Permabanned
So got on the bike yesterday -- and is an interesting story really I promised I'd let you bikers know -- I am the bloke who has been scared of this bike for ages but was told to 'man up'.
Firstly, I was intending to go round my local housing estate for hours. But as soon as the key was in I noticed it was virtually out of petrol (with 0.2 miles on the clock) -- so I had to go straight to the garage!
After that -- the ONLY way out of the garage was on to the A3 - I physically could not get back to the safety of the housing estate! The A3 was rammed with traffic flying past me at about 60mph! Less than .2 miles on the clock! Never ridden alone before. Scared out of my noggin. It was a nightmare.
So, eventually I get out on to the road and accelerate faster than I've ever dared before. In between a lorry and a coach. Nice. Get up to 50 as fast as I dare (and discover the bike has 5 gears! woot!)
Then, with about .6 miles on the clock, suddenly, my visor flies off my helmet and somewhere behind me on the main road.
Instantly 50mph wind (and flies) smack into my face. My eyes water up. I've never before been on a bike without an instructor there. First 'brown moment'. I pull over where safe .. wander back -- and it turns out the visor wasn't attached to the helmet correctly. It's scratched.
Shove visor in back bit of bike (sort it out when I get home). Get back up to 50 and think 'I'M BLOODY FREEZING'. I forgot to put my gloves back on -- they're in the back of the bike!!
Think 'sod it' and get home with 2 stalls and plenty of dodgy pull-aways, and freezing hands. Oh, and indicating left for about 50% of the journey as I forgot to turn it off.
And, after all this, I BLOODY LOVE IT!! It is awesome with no instructor. Can't get enough. Off out again in a minute!!!! What was I scared about?
Firstly, I was intending to go round my local housing estate for hours. But as soon as the key was in I noticed it was virtually out of petrol (with 0.2 miles on the clock) -- so I had to go straight to the garage!
After that -- the ONLY way out of the garage was on to the A3 - I physically could not get back to the safety of the housing estate! The A3 was rammed with traffic flying past me at about 60mph! Less than .2 miles on the clock! Never ridden alone before. Scared out of my noggin. It was a nightmare.
So, eventually I get out on to the road and accelerate faster than I've ever dared before. In between a lorry and a coach. Nice. Get up to 50 as fast as I dare (and discover the bike has 5 gears! woot!)
Then, with about .6 miles on the clock, suddenly, my visor flies off my helmet and somewhere behind me on the main road.
Instantly 50mph wind (and flies) smack into my face. My eyes water up. I've never before been on a bike without an instructor there. First 'brown moment'. I pull over where safe .. wander back -- and it turns out the visor wasn't attached to the helmet correctly. It's scratched.
Shove visor in back bit of bike (sort it out when I get home). Get back up to 50 and think 'I'M BLOODY FREEZING'. I forgot to put my gloves back on -- they're in the back of the bike!!
Think 'sod it' and get home with 2 stalls and plenty of dodgy pull-aways, and freezing hands. Oh, and indicating left for about 50% of the journey as I forgot to turn it off.
And, after all this, I BLOODY LOVE IT!! It is awesome with no instructor. Can't get enough. Off out again in a minute!!!! What was I scared about?