Mod 2 rescheduled for test centre in a place never been to!

[Limiter]

Anyone have any advice? I've taken a last minute reschedule test for this Thursday as I really need the bike for the new year.

I'm from Sheffield and feel like I know Rotherham inside out after my first Mod 2 and all the practice rides I've done that way.

Now the retake is in Wakefield, which I have never been to as a driver or rider, or even on the train.

Does anyone have knowledge of difficulty of road systems etc in comparison to Rotherham, and any tricky spots to look out for, as I'll be riding 'blind' on the day.

Just to clarify i'm not moaning about being in this situation, just slightly concerned I won't have been on any of these roads and roundabouts.

Thanks in advance for your help guys!

[Rogerborg]

I would suggest that you crack open another beer, enjoy yourself, and stop thinking about it.

Any patchy advice that you get is only going to distract you. You'll be constantly trying to figure out if you're approaching the Bad Roundabout X or that Scary Junction Y, rather than focussing on what's actually going on around you.

In a way, doing it in an unfamiliar place is a blessing, since you won't have any expectations about the likely route, or over-confidence on parts that you know.

Relax, enjoy it, you'll be fine.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[kiddakidda]

I love your style Rogerborg! 09.34 on Boxing day morning and the talk is already of cracking open another beer!!

I had a simliar situation, I had my test in Wolverhampton and I'm from Birmingham (probably similar distance as Sheffield to Rotherham)

On the day of my Mod 2 I was taken around an area that I had no prior knowledge of, around busy shopping areas, complex traffic systems/roads and more open rural area. I didn't have a clue where I was...... I still don't know now?!

Did it affect me? No, not one bit. I just enjoyed the ride around with some guy in my ear saying left here, right there, pull over when safe etc. The result was a superb ride with not one fault being recorded. The examiner told me to frame the test sheet as he almost never gave out 'clean sheets'

Now, I hope you take on board the above and go out and get that license. Good Luck!!

[Codemonkey]

+1 to the posters above. I'm from Chesterfield but did both my Mod1 & 2 in Rotherham. Didn't know any of the roads whatsoever apart from how to get from the end of Sheffield parkway to the test centre but I still passed Mod 2 on the first attempt despite never having seen the roads before.

To be honest, it probably helps cos you'll be a bit more cautious and take notice of the signs etc rather than going into autopilot mode on familiar roads.
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Test Passed 10/05/2011 Current bike: XJ6-N

[Englishman]

I took my Mod 2 in St Helens two weeks ago. I'd only ever been there the 6 times during my training, so I felt that I knew the area pretty well in terms of little turn-offs before roundabouts that you don't signal until passed etc.
Come the Mod 2, she heads me off in a direction I'd never been, so none of the roads were familiar to me at all. Passed with 6 minors, so I'd advise you to not worry about it and keep your eyes peeled for every road sign that there is. Watch out for bus lanes and do slightly exagerrated observations every time you move lane, change speed, make a turn onto a new road. Watch your following distance and keep the 2 sec rule even when pulling away from lights in traffic.
Also, when arriving back at the test centre, watch out for young lasses on their car test coming out of the MPTC car park on the wrong side of the road.
You'll be fine.
Good Luck!

[mossi123uk]

i did my lessons arounds rotherham and doncaster and the driving instructor took me somewere near horrogate to do my test, first time there and i got 100% pass
just remember you dont have to listen to the test guy 100% if your in a lane thats left only and he said go right just do the correct stuff to turn left and you will pass.

[Okeydokey]

When I did my CBT (I know the pressure is different!) but the instructor led us down a right old country lane... rather nice, never been there and on my door step, I really enjoyed it, it was one of those junctions that, I always wondered what was down there, passed a really good juicer, been back there a coupla times since
____________________
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruitsalad!
YB100 v. Ford Sierra (1982 I came 2nd place) Honda H100S (Currently 0 - 0) CX500 Cafe project (me 1 - wife 0.... maybe!)

[waffles]

Why not find the test centre on Google streetview and then look at some of the surrounding roads on it? Don't pressure yourself because (as others have already pointed out) doing your test someplace that you are unfamiliar with can be a positive thing.

I failed my car test in a place I knew well but passed in a place that I didn't know at all, same for the bike test. The rules of the road are still going to be the same, just look out for one way roads and signs/road markings and you will be fine!
____________________
Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[johnnyarctic]

i took mine in the rain in a place i had never been before, and passed. don't fret it. turn up, ride well and take your certificate home with you!

[Limiter]

Hi All, sorry it's a while since I'm responding (been indulging in that festive spirit a tad more than anticipated!)

Thanks for all the great advice, I think you're all right, and I will take it all on board- just need to keep remembering to enjoy it etc.

Going to just over exaggerate all my obs, not bash myself up for going the wrong way safely, and really hope that the wind doesn't result in another cancellation! It'd be terribly ironic if so!

Naturally it's 4am, I'm bricking it, think my immune system's taken the beating of a thousand anvils over xmas.... but I can't physically tinker with my bike that's waiting for me anymore, so need to blimmin' pass!

Can't wait!!!!!

Night/morning all!

Spamjar

[Alex_B]

Ahh, today's the big day then?

Good luck with it.
____________________
My Lane Position is always AWESOME!!

[Englishman]

Good Luck Brother. Post how you got on, hopefully with a huge smile on your face!

[Limiter]

I didn't pass. Wakefield was a doddle and didn't struggle one bit with the roads unseen.

The two serious I got were arguable regarding the circumstances I found myself in and had there been a third party I would've challenged them, rode without flaw otherwise.

Absolutely gutted.

Oh well, third time lucky!

[Alex_B]

I understand you're upset matey but can you say what happened?

Maybe when you have calmed down but try to let us know where it went wrong.

Good luck for next time though, get it booked soon as you can.
____________________
My Lane Position is always AWESOME!!

[Limiter]

[Alex_B]

Hmm, so undertaking a Stationary, broken down lorry is a fail? In the circumstances I think your examiner should use a bit of discretion.

Maybe he's thinking that when you come around from the left side the other road users passing the Lorry on the right could have been hindered by you and you were putting yourself in danger?

Sounds like you were hard done by mate, especially as you caused no trouble to other road users.
As for the other one, approaching a roundabout and stopping to check for traffic from a blind-ish bend. Well, I think that's just being careful but he obviously is doing you for not maintaining headway I would guess?

Sounds rough mate but 3rd time lucky and when you do pass all this stupid shit can be forgotten about
____________________
My Lane Position is always AWESOME!!

[Limiter]

Yep Alex_B completely agree with you there, still it's done and dusted and once that decision's made there's no changing it back, so looking forward to the next one instead!

Got all my new bike bits to play with in the meantime, got everything but the license then I'm good to go!

[Codemonkey]

Good luck next time. Don't know what the weather was like in Wakefield but it was pretty grim in Chesterfield, so hope its a better day for it!
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Test Passed 10/05/2011 Current bike: XJ6-N

[Limiter]

[Codemonkey]

[Rogerborg]

The examiner is a cock, probably didn't get any jingle balls over the festive season, and was just swinging his teeny tiny little sack of authority. You'll nail it next time.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike