Extra session + Theory 2: May 24 (Sat) 4.30-6.30pm

I have to pay extra for this..! Last session was pretty okay so I wasn't worrying.

Minor mistakes and note to self:-

1) Check the mirrors and everything! I was on this #181 and checked the lights, but forgot about the mirrors (I used to check mirrors the first thing on). The first thing I got on the road was - WTH the left shiny one was waving around like a little wing...! It was more hilarious when the 4 consecutive sets of lights were all green so I couldn't stop..! Luckily the "right wing" was still there so it wasn't the most dangerous yet. I had to head back and let the instructors screwing it back.

2) Don't rush, and don't panic! This is the last thing I did before the session finish. I was queuing for the exam figure-8 ramp. The student already on the slope was having so much fun and not willing to get down. I got annoyed... and when it's my turn, I throttled up a bit too much, setting the bike slightly off angle before the start line on the ramp. Things should be normal, but I PANICKED, and fell on the first right turn. Jesus. I haven't fell down for 2 sessions! That sucked, especially the plastic cover for the throttle meter (name?) fell off...! Argh.

That kills my spirit. I thought my 8 were great. Aawww.

Monday morning is my only hope.

L-plate Lesson 15: May 22 (Thu) 2.30-3.30pm

This is the last lesson by the book and I took it seriously.

...To a point that I finally didn't put my right foot on the ground at all times!!

Only for once I did an emergency stop in front of the amber light, and had to land and switch gear. I am not sure if this will be counted as "landing right foot" or "unable to switch to correct gear"... I'll ask.

Not problem on the incline figure-8. I noticed that some of the footbrakes of some bikes are not functioning good enough. Really need to check more.

Also that there were TWO junctions I passed where the sign for directions were changed due to road work. The lanes ended up not getting you to do your turn. So my plan is to ride once more in the morning before the exam.

L-plate Lesson 14: May 20 (Tue) 2.30-3.30pm

Yup, riding in the rain again. It wasn't too heavy so it was manageable.

Overall the lesson is going smooth, apart from the following few hiccups:-

1) I can't start the engine...!! It was "cold" as the instructor-in-charge said, and I had to slowly throttle up at N gear to let it warm-up. Spent the first 5-10 mins doing it...

2) I was on the N gear on the first set of traffic lights - totally forget I've switched and have to swtch back.

3) My right foot landed after turning into the residence square on one of the routes. Argh.

For both 2 & 3 I know it's because of lacking focus. Really I need to remind myself I'm sitting for the exam every time I drive..!

L-plate Lesson 13: May 19 (Mon) 11.30am-12.30pm

It's raining man!

Okay, not too heavy. I've managed worse.

But this is a taught class mainly training up people's incline figure-8 skills. We stayed within the enclosed area.

Two others were in my class. One bigger boy in late 20s, another a French-accent woman at late 30s. They were both frustrated because of the rain, and also that their exam is scheduled tomorrow... I'm surprised that so many people squeeze all their classes to the day before the exam. Obviously they can't manage well with even the figure-8 part (they will simply be sent home without going on the roads).

This annoyed me as well, because this is the last taught class and I only have 2 more self-study classes to go to. No more mock exam - how am I supposed to know if I am doing everything that meet the exam criteria?

My figure-8 is fine, even with the slippery road. But my counter-steering skill is so pretentiously overdoing that, the instructor (the bad cop, at the first L-plate class!) was telling me off! I was bending so far in, unnecessarily. What I should do is to lean the bike in, but my body should remain square.

I slipped and fell off three times because I don't want to step on the ground. Nothing serious. But I got what the instructor said, and managed the corners better. I should also use the full length and width of the inclined slope. Previously I took pride in turning very sharp and narrow, but I should really do the exam requirements. It's not like I'm 100% not going to fall doing the advanced stuff.

Also for starting on the slope I lost the friction point when I panicked. Kinda makes me wonder how bad the exam pressure can be.

OK - two more classes. Let's hope it's not going to rain.

L-plate Lesson 12: May 17 (Sat) 2.30-3.30pm

Had a rather focused day after the comments from the mock exam.

Changing gear in a CORRECT manner was not that difficult. I can manage gearing up without making funky engine noise now, reminding myself to stop throttling and pull the clutch then kick... The only gearing mistake was on my last minute before entering back to the school - suddenly I wanted to go up one gear but not aware of the "N" for some reason. A second of doing that would caused me the license!

Also I had the other killer - "land the right foot" - at the residential area with a giveaway on the right coming in. Basically whenever there's traffic jam I panicked.I wanted to stop but somehow landed my right foot there... When I should just relax and stop as normal...! When I restarted I was on N gear and looked like an idiot trying to escape from the vehicle behind me. It sucks to have people thinking that I am a beginner girl who can't really manage a bike!

Mock Exam: May 13 (Tue) 1.30-3.30pm

The same instructor who leaded me out to the routes last time, was the one taking care of the two of us doing the mock exam class.

We were pretty alright when we do our figure-8. I jerk a little but no big problem.

The other student went on the route first, followed by the instructor and then me. He got the short route while I have the longer one.

Then it was my turn. My first mistake was at the immediate exit of the school. Vehicles in examination was there and I stopped too close to it. I should have stayed further away, at least enough for me to change lanes if the vehicle ended up dead on the road.

Slightly disturbed I speed up a little. My clutch skill turned out to be horrible... I was making a loud sound changing gears... Afterwards the instructor say I shouldn't be holding on the throttle when I pull down the clutch. Argh... Now I know. I should have done things step by step: up throttle, pull clutch, kick gear, release clutch.

At the end of the long straight road came the end of another highway at the left. I'm surprised that we ended up with a traffic jam at that roadwork sign - with a lot of coaches and trucks. I panicked when I wanted to stop - and LANDED ON MY RIGHT FOOT. Aaaaawwwwwwww!

The best way was to follow the same lane until we reach the residential corner we have to turn. No change of lanes required at all. The residential area was okay. There was another truck popping out at the lights, luckily my breaks were working fine this round. But I should have stayed at the right side of the single lane to have a better view of the road.

I made more sounds when I was on the way back. Made another mistake of taking the wrong lanes at another sets of lights. And then I change lanes right after the lights because of a slow moving L-plate car... While I should have used the other lane, empty, that can be used to turn too. Argh...

Really I should make the slow-down part step by step too, to avoid getting stuck at once but at the wrong gear. I did it at the last sets of lights and got this remark.

Engine off but we finished with all these disappointing reviews. Now I really need to pay more attention at what I am doing on the road, while my confidence is still there...

L-plate lesson 11: May 12(Mon) 2.30-3.30pm

Another beautiful day to ride. Really I can't wait getting my own bike and ride to places... Haven't thought of what bike I should get tho.

I'm finally thinking about the purchase because now I am a lot more confident in passing the bike exam. Not very perfect still, but I'm getting a lot better.

Like today, a public holiday, and Day 3 of consecutive self-riding class, I was so smooth! Warming up on the enclosed area and also the practice slope for figure 8 is not a headache anymore. In 10 mins I was out on the road, checking my speed and my move in changing lanes. No right foot landing whatsoever.

Also I found out how to turn and get up the exam slope - just stay further away from it and the turn will be easier. No major problem on there and I was spinning okay.

It's mock exam tomorrow and I really want to know what I can show the instructors and examiners!

L-plate lesson 10: May 11(Sun) 4.30-5.30pm

Today was not hot and I had a great time doing both exam routes with better speed (averaging the standard 40 km/hr).

The only hiccup I had on the road once was this L-plate minivan trying to change lanes in front of me, but then turned back to the original lane. My left foot was busy kicking the gear (fearing that the gear was too high for slowing down)... and ended up landing my right foot. Really I shouldn't have done this simple yet fatal mistake! I need to concentrate.

My challenge to the exam slope without the flat platform wasn't going too well either. Maybe I haven't warmed up enough. I need to practice more going 90-deg to the left and up the slope first. When there was 5 mins left, I played at the practice slope and had NO problem whatsoever, starting and figure 8 for 4 times... This is to prepare for the mock exam on Tues!!

L-plate Lesson 9: May 10 (Sat) 2.30-3.30pm

On my own again. Last class I figured out what I need to improve on the road, and seriously I'll need to work on it more.

Things start okay but when I was on the road, I landed on my right foot after the 2nd set of lights. Arrghhh... I really have to pay attention at what I am doing there. From then on, I lean to the left and stick out my left foot every time I have to stop, which helps!

It was a busy day with a LOT of L-plate mini-vans. They've no minimum speed limit, and therefore making such a traffic jam along my route. We all spent a lot of time waiting at the lights.

There were more dangerous situations for me. Once after a corner-turn, I came up to a mini-bus stop with a bus there, and had to stop. But behind me was a huge bus bending over the corner, almost running into me...! That was scary.

The other time I had was trying to change lane without looking first - oh crap there was a taxi on my left! What I should have done was to signal first, turn my head to check BEFORE turning into the other lane... My bike was literally jerking on the lane and it was so horrible that the taxi had to slow down. Luckily I didn't crash.

Other times I'm doing okay, but that's not good enough because it's better to do everything correctly before the exam (I'm having a mock on Tue...)

Back at the school, I'm doing better starting up on the bridge. I really should step on the foot brake harder, but release it when I start and reach friction point. Did one loop of 8 and then the rest is miserable. I should be working on it again tomorrow then...

L-plate Lesson 8: May 7 (Wed) 2.30-4.30pm

This is the first taught class after taking 7 classes of self-study.

Having no full-time job to catch, I'm finally having a class in the week. Ended up being me with the instructor, 1-to-1.

After 20mins or so warming-up, I'm okay and we headed off the street, with the instructor leading.

The first thing I notice was... he's FAST! He was already miles away after the first lights outside the motoring school. Argh... I have to really throttle up to get nearer.

Also the instructor was turning his head, excessively, at almost every light and turn. But it must be the right way to do. When we're turning left, he's checking both the left and right before and during the turn.

We were back at the school in no time. I landed on my right foot and got a remark... argh.

The instructor said that the exam was not just about riding, but how to handle different situation on the road. It's important to know when to speed up, slow down, turn, change lanes, and stop.

Next up is the longer route so it's good to practice more on the speed part. Averaging now 40km/hr. and I'm slowly getting it.

At one junction a coca-cola truck was turning on my right, but suddenly cut into my lane after the turn... So I had to stop there and wait till he's done. Just one of the things the instructor was saying - sometimes you're doing fine, but another vehicle does not behave. So as drivers you have to stay alert at all times.

Suddenly all these repetitive practice on the same routes become a lot more interesting. As there's still a lot to get used to, like the gearing up/down part.

We did one more round of the shorter route, and there was only 10 mins left for figure 8.

He didn't watch for the most part, but I was actually doing quite well. At one point I was making 8 continuously non-stop. It's a lot easier when I am so focus into looking up to where I was heading. Combining with more practice starting uphill, I should have no problem, at last!