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This hardly qualifies for a ‘ride report’ (more of a ‘falloffalot’ (™ Alpslapper) report), but mods, if you think I’m in the wrong forum, please feel free to move me on.
Well, I’ve finally (almost) gone and done it. After a year too full of misadventure to be able to spend time on the challenge I’d set myself at New Year, I finally registered for CBT training today at Charnwood Motorcycle Training. I’d already warned them to expect a 51-year-old female, 5’1” tall, with no previous riding experience. I didn’t warn them about the complete lack of nous…
I turned up as arranged at 8.45am: it was already getting very warm and I was very very nervous. My co-trainees were two teenage ‘scooter boys’, who were away and on road before I’d barely got started. I’d been given the option of scooter training, but was determined to do this thing properly, if only to prove to myself that I could.
My instructor was great, very patient and calm – probably the 2 most important qualities he would need during the day (apart from the ability to pick bikes back up, that is). The first bike I started on (oh yes, it would take more than one
) was a Chinese Sukida which was a nice looking bike (and the instructor spoke highly of them). However, the back brake pedal was too high for me to reach easily, what with my delicate little ladylike tootsies. So I moved on to another Chinese bike, this time a Hartford and the instructor kindly lowered the suspension and “front things” and anything else that he possibly could lower for me. I could still only put one foot flat on the floor at a time, but the brake was in a better position, and the saddle a bit narrower, making it easier to straddle.
I’d expected to struggle with balance, but in general, once I got started that wasn’t too much of a problem, even when turning, which I learnt to do quite quickly. However, it took me quite a while to get the clutch control thing right, and it was all a bit jerky (even by the end of the day). But it wasn’t too long before I was judged to be ready to move on to practising U-turns and then circles of 8. This was where my trouble REALLY started. Astonishingly, I could perform the U turns relatively easily, BUT I was concentrating so hard on them that I couldn’t master the gentle art of ‘bringing the bike to a controlled stop’ on the line afterwards. The real problem was that I kept trying to use the front brake (push-bike style), instead of pulling in the clutch, preparing for the stop with my left leg, and then gently using the back brake. So down I went #1, just as the “scooter boys” were sitting down for a tea break and watching it all unravel. I’d worn proper gear apart from my trousers – it was so hot, and I didn’t expect to get much actual riding done in the first day, so I’d only worn my jeans – so I now have a nicely grazed knee, but I wasn’t going to let on that I was hurt in front of the SBs. So back on I went, heroically in true DC style, and managed to stay upright more-or-less for the time being, apart from one instance when the instructor had to catch the back of the bike to stop it from falling.
Eventually, once I’d learnt the art of controlled stopping (but only after building up a massive “beer debt” to the instructor, as penalty for every time he saw me using the front brake), I moved onto circles of 8, and can honestly say I got on very well with these – took them in my stride, even. Just once, getting over-confident I let the speed drop too much, and over she went again. This time, I managed to avoid either the bike landing on me OR grazing my knees, and no damage to the bike (they’re tough, those Chinese!), so back on again. And the SBs had scootered off onto the road by now, so my dignity was only mildly ruined.
Now it was time for the gears. I think this was the part I’d been most expecting to find difficulty with. Initially, the change from 1st to 2nd and vice versa seemed pretty easy, and it was great to zoom up and down the car park in 2nd with my hand off the clutch. But changing up and down further, at speed, was more problematic – not least because of my inexplicable need to rev the engine whilst doing so, hence turning the ride jerkier than a very jerky thing indeed. To make matters worse, I found it difficult not actually being able to SEE what gear I was in
The other real problem was that the training ground was in a really exposed car park with the sun bearing relentlessly down on us (oh yes, this was in ENGLAND, what else would you expect???). I was getting hotter and hotter, but at least the all-over gear was preventing me from getting burnt, unlike my poor fair-skinned instructor. Not only was he recovering from broken bones in his leg – earned on the race-track – and was still having to run around after me, he was getting redder by the minute, so, after a brief go at practicing emergency stops (for which, top marks were earned instantly!), we both agreed to call it a day around 2.30, so that I can go back refreshed and rested to finish off what I’ve started (including the scary road bit). So BE WARNED good people of Loughborough, and STAY OFF THE ROADS ON TUES AFTERNOON, when I confidently expect to be allowed to get out there!
All in all, I would say it wasn’t half as scary as I was prepared for, but very tiring, especially in the extreme heat. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and can’t wait to get back onto the bike. I’m even thinking of going the whole hog (but not on one), and going for the full qualification and getting my own bike. A big up for Charnwood Training and my instructor in particular. I’d recommend them very highly indeed.
And I guess I wasn’t SUCH a challenge after all: when I asked them about whether they had had many “more mature” ladies I was told about a wonderful 82-year-old woman that they trained, who’d said that she’d always wanted to do it, and “At my age, what have I got to lose?” Now THAT’S what I call style.
More on Tuesday, folks - watch this space!
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