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 :-)