Passed!!!

[Catcher]

Dear all
Just to let you know I passed my big bike test today - what a fantastic feeling!
I'm very grateful to all the tips/advice etc I read on this site when preparing for the test so I thought I'd put something back and tell it how it was for me in the hope it helps/inspires others...
I'm 'slightly past 50' and although always fancied a bike, I've never done anything about it, but then decided to have a go at the CBT in June - just to see what it was like. I really enjoyed it and after talking to the very helpful instructors, decided to take it further. Passed theory and booked DAS. As I'd had no practice since CBT and no experience of a 500 I did a couple of hours practice last week, this helped to get the feel of the 500. I then started my DAS on Monday and really enjoyed it. Lost a bit of confidence Tuesday after trying some really tight u-turns and struggling - only doing 1 out of 4 or 5 right, but that's where a good instructor comes in - no panic, just more practice on wider ones. (I've just realised - it's a sunny day, should be out looking for a bike!)
This morning I had 1 hour practice, a few U turns (I tried them a bit faster which really helped).

The test was on a route we'd practised and I made sure I got up to the speed limits. At one T junction, when turning right, the examiner pulled up on my left, slightly behind which was a little unnerving (presumably to check traffic) All seemed to be going well until I had to pull out from behind a parked car - on a narrow estate road, uphill with another car almost double-parked across. I wobbled on setting off (I think it's times like that when the relative lack of experience on a bike really shows - something to practise!). My confidence really took a dive though at a T junction when he said turn left - for some reason I put my right indicator on but realised immediately and switched straight to the left. As I left the junction I got a feeling that the indicators didn't work like that - you had to cancel them first before switching to the other side. I was convinced I'd turned left with a right hand signal (I'd cancelled them anyway at this point so couldn't check). My heart sank and it was a real struggle to keep concentration. I was even more convinced I'd done it when he asked me if I could hear his instructions OK
Then came the manoeuvres, the u-turn was on a wide road - no problems, then the emergency stop. He told me to go round the block turning left - I took the opportunity to check if the indicators would switch from one side to the other without cancelling - they did! - so I could stop worrying about the earlier junction. While going round the block I also took the opportunity to practice the emergency stop out of the examiner's sight.
Everything then went OK back to the centre (my instructor warned me about losing concentration on the approach to the centre, due to the relief of it being nearly over - remember lifesavers as you turn into the test centre parking bay!)
In the end I had 2 minors - one for balance (pulling out from behind the parked car) and one for not checking mirrors when changing speed (coming out of a 30 mph zone to National Speed Limit)

Great feeling - should have done it years ago!!!
Catcher

[emzed]

well done mate, big grins all 'round

go on, what you getting?

[jonnywombat]

WOOO HOOO

Made up for ya mate.. and thanks for the account of your test, enjoyed reading it..

So when you up for a ride out

[davethemonkey]

congrats fella, well done

[Manky Cat]

Congrats catcher, well done bud.

[grotbag]

Well done Catcher!!


Hope you don't mind but I've copied your account onto the bike test experience thread

[Rerb]

Nice one catcher

[Scumdog]

Well done fella

[harley66]

top man !! top marks !!!

well done and welcome to the nut-house

[bulldog63]

congrats on passing