DAS. Day 1. Day 2. Day 3. Day 4. No day 5. Update. Photo.

[carlosthejack...]

Firstly, I'm knackered! Riding from 0900 until 1400 kinda took it out of me. Well, it wasn't quite the whole 5 hours, but I'll give you a blow by blow.

Janitorials first; "toilets are behind that bush over there, if there's a fire, you're ok as we're in a car park, just walk away from the flames, health & safety - try not to kill yourself". Usual stuff. Alan, the younger of the dad & lad team that are https://www.dsmmotorcycletraining.com/ is a bit of a joker, and him and Les are both consummate professionals at putting you at your ease, as they did for my CBT and my 2 hour lesson I had a few weeks ago. I'm then mugged for my credit card details, but I knew that was coming.

There was me and another bloke, who said he already had a 600cc bike at home (he didn't mention what), so I thought he'd be quite experienced, but it turned out he was a novice too, and needed a bit more looking after than me.

We started off with the usual deal about the controls, on and off the stand, pushing, starting etc. Then we were off, round the car park in 1st gear to start with, then some slow control, then up and down through the gears, stopping and starting, right and left hand starts, right and left hand bends, lifesavers etc, and it was all coming together really nicely, all the stuff I'd already done and I was really enjoying it.

Then I blew my confidence. I couldn't get a u-turn right for love nor money. I'd always thought that I was pretty good at the slow control, and been fine at the u-turn before, but I couldn't get it today, it was too tight and I just could not nail it. I got so wound up I stopped the bike and got off. Instructor Alan came over and asked me what was up (he was dealing with the other guy) and I told him. He just looked at me and smiled. I knew exactly what that meant, and I said to him "I should forget it, it's done eh?". He smiled again and said that I'd be doing it so often over the next couple of days prior to Mod 1 on Thursday I'd wonder what the problem was. I felt better.

After a bit more whizzing about in opposite directions (and yes, as someone said, even a "commuter bike" like a CB500 has a good amount of poke compared to a CBT 125), it was time for the other learner to go do his theory test. Now, the best advice I could give anyone doing their DAS, is make sure your theory test is out of the way well in advance of the course, it makes it a damn sight more relaxing knowing you don't have that hanging over you on the first day. If my new biking mate fails the theory test (and I'm not sure he's done much preparation tbh), that's his course and £500 blown. Not much pressure then?

Now came the fun part.

When Instructor Al had taken the other guy off to the theory test centre, Instructor Les says "you can mess about to your hearts content now for an hour if you like, do whatever you want". Ok I thinks, what shall I do? Before I can think of anything in particular, Les says, "I tell you what, how about a confidence builder?". Ok I says, what you got in mind? So he explains what he's wanting me to do, and how folk on their tests/CBT's etc have a tendency to totter round bends and roundabouts and don't flick the bike like they could if they weren't lacking confidence, and how he wanted me to do a large figure of 8, using the car park markings, but with the crossover being flat, like a chicane, and build speed up so I'm leaning and flicking the bike through the bends.

Righty-ho I thinks, this should be fun. Off I goes, using all the stuff I've learned, smooth throttle, clutch control, building up speed, starting to get a bit of lean on through the corners, flicking the bike through the chicane, progressively faster. I started to work out about engine braking and where the braking points of this little circuit were and how to feather the clutch effectively and ease the power on out of each bend...and then it happened...






NIRVANA! UNDERSTANDING! ENLIGHTENMENT!

This was it! This was why I was doing this! It all made sense!!! All of a sudden, the bike became part of me, an extension, a new appendage. And it just flowed. While I was nowhere near getting my knee down, I was leaning sufficiently through the chicane at the increasing speed to scrape the edge of my boots on the floor a couple of times (which made me jump the first time), so I knew I was getting it over quite a bit. The corners at either end were even more interesting, as I was hitting them at speed right up to turning, using the engine braking again, leaning in hard, feathering the clutch and winding the throttle on to exit smoothly and powerfully! I don't think I touched a brake for 20 minutes! Talk about blinding flash of light. I couldn't contain my grin, I expect they could see it for miles!

After a bit, having done it both ways round, I gave the u-turn another go. Still a bit flakey, maybe a touch better. 10 minutes of that and I was back to pretending to be Lorenzo, throwing the bike even harder through the chicanes and really trying to push it through the corners. I can't have got to more than 30 or 35mph but I felt like I was ready for next years MotoGP!

Another 20 minutes of crotch-rocketing, I gave the u-turn another go. All the practice with the clutch and increased confidence, and I nailed it every time for a dozen times. Joy unbounded, deep, deep joy. The thing that I thought would fail me was now a memory and I gave it another 10 minutes loving the speed, the lean, the power and the whole hilarious, ridiculous level of fun I was having. Eventually Les called me in, parked me up. Talk about the old guy knowing what he was talking about with regard to confidence, he'd certainly built mine up a thousand-fold. He said he'd stopped me 'cos I was having way too much fun! Told me to bugger off and he'd see me first thing in the morning!

As I said, I'm knackered now, but still buzzing uncontrollably. I can remember catching a glimpse of my reflection in the speedo glass, and thinking that it was the coolest I've ever looked, and this was the coolest thing I've ever done. Now I'm thinking why I didn't do it years ago? Even my old man, who'd put the fear of satan into me years ago when I was desperate to have a bike, now agrees that it's really cool that I'm doing this. Bless him!

Love it, love it, love it. I'm going to have a cheeky beer or three tonight, 'cos I'm worried that if I don't I won't be able to sleep in anticipation of doing it all again tomorrow, but on the roads! I do know that when I got in the car to come home (which isn't short on acceleration), I was shouting at it to get a move on, it really really wasn't the same feeling as I got on the bike.

I love this feeling, I hope I can hang onto it!
____________________
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

[nokiakeys]

Nice one mate.

I've got mine next week. I feel good about it, but even more now after reading your essay

Good luck for the rest of the week

[Carvel]

Well done sir Keep it up.
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2002 Aprilia RSV1000R, Cbr600Fs, Mk1 B12, Vfr400 NC30...

Matt B: I can deal with crushed nuts to beat Ollie.

[Bloke]

Nice one. It took me a few days for it to click like that but it's a bloody awesome feeling.

My only query is errr 14:00?? How much did you pay for half a day? Mine was 9-5 with an hour for lunch for £135 a day. Seems a bit like the guys just wanted to finish early.
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2008 VFR800 VTEC

[lihp]

I paid about £500 and was 3 days of 9-2 or 9-3 ish.

[pinkyfloyd]

Glad you had fun the first day. A little disapointed you didnt get out onto the roads but you've done well to realise that the sooner you make the bike an extension of yourself the easier the riding becomes.

Hopefully tomorrow will be road riding. You'll like that. Just stay relaxed and enjoy the days out.


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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Carl_G]

Cheers for this mate, gives me more confidence for starting my DAS training!

I've got a twenty minute assessment today to see where I'm at, can't wait to be on a bike again even if only for that short a time!

Good luck with the rest of your training.
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CBT 11/09/10! Theory Passed 12/10/10! Mod 1 Passed 08/03/11! Mod 2 passed 13/04/11!
1993 Yamaha XV 535 (SMIDSYed) 2008 Suzuki GSF 650 (Hire Bike) 1993 Yamaha XV 535 (Resurrected!) 2004 Triumph Speedmaster 790cc (Payout from SMIDSY!)

[carlosthejack...]

Day 2. I'm even more knackered now. Talk about brainscramble and being put through the wringer. I was down, up, down again and well up come the end of the session early afternoon after 3 hours on the road.

First off was the good news. My oppo from yesterday had passed his theory, despite getting a fat zero for his double hazard clip on the hazard perception. That was a lot of points to miss out on, but he managed it.

There was another geezer there today, he was doing his DAS over several weeks, so he's dipping in as and when he can.

So we starts with a bit of chat about left and right turns, major to minor, minor to major, "SPS" procedure and then a bit of car park practice, back in the classroom for roundabout positioning and we were off. I took the lead first off, from the Keepmoat car park, around Lakeside and into Intake where the driving test centre is, which up until 18 months ago did bikes, but alas only does cars now. I've got to go to bandit country for my Mod 1&2.

First thing was my critique for the couple or three miles I'd just done. Was a real kick in the teeth at the time to be told all the lifesavers I'd missed, so I listened and tried to learn. Then we did a figure of eight of about three miles with me following. It was then my oppo's turn for the verbal roasting from Les for his mistakes. Then I did the same circuit. Perfectly. I was chuffed to death. The debrief lasted about 3 seconds and consisted of a thumbs up and a smile!

Next bit was a hill start, which was a doddle. Then we went and did an old Doncaster test circuit, with me following again. By this time my tail was up and I was really enjoying it, getting well up to speed along the country back roads.

Then we stopped again and swapped leads, with me off in front again. And did I screw up. Poor roundabout positioning, poor positioning on a long sweeping bend, poor roundabout lane discipline, "judgement calls", not getting up to speed. This was all told me afterwards, but at the time I thought I was doing ok. Then I went through an amber at speed. I was told later that I had no choice and I couldn't have stopped, but I lost the instructor and the other guy. I did the big roundabout at Donny racecourse really well IMHO, and had to pull in at a road end to wait for them to catch up.

This is where I really went wrong. As I approached the next lights, I caught the throttle with the clutch in and really roared the engine. I'd no idea what I'd done and it really threw me. The next two rights prior to stopping I missed my lifesavers. Arse arse arse. Les said some examiners would've passed me despite all the other mistakes I'd made, but as soon as I'd missed two consecutive right turn lifesavers, he thought an examiner would've failed me. One, ok. Two? No chance.

So I was seriously narked again. I really enjoyed the entire run but I'd blown it. My ego was on the floor and my confidence was battered. And it showed. I wanted to give up, which isn't like me at all. Until Les said that I should forget it, I'm going to pass, it's all a learning curve and he's seen way worse riders, and he emphasised WAY worse, pass their tests.

So, ego massaged, I tagged along behind back to base, and I enjoyed it again, even when I got left at a roundabout turning left down onto a NSL dual carriageway. Les had said he wanted us up to road speed, so I didn't want to disappoint. I was stood for about a minute, so they'd disappeared and I couldn't be seen anyways, so I opened it up, hit 70mph and even managed to flash past a slow car (yes, I did the lifesavers out and back in again) before catching up the other two past the next roundabout, almost back at base.

It was my oppos time to get a roasting for all the mistakes he'd made this time, but I felt really good about things again. Time will tell I guess!

One observation for newbies. Speed seems to become comfortable. From 20mph in the car park seeming quick on the bike, to 30 on the roads and up through the other limits, it seems to become normal very rapidly, and at 70mph it felt fine. Dancin'!

I have come to realise very quickly that some car drivers really are selfish, stupid and ignorant when it comes to bikes. Morons. On the other hand, I got a nod and two waves from other bikers. That really made my day!

I'm still concerned I'm going to blow it Friday. I'm confident on Mod 1, but strange roads...I dunno. I need to stop worrying about it...
____________________
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

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

You'll be a biker by the weekend
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Jodie]

Well done Carlos, gave me nervous flashbacks reading that

It's very brave of you having Mod 1 on Thurs and Mod 2 on Friday.

Good luck

[Paxovasa]

Everyone makes mistakes Just learn from them.

Keep up the good work

It does become second nature
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[blurredman]

Maybe you could look at a few maps, some google earth and maybe even drive around the town you are going to do mod2 on. think I might d that myself when the time comes..
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 52k.

[Bloke]

Be aware that even though you're on a 500 and can absolutely rinse the average family saloon off the lights, because of the L plates they will try and pass you at stupid places and do retarded things to you like cut you up.

Having lost the L plates i've noticed not nearly as many drivers act like cocks towards you.

Don't panic over the critique, of course you'll make mistakes, you're learning and good teachers won't hold back from telling you so. I regularly got sworn at over the headset "what the fuck did you do that for!?", "well that's it your dead, yet another life saver missed", and my favourite "you stupid twat. Pull over *distortion on the headset* NOW".

A beasting is to be expected while you screw up and learn from your mistakes.
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2008 VFR800 VTEC

[pinkyfloyd]

Well done on day 2. So you had a few hiccups, big deal. So you would have failed your test...... You werent on the test!

It cant be stressed enough how important lifesavers are when riding a bike. Your mission for tomorrow is to talk yourself through everything in your head as you ride the 125 to the test centre...... "ok lights.... mirrors, slow down. Green light, Left shoulder, right shoulder mirrors and pull away. Roundabout, Mirrors and slow down. Shoulder check and position / indicate. Leaving roundabout, shoulder check indicate and check right as you join the road. Over taking a bike, right shoulder check and pull out, Left shoulder check and pull back in."

Go through the motions and either say it out loud or think it. Same on the way home. Spend as long as you can riding around on the 125 running through the motions.

Get them shoulder checks nailed. Soon they will become second nature. Now days I dont even have to think about it and find myself checking my shoulders the way I would on a test.

You will be failed for missing checks. The instructor was wrong to tell you that missing one might be ok. Get into the thinking that missing one might be the difference between a pass and a fail.

Good luck for tomorrow and I look forward to reading the day 3 report.


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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Paxovasa]

[Scythe]

[carlosthejack...]

[carlosthejack...]

In fact, thanks all for all your comments and advice, it's made me feel a whole lot better knowing it's not just me!
____________________
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

[pinkyfloyd]

[carlosthejack...]

[Pez]

Very best of luck mate, I've got Mod2 on Thursday next week - hopefully you'll be a proper biker by then
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Theory Passed: 04/09/10
Module 1 Passed: 05/10/10

[carlosthejack...]

This will be a quick one.

Firstly, I'll explain the fatigue. My missus was on nights all last week. I hate it, and stay up to silly o'clock drinking far too much alcohol. Which isn't good when I'm up for work at 6am. She finished Monday morning just before I started the DAS. Monday night she's having a well deserved glass of vino after a week of abstinence and I'm joining her. 2am bedtime. Awake at 4am with nerves. Last night the same, managed until about 6am with the stresses of yesterdays riding coming back to haunt me. Hopefully tonight I can get to bed early, alcohol free and sleep well for the Mod 1 tomorrow.

Which I'm confident about. Mid morning was a different story, as I got really frustrated about the u-turn. Try as I might I couldn't do it, but I kept going back. First few bits, the park, manual manoeuvre, slalom, figure of 8 and swerve (can't believe there's such a fuss about that) were dead easy, but the u-turn drove me beyond nuts. I actually got off the bike I was so annoyed.

While Les was dealing with my oppo, I walked the u-turn about 2 dozen times. Yes, walked it. Made a hell of a difference. Once we'd done the slow ride and emergency stop, we got carte blanche to keep practicing as much as we liked. Repeated everything over and over and nailed the u-turn about 2 dozen more times, but this time on the bike. From frustration to revelation in less time than it takes to make a baked potato.

I'm still going in early to have half hours practice at 8.30am before we ride to the test centre over the border in bandit country.

Just need some sleep.
____________________
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

[MinhDinh]

Good luck and don't be put down by mistakes now, many times I have done wrong and seen wrong on practice rides, but on the day, these people pass and so did I!
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Hit the G spot.

[jdm]

All the best for tomorrow, in all fairness i wasn't great on practise ground for my mod 1 always cockin something up, proper nervous on ride from cov to leicester, my fellow trainee nearly took me out on way there, and he then binned bike 4 (yes 4 times) practising before examiner turned up, i was shitt!n bricks but funnily enough once in and gates shut an almost serene calm descended and it all made sense and clicked, sure you'll nail it!! Best wishes
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Good women make me happy, bad one's even happier!
Current Bike = '97 YZF600R Thundercat

[Pez]

Good luck for tomorrow mate, I hated the U-Turn on MOD1 but got through it with no major issues (only the rain)

You'll be fine!
____________________
Theory Passed: 04/09/10
Module 1 Passed: 05/10/10