2B 1.01
I was a bundle of nerves that morning. I attended the Riding Theory Practice 1st at 9.20 and waited for 11.30 for my lesson to begin. When reporting I ensured to keep my bag in the locker provided but wasnt aware I need to show my app to the instructor for my tag allocation. (remember to show app 1st n then keep ur stuff in the locker or get a pouch)
There were 4 of us. 2 guys and 2 girls, the girl with me was smaller in frame than me n she got the smaller bike which I found out you need to book in advance and of course fit the requirements.
Our instructors shared that there were 3 types of bikes. The normal one, the low bearing one and the smallest one for those who are shorter and smaller. The normal bikes were all 2 digits , 10 and above. low bearing 1-9 and only 2 MSX small ones. I got number 34 but didnt think much cos they had already prepared the bikes for us.
We geared up in elbow n knee pads n our helmets n were breifed on the basics and brough to the small circuit to learn the bike parts, functions and how to bring the bike down from the main stand. the trick is to rock the bike back n push to the front, remembering to quickly grab the front brake with ur right hand. Handlebar should be straight to avoid the bike falling. Thank god for the instructors, else the bike would have fallen on me.
So we learnt how to check out bikes. Switching it on at Neutral gear. Checking all the lights, signals and brakes and working. Mounting the bike. And gearing up to gear 1 by clutching in and kicking down the gear pedal.
We then learnt how to open throttle n release the clutch to find the biting point. Now this was slightly tricky for me. My control of the throttle was not very good..so I would throttle too much and then my clutch too. I would release it till biting point n then release somemore. Not supposed to do that cos you will stall at gear 1. Its like a balance, throttle till u hear a nice sound and release the clutch till ur hand makes a c n the bike moves. then just maintain the throttle. I had to work on that and it took a while.
We also learnt about braking. 1st was the hand brake which was on our right hand n then we learnt to use our foot brakes on our right leg. The key to stopping is to clutch in n close throttle at the same time n gradually press down the brakes. Pressing too hard will cause the bike to jerk and you may fall. Another one of my weaknesses. Im to front brake happy which is not very safe cos you're supposed to rely more on the back brake. The front brake is very strong so if u suddenly grab it u may just jerk forward.
Another thing we learnt is to look where we WANT TO GO and WANT TO STOP.
NEVER LOOK DOWN
I learnt that the hard way cos I fell, ALOT. Cos I looked down at my speedometer and looked at the cone and other things I shouldn't be looking at. We had 2 instructors so lucky or more like slow me usually had 1 instructor guiding me(and helping me lift up the bike when I fell) while the rest learnt to gear change.
Eventually I got the hang of it and was riding round the mini circuit smoothly at gear 1 and braking(still a bit rough but I didn't fall).
End of the lesson we all Passed though in honest fact I felt I shouldn't have. Booked my 1.02 worried about how Im gonna gear change and balance at the same time.
Thoughts and feelings
I wasn't confident of myself at all. It was fun moving off n riding but come to braking I could not balance with just my left foot which caused me to fall alot. I found out that its because Im using the normal bike which at my 154cm is too tall for me. So next lesson I should inform that Im using the low bearing bike.
There were 4 of us. 2 guys and 2 girls, the girl with me was smaller in frame than me n she got the smaller bike which I found out you need to book in advance and of course fit the requirements.
Our instructors shared that there were 3 types of bikes. The normal one, the low bearing one and the smallest one for those who are shorter and smaller. The normal bikes were all 2 digits , 10 and above. low bearing 1-9 and only 2 MSX small ones. I got number 34 but didnt think much cos they had already prepared the bikes for us.
We geared up in elbow n knee pads n our helmets n were breifed on the basics and brough to the small circuit to learn the bike parts, functions and how to bring the bike down from the main stand. the trick is to rock the bike back n push to the front, remembering to quickly grab the front brake with ur right hand. Handlebar should be straight to avoid the bike falling. Thank god for the instructors, else the bike would have fallen on me.
So we learnt how to check out bikes. Switching it on at Neutral gear. Checking all the lights, signals and brakes and working. Mounting the bike. And gearing up to gear 1 by clutching in and kicking down the gear pedal.
We then learnt how to open throttle n release the clutch to find the biting point. Now this was slightly tricky for me. My control of the throttle was not very good..so I would throttle too much and then my clutch too. I would release it till biting point n then release somemore. Not supposed to do that cos you will stall at gear 1. Its like a balance, throttle till u hear a nice sound and release the clutch till ur hand makes a c n the bike moves. then just maintain the throttle. I had to work on that and it took a while.
We also learnt about braking. 1st was the hand brake which was on our right hand n then we learnt to use our foot brakes on our right leg. The key to stopping is to clutch in n close throttle at the same time n gradually press down the brakes. Pressing too hard will cause the bike to jerk and you may fall. Another one of my weaknesses. Im to front brake happy which is not very safe cos you're supposed to rely more on the back brake. The front brake is very strong so if u suddenly grab it u may just jerk forward.
Another thing we learnt is to look where we WANT TO GO and WANT TO STOP.
NEVER LOOK DOWN
I learnt that the hard way cos I fell, ALOT. Cos I looked down at my speedometer and looked at the cone and other things I shouldn't be looking at. We had 2 instructors so lucky or more like slow me usually had 1 instructor guiding me(and helping me lift up the bike when I fell) while the rest learnt to gear change.
Eventually I got the hang of it and was riding round the mini circuit smoothly at gear 1 and braking(still a bit rough but I didn't fall).
End of the lesson we all Passed though in honest fact I felt I shouldn't have. Booked my 1.02 worried about how Im gonna gear change and balance at the same time.
Thoughts and feelings
I wasn't confident of myself at all. It was fun moving off n riding but come to braking I could not balance with just my left foot which caused me to fall alot. I found out that its because Im using the normal bike which at my 154cm is too tall for me. So next lesson I should inform that Im using the low bearing bike.
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