Confidence regained thanks to Bikesafe!

Off-topic
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Coming back from Kent last weekend I had a horrible near miss whilst exiting the Little Chef services nr Gravesend on the A2 (and was riding the Blackbird). People carrier in front of me put his foot down to join the A2 (on the shortest slip road in the world), then changed his mind! I’d committed to join the A2, was a gap but had now become a lot smaller than originally seen, 2 choices: (1) plough into back of people carrier or (2) make the gap…I heard the horn from the Golf, closed eyes for a second waiting for the rear end impact, open eyes to see front wing skimming knee and tried to work out how on earth I was still upright!

Adam behind me, upon seeing everything, gave the Golf driver what for as he never saw a brake light from them whilst I had already pulled away as just wanted to get out of there. Didn’t stop, just wanted to get home! First thing I said to Adam, was it my fault? He said sort of 50/50 - If I had opened the throttle more I could have made it not so ‘close’ but the Golf didn’t brake, just kept speed up and hand on horn!

Round comes Sunday morning, get kitted up, Adam has Blackbird warmed up for me as Kwak blew up on the way home from Kent (really wasn’t a good day :angry:)…totaly melt down! Tears, shakes, didn’t even want to put my helmet on! After a few stern words from Adam I manage to get myself down to the Ace! Walked in looking like sh*te, white as a ghost and shaking so much almost threw my coffee everywhere…best thing that could have happened to me, having Bikesafe booked! Those guys are great! Thanks for being Mr Mean/Nice to me Paul. It took me a while to mentally lose the idea of having a cop following me, but once I realised that he wasn’t ‘being a cop’ it actually helped to have him there…at least if I fell off he’d be able to give an accurate account of what happened :stuck_out_tongue:

I’ve got my confidence back, feel really good about my riding now and want to keep the ‘Bird’ - although Adam is in two minds about me having it, despite trying to offload it on me whenever he sees a bike he likes…I rode the bike back from the Ace like I’d been riding it forever - awesome machine!

If I can’t have the Blackbird, may look for a Fireblade :wink:

Anyway, anyone who hasn’t done Bikesafe before, it really is a good day out, whether your an experienced rider or a newbie, it doesn’t hurt to be observed and advised for your own safety.

Thanks guys

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Dudette – great write-up!

So pleased you overcame your fears – the Blackbird is a ‘big ol’ Bird’ for anyone to ride. If you think she’s nice, a Fireblade will be AWESOME!!

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It was good to see you leave with your confidence back Dudette, you looked a mess when you got there (in a nice kinda way lol) your nerves had got the better of you.

The day was even better as there was only the four and a half of us with a copper each :w00t:

I had a great day with Keith, he knew I was trying so hard not to pull that throttle back so once he got in front and he took off it didn’t take me long to rip it open. We had a very spirited ride :wink:

What made it nice was that the four & half of us all knew each other so making conversation wasn’t too difficult… well, it was for the coppers to get a word in :smiley:

It was the second time I have done Bike Safe, it has been updated since my first time but well worth it, I would even do it a third time as it’s well worth it just to hear Colins poor jokes :hehe:

Marks doing it next week, lets see if he can beat my score!!! :stuck_out_tongue:

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Glad you got your confidence back Dudette!:slight_smile:

I did Bikesafe on Friday. Thoroughly recommended. There were six of us on our course, so most of us had a cop to ourselves. I got Keith too. I was on my 400cc scooter but it didn’t worry him. I wasn’t too nervous actually, I don’t know why. The worst thing for me was wondering just how fast I was allowed to go. Though I didn’t really open it up to nearly max until the way home.

My first ride was a bit eventful as I mentioned in another thread as on the way back down to the A40, Keith was in front and had got a couple of cars ahead of me at the roundabout with the A40 and I saw him stop on the sliproad. I thought it was a bit strange until I caught up and realised he was blocking the road as there was a transit sized pick up truck on fire on the slip road.

I stopped the scooter and waited out of the way while Keith did his thing. It was quite a while before another police officer in a car and a couple of fire engines turned up. What were the chances of that happening hey!! In the end Keith cam over to me and said I ought to go back to the Ace on my own as my lunch had been under the grill for quite some time. He said he’d follow shortly.

I got back and most of the others had gone, but the Colin, one of the other Bikesafe officers was waiting for me. He was with Colin Overland, the editor of RiDE magazine who was also a bikesafe “trainee” like me. A thoroughly nice chap, I had quite a nice chat to him about my Honda etc. Colin (the officer) said he and Colin (ride editor) would wait until Keith came back as they didn’t like to leave anyone alone. Eventually Keith came back, we had a bit of a chat about my morning ride and then set off in the afternoon.

The afternoon ride was really good. We got near the ace at about the same time as Colin and Colin did. In the end as we were both going North, Me on the A1 and Colin on the M1 Keith and Colin (Officer) said they’d take us North on the M1 and then Keith would show me a route from the services to the A1. Well we went out Keith in front, then me then Colin on his XJR1300 and then the other Colin on the police bike. We didn’t hang about either. It was a chance for me to show just what the X8 can do!! Keith was smoking up the fast lane making progress shall we say, with me and Colin in tow. It was quite a weird feeling… making progress like that.

The X8 coped admirably though, I wasn’t quite maxing it out, but not too far off!!

GREAT day!!

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im deffo gonna book another bikesafe, i did one last year and would love to get some more feedback. Great writeup!

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Was a great day, with excellent company and good results

Would I do it again … oh most definately :smiley:

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I’m planning on dong IAM next year but might do another Bikesafe first…

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Paul was recommending IAM to me as well, may have to look further into it :slight_smile:

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Thanks for the reminder.

Just booked mine. I going to the ace one on 25th Oct if anyone wants to join me xx