The Honda Owners Club

Hurrah, it was lovely when I drew back the curtains this morning.. so.. I rode to work.

Good ride in, challenge today is U-turns.

Plus, that bit of road.. in fact.. that's first on my list. Going to get it over with. Then off to one of the villages to find a quiet road to practice u-turns.

The clock's ticking on all this now and I can feel the butterflies already in my belly ... any good tips for keeping calm? ?

Shellshine wrote:: ... any good tips for keeping calm? ?

...Well Jennie!!...8 Pints of Lager usually does it for me!! he he

hi Jennie

Marshal Art trianing Jennie (smiling)

They teach you how to focus on things,

I hope you do well when the time comes anyway,

Bev

Chris'TR' wrote:

Shellshine wrote:: ... any good tips for keeping calm? ?

...Well Jennie!!...8 Pints of Lager usually does it for me!! he he

ah yes... I remember! Might have to think of something less extreme though.. plus.. I can only manage a maximum of 3!!

Well... I did it today... I rode 'that' bit of road ... I left work (in the flippin pouring rain!) and went out of my way and rode back along the stretch of the A45 that has had me worrying for months since I gave it an up close and personal inspection ... and guess what! Despite the wind and rain and nasty lorries covering me with spray... I rode that bend just fine and dandy.. and to be honest.. with a grin on me face! I can't believe I was so nervous of it.. so.. that's ticked off my list now... then I came back to practice U turns... not quite there yet, but damn close! I gave up when my left foot was sodden and my hands beginning to feel rather numb! (What's going on with this weather!).

Home again and then back out coz the sun put in an appearance... should've guessed it was too good to be true - got soaked again on way home! Still... that's a few more miles clocked up and a mountain climbed and another step in the right direction!

Trying to dry my boots out now... I reckon it might be an airing cupboard job though! Never had wet feet before - I guess that being pillion and having feet so high up makes all the difference?

New boots to be added to wish list for tail end at BMF or NEC then!

Oh,. and when I got home I found that some dirty trolloping bird had dropped a lump on me left leg as I was riding too Still... someone once told me that was supposed to be lucky... lucky it didn't get me visor I guess!

stars wrote:hi Jennie

Marshal Art trianing Jennie (smiling)

They teach you how to focus on things,

I hope you do well when the time comes anyway,

Bev

Hiya Bev... ahhh... funny you should mention that... a certain gentleman (who thought he was Simon Cowell on Saturday night) is qualified in such matters!

Thanks though Bev... I don't do martial arts... but I could do (now that IS a scary thought!)

Thanks for the good wishes too... I hope so too! (See you tonight?)

hi jennie

yes i'm going to risk coming out tonight,

blooming weather is a bit of a pain though, will use my sat nav in my car so i don't get lost,, new roads for me.

Jennie , i took marshal arts up some years ago,,,,,,,,, you never seem to forget things that you are taught, mind blowing,,,,,, in more ways than some.

Bev

Excellent! See you at the pub!

Sooooo glad you made it to the pub last night Bev and delighted you felt welcomed too! You definitely made an impression Look forward to seeing you again and maybe getting out on the bikes for a tootle!

Well.... what a great evening! Last night at the club was ace but tonight - I went out for an early evening bimble with Di on her kwaka 400, Dibble on his VFR and Alan and Nicola on their Pan. It was a real mixture of roads! We did A roads, B roads, Richard roads... (anyone who has been on a run led by Richard H from 3 Shires will know what I mean!!) we had to deal with roundabouts, blind junctions, cyclists, pheasants, a hare!!!, a horse-drawn trap, stupid 4 by 4 drivers, and a very very very skittish horse that actually reared up as soon as Dibble went past (I was following him).

The roads were full of surprises too... mud... gravel... grassy hillocks for the middle!, wide sweeping bends, tight blind ones... you name it we rode it! We were out only from 7pm - 8.30pm but seemed to ride miles and miles! Plenty of grin factor but boy am I tired!!

I really enjoyed it for the most part, the only bit I didn't really like was the hare (how flippin unpredictable are they!!!) and riding into the setting sunlight and being blinded by it.. there was one point when I literally could see nothing in front of me... it wasn't good! I think perhaps I may have to wear my reactive glasses next time... not even sure they would have helped much though as it was so low...

The horse was interesting.. I'm used to slowing down for them 'round here, but I've never actually seen one rear up before... a tad unnerving as I was first in it's firing line so I pulled over to the side of the road and stopped and waited whilst the rider tried to gain control... it took a while and after I had gone past (on the opposite side of the road at a snails pace)... Dibble and I waited up the road a fair bit for the others. We found out afterwards that the horse didn't settle at all and despite her best efforts she couldn't get it to walk past the stationary (and silent) bikes! So they had to start up and crawl past very slowly and hope it wouldn't kick up again!

Not good... but an experience!!

So... lots more miles and some good advice about keeping up..(I got her up to almost 60 - full throttle, down hill... wind behind me..) and also tips on bends and riding line... and lots of positive encouragement. I even led part of the way!! (well, the last 2 miles home!) That WAS weird! I suddenly thought 'Oooh er... they are all following me!!' . I wonder if that counts as leading a run? hee hee hee...

Got a 2 hour lesson tomorrow before packing up and heading off to the Birmingham camping weekend (in the car)... I suppose I ought to start thinking about what I should pack!!!! Eeek!!

Another week gone! Eek! Test is getting scarily close now too! (Every time I think of it I have a bit of a 'moment' and my tummy tightens and other anatomical parts react! )

The lesson was brilliant and disasterous all in one!

The ride over to the test centre was fantastic... no problems., road conditions great, no horses, kamikaze pheasants etc... and was almost there when I stalled it right in the middle of a roundabout! I was mortified (never happened before) and all because I was in 2nd... got it restarted and got to the centre and off the bike for a chat with instructor. He said that up to that point the ride was pretty faultless (blimey!!) and told me what I should do if I ever pull away in 2nd again... and also gave me a pep talk about when you make mistakes remember the lesson but move on or it will affect your riding. (So true! I was so cross about the roundabout thing that I c*cked up the next 2 junctions!)

So, we went out on a mock test.... well.. good job it wasn't my actual test... I would've failed miserably! U -turn is the big problem! I keep getting almost round then look at the kerb and what do you know - bang, right into it! Was telling the guys at the rally at the weekend and one said I ought to be called Skud (like the missile...)!! NOT FUNNY DAVE!!! (well.. it was a bit... I s'pose...)

Anyway... I must've tried about 10 times to do a u-turn and in the end I just sat and cried (I know, pathetic, over-emotional wally!!) Instructor told me off (nicely - in a kind of parental 'don't be despondent you've done really well today' kind of thing) as it was, he felt, the only thing between me and my bike license.. I hope he's right... so... having had a weekend of fun and frivolity with the rally-goers at Napton ... I picked the bike up again on Monday night and it has chucked it down ever since so I've not been out. BUT... today is better and as soon as I can this afternoon I'm going to go out for a ride, find a suitable spot, and practice til I get this thing cracked! I did it before (on the ER) and I can flaming well do it again!! (and I WILL do it!!)

I love riding and will be gutted if I mess up on my test because of a poxy u-turn (I mean, if I fail for lots of other stuff then fair do's y'know, but to lose out because of one manouevre will be soul destroying!!)

I have even started looking at potential bikes... is this tempting fate? I dunno... but there was a rather nice looking VFR for sale at a local garage... and also an old 250 twin (although it looks very heavy)... and am thinking about restrictor kits... etc etc...

I don't have any more lessons now until the day before my test and then I shall have 4 hours... then, on the day of the test I have an hour before the test... then that's it! The culmination of all this hard work, expense, tears ... (I know.. it's only a bike test... but it really isn't... not to me... )

Still thinking about how to keep calm when I know how nervous I'll be!!

Fortunately for me, I never had to do a "U" turn in my test, Because I'm not very good at them either. It's quite difficult doing them on my 400 because the steering lock is very restrictive and the gearing very tall, 1st gear can take you beyond 60MPH. The Monkey Bike isn't quite as bad but the very short wheelbase can make it interesting and lots of balance and clutch control is required. I normally cheat with "U" turns on the Monkey though and just drop the clutch a little, pick up the front end and pivot the bike around on the back wheel either that or just pick it up and turn it around.

I'm sure you'll get there in the end, just keep practicing, not long to go now!

Regards

Chimpy

Jennie, dont allow the U turn to become an issue! Just practice and you will get there. Its all about clutch and throttle and balance. If you can ride the machine normally, then this is just a small deviation from what you are doing all the time!! (Er if you know what I mean!?)

....Practice makes perfect so good luck....

Hi Jennie
Keep focused on all the other stuff you can do
not onthe u turn ( bad energy )
you can do it girl keep up the good work and it will all pay of in
the end . You will be up to see us b4 long with that certificate it hand.

GOOD LUCK FOR WHEN IT IS
were going away soon so i think we may mis the day
You can text me when youve passed though.
go jennie go jennie go jennie
jaqs
x

Thanks guys (and gal!)

I've just been out for a ride and a practise and I did it!! Not once, not even twice! I did 8 sucessful u turns!! Yippeee!!!!

Mind you, I did do loads of the buggers but hey - if I go out every day and practise then the rate should rise and I won't be afraid of 'em any more!

I'm a very happy bunny!!

Out and about again on the bike today - just for the hell of it really... tried the u-turns and managed a couple before totally messing up the rest so stopped before it peeved me too much!

Not going to have chance to do any more now 'til Tuesday at the very earliest!! ARGH!!!

Am getting very excited (and nervous) about my test!!

Well, here we go... Tuesday already and after an exhausting (but fantastically enjoyable) weekend 'Living the dream'... it's back to reality and trying to sort out getting back on the bike a few more times before 'T-day'!!

As my test is looming ever closer I do believe there is a direct correlation between intestinal functioning and closeness of the test!!

Suffice it to say, I think my leathers will be looser and I won't be having any food or drink for 12 hours prior!!

I am trying to quell the nerves and replace them with optimistic excitement!

Thanks for all the good luck wishes - it's been reassuring to hear of all those who didn't crack it the first time too

I'm going to give it my best shot on the day and hopefully that will be good enough! We shall see....!!