Help me get of my fat arse!

[DokiDoki]

Hey all!

Be gentle, I'm new

I have never ridden a bike. Not even sat on one, ever! Yet it's something I've always wanted to do. I've read up on all things I should already know (been driving for over 15 years) so really need to just get out there and get on with it

I'm thinking of taking one of them week intensive CBT & DAS courses. Do you guys think this is a good idea (considering my driving experience) or should I just do my CBT and see how I get on?

I live near Watford (Hertfordshire). Can anyone share there experience, good or bad, of riding schools near or around this area?

Thanks everyone

[Clanger]

You may as well give it a shot, I met lots of people on my DAS who had never ridden a bike in their life before, okay they made lots of mistakes, fell off oodles of times (but you get given a bike, it's rarely your own). You get some bloke in your ear telling you what's good and bad etc.

Only you will be able to tell afterwards if it's for you or not.

Although - I personally would prefer to make mistakes on smaller (closer to the ground) cheaper bikes myself. But it's different strokes for different folks.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[wizzzard]

Hello and welcome to BCF always good to have more bikers putting their wheels tentatively on the road for the first time.

With that much driving behind you the only thing you will have to worry about really is bike control. You will realise exactly how much you have been missing observation wise in your car though when you get on a bike ( I did anyway ).

Do your CBT and see how you feel being on a bike ( it's not for everyone ) and if you like it do the DAS
____________________
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
Zeitgeist / Addendum / Moving forward

[supZ]

[Bendy]

Just book the whole thing. It's easy to come away from a CBT not liking bikes, mainly cos you've been plonked on some knackered, wobbly little 125.

On DAS you go back the next day and get to ride a much nicer bike.


As long as you can ride a pushbike, you'll be fine.

[carlperkins00...]

i agree with bendy, when i did my cbt i was on a shoddy DT125, brakes were nackered and i generally hated it!
the instructor was a stroppy tw*t and i felt shit.
it made me feel as though i couldnt ride a bike properly, i still passed though...

i rode a few 125's after that and i could ride perfectly fine, the DT i was on must have had a bent frame or something, i just couldnt ride it properly.

if i had done things differenty I would have gone for the DAS, its more professional and overall probably a much better biking experience.
plus even when you pass, if you dont want a big bike, just get a 125 and practice a bit, DAS will make more options available to you.

hope this helps. Carl

[DokiDoki]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and great advice

Seems there's mixed option on whether I should just go for full CBT & DAS or just a CBT course. I guess that's something I'm going to have to decide myself. Who knows I might hate it. Then again I might love it… I'm hoping it will be the latter

The nearest riding school I could find is "Exceptional Rider Training"... https://ertltd.com anyone used them? Perhaps a better question is what should I ask the school when phoning around? I'm thinking…

What is the pupil to instructor ratio? - I believe the limit is 4 but I could be wrong.
How much time would I spend on a 500cc (if I go for the DAS course)?
What qualifications does the instructor have? - Do CBT instructors need DSA certification?

Thanks for your help guys!

[chris-red]

[Bendy]