Of all the days to pick to do my CBT...

[carlosthejack...]

...it had to be today. Holy fucking hell did it rain. I honestly thought it would have to be cut short it was coming down that much.

It all started well, turned up a few minutes early at DSM's place on Doncaster Rovers Keepmoat Stadium car park and had a chat with the two guys who were there. Top blokes, right as ninepence. Did all the early bits in lovely sunshine, but at one point, as the dark clouds were gathering and matching my increasingly frustrated mood, I thought a few times, I'm never ever going to get the hang of this, there's too much to learn, it's too different to a car, I'm wasting my time. Then as the first spots of rain started to fall about half ten, I started changing gear, which was another complication to throw into the mix, but things started to come together.

Then the heavens opened. It was like the teeth of Hell, I could see nothing and the rickety little 125 I was struggling to control became a greased pig. I was pissed right off. So the worst of the rain passes after about 20 minutes, and I go back out. It's still difficult, but it's now beginning to work a bit, as I was getting more confident with one thing, Les would throw something else in, and as I was thinking about that, what I'd already learned seemed to be automatic already, but I was still thinking that I'd no chance of getting on the road today, I just didn't seem ready.

So some more whizzing round the car park, picking up speed, working the gear changes better, both up and down, confidence growing, Les calls me to a halt. Back into the caravan at the side of the car park he starts doing some of the OSM/PSL and Highway code stuff. Then he starts telling me the route we'll be taking on the public highway.

Now, I have a very stressful job, which sometimes can be terrifying, and I've handled some seriously "interesting" situations fairly calmly and without fear, but at this point, my arsehole was twitching like a good 'un. If you could have epilepsy of the arse, I'd got it.

Off we went, and you know what, once I got onto the road, it all became very very easy, I felt ultra aware, we were in traffic, I didn't feel vulnerable, I got up to speed quick (which wasn't bad considering I think I'd only managed 25mph in the confines of the car park) and the controls seemed to work really well. I'm assuming that due to me having 20+ years car driving experience, that kicked in when we finally got on the road, as I found I didn't really have to think about things much.

We did a huge loop of Doncaster on their road route and it went all too quickly (although I didn't appreciate the rain starting again, I was already soaked) and we were back at the car park and Les was going through every pointer on my ride (how did he do that?) doing my certificate. I grinned like an idiot all the way round, and I'm still grinning now. It was the most fun I've had where I've not been horizontal, ever, despite being piss wet through, freezing cold and my feet going black from my work boots being so wet. I was glad I'd put the waterproof Spada trousers on that I got off eBay last week, my legs were the only bit of me that were dry, I'll have to get the coat that goes with them...

So it's DAS in a couple of months. Now, what can I do some more practice on? I know where there's a garage with a ZX6R sitting doing nothing

[psychofox]

Glad you ended up enjoying yourself. Mine was very similar, started off getting frustrated, wondering if I was really cut out for this biking business. Once you're past that it starts to become second nature. Might be worth getting a 125 in the meantime just to keep your hand in so that you will have developed some skills by the time DAS come around. You will get your money back when you pass your DAS and come to sell it.

Sorry to hear about the weather. I did my CBT over 2 days and it rained on both Nothing as bad as you had by the sound of it though. I got lucky today though and had my first go on a 500cc and managed to squeeze it in the 45 minutes of sunshine between the heavy rain. Took the plunge and booked my DAS Mod 1 for 7th September! You booked your Mod 1 or theory yet?

[Paxovasa]

It is better to do the CBT in the rain. I did my first one in rain and snow.

Congrats. are you doing a intensive course or going the weekly lesson route?
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[carlosthejack...]

Intensive course. I can only hope I can book a week off work, I certainly can't get a day off every week for lessons etc, not a chance. It'll be hard enough to get the week off for the course. It would be great to get it done with so I'm fully fledged and legit by the time we go to Fuerteventura in November...

[N cee thirty]

lolz i did my cbt in the rain,was pretty insane espc with just crappy jeans and a coat on
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[stonesie]

Good stuff mate

If you are a Doncaster local then check out Doncaster motorcycles in Balby, near QuikFit, sounds like you need some waterproofs

[Jodie]

Oh dear Carlos, I work down the road in Ponte and the weather was bad today. I was freezing in work so can't imagine what you were like

Anyway, it's done now, most training centres are open at weekends and hire 125's out overnight etc, ring round and see.

Good luck

[JH]

Well done mate - at least you got the rain covered off whilst under the watchful eye of an instructor

Now you know what to look for in waterproofs
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Honda CG125-W
CBT: 7 Aug 2010

[ws4936]

Congrats man.
Good luck with the DAS.
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.

[Killer Rat]

[Paxovasa]

[carlosthejack...]

DAS booked for October. Now just got to get the week off work. Which may be difficult...

[carlosthejack...]

[psychofox]

[carlosthejack...]

Found out yesterday on the computer at work that our detail department have granted me the leave. It was a bit touch and go for a bit and I'd already got a few shift swaps organised to cover it, but they've given me the time. Which is nice seeing as I've got a fortnight in Fuerteventura booked for not long after too!

That's that then. Here we go!
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Responsibility. It's a difficult reality for some. I'm running the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon on behalf of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. Please sponsor me, even if it's just a quid.
DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[Dazbo666]

Good luck with the DAS etc
....mine was without doubt the most rewarding learning experiences of my adult life..
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF