2BL1 - Am I one of the slowest learners?

[B777-300ER]

Hi all, I've just started posting in this forum - have been reading for quite some time already. Anyway, I am currently learning 2B at CDC, still stuck at practical 1. This morning I just came back from attending L1 for the 3rd time, and still no progress of official stamp on any of the 4 requirements of L1. By now, its pretty obvious that I'm much slower than average learners who may complete lesson 1 in about 2 to 4 tries. Let me recap what actually happened:

 

1st time L1: Instructor brought those who are attending 1st time to the tyre point, started with banging tyre, then accelerate and stop before tyre. I was at the tyre point for the entire session with two other learners. After the session, the instructor indicted on my training book that I'm still at tyre point.

 

2nd time L1: I was at the tyre point again with those learners attending for the 1st time. Managed to successfully balance and stop before tyre, followed the other learners to the L1 small circuit. I started moving in rounds, and went only up to 2nd gear. After the session, instructor updated my training book to indicated that I reached 2nd gear.

 

3rd time L1: Immediately went to circuit with the other repeat learners. This time, I finally managed to independently lift bike and park bike from main stand without any assistance. Again I moved around the L1 circuit, this time I reached 3rd gear. This was the time when I really feel challenged. At speed 2nd and 3rd gear, I began to feel the circuit bending too tight, which caused me to slow down alot, didn't really remain at fast speed long enough.

 

Braking properly from 3rd gear is also another problem I'm facing. The correct way is pressing on both brakes feeling the brake pressure, depress clutch, kick all the way down to 1st gear. This is the part I face difficulty coordinating, which might have caused me to stop too abruptly and ended up jerking. I also tend to look down and focus too much on the braking steps instead of looking straight throughout. Also, the instructor feedbacked that I was moving too slowly at 3rd gear, which prevented me from properly executing all the braking steps smoothly.

 

In addition, I seem to be still struggling with proper eyeline control. When moving, for example there is an obstacle I'm intending to avoid, I'll tend to focus too much on the obstacle by looking at it, and end up braking abruptly, thus stopping at where the obstacle is. I'm still practising at looking away from the obstacle and focus on the empty space I'm riding into.

 

Therefore, I hope you guys can advise me on how fast I should go with 2nd and 3rd gear around the L1 circuit, braking smoothly with the correct steps, as well as proper eyeline control when moving and braking. Thanks much! I'm looking forward to finally clearning lesson 1, hopefully can clear with maximum of 6 times.

[mechwira]

in your post, you have clearly outlined what are the correct things you should do, and what are the things you did wrong.

 

you dont need anybody's advice because you already have the answers. what you need is more practice. you need to start feeling that its ok to go faster, you need to stop feeling the bend is getting too tight. and all that comes with practice.

 

so you end up spending more than most people, in time and money. never mind. so long you believe the riding is worth it, keep doing it.

[crazydj]

It would be good if you could highlight your age, sex, educational level, job and any skills that you have. We can help to advice on it. The way i see it, its more of your learning style, etc. that you can use to your advantage when learning.

 

For example, i am an audio person. As the instructor verbally tells us what to do, i can process everything once and imagine it in my head as well as find the pros and cons of doing it a certain way. Before i even get on the bike, i can already predict what i will and will not do wrongly.

 

When i read what you posted, you know what you are doing right and wrong, but you are not showing it when you are riding, perhaps due to confidence issues, esteem issues or what not.

[duo]

It would be good if you could highlight your age, sex, educational level, job and any skills that you have. We can help to advice on it. The way i see it, its more of your learning style, etc. that you can use to your advantage when learning.

 

For example, i am an audio person. As the instructor verbally tells us what to do, i can process everything once and imagine it in my head as well as find the pros and cons of doing it a certain way. Before i even get on the bike, i can already predict what i will and will not do wrongly.

 

When i read what you posted, you know what you are doing right and wrong, but you are not showing it when you are riding, perhaps due to confidence issues, esteem issues or what not.

You know what your mistakes are. You need to put in the effort to do it. Seems like you know what you are doing wrong but not even making the effort to do what is right. Good luck on your next pract.

[ducatistrada]

As long as you are improving, don't bother too much whether you are the slowest or fastest.

[Bodyslam]

i had to take my 2b lesson one for five times. dont give up!

[Mwolfe]

It's all down to practice. I retook L1 three times, passing on my third try. Each time after the lesson I did a self review, noting where I was weak, and noting the feedback from instructors if any (at L3 now, keep getting feedback that I wobble too much, ). Since you know what your mistakes are, try to correct them.

[shunoski]

It's not just memorising the steps that is taught, you have to feel the bike to know when to do it. If you need to pause to think for too long, the bike already shoot few metres ahead already. Try to engage your senses, feel the motion, listen to how the engine sounds at each critical steps and glide on. More you try to do good, may end up opposite result. One day, you will have the eureka moment and breeze through all your lessons.

 

Most importantly, relax and have fun.

[Jehuty]

You're probably scared, don't. On the road is much much more scary. You can't afford to be afraid on the road,

[C.S]

i repeated my lesson 1 6 times, passed on 7th

[wait4me]

my 60year old dad took 9 times lor ...

but if u really take more then 9 times, i think u better give up riding ,

[duo]

my 60year old dad took 9 times lor ...

but if u really take more then 9 times, i think u better give up riding ,

He did get his licence right? Not sure if any of the cdc instuctor told any of you before. But there was once a girl who do not even know how to cycle took every lesson about 10times. But TP pass in the first try because she knows the circuit so well.

[jahat]

it seem that you r nervous..just relax and take your time..better late then never..

[gwzc_mk2]

no worries lah

practice makes perfect:cheers:

[svit]

im doing my class 2b at SSDC.. im now at lesson 6 (total 7 lessons).. im 40 this year. i will say im a slow learner.. i did my lesson 1 for 4 times, lesson 2 for 3 times (i think so..haha)... now lesson 6 is on test routes - i can say im riding pretty confidently on the road...

 

when i look back, i just keep wondering how come i need so many repeat lessons on such simple things like shifting of gears etc etc.. haha.. but it doesnt really matter actually, the more lessons you go, the better your foundations will be..

 

i rather go for more repeat on my lessons and hopefully pass the TP test on one go than cleared various stage quickly and failed TP test numerous time.. : )

[wait4me]

He did get his licence right? Not sure if any of the cdc instuctor told any of you before. But there was once a girl who do not even know how to cycle took every lesson about 10times. But TP pass in the first try because she knows the circuit so well.

yup he did..

 

yes the gal story .,

[mild_slevin]

I took my first lesson for 7 times if I'm not wrong... pretty sad but gain alot afterwhich.

[Mwolfe]

im doing my class 2b at SSDC.. im now at lesson 6 (total 7 lessons).. im 40 this year. i will say im a slow learner.. i did my lesson 1 for 4 times, lesson 2 for 3 times (i think so..haha)... now lesson 6 is on test routes - i can say im riding pretty confidently on the road...

 

when i look back, i just keep wondering how come i need so many repeat lessons on such simple things like shifting of gears etc etc.. haha.. but it doesnt really matter actually, the more lessons you go, the better your foundations will be..

 

i rather go for more repeat on my lessons and hopefully pass the TP test on one go than cleared various stage quickly and failed TP test numerous time.. : )

 

you get better with practice, I couldn't even get braking right, let alone shifting gears. I remember my very first lesson I spent a significant amount of time doing that bang tyres bit, only my 2nd lesson then moved on to changing gears

[guangwei]

You properly failed to stop in upright position.. thats what i notice those 2b bike learners at bbdc is and i rmb how a single line from certain instructor finally allowed me to pass my first prac 1.01 at bbdc. at my 3rd attempt

i was still screwing up still though its my 3rd attempt.

there was this instructor who told me to lift a step forward before i land. the ball of your feet should touch the floor before your toe, because when you cycle bicycle, most people tend to land on their toes especially you cycle a tall bicycle and it became a habit, its not allow to do so on a 100 kg bike if you want to stop at upright 90 degree position, after that i was doing correctly for the last 15minutes of the lesson and i passed by another instructor with one eye closed.

 

the first prac usually about stopping, actually your procedure abit wrong also nvm, instructor donno sometimes, they just roughly guess your mistake and point them out, they usually judge you pass or not when you stop or your bike behavior instead of what you are doing. if you cannot make it they just guess something to tell you why you MIGHT not been able to stop properly,the thing is when you do something wrong, your stopping pose usually end up slanted or move in s motion(wobble) and there could be many hundred kinds of rare causes.

 

instructor try to point out, but you must also take your own judgement into consideration why certain thing happen. rmb my class 3 i took when i already had 6 month road experience with 2b, my car kkeep go out of lane when doing the bend, instructor said i never look far, but the truth is imo the reason why it happen was because i travel at too fast and always nvr slow down enough before the bend.

 

also btw, they say apply both brake to stop, but actually at slow speed less than 20km/h, i will say apply more rear brake, front brake just to show you know the proper procedure to slow down. so at slow speed like you in the circle, you press 80% rear brake, 20% front brake, maybe you will land better.

 

my first prac 3 times oso last time.. and im the only one who i know in real life to fail so mani times

Edited September 12, 2012 by guangwei

[myxilplix]

Oh don't worry, i'm sure the instructors at all the centres can tell you stories of learners much slower than yourself. 2nd lesson going around in 2nd gear is already ok.

[B777-300ER]

Just came back from 4th time prac 1, was kind of terrible. At small circuit, after I successfully braked with correct techique from 3rd gear, I was moved to the main circuit. Along main circuit, I went 1 round up to 3rd gear, 2nd round up to 5th gear and this is where the trouble started. When stopping from main circuit 2nd round, after the bike stopped, my left hand slipped the clutch, caused the bike to surge forward. I fell and ended up with a blueblack on my right ribs. Then, I rested for about 5 minutes and was placed back to small circuit again, self practice a few rounds, and the lesson ended. It was really discouraging as I might have gotten at least 1 chop on the lesson 1 minimum requirement if I did not slip my left hand clutch.

[wait4me]

reporting in before someone post that he pass all pract i first try with tp inculded

[mechwira]

Just came back from 4th time prac 1, was kind of terrible. At small circuit, after I successfully braked with correct techique from 3rd gear, I was moved to the main circuit. Along main circuit, I went 1 round up to 3rd gear, 2nd round up to 5th gear and this is where the trouble started. When stopping from main circuit 2nd round, after the bike stopped, my left hand slipped the clutch, caused the bike to surge forward. I fell and ended up with a blueblack on my right ribs. Then, I rested for about 5 minutes and was placed back to small circuit again, self practice a few rounds, and the lesson ended. It was really discouraging as I might have gotten at least 1 chop on the lesson 1 minimum requirement if I did not slip my left hand clutch.

 

discouraging?

 

you imagine the same happened outside on the road?

 

i dun mean any offence to you, but my attitude is in this world some people need more practice at some things while some people seem to do those things easily; but everyone (barring disabilities) can succeed just that some need more practice.

 

so if you find that you need more practice than others, practice more. do your learning at the driving center, dun end up learning lessons on the road.

[Mwolfe]

It may be discouraging, yes, but in the end it's better to make these kinds of mistakes in the circuit where things are more... 'controlled' rather than on public roads. Just take it slowly and practice more. IMO the more you do (bearing your mistakes in mind and trying not to make them again) the better you get, so good luck!

[smrt]

i don't have any technical/technique advice for you but all i can say is don't stop practicing. Go for practicals as often as you can afford it.