Learning to Ride
On November 26, 2020 my first motorcycle, a Mutt Mongrel 125cc, was delivered. I was beyond excited but also scared shitless of finally going out on the roads on my own. It had been months since I had completed my CBT and I was worried that I had forgotten everything I had learnt. Thank you to COVID for the delay in receiving my bike.
I took my new motorcycle out at midnight. Utilizing the quiet roads of the night to practice. Living in London, the city never really felt asleep and always fully lit up. My first time out I stalled. I stalled every single time. Every time I tried to ride off, it would take me a few tries and many stalls before I could get going. I seriously started doubting myself and my capability of riding. I started questioning if riding was actually something that was for me.
I started reading forums and watching YouTube videos of how to manage clutch control and the biting point. Something that I now look back at my CBT course and realize it was defiantly skimmed over with very little detail. I would lie in bed thinking of how to do it properly. And I would practice. I’d lay in bed with my hands out pretending to slowly release the clutch with my left hand and adding throttle with my right. Going over and over how to do it in my head as I fell asleep. I went out regularly between midnight and 5am when it would barely hit 5°C. Looking for those quiet roads where I could make the mistakes I needed to learn. I’d choose a quiet street and just practice releasing the clutch and moving forward a bit. Stop. Repeat. Stop. Repeat. It was the middle of winter, and I would be out in the middle of the night practicing until my fingers felt like there were going to fall off. When I got to this point I would ride home, take a hot shower and climb back into bed. It was about the 6th time I had gone out into the middle of the night to practice where I rode around London for over an hour and I didn’t stall once. My sense of achievement was through the roof, this might seem a very small achievement to some but this was a major milestone for me.
Clutch control for the first few rides seemed like would be my breaking point for riding. From there my rides got longer and eventually I rode for the first time in daylight. Dealing with the hectic traffic of London and slowly building my confidence on the roads. With each ride my confidence grew and my technique improved.
Learning a new skill is always difficult but just push through it. Get out on the roads whenever you can and practice. You’ll improve faster than you think. Just remember that we all started somewhere and at some point, we all struggled. Yes, some more then others. But eventually you’ll get there, and the open roads and adventure will be yours to enjoy.
