Why cant i pass? MOD1 disaster tale.

[kellyjo]

Hi guys, its not been a good day!! Ive just failed my mod1 for the third time in as many weeks, boo-hoo:smt005I just dont know why i cant do it. In training my ridings faultless both on site and on the road but when i get onto the tarmac with the examiner and those pretty coloured cones i just cant seem to get through the ordeal without kicking one of the blighters. Its insane, not to mention costing a small fortune and i know i could do it standing on my head whilst baking a cake on any other square of tarmac! I am so mad at myself and disappointed cos i am a safe, competent rider whos just desperate to get out on my own. Attempt no.4 is planned for next week and i'll be training again in the meantime but i think even my poor instructors at his wits end cos he doesnt know what else to do with me!!! Any suggestions? Valium, offering the examiner sexual favours, giving up biking in favour of knitting.......:)

[fizzwheel]

Sounds like nerves maybe effecting you.

Deep breathes, talk things through out loud to yourself as you are doing them and try and stay relaxed.

If you can do it in training you can do it in test conditions. Postive mental attitude will also help, if you tell yourself you can do it and you will pass you more than likely will. Thinking I am going to fail, often will result in failure...

[Sally]

Is this the off road part of the test?

[kellyjo]

Thanks fizzwheel, nerves are a huge problem! I cant sleep the night before, i feel sick and i must have ridden the course 200 times in my head through the night. The strange thing is that once i get to the test centre i do actually feel positive, calm and in control. I dont know what else to try!! I just feel really guilty now cos im on my own with 3 kids and am now spending money i dont really have on training i dont really need and test fees when it should be spent on the kids. I need to get this done and dusted as soon as poss. Thanks for the advice x

[Spiderman]

If you're clipping cones you may well be object fixating out the corner of your eye, so act like they are not really on the ground but in your mental map and it should be easier.

i do this when filtering. I find i'm sometimes way too bothered by how close this bumper is, or that mirror is and i end up clipping them with my mirrors or knee sliders. other times when i'm in too much of a rush i find i get thru the smallest awkward gaps without any clipping.

HTH?

[Grinch]

I failed my car test five times cus of nerves, and every time I failed in a previous test I had performed the action faultlessly.
I won't mention my bike test as it was 10 years ago now and is not even the same any more.

[kellyjo]

Yes sally it is. slalom, figure of 8, u-turn, slow ride, swerve at 32mph and emergency stop at 32mph aswell. No problem...in theory!!

[fizzwheel]

Are you clipping the cones with your feet or are you hitting them with a part of the bike.

If your clipping them with your feet try riding with the ball of your foot on the peg rather than the instep of your foot.

It'll pick your foot up out of the way and reduce the likelyhood of it sticking out and clipping the cone, which might give you a bit more clearance space to play with.

[Sally]

are you only failing because you're hitting the cones?

You're instructor has taught you about clutch control, throttle control and using the rear brake?
He probably has, just checking.
Good luck with the next one though :)

[DaveP]

from what i see its a bit of a bugger to do. My instructor said he knows other instructors that woul;d struggle with it. Only advice i can give you is to try and keep calm, dont think to much about whats next and concentrate on the now.


Dave

[matt c]

nerves are a bitch. I'm SO glad I didn't have to do that off road section. Try focusing further ahead.

[Woz]

Try using some Rescue Remedy. It has worked wonders on a couple of students I've had who had problems with nerves.

I have no idea if it actually does anything or if it's just a placebo but it seems to do the trick.

[kellyjo]

My instrustors been fantastic. He has prepared me really well and i feel bad cos im letting him down. We've spent ages practising slow control - clutch, throttle and rear brake and ive totally mastered it, quite essential really when faced with Peterborough town centre traffic :-). None of this is down to him, its my own stupid fault! Thankyou all for your helpful words. Spiderman i think you may be right, i may be too busy focusing on the cones and as my instructor keeps telling me ' where you look is where you'll end up'. Wise words me thinks and ones to remember next time!

[DaveP]

'where you look is where you'll end up'

how very true.... i still use this now 10 months after passing my test. It gets me through some situations where i have that moment of ???? when riding.

[davepreston]

pretend the examinator is actually your instructer, eg when the guy walks over and says now i want you to do this then this -nod, then just think of your instructor looking at you and saying it picture there face and voice then set off. it helps take that "im being watched" feeling away to help settle the nerves

[Spiderman]

Spiderman i think you may be right, i may be too busy focusing on the cones and as my instructor keeps telling me ' where you look is where you'll end up'. Wise words me thinks and ones to remember next time!

:)

Another idea, if you are allowed on the road, i mean if you have done your CBT and have the appropriate machie to be out on the road on then you can try this.

Find a road thats fairly quiet and has white dividing lines, ideally a quiet dual carriageway, and practice "shiwshing" your bike from side to side using the gaps between the white lines.

If its a single carriageway then i dont need to tell you to watch out for oncoming traffic, right, lol.

Honestly, when you get the hang of how fast you can make the bike change course just by using your hips and the right technique it may make the cone slalom that much easier.

oh and Rescue Remedy is great stuff, glad i'm not the only flower power hippy on here to know what it is. Available from all good chemists now too :flower:

[hindle8907]

where are you hitting the cones ? on the Swerve ?

[kellyjo]

on the 1st attempt i hit the cone going into the bend prior to swerve, 2nd was swerve cone itself (think i was concentrating too hard on reaching required speed and not where i was going) and today it was one of the slalom cones, no rhyme nor reason just pure stupidity!!! The white line idea is a superb idea but unfortunately i traded in my 125 to buy the sv so ive nothing to ride til ive got this darned license but i may well try it when ive passed......october 2012 then :-)

[Spiderman]

ooctober 2012 then :-)

You gonna let the kids eat before then i hope ;)

[ArtyLady]

Sorry to hear this :(

FWIW I don't believe in tests - people that are perfectly capable will mess up through nerves - I know I did - they should develop some way of assessing people throughout the course/lessons for their overall/driving riding skills, Instructors should be able to do it - they know when someone is test ready - after all they do it for the CBT! :idea: :)

[hindle8907]

all fairness to some people having nevers but to say some instructors cant do the mod 1 is just a joke if an instructor cant do mod 1 then he shouldnt be teaching end of .....its a simple test, for some maybe nervs get the better of them but an instructor should be able to do this easy i had no training and hant riden a bike for a over a year and booked my mod1 and passed with over 56 on both swerve and Emergancy stop . on a 125CC ...i would love a go on it again on my SV lol would fly through that Speed trap

[hindle8907]

you just need to relax mate and talk your self through it ,,,, good luck for next time !

[Mr Farley]

pretend the examinator is actually your instructer, eg when the guy walks over and says now i want you to do this then this -nod, then just think of your instructor looking at you and saying it picture there face and voice then set off. it helps take that "im being watched" feeling away to help settle the nerves

The above seems like good advice. If you can do the manouvers in training you can do them in the test....end of. Your obviously putting too much pressure on yourself during the test. I really think whilst you are doing your test you need to imagine you're training. Imagine how confident you feel whilst practising and then transfer this attitude to the test.

I didn't have the off road part when I did my test, but I know I treated the test just like my training. I just imagined I was doing just what I'd been doing happily the two days before. I know it sounds stupid, but I'm sure the examiners want to pass people, being bikers themselves so forget they are there if it helps and just unclutter your mind and do what you know you can do in training :D. You've probably been trying to do all that anyway though! Good luck with the test!

[kellyjo]

Thanks for all your kind, wise words. There is no doubt about my ability, my trainers so confident in me we've actually progressed onto some advanced riding skills cos he says im well above the level required for DAS. I just need to get my head (and the bike and my feet :-)) around MOD1 and do what needs to be done to get my boyfriends backside off my sv and mine onto it!! I'll let you know what happens next week, and rescue remedy is at the top of my shopping list for the weekend!! xx

[dizzyblonde]

I know nothing of Mod1 but it took me til my fourth attempt to pass my DAS. nothing to do with lack of ability, it was all down to nerves and that dreaded uturn that seemed to let me tip my toe down each time.(and my love of staring at the floor each time on the test)

keep at it, your time will come.

[joshmac]

Try using some Rescue Remedy. It has worked wonders on a couple of students I've had who had problems with nerves.

I have no idea if it actually does anything or if it's just a placebo but it seems to do the trick.
+1 That stuff is the mutts nuts. I take it before exams and I took it before both my driving and bike tests last year. Deep breaths and try to think of it as one of your lessons will help

Let us know how you get on :thumbsup:

[dizzyblonde]

Its funny as I've always wanted to recommend Rescue Remedy, but thought you lot would all laugh and call it hippy mumbo.

It does however work very well in this situation and other stressful times.

[G]

those pretty coloured cones i just cant seem to get through the ordeal without kicking one of the blighters.

Any suggestions?

Ride slightly further away from the cones?

HTH ;)

[Specialone]

Try offering the examiner sexual favours while knitting, might work

[flymo]

Sounds like its not riding practice you need, its relaxation. Dont practice harder, you can do it already.

You need to get some quiet time and think through how you want the test to go in your mind, just ride it over and over with your eyes shut.

On the day just try and chill out as much as possible, treat it as something thats not important and take your time.

[joshmac]

just ride it over and over with your eyes shut.

Not when on the bike ;).. could get messy :lol:

[joshmac]

Its funny as I've always wanted to recommend Rescue Remedy, but thought you lot would all laugh and call it hippy mumbo.

It does however work very well in this situation and other stressful times.
You Hippy Lou! ;)

[flymo]

Not when on the bike ;).. could get messy :lol:

lol, I was thinking more of a nice quiet room rather than the motorway :-)

[joshmac]

lol, I was thinking more of a nice quiet room rather than the motorway :-)
Yeah I know mate, hence the ;)
:razz:

[Gumboot50]

KellyJo, I've no experience of Rescue Remedy so I don't know how good, or otherwise, it is. A cheaper alternative is to do breathing exercises, as others have alluded to. However you shouldn't breathe deeply (as your head will go all swimmy really quickly!). Take a normal breath, for a count of four, hold your breath for a count of four and breathe out a for a count of eight. do thqat for a couple of minutes in a stressful situation and it will help. The key to it is having a longer out-breath than in-breath - it is a signal to your body to relax.
I know it sounds a bit new-agey but it really works. Good luck with the test!!

[kellyjo]

Just to let you know that i passed my mod1 this morning, finally, and am chuffed to bits :-):-):-) Mod2 next friday, bring it on.....!! Thanks to you all for your advice - i used rescue remedy, and halfway through i remembered Gumboots breathing technique and, well, something worked!!! Cheers, guys xx

[CarlosSV650S]

Nice one m8 ! well done.

[Rob969]

Well done on passing. I found the mod 1 the most stressfull probably because one mistake and you know its over, just try and relax and enjoy the ride on your mod 2, as long as you don't make any major safety mistakes you'll have no problem. During my mod 2 i was trying to count up minors in my head as i was going along and thought i'd failed when i got back to the test centre. then found out i only got 2 minors and passed. What i'm trying to point out here is don't focus on any mistakes you might make during your ride or they'll play on your mind all the way round just take a few deep breaths and get on with the rest of the ride. GOOD LUCK

[Kuze]

Gratz on passing though i still think mod1 is pure money grabbing from the DVLA. Still grateful I got my license before it! How long does your mod 1 pass last if you will??

Again gratz :).

Goto the AR09 :P

[Gerry]

Brilliant... well done :p

I slipped in just before the new test so never had to have the fun you have been through.

I'm sure the worst is over, you can look forward to a nice little amble on the roads followed by the best ride (motorcycle) ever - when you have just passed :D

[sunshine]

tell them the cones are in you way you was just moving them, im sure they will understand! hitting them means your going to fast slow down and relax, also remind yourself you are passing this time.

[Rob969]

Gratz on passing though i still think mod1 is pure money grabbing from the DVLA. Still grateful I got my license before it! How long does your mod 1 pass last if you will??

Again gratz :).

Goto the AR09 :P

The Mod 1 pass lasts as long as your theory certificate i think. so you could take your mod 1 test a day before you theory certificate runs out and your mod 1 would be invalid the following day

[Gumboot50]

Excellent! See, if you keep breathing you'll succeed!!

[Harpo]

Just to let you know that i passed my mod1 this morning, finally, and am chuffed to bits :-):-):-) Mod2 next friday, bring it on.....!! Thanks to you all for your advice - i used rescue remedy, and halfway through i remembered Gumboots breathing technique and, well, something worked!!! Cheers, guys xx

Congrats! I'm right in the middle of DAS too... pished up Mod 1 (foot down on U-turn... gah) but then passed 2nd time with no faults whatsoever. :cool: Had my Mod 2 a couple of days ago, pished that up (this is getting expensive...) but have got my re-test in a couple of weeks. Mod 2 is waaaaay easier, just ride normally and have fun! I failed because of one silly mistake (misjudged speed of an oncoming L-plate cage at a junction, pulled out on him), I got one other minor... so long as you enjoy it and be sensible you've got nothing to worry about. Good luck!

[kellyjo]

Cheers Harpo x I feel much more relaxed about mod2 than mod1! You're right about the expense, i really can't afford to muck up mod2 and it's also really frustrating that you have to wait 10 days before you can re-test. It sounds like you're sure to pass next time and hopefully by friday lunchtime i'll have my new license, my sv insured and be enjoying my first ride out, fingers crossed and good luck to us both :-)

[wizurd]

well done passing kellyjo. Don't envy anyone doing the mod1 cause of the added nerves and expense.

[yorkie_chris]

Try using some Rescue Remedy. It has worked wonders on a couple of students I've had who had problems with nerves.

I have no idea if it actually does anything or if it's just a placebo but it seems to do the trick.

What about 5 or 6 pints to settle the nerves a bit? :p

[wizurd]

What about 5 or 6 pints to settle the nerves a bit? :p

lol after the pints there will be no more cones and you'll probably find you can ride like a god lol

[Magnum]

Nerves could have ruined my mod 1. I was very very tense, and my right leg was shaking so much i thought id kick a flipping cone, or push the brake too hard.
Good luck with mod 2, ive got mine on wednesday.