Next few lessons

I booked my CBT on a deal that meant I'd gotten it cheaper for booking 6 hours of lessons in advance. I was committed to learning to ride a bike and almost admired how difficult and frightening it was - I don't believe everyone can possess the mindset to ride a bike, compared to a car, which is relatively easy.

Unfortunately, my next few lessons were caught on the back-end of some experienced riders. For my next 6 hours I was with people doing their MOD2s. This meant I'd really have to step up the pace. I came prepared this time, unlike my CBT. I wore some cowhide leather trousers (hammy-downed from my dad) and some blue swift race boots that were 'massive'. I guess you can't really call that prepared! Although I was still extremely new to everything, I felt I was getting the hang of it quickly. On my second lesson, I was with a mid-20's guy about to take his MOD2 - we both had about the same amount of mistakes which gave me huge confidence boost and in some places, I did the right thing over him.

I was always concerned about the safety of motorcycles and consider myself a sensible person. Although my parents had few quibbles with me learning, probably because my dads already a biker and my mum trusts me as an adult, I took every opportunity to look into articles about counter-steering, high/low-siding, traffic accidents and poor judgement. It only really kicked into me on my 3rd lesson where a fellow trainee turned right at a box junction without seeing the right-hand, straight on lane. A car had to emergency brake and I nearly saw my first accident. I could have easily made the same mistake had I not already got some road experience from driving a car for 2 years. It dawned on me how much concentration would be required.

After my first couple of hours, the first instructor, who had previously stopped me and had stern words with me, came up to me and patted me on the back, commending how far I'd come on, in the last few days. From this point onwards, I suddenly started to enjoy things again. I was under the assumption that I was doing everything possible wrong, but in reality, the instructor was just being harsh to both set the foundations and make me aware that this isn't something to joke around with. I was always understanding of the instructors, but I can imagine some people becoming quite defensive - I suggest you treat every piece of their advice like the bible, after all, when you've passed, theres no one to tell you what you're doing wrong.