Racing Highs, U-turns Lows And a Name For The Bike - Sept 2013

Things have been going quite well on my bike lately. I have had no great adventures since my fabulous trip to Hawes with Ren. The weather and not enough free time has put pay to that at the moment. But I have been pottering about here and there and putting some more valuable mileage on my tyres.
 
I was however still not so hot on getting away at traffic lights and junctions. So Ren took me for what has now become our Sunday night practice session. He challenged me to a race, in which case I would need a racing start. This was to hopefully stop me being so over gentle with the clutch and throttle, which was often leading me to stall at lights etc.
He is a clever teacher is Ren. Because as I was for once not over thinking how much throttle versus how much clutch but instead was focusing on the imaginary winning post ahead I well ... errr zoomed off. Much to the surprise of both the bf and myself.
It was a great lesson. I finally got that I could rev the throttle without me losing control. I could control the momentum of the bike with the clutch, thus enabling me to finally apply for real the term I heard a lot on my CBT...positive throttle. So no more weak starts. Ok I still mess up a bit but my starting off has improved enormously thanks to Ren and that lesson.

The next Sunday lesson I practised U-turns and nailed one after another. The following Tuesday I also tackled the joys of rush hour traffic, complete with wind and rain. My confidence began to creep up a notch. I was doing ok I was. The bike was running in nicely and it could now go up to 50mph. This I did just fine. I also learned how in windy weather you can get an almighty blast of air hit you when a truck passes you in the opposite direction. Woohh steady...what a giggle. So there I was out and about and happily experiencing and learning lots of new little things. Then I came to an awkward junction. Basically a u-turn is required at a set of traffic lights to get to the chosen destination of Preston Honda. I did this junction just fine a couple of weeks ago on my return journey home from Hawes. I was a little nervous because it is so tight but I really, really did not expect to fail to make the u-turn. But fail I did and I found myself under my bike in full view of all the passing rush hour traffic. I was not hurt, just a dented pride. But I did have a problem. I could not pick up the bike. Fortunately Ren was with me and he came to the rescue and picked up the bike.
I was shaken but with a firm telling to get back on the bike from the bf I did just that. Quite right too. Best thing to do is always get back straight on if you are able.

It can be hard to not be hard on yourself. Especially when you feel you are making good progress only to find yourself on the floor again. But at times like this I always find a good quote helps me out like the one below.

Mistakes are okay; they are our stepping stones of progress. If we are not failing from time to time, we are not trying hard enough and we are not learning.
Glen Rambharack

I also learned some valuable new things with my fall
1) I can not pick up my bike and I really need to learn how.
2) Never put your Hammerite away but keep it handy because chances are you are going to need to again to touch up your poor bikes scrapes.
3) A helmet is an absolute must for all learner riders. Not only is it a legal requirement, but it also means all those people in the cars passing you and your bike on the floor don't get to see your red embarrassed face !!

I went down this time on the opposite side to which I did on my CBT. So my poor little bike how now been scratched christened on both sides. Talking of christening my bike has now got a name and it is officially an HE.  Oh the name ... it is ZEN. Two reasons for that. Firstly the bf recommend the book Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M Pirsig to me many years ago. I loved that book and we spent many a happy hour discussing it in depth. Secondly the number plate on my bike contain the letters Z E N. So it just fell into place that Zen should become my bikes name.  

So back to my fall. The important thing of course was that I managed to escape this tumble with nothing more serious than a few more minor scratches to my bike. As long as I do not let it knock my new building confidence too hard that then this is just another valuable learning experience. So the last couple of weeks have seen some highs and some lows on my biking learning adventure, it sure is a bumpy ride. But I am still enjoying it and for now that will keep me on the saddle...well hopefully hee hee!!

Just as well I took this photo of Zen the other week before I added even more scrapes. Oh well the scratches give him character...right ???

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