant fail.

But it's ok, just means I have to try again next week. The downside being of course, you now have to take an extra eight classes! Two weeks ago, it was an extra five classes - money, money, money!

I did feel sorry for one guy who failed for the fourth time and he was virtually in tears. There's quite a problem with language barriers and if you don't understand the instructions properly it can be a real issue for some.

I'll get there, I will!

Happy riding :-)

Becoming an 'Easy Rider' pt5

So after practicing for Level 2 and completing 20 lessons, you are allowed to take the assessment. It's quite nerve racking and I'd taken quite a hard fall a day earlier doing the emergency stop, but like anything, you just have to get back up and get on with it.

As it turns out, I did pretty well. You are allowed to accumulate 41 penalty points during the exercise - I managed only 16 - which is very good apparently.

So once you've passed the Level 2, you're then allowed to go 'outside' on to the main roads, with actual traffic - a scary thought I have to say. You have to learn two different routes to ride, constantly scanning, doing head checks, remembering to stop where you're supposed to, keep within the speed limits etc. Plus you must do three lane changes on the main roads of the route.

It's a pretty daunting task, especially when you're in the middle of a lane change and an instructor car from the driving school, decides that he's going to undertake you, even though you've made it clear you want to change back to the inside lane - er that doesn't bode well now does it???!!!

It's a bit of a mission when you're out on the road, the instructor is behind you and another student is taking the lead and he decides to go haring off, with the instructor snarled up behind a car - do you follow the other guy, who seems intent on wiping himself out? Or wait? Tough call, I decided to try and catch the other guy and make him stop, but he's so oblivious to what's going on around him there was no chance.

I have to say it was quite a freeing experience, finally getting out on the road and I can see exactly why people like to ride motorbikes.

So, after you've practiced your routes, the instructor is happy with your progress and you've completed your 30 classes, then you have to put in for your final assessment. If you pass that, then you're allowed to schedule your actual test with the RTA and hopefully get your license. Now the catch here is, that they only do the tests on certain days, so you might end up just booking a few extra classes just to practice - it's all about the cash you know.

Fingers crossed for my final assessment this week :-)

Happy riding :-)

Becoming an 'Easy Rider' pt4

So I've now completed 15 lessons in total, which amounts to a mammoth 7.5 hours ride time! Yikes! After the first few lessons of simply getting to know how to ride a bike, you then start practicing for Level 1. This entails riding round a simple course, where you have to show proficiency in using indicators, doing head checks, emergency stops and the 'slow' ride - this happens to be the hardest part lol.

You go for your Level 1 assessment after 10 lessons. It was easy enough and I passed with a 100% mark with no failings or deficiencies. One Level 1 is out the way, then you start training for Level 2, which is basically swerving and curving and testing your reaction times. There is a semi-circle of two which lines, that you must stay within, whilst riding at a good speed - simple enough, just try NOT to go over the white lines. Secondly a bank on lights - yellow, red, yellow, is put in the middle of the test area. By remote it tests your reaction, swerving to the left, right or doing an emergency stop - quite fun actually.

So that's my next goal, to pass the Level 2. Once that is done, then it's all about working towards the road test - actually going out on the road? with the nutters here? I must be insane!

Happy riding :-)

Losing respect and self-respect

I do have to wonder about people and their actions sometimes and their inability to see how it makes them appear to others. It's all very well having an 'I don't care attitude', but when others do care and the fact that there seems to be zero thought for others, consequences or the potential hurt involved for third parties, I do have to question what sort of people act like this?! Plus it's so easy to label other people with tags, but did they ever stop to think what people are starting to label them? Probably not!

It's all very well to throw caution to the wind to get your jollies, but when those actions pose a threat to yourself and others, then sorry it's not acceptable by any means. Sadly, however, some people just won't be told, they'll never learn until it comes back to bite them someday in the future, in which case I would say they don't have a reason to complain or seek sympathy.

Some people seem to have no moral fibre, which leads me to question how much self-respect they have? When you act in such a manner, all you do is attract like minded people and then sit and wonder why no one good ever comes into your life! I know how this works, been there, done that, bought the T-shirt many moons ago.

The saddest part is that some don't realise how much others lose respect for them, don't want to be around them and view their actions as beyond despicable. In which case I guess the only thing to do is create some distance.

It's incredibly sad and selfish and some people really need to stop and take a good, long hard look at themselves.