h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This will be the basis for a Guide Entry or Rear View, so I'll recod my thoughts and progress here as I go.

Lesson 1 booked for Monday night Feeling a bit nervous, but trusting that a professional and "recommended by friends" body will look after me OK.

On a slight tangent - bought a fabulous leather jacket this week - distressed grey with corset lace-up details at sides and sleeves

First lesson!

I was really nervous. Firstly, I hadn't been feeling well over the weekend, and had eaten almost nothing in 24 hours, so was worried I would feel faint. Also it was raining. And I suppose the biggest fear is falling off.

So, I arrived in plenty of time, got changed in a the loo of the Honda garage next door (only to find that they'd almost locked me in...) and met Adrian, my instructor. he was extremely patient with me, as it took about 5 goes to actually get the machine moving a few feet with me on board. Wasn't tooo wobbly - I knew that it's easier to keep stable at higher speeds, so I wasn't too scared of the throttle. It was really just a case of getting familiar with the play on the clutch.

So, once I'd mastered that bit, out onto the road OK, it's an industrial estate with beggar all traffic at 6 pm, but a road nonethless. Up, stop, turn and down. And again. And again.

Next up - gears. I thought Oh Lordy, It's taken me this long just to be able to start the thing and move off, now I have to ease off on the throttle, pull in the clutch, hook my foot under the gear lever, let out the clutch again....and all in one smooth movement...

Actually I mastered it first time. Even got into 3rd before the night was out.

Final complication of the night - indicators and mirrors. And looking over shoulder.

Phew!

Now I just have to get my clutch action a bit smoother when coming DOWN the gears.

When I got home, found that Dai had bought me a pair of BMW touring leathers, reduced from £399 to £99 - the sweetie.

And this morning, I have a lovely maroon bruise on the back of my left knee

I reckon that's because I was wearing a pair of Dai's trousers last night, my own being off getting the zip replaced, and there was probabaly a bit too much excess material rumfled around my knee.

So do you do this on their motorbike, or do you already have one of your own? What is it So the next meet your coming too in London I expect your'l be ing up on a big harley or BMW

I'm restricted to a 125 for the test, so I just hire one from the bike centre. Don't think I'd EVER be able to handle Dai's big BMW - I'm happy sitting on the back and admiring the view. We have some lovely trips lined up - Wales next weekend, then Scotland, and possibly Spain...London's not so attractive for biking to, I have to say.

You'd have to admit though, there'd be a certain Kudos to arriving at the HooToo meet on a large BMW or such like bike

When are you in Scotland?

Up in the Highlands the weekend of 22-24 June, then in Skye about 12th August.

Yup arriving by bike would be coolio, but seriously limit drinking opportunities...

"Yup arriving by bike would be coolio, but seriously limit drinking opportunities..."

Since when?

"Limit" if we're leaving again by bike without some sleep time in between.

Anyhoo. Can't come to this weekend's meet - my parents are coming to visit the new house

Have fun y'all!

Cool, Im doing my direct access very soon, booked in for theory on the 3rd May and then will be booking the time off for direct access straight away. That is depending on whether I get off this stupid driving without due care charge. Solicitor thinks we have a good chance though, but every magistrate is different...

Excellent Bob - let us know how it goes.

You know there are only 2 types of people in the world - those who can ride motorbikes, and those who wish they could

Direct access ain't applicable in Norn Irn . I've been trying to establish whether as a car driver I have to do the hazard perception test - and the answer is yes, as it's part of the theory test, and there's a separate motorbike theory test, so it's unavoidable.

OK, second lesson. Bit nervous in that it's been over a week since the last one, but I seemed to have remembered most of last week's stuff. Out on the road for revision of gear changing, before staring on left and right turns. Most important thing is looking over the shoulder - before stating the manoevre, after signalling, and again just before doing the actual turn or whatever. This is known as the "lifesaver" glance - and for obvious reasons. It's important not to turn the body too much, and so pull the handles out of the position you had set up. But really, you're only looking for the blind spot which you can't see in the mirror, so you don't need to turn your head a whole 180 degrees.

And then the emergency stop! As my instructor said, it's not really an "emergency" stop so much as a controlled stop. So pull on both brakes, and then pull in the clutch just before coming to a stop. Wasn't too bad.

Next time, Adrian reckons we're going out on the road proper. After doing the dreaded U-turn exercise. Although he says my low-speed balance is OK. Which is nice.

Oh, and the riding school have a copy of the Hazard Perception disc which I can borrow before my theory test . Frustratingly, I can't apply for the theory test without my driving licence, which I sent off like a good girl to get the address changed when we moved house...

Boiling hot in me leathers tonight, plus my head wasn't together, so I refused to go out on the road.

On the plus side - managed the U-turn! First 2 goes were awful, but I got in on the 3rd attempt. And at the end of the lesson, Adrian said "Right, one more U-turn" and I did it. The trick is to look where you're going, i.e. up the road, not at the footpath.

Next time I am honour bound to go on the road proper.

And I have the Hazard Perception disc home to practice on

Managed to borrow the centre's copy of the Hazard Perception DVD and ran through the sample test - of the 10 clips, marked out of 5, I got 4 5s, 4 4s, a 3 and a 2. So not bad. Annoying having to go through the whole disc in order to get a pin code in order to run the test, though.

Got my licence back today from the DVLNI - I'd sent it off to get the address changed over 3 weeks ago. Followed this up with an email enquiry to them last Thursday. They replied along the lines of "In order to process your query can you give us your driver licence number?" Can you spot the flaw there?

Anyhoo, booked my theory test today - 22nd May is the first appointment. And I need that before I can book a test. So it'll be the tail end of June at the earliest. But I'm happy to take the time and do lots of practise.

Did loads of U-turns and right and left turns this evening - still not on the road proper but I'm happy with that.

Gawd my elbow hurts! All that clutch control...

*giggles at the back*

Had my theory and hazard perception on Friday and it was a piece on cake... The multiple choice questions I was not worried about at all as I have passed my car theory and a previous motorbike theory (that ran out cos I didn't get a license in the two years) with 34 and 35 out of 35 but the hazard perception wasn't around then. All I can say is click the mouse if you see ANYTHING!!!

I think my total was 35/35 for the written and 58/75 for the hazard perception, now to get my direct access booked up...

I think you can do a couple of 'mock' ones free on http://www.dsa.gov.uk/ . Have you tried them? If they're anything like as easy as the ones for car drivers you'll be fine.

Congrats Bob, hope I do nearly as well as that!

Let us know about the Direct Access - I'm making this into a Guide Entry so could do with your experience in GB.