Mod 2 next week in Bedford. Too far to ride! Options?

[schooleydoo]

I booked my test in August. Its next week. It was the soonest I could get a test within 50 miles of me.

My test is at 09:30 and is a 2 hour ride to the centre. I rode there last weekend to scope out the place and by the time I got there, I was tired, cold and not riding at my best. I did not know the area so had a brief ride around town and went home to warm up!

I know I am not the farthest person in the UK taking tests, I have even heard stories about there only being one centre in Wales! Anyway, what does everyone else do? Man up and ride there? Trailer the bike? Meet your instructor with a bike in the back of a van?

I have been driving for 7 years, so have learnt to ride alone so far. I therefore don't have an instructor telling me how these things are done...

I am seriously tempted to cancel the damn test and rebook for next year when it won't be dark, raining and cold!

I could hire a van and drive the bike up, but all in I am probably looking at about £100.

[pinkyfloyd]

I'm not sure about your test centre but the one I done my test at had a big reception area and coffee machine. I'd get an early night sleep and leave at the arsehole of dawn to get there a good hour or so before your test. That way you can sit in the warm waiting area and drink coffee from the machine to wake you up.

The 2 hour ride to the centre would be good practice for the test. Brushing up on the lifesavers, reading the road, cancelling indicators, etc.
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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.

[Bendy]

Ride there the day before and stay in a B&B?

[c_dug]

[blurredman]

That's a bummer. I do think they really aught to brush up and get some more MPTC built. The DSA stretch me thin they really do.
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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 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 52k.

[N cee thirty]

i rode 45 miles to burton from crewe and toke a good hour,just don't look at how far you have to go and do it !
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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

[schooleydoo]

I'm leaning towards the "man up and ride there" option, but that's probably because its nice and sunny outside!

Just really wanted confirmation that its the done thing, and I won't be riding there alongside vans with bikes in the back, complete with grinning passengers all warm and relaxed

[CptBlack]

Just make sure you wrap up as much as possible. Perhaps spend some money on some better kit if thats the issue. Treat the ride as an extended practice session.

[Imonster]

For a 09.30 test, I'd get myself there the day before if it'll take you two hours to get there - I've done a few assessments at Cardington, which is on the outskirts of Bedford, and attempted to do a morning one once after a two hour ride there - definitely wasn't at my best.

Any other time I've been I stayed at the Saturn Heights Travelodge - not exactly glamorous but clean and comfortable with half secure parking for your bike behind it if you take a chain, and it has a little shop and pub five minutes away.

Booking online, the lowest I ever paid there was 15 quid, and the highest 25.

On the day of your test, the last thing you need is the stress of a two hour, rush hour commute - particularly if the weather decides to be a pig that day so would definitely reccomend staying somewhere in the vicinity of the test centre the night before.

Good luck
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Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

[SweenyT]

You'll hate yourself if you cancel and re-book.

My Mod1 test centre was only about 20miles away and although I'd driven that way I had never ridden it so I made a couple of trips down there beforehand so I knew exactly where I was going and how long it would take and also where the cameras were On the day I was the first test of the morning (8.15) and it was fecking freezing, I got there about 7.00 and practised my manoeuvres nearby for about 40 mins then went and sat in the reception until my test. If you don't decide to B&B it for the night (excellent suggestion btw) then perhaps check what time the test centre doors actually open so you can sit and warm up if you get there really early.

Personally if I had to travel 50 miles to do my test I would B&B it.

Good luck whichever way you decide.
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Current ride - 2005 Suzuki GSX-R600 K4 - 2x 2014 Honda NC750s long term courtesy bikes - 2003 Fazer FZ6 written off as idiot reversed into me - 2009 YBR125 - still have from new

[schooleydoo]

The weather was on my side so I decided to ride up in the end. Took my time, 2 pairs of gloves, socks etc but still absolutely frozen by the time I got there.

Sat in the waiting room for an hour, chatting to an instructor whose pupil was riding the test before mine. Got some tips about that instructor and warmed up!

My turn, went down, did the questions and immediately flooded the bike. Crapped my pants and kept putting more throttle on instead of none in an attempt to start it. He had to come over and do it in the end! Not a good start.

Rode for about 10 minutes fine, then came to a set of temporary lights just after a bend. Saw them too late, they were amber already. Too late to do mirrors, lifesaver, brake so went through and jumped a red...

Realised I had failed at that point, so completely relaxed and started to ride how I thought I should ride, rather than worrying about what he sees me doing.

At the end of the test, missed a turn so had to pull over and do a U turn, quite a narrow road and I only just made it, pulled in and waited for the inevitable.

He then told me how I had ridden absolutely perfectly aside the lights, and would have had a clean sheet if it hadn't happened. I explained that I decided that it was safer to continue rather than brake and risk a skid but he rightly pointed out I would not have had to make that decision if I had been more aware of what's ahead.

Then he told me I had passed

He said it the decision is at his discretion and he can see I am a good, safe rider. If I had made any other mistakes he told me he would have given me a major for it.

[CptBlack]

Nice one mate.
I had a similar experience where I entered a dual carriage way and started accelerating before realising it was still a thirty - but got away with it.

I'm still chuffed at passing mine and that was 3 months ago

[pinkyfloyd]

Great stuff. Now to get on the bigger bike and bring on the
____________________
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.

[SweenyT]

Well done!


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Current ride - 2005 Suzuki GSX-R600 K4 - 2x 2014 Honda NC750s long term courtesy bikes - 2003 Fazer FZ6 written off as idiot reversed into me - 2009 YBR125 - still have from new

[Rogerborg]

Brilliant, well done. I know exactly what you mean - I failed my first Mod2 because I only noticed an unmarked junction when I was half way through it, then relaxed and rode much better afterwards.

[blurredman]

Well done!

Regarding unmarked junctions, most junctions were unmarked in before the 70's
____________________
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 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 52k.

[Vman]

Great story, glad to hear that there are some common sense examiners out there.

[dougie_t]

Congratulations, well done. Its a great feeling isn't it? Just did mine yesterday, cant wait to go out for that first ride on my own. All I need is a bike
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CBT: 23/5/10. Theory: 10/6/10. Mod 1: 14/10/10. Mod 2: 9/11/10. Bike: Not got one yet

[multijoy]

[blurredman]

[tvr321]