Hard fall during training...

billygoat · L Plate Warrior Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Karma :

Over here in Belgium, you have to do 6 hours of training and then you get a temporary bike license (i guess comparable to you guys' CBT) Then within a year, you have to go for the full license.

Yesterday, I had my 2nd 3 hour session and had a bad fall: I was practicing one of the required manouvres. It involves going at 50km/h and avoiding an obstacle. I was doing fine, until I went too fast and had no more time to avoid the obstacle.

I went down really hard. The adrenaline rush made me jump back up and check everything. Then about 3 minutes later, I fainted. It took me about half an hour to get back on my feet. The instructor asked me if I wanted to quit for the day or go on the road. I chose for the latter, but I was scared as hell. I did fine for the entire ride though.

Now I've got a bruised hip, twisted ankle and pretty much everything aches, but no permanent damage. I've got my temporary license now, but do not feel qualified at all to go out riding. And to be honest: I don't even feel like it.

Has anybody ever gone through something like this before? I mean: I expected to fall sooner or later, but this is a bit early in the learning process. Everybody around me is telling me now I should call it quits, but then most of them were against the whole bike thing to begin with.

What do you guys think?

BFG · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Karma :

To quote Micheal Caine in Batman Begins, "Why do we fall master Bruce?", "So we can learn to get back up". Stick with it Thumbs Up

Get some arnica for those bruises.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

You fell foul of yet another idiotic European ruling.

The exercise you came a cropper on has recently been brought in by the EU and is totally ludicrous. Asking a learner rider to ride straight at a stationary object at 50kph then dodge it at the last second is a recipe for disaster.

As one of our local driving examiners said "It's all well and good, but what happens if someone hits it?". The answer being, you fall off at 50kph, (Just over 30mph) which is fast enough to do some serious damage. None of the other exercises on your test would require you to do anything so risky.

The problem is target fixation, you tend to steer towards an object you are looking at. This is something that takes years of road experience to train yourself out of. I can do it most of the time but it still happens if I'm not concentrating as much as I should be.

It is totally rediculous that you were asked to do it in the first place. You literally fell foul of the EU, don't let it bother you.

Before people laugh at the silly Belgians, you should know that everyone in the UK will be required to do the exact same manouver in an 'off road' part of their test in the near future. Something to look forward to. Neutral

____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

ph1l · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Karma :

That maneuver sounds really dodgy but glad theres no serious damage. Do what ever you want, if you want to carry on riding then go for it Thumbs Up

jok · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Karma :

michaelpagesb... · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Karma :

yes I was doing the emstop too hard on the front brake came off broke my coiler bone. (it took 8 week ) so I got my own bike. so I could get better used to the bike a take easy I fail my first test but passed the second time and just the other day a had to do a em stop for real and did it ok bit of wheel lock but good and look up and the was the old bill? OK yes thanks
____________________
cbt 18/10/205 now got a cg125 old but very good runner
pass test 23/2/2006

billygoat · L Plate Warrior Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Karma :

Thank you everybody for your input! Smile

I think I'll lick my wounds for now and get back up as soon as I built up an appetite again.

Yeah, that particular maneuver does seem entirely unsuitable to force upon newbies. But then again: in Belgium you don't have to do U-turns, though.

gemma1675 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Karma :

Hi Billygoat.

At the end of my CBT day the instructor let me have a go on a 500cc bike and left me to it around the airfield they use. I was a bit full of myself and came off trying to do a u-turn. Then a bit later I took a right hand turn too fast and ended up on the grass with the bike swerving everywhere beneath me. Managed to get it back on the road and stop safely but it really scared me, knocked my confidence and I stopped there and then.

I didn't ride again for a month until I started my DAS and I have to say I was really nervous getting back to it. So we just went back to the beginning and started with the basics again. I have been quite happy since.

So maybe a good way to get your nerve back is to book another lesson, even though you don't necessarily have to, because at least then you are being instructed not just out there on your own.

I would also say don't leave it too long though or it will be harder to get back into it IMO.

Good luck
Gemma x
____________________
Suzuki SV650S K5

Nobody puts baby in a corner

biggerjohn · Spanner Monkey Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Karma :

I don’t know the ins and out of the European system but here in the UK the CBT is really nothing more than a how to ride lesson and does very little to actually teach you to ride.

So with that in mind your ready to take the next step witch is to get your own bike and start to ride knowing your new on your local roads. It’s easier than been forced into doing daft manures as you can take it at your own pace and slowly build up both your ability and confidence.

Just take it one step at a time keep observant and you will be fine.

billygoat · L Plate Warrior Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Karma :

Thanks gemma and biggerjohn. You are right: I need to get back on there and build my confidence again. I actually found myself browsing the local classified adds again today and building up an appetite for biking. Can't wait to fully heal and get back on the horse now.

This fall was probably heaven-sent: I know that when I am practicing with my own bike, I will take it much easier than I ever would have if I hadn't fallen during training. Maybe my guardian angel was looking out for me in his own weird way Smile

jonboy22 · Crazy Courier Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Karma :

zaknafien · Joined: 25 Mar 2002 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

keyser soze · Scooby Slapper Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Karma :

BFG · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Karma :

Arnica -

You can get it as a cream or a tablet. If you get a whack and take / use arnica before the bruise starts going black - it doesn't - it just goes away.

unlike the usual herbal bollocks, it does work and isn't that expensive.

Tablets:
https://www.boots.com/shop/product_details.jsp?productid=1001470

Cream:
https://www.boots.com/shop/product_details.jsp?productid=1023461