Direct Access In November - Will Weather Make It Harder?

[Khanivore]

The soonest I can get on to a direct access course at my preferred training school is November. However, I'm a little nervous about learning in the dark, cold and rain. Are my fears unfounded or am I right to be worried?

It's a lot of money (for me) and I don't want to mess it all up because of the weather.

[Rigga]

I did mine in November, was fine just a little cold. Make sure you're well wrapped up.
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Current bike: Honda CBR 1100xx

[tbourner]

Just make sure you've got enough gear on, the instructed riding will be the longest stints but they'll pull over for chats and cups of tea and stuff regularly enough, the tests will be easy and over before you know it - you won't even think of the weather.
MOD1 is done on the grippiest piece of tarmac known to man, the bike WILL NOT slip on it.
MOD2 I did mine in pissing rain and was petrified as I'd never been out in wet weather before, didn't even think about it until I got back to the centre and realised I had wet arms!
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Trev, now a biker?
Looking for first big bike.

[DeenBiker]

I'm in the same boat - passed my CBT last week (complete novice) and have my theory booked for Tuesday 8/10 - now just looking to book my Direct Access as soon as I can.

Trouble being that I don't have enough holidays left from work to take 3 or 4 days off to do an intensive training course.

What are people's experiences over doing direct access training over a few weeks rather than in a block of days?

[tbourner]

I did a 5 day course that was (IIRC) a weekend of training with MOD1 on Tuesday then the following weekend another day riding with MOD2 some point in the following week - so only 2 days off work for the tests.
Less pressure on MOD1 as I had time to cancel the MOD2 if I failed it.
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Trev, now a biker?
Looking for first big bike.

[CaNsA]

[Rogerborg]

[dydey90]

Just don't drink many fluids when you do it. Your legs will channel a double blast of cold air directly into your nadgers and cause everything there to turn blue and retract.

[map]

[DeenBiker]

[stevelup]

I did mine in August - Mod 1 and Mod 2 on the same day.

It seriously pissed down all day. Barely got above 20 / 30 mph on my Mod 2 as the visibility felt like it was almost nil.

Character building

[Mark_F]

I did mine last year, late december and early january.

As everyone else has said, make sure you have layers on to stay warm. You will definately need reasonable (not necessarily expensive) gear on. My first 2 piece cost me 90 quid and was fine to start with. Neck warmers are a must too!

Don't panic about the conditions, if the roads are not safe your lessons/tests will be put back to another day. (I rode to the test centre last year on the day my mod 1 was cancelled due to ice, and I did ok).

If you take your time, think things through properly and observe well enough you will have no problems whatsoever.

[daverave999]

[-Matt-]

Theres a little bit to be 'aware' of obviously if roads are caked in water and its dark as night, but i certainly wouldn't pospone until better weather [whenever the hell that comes in this country]. Just make sure you go with enough warm dry gear, if you get wet and cold that will throw your attention more than anything else can.

[David072]

[David072]

Also, it absolutely hammered down both days of my training but the weather was fine for the tests.

Just dress appropriately and you'll be fine.

[Dave_R]

I passed mod 2 mid-winter, -3°C and riding on icy roads I shit you not.

You should be glad you're being tested while water can still fall from the sky as liquid.

[Khanivore]

Thanks very much guys Deposit paid and now looking forward to it!

[DeenBiker]

Booked 2nd-5th November - fingers crossed.

[supZ]

did mine in the snow.

training was delayed an hour as we were salting the carpark.

this was before the mod 1 & 2 stuff..

yes it was cold wet and horrible but perfectly doable
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CBR954RR - Daily toy
CBR600RR - Trackbike

[yaigi]

Best way to do it if you ask me. If you learn in some of the more difficult situations then you're less likely to be freaked out when you get caught in the rain having never ridden in it before. I remember doing a driving lesson in the snow once, my instructor purposefully sent me into a skid to teach me how to get out of it, twas great, I've never feared driving in the snow
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What would you do in life, if you knew you could not fail?
Currently own - Fazer 600, 2000, Red. (But no riding as baby on board atm)

[Imperial_Maniac]

[j.silvs]

Will make you a better rider for it.

You can get your miles done in the winter and then when the summer comes you will be smashing it.

You're learning so you won't know any different