a good day for boating

[p6rob]

Today was a good day for boating. Well, this afternoon really. I moved from Lapworth to Knowle.

 

Bit frustrating having a novice crew in front, but, it gave time to think about my own efficiency going through Lapworth locks and where there's room for improvement.

Also, my 10 year old son is now confident enough, and I'm trusting his ability enough for him to steer into locks now.

 

Also, on Friday, at age 44, I took and passed the bike cbt test. Mid life crisis can be such fun!

Happy days.

 

Rob

[GoodGurl]

well done you its been a lovely day for it.

[Ange]

Today was a good day for boating. Well, this afternoon really. I moved from Lapworth to Knowle.

Bit frustrating having a novice crew in front, but, it gave time to think about my own efficiency going through Lapworth locks and where there's room for improvement.

Also, my 10 year old son is now confident enough, and I'm trusting his ability enough for him to steer into locks now.

Also, on Friday, at age 44, I took and passed the bike cbt test. Mid life crisis can be such fun!

Happy days.

Rob

Sounds like a good day to me.

 

What's the bike CBT test? I know Google would tell me but I'm feeling laid back and lazy

[GreyLady]

Sounds like a good day to me.

What's the bike CBT test? I know Google would tell me but I'm feeling laid back and lazy

I think it's something to do with a motorcycle/scooter test Ange.

[nicknorman]

CBT Compulsory Basic Training, getting used to moving off, gear change, steering, stopping, looking indicating etc all done away from the public road (ie at a specialist training site like a big carpark with "roads" coned out). At the end if you pass your CBT you are allowed out onto the roads with L plates, unaccompanied of course.

 

It's a good idea as before that (eg in my day!) you used to put the L plates on and off you went into the traffic with no training and no clue.

[John V]

It's a good idea as before that (eg in my day!) you used to put the L plates on and off you went into the traffic with no training and no clue.

 

Yup. ! if solo less than 250cc but bigger if it had a sidecar.

 

Life was good..........providing you survived

[p6rob]

CBT Compulsory Basic Training, getting used to moving off, gear change, steering, stopping, looking indicating etc all done away from the public road (ie at a specialist training site like a big carpark with "roads" coned out). At the end if you pass your CBT you are allowed out onto the roads with L plates, unaccompanied of course.

 

The CBT includes a minimum 2 hours supervised on road training too, or at least, it did where I did the training.

It's a good idea as before that (eg in my day!) you used to put the L plates on and off you went into the traffic with no training and no clue.

 

This was the trouble. Way back in 1987. when I was 16, I bought a three year old Suzuki GS125, the speedo and rev counter didn't work, it had no tax, mot or insurance. I borrowed my brothers crash hat, took it for a test ride to see how fast it would go. Got to a right hand 90deg bend realised I was going too fast and didn't know how to corner, then promptly crashed into a brick wall.

It's taken 'til now to believe I'm just about sensible enough and just about dumb enough to give biking another go.

[nicknorman]

This was the trouble. Way back in 1987. when I was 16, I bought a three year old Suzuki GS125, the speedo and rev counter didn't work, it had no tax, mot or insurance. I borrowed my brothers crash hat, took it for a test ride to see how fast it would go. Got to a right hand 90deg bend realised I was going too fast and didn't know how to corner, then promptly crashed into a brick wall.

It's taken 'til now to believe I'm just about sensible enough and just about dumb enough to give biking another go.

You'll be a better rider having known what it is like to crash!

 

I persuade my parents to buy me a moped when I was 16 (1972) as mum had otherwise to do a 14 mile round trip twice a day to the nearest bus-stop. Went to the shop, picked out a shiny one and off I went. Helmets were not compulsory at that time (came in shortly afterward IIRC) and just jeans and a T-shirt, none of your modem poofy protective gear and yellow arm bands! Anyway it went fairly well but I do remember my first falling off in way back from school, long corner laced with tractor mud. No-one told me mud was slippery in a bike! I learnt from that of course!

 

But anyway, as I lifelong biker can I mention that if you drive your bike with the same degree of defensiveness as you do your car, you will die soon. You must expect other motorists to pull out in front of you, turn right across your path and other outrageous things. You have to drive in such a way as to eliminate those possible conflicts eg by adjusting your speed so the collision won't happen when (not if) they do a "sorry mate, didn't see you".

 

Oh and the other thing is that you get treated completely differently depending on the size of bike. If you get a teensy puddle jumper, you will be pushed into the weeds and crushed. If you have a big noisy F-off bike you will get much more respect. It may have an outrageous amount of power but as a mature rider you will know that you don't have to use it.

Edited March 14, 2016 by nicknorman

[Rickent]

In my yoof i had a suzuki ap50 for two years then a gp100 for a while , both were great and i loved them. My dad bought me a gsx 250 and my test was booked. Two weeks before my test i sold the bike , bought a mk1 escort and opted for 4 wheels. My biggest regret is that i never took my bike test before selling the bike as i would love another now.

As has been said you have to ride a motorbike with the mentality that every other road user is trying to kill you, anticipate the unexpected and you will live to ride another day.

[Paringa]

Every day is a good day for boating...just some are better than others.

[metanoia]

Every day is a good day for boating...just some are better than others.

 

And today (Monday) has been another lovely one ....

 

....hope those that could, did - and those that couldn't enjoyed some sunshine.

[mrsmelly]

In my yoof i had a suzuki ap50 for two years then a gp100 for a while , both were great and i loved them. My dad bought me a gsx 250 and my test was booked. Two weeks before my test i sold the bike , bought a mk1 escort and opted for 4 wheels. My biggest regret is that i never took my bike test before selling the bike as i would love another now.

As has been said you have to ride a motorbike with the mentality that every other road user is trying to kill you, anticipate the unexpected and you will live to ride another day.

 

No time like the present then. I never bothered taking my bike test when a child either so one new years eve not long ago I am quessing I was about 52 at the time I and a couple of mates decided to do it just for fun so we booked an intesive 4/5 day jobby and did the lot and I became BORN AGAIN as it where

Its never too late as the saying goes, although my knees now preclude me from the fun.

 

Tim

[peterboat]

 

Yup. ! if solo less than 250cc but bigger if it had a sidecar.

 

Life was good..........providing you survived

Agree John I was riding bikes at 12 ish always getting brought back by Bobby Brown. Mother couldnt understand the fuss as we were riding on waste ground

[Laurie Booth]

I hope to be going to Hockley Heath today. Hope it keeps fine.

[Ange]

I think it's something to do with a motorcycle/scooter test Ange.

CBT Compulsory Basic Training, getting used to moving off, gear change, steering, stopping, looking indicating etc all done away from the public road (ie at a specialist training site like a big carpark with "roads" coned out). At the end if you pass your CBT you are allowed out onto the roads with L plates, unaccompanied of course.

It's a good idea as before that (eg in my day!) you used to put the L plates on and off you went into the traffic with no training and no clue.

Aha thank you. I took my two part bike test in 1986 - when I bought the bike you could slap L plates on and ride on the public roads with no training. I shudder now to think how lucky I was - th e first time I rode my TS125 I sailed right past my destination because I forgot how to stop it! The part 1 test taught me a huge amount about bike control. When Dave got his first bike you could ride a 250cc on a learner licence and there was only the one test.

[captain birdseye]

Aha thank you. I took my two part bike test in 1986 - when I bought the bike you could slap L plates on and ride on the public roads with no training. I shudder now to think how lucky I was - th e first time I rode my TS125 I sailed right past my destination because I forgot how to stop it! The part 1 test taught me a huge amount about bike control. When Dave got his first bike you could ride a 250cc on a learner licence and there was only the one test.

When I was 17 I went our and bought a Yamaha RD 250, the fastest thing you could ride on L plates, walked out of the shop, put the plates on and shot off down the road. No training apart from playing on the fields on an old step through. Crazy times, I spent lots of time visiting friends who had crashed on their fast 2 stroke bikes. Easy to see why they brought in restrictions and compulsary trraining