Is that the U-turn on the hill I can barely do it on flat road :w00t:
But am out practicing all the time.
I did my test in Chingford on 2nd May, my examiner was Peter, really nice guy. Your instructors will spend plenty of time taking you around Chingford, its a nice area, although the traffic lights at the end of the high st are a pain in the ar*e! And watch out for the bus garage almost opposite the road the test centre is based on, they buses can swing out a long way, and the old bids on the zebra crossing going the other way :w00t:
The roads around the area are quite nice, and we went out into (I think) it was Epping Forest, some tricky variable speed limits, I was on one stretch of road, wasn’t sure if it was 30 or 40 so kinda hovered around the 35ish zone, Peter did comment on this at the end of my test but as I’d had a virtually faultless ride he let me off and passed me.
Just relax and treat it as another ride with your instructor, don’t think of them as being an examiner. I rode the best I had ever ridden on my test day, was well chilled and just couldn’t keep smiling, even when I was on my test, and I had the horrible cambered uphill road for my u-turn, nailed it 
ENJOY it
When I did my 2nd test the u turn was on a flatter wider road then the trickier one mentioned above.
The examiner pulled up on the left in front of me and got off the bike and asked me to get off (before he explained the walking uturn).
While I was waiting for him, an old dear came out of a house and asked me what day it was ?! Told her (feeling a bit sorry for her) and she pottered off inside. When the examiner got to me, he asked me what day it was !!! apparently she asks all the candidates who stop there !!
I did the walking uturn then the ridden one, then rode round the block for the emergency stop. After the test, the examiner told me that when I was going round the block, she’d asked him what day it was too :hehe:
If i remember correctly the first test’s uturn was here although be wary if you practice here, an old fella in one of the houses will pull back the net curtains and glare at ya !
Before my first test (remember I did it with no training after my CBT) I did download all the test routes with the intention of learning them, but to be honest it would have taken me hours to cover them, and I would have been too busy concentrating on where I was going rather than how I was riding.
Just ride round the area in general, there is a mix of roads, be concious of the speed limit changes (there are quite a few round there). Concentrate on performing a nice smooth and safe ride, instead of trying to remember routes - after all, the routes are a suggestion, the examiner could take you along whichever roads you like !
I agree, it is not about learning the routes as the examiners will vary, but about understanding the area. Also, look at the map. If there are any odd looking junctions or town centres on the routes go there on the bike and make sure you understand the lanes and lights etc so you can make sure your positioning is correct. I failed my first test in an unfamiliar part of London when I got to as junction and had missed the compulsory right turn sign. I was failed for failing to observe a sign. I would not have got that major if I had known the area.
Chingford is an alright area to do your test in. I done mine in Enfield which I think is miles easier. The first time I was ever brought the area (Enfield) was an hour before my test! :hehe: Passed w/ few minors so not complaining.
I live in Chingford, just down the road from the test centre. If you have any questions let me know
I also know some of the examiners there
Ian
Cool you are a handy guy to know:hehe::DI keep to doing every thing the wrong way round. Watching others ride their bike i’ve also picked their bad habbits. So for the last few weeks I’ve been trying to get it in my head to do it right. My positioning is always wrong i always on the right handside of the road near thewhite line and i always put my right foot down first when i come to a stop. Plus i got to work on my forward planning. Am getting to the test centre on my own so i don’t want totravel too far and tired myself out before the test. Thats why i chose Chingford instead of Enfield and plus it was the only dates available
What time and day is your test ???
Ian
After i did my CBT I had no further training prior to my test - but did go out and buy a couple of the DSA books about riding and the test (you can find them in WH Smiths) and had a good read through them.
On the way to the sorting office this morning (replacement mudguard for the Bandit wouldn’t fit through my letterbox!) I had a run down to Whitehall Lane, and it is the road with the hardest u turn you would be likeley to have, but in all honesty it isn’t that bad - the way I see it is practice there a few times then you should be able to handle a u turn anywhere.
Ian - where on Station Road is your shop ? Is it the ‘high quality fishmongers’ one ?
dont let people put you off going to Chingford, i did my test there not a problem the second time:w00t: i now have a friend who is an examiner there and its ok i know a couple of the routes and can find out any others.
Watch out for the busy high street and residential streets around the test centre. Also watch out for turns onto fast roads - it’s easy to misjudge how fast the traffic is. There’s nothing really to catch you out. If you go up past the golf course there’s a national and an S bend that can be tricky for learners.
Beechcroft is unforgiving.
You might know the examiner but i bet you can’t find out the route they gonna be taking me ?:w00t::hehe::hehe:
Or just pass me without taking the test :hehe::hehe:
Can’t comment on Chingford, I know that there were two peeps doing their DAS at the same time as mine who did their tests up there, one pass one fail.
I did mine up in Pinner - Ruisluip or something…
My U-turn road was huge, could have U turned an arctic in it!
I’d just get comfy with the “area” rather than trying to learn every route, that way you don’t put any pressure on yourself to “remember” the route when you go out on it?
When is the big test DR?
yeah, you are right i cant.
yes thats the one
Ian
Hi guys (my first post so go easy) 
I did my test last summer at Chingford with “Peter” I think. A very fair guy.
I failed my first due to a foot door on the up hill u-turn. It’s also got a camber and I got distracted and dabbed my foot for 1/10th of a sec and that was it. Annoyingly I did 20 perfectly at the same spot that morning. :crazy:
On the retake we did it elsewhere. It was flat, camberless and at least 50% wider!!
Seems strange how it can vary so much.
Good luck on the test. Apart from the hill u-turn the rest of it is fine.
Test is on the 8th july and am scared :w00t:
I am practicing my U-turn alot because that my weak point but i feel really comfortable with my ride
Test is on the 8th july and am scared :w00t:
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We could set up a table outside L’Artista opposite and watch you "wobble "past:D
I didn’t think you could but it was a nice tried to see if you could :w00t::hehe::hehe: