Lesson didnt go too well :(

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by magical_mover

Think the thing that just tipped me over the edge on the day was the whole humiliation aspect of it... would rather have not had an audience when i was being told off lol!

So tell your instructor that, say to him / her, that having an audience didnt help with your confidence issues...

You're the customer, you're paying their wages, their supposed to be helping you...

[dirtydog]

Originally Posted by northwind

And look at me now- I'm s**t! But I'm s**t with a licence

He's right you know

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

So tell your instructor that, say to him / her, that having an audience didnt help with your confidence issues...

You're the customer, you're paying their wages, their supposed to be helping you...

i will let them know - but im not sure i will feel confident about going back there. there were a number of issues on the day - i just dont think we clicked. I wasnt expecting kid gloves but being asked 'what happened - why were you so good last time and so shockingly s*** this time?' didnt really help.

I will tell the centre what the problem is - but i dont think i will go back there..

Sounds like a very poor instructor to me, you wouldn't say that to someone as it's always going to knock their confidence.

As my instructor said to me, apart from learning to ride safely the day has to be fun and enjoyable or you don't get the best from it. I went to my CBT with no bike experience at all, in fact I'd only sat on my first bike about 2 weeks prior to that - It was a long day, but worth it in the end (Even if I did end up with a cold!!)

I would look to another place to do your CBT (Even if it meant travelling a little further) as I can't for the life of me understand why an instructor would give lessons before a CBT - It sounds like a money making exercise to be honest.

My lessons were free 'introductions' and I'm paying £570 for a week-long course, they've given me theory test cds and hazard perception, 3 hours worth of introductions, 16 hours of lessons, an hour before the test and the CBT day, and they seem like nice chaps.

Magical mover, it does sound like it's not a great place to learn, after going on the bike for the first time I was told that I looked like I had ridden before, second time I asked for pointers and he said about keeping my head up and clutch control, it was constructive criticism and they told me not to worry too much as when I was on the road it would sort itself out. And I didn't have to ask for a third intro session, one of them told the other to book it for me.

So, hearing that you've been belittled in front of people doesn't really cut it, y'know?

As a fellow female biker, I can see where you are coming from. Being a girl will put you on the back foot for several reasons, namely:

1. We are lighter and have less upper body strength therefore when a bike starts to 'go' we don't have the strength to haul it back before it drops. Confidence knocking or what?
2. We generally have more doubt about whether we are doing the right thing or not getting into biking in the first place.
3. We over analyse, everthing must be our fault, the instructors know everything and are always right, right?
4. The instructors (IMHO) are used to teaching blokes who learn differently to us and sometimes do not change their style.
5. We do get affected by the frickin hormones chasing through our bodies, it's horrible to admit this on a mainly bloke forum, but it's a fact.
6. Blokes seem to have a singlemindedness about learning something and will focus and do it no matter what, we tend to get distracted by how badly we have done something.

OK enough of the cod psychology, we need to learn from the blokes and the way they do things. Main thing is the right mental attitude as has been said before, if you have it in your head that you will nail that U turn, do figure of 8's without dropping the bike (my personal favourite ) then you will do this. Lots of support from the great folks on here and on other sites is very nice to have, but ultimately it is you on the bike and you will pass that test.

Besides, f*** 'em if they can't take a joke

Trace

Originally Posted by Ace-T

As a fellow female biker, I can see where you are coming from. Being a girl will put you on the back foot for several reasons,

But on a positive note, girls in leathers can't be beaten!

find some where new i have tought loads of ladies have a look here www.dgridertraining.co.uk i am also training up a female mate as an instructor she is doing great at the moment i hope to have her ready in the new year to teach full DAS courses, where are you there is a lady bike instructor near me who had a good rep i have sent other people to her i couldnt fit in male and female

Been there, done that. Had to take my CBT twice. Nothing to be
ashamed of (methinks).

Long time no see Prof (here or IRL). How are you?