Here's a copy of the CBT post, for those that missed it... Good Luck!
Got to the training centre nice & early, well prepared...
With: Driving Licence, Passport, cash for lunch/snacks, cough sweets & tissues (gotta cold)
Wearing: Light t-shirt, leather bike jacket, jeans, boots (waterproof walking-style, over the ankles), glasses (take them off to put on/take off your safety helmet!)
Sat down with a group of lads also taking CBT. Good banter helps you to relax & you're going to be with these guys all day so it's best to get along. Their experience ranged from none to one guy's 4th CBT - rode a moped to work. Seeing my jacket, a guy thought I was instructor!
The actual instructor introduced himself, checked our licences, eyesight, the documents & bike of one guy using his own machine for the test, and asked about past experience.
Then the day proceeded with:
Talk: Safety equipment, Parts of the bike / function, highway code
Ride: Start & stop; simple loops around cones; changing gear; loops around cones the other way; slow control; u-turn; slalom; figure-8; emergency stop; junctions - turning left / right.
And that was the morning! The instructor demonstrated some of the practical elements first & stopping distances when braking.
The instructor had then to decide who was ready to go out on the road. It was good that he asked everyone about how confident they felt.
The afternoon consisted of two road rides, connected by radio to the instructor. One learner in front of him, one behind.
First hour was simple-ish roads, junctions then it stepped up to major junctions & roundabouts. The rides were punctuated with rest stops(for a smoke) and more talk about highway code stuff & riding safety.
Do it as the instructor says / does = get the certificate at the end of the day!
Finally, the CBT experience will depend entirely on the instructor. Listen, follow, joke when they're joking, do as they do, be honest.
Hope this helps someone! Good luck.
Next stop 4 Direct access days, watch this space lol
Daniel
Posted: 13/10/2007 at 06:47