steelphoenix
30th November 2010, 21:01
I got my Learner's today, and it's been an awesome day!
Got up early, went off to Te Atatu to meet Phil of RiderSkills for a learner's course and my BHS. I was nervous at first, but Phil was very professional and I gained confidence quickly. It helped that I was the only one on the early course, so it was a one-on-one! He coached me through basic skills, through the test exercises, and then through the test itself. Passed with flying colours! :wings: I was very impressed by Phil's teaching, he explained and demonstrated excellently, I highly recommend!
I then drove into town, wrestled with the local bureaucracy (thanks AA people for being really nice and helpful!), and sat my theory test. Again, passed with flying colours! Glee! :wings: Got the little piece of paper, YAY! :woohoo::done:
I was over the moon, but by this time, was itching to have a real go on a bike.
Got going okay, and tootled forth. All was peachy until I stalled the bike at a right-turn bay, Scorpio having a slightly more touchy throttle than the docile little GN125 that I'd been riding earlier. At which point a boy racer stopped behind me. Scorpio had decided that no, she wanted to stay in second, thank you very much, first was not to her taste. :facepalm: Eventually got her into first, got going, nervous as fuck with boy racer revving behind me, got up to second/third/fourth, puttered along at 50 (OMG 50 is FAST!!!!!11ONE!!11). Boy racer got up my ass, revving like crazy. <_< I took my left hand off, pointed down at the L sign on the back of the bike, and continued at 50. He revved some more, and then screamed past me at a stupid rate of knots. :eek: The rest of the traffic seemed content to follow me. Turned into the petrol station, all okay, got fuel (was congratulated by the attendant), went off towards home (stalled at the exit of the petrol station).
Feeling a bit shaky, but determined, I went down to Unitec and pootled some more for another half-hour or so. Practiced clutch/throttle control, turning, stop/start, gearing up and down. Took some pictures of me and Scorpio (hey, is there an Auckland tag-o-rama?).
Went home, put bike away (wrestled with centre stand, managed on the 5th try). Went splat on the bedroom floor, and was fed chocolate by boyfriend. :) I feel incredibly accomplished, much more confident, and YAY I CAN DO THIS THING! :ride:
All-in-all, a pretty awesome first day as a motorcyclist! :woohoo: :ride:
Got up early, went off to Te Atatu to meet Phil of RiderSkills for a learner's course and my BHS. I was nervous at first, but Phil was very professional and I gained confidence quickly. It helped that I was the only one on the early course, so it was a one-on-one! He coached me through basic skills, through the test exercises, and then through the test itself. Passed with flying colours! :wings: I was very impressed by Phil's teaching, he explained and demonstrated excellently, I highly recommend!
I then drove into town, wrestled with the local bureaucracy (thanks AA people for being really nice and helpful!), and sat my theory test. Again, passed with flying colours! Glee! :wings: Got the little piece of paper, YAY! :woohoo::done:
I was over the moon, but by this time, was itching to have a real go on a bike.
Got going okay, and tootled forth. All was peachy until I stalled the bike at a right-turn bay, Scorpio having a slightly more touchy throttle than the docile little GN125 that I'd been riding earlier. At which point a boy racer stopped behind me. Scorpio had decided that no, she wanted to stay in second, thank you very much, first was not to her taste. :facepalm: Eventually got her into first, got going, nervous as fuck with boy racer revving behind me, got up to second/third/fourth, puttered along at 50 (OMG 50 is FAST!!!!!11ONE!!11). Boy racer got up my ass, revving like crazy. <_< I took my left hand off, pointed down at the L sign on the back of the bike, and continued at 50. He revved some more, and then screamed past me at a stupid rate of knots. :eek: The rest of the traffic seemed content to follow me. Turned into the petrol station, all okay, got fuel (was congratulated by the attendant), went off towards home (stalled at the exit of the petrol station).
Feeling a bit shaky, but determined, I went down to Unitec and pootled some more for another half-hour or so. Practiced clutch/throttle control, turning, stop/start, gearing up and down. Took some pictures of me and Scorpio (hey, is there an Auckland tag-o-rama?).
Went home, put bike away (wrestled with centre stand, managed on the 5th try). Went splat on the bedroom floor, and was fed chocolate by boyfriend. :) I feel incredibly accomplished, much more confident, and YAY I CAN DO THIS THING! :ride:
All-in-all, a pretty awesome first day as a motorcyclist! :woohoo: :ride: