I just got home from my first practical and it was quite a blast! ;D
I met The Turd at the same place and we walked to SSDC to take our ID photos and to get our package (like our progress book (wait, is it a progress book?), insurance receipt, books and elbow and knee guards). Then it was time for orientation and we had to don on this horrendous-looking bib (that kept slipping off my shoulders half the time since they were rather wide) and listen to our instructor (Melvin) who chastised us for being late :/ Well, we were waiting in a long, long line for our paperwork to be done, after all.
So, Melvin was going through the rules and telling us about the centre itself and about the lessons. And as I looked at him, I wanted to laugh out loud because he reminded me of a friend who looked like LPXX.
He went through the basics of the bike and the gears and the brakes. He also showed us how to release the bike from its stand and how to bring the bike up should we fall down.
Then there was a break before our first practical lesson.
I texted Big Bear to tell him that I was finally taking my riding lessons and he gave me a call to see how I was doing (:
We did a short exercise before our practical. Apparently, it was compulsory and pretty simple. Just some neck, side and back stretches. And after going through my practical, I think it would do us good to do some hand and palm stretches as well ;p
We were assigned to a bike each and those with experience went off to try riding around a small area. The Turd went along with them since he said he rode a bit but was sent back with us at the bike station because apparently, he knew nothing after all XD
(Okay, it’s pretty mean of me to laugh at him but serve him right! XD)
We were told to get onto the bike and I realized that THE BIKE IS FREAKIN’ HEAVY CANS. And because my right leg is stronger, I got used to putting my left leg up. But because the stupid rear brake is on the right side, we have to mount and dismount from the left and keep the left leg on the ground instead of the right. And since the bike is so FREAKIN’ HEAVY, my bike fell on the left and hit the guy on my left D:
SO EMBARRASSING CANS?!
We learnt how to change gears, start the engine, move, accelerate and stop. And we practiced that over and over at the bike station. I SUCK AT THIS ): I got so used to jamming my brakes when I was cycling so whenever I try and tap the brake lightly, the bike hardly stops so my instinct was to jam brake D:
Melvin kept reminding me over and over not to jam break. BUT I CAN’T HELP IT D: So eventually, all the guys get to ride around while I got stuck at the stupid bike station T_T
So I practiced and practiced under the hot sun ): But it was fun starting the engines ;D
After I (more or less) got the hang of it, Melvin finally released me ^_^ I got to ride with the guys around. Basically, I was supposed to keep my gear at 1, go straight, make the turns and brake at the STOP area, switch to neutral gear and push my bike to the starting point, and go again.
MY FIRST RIDE WAS SO NICE! V(^_^)V
But my subsequent ones were pretty lousy. BUT IT WAS SO FUN! I love the throttle XD The sound of the engines running pumps the adrenaline into my blood and IT’S SO FUN PLEASE! XD
Finally, it started raining pretty heavily so we parked the bikes. Our slot was almost up anyway.
Well, we didn’t pass our first lesson ): So The Turd and I rushed to book our next slot which is available tomorrow! (: And because I had no moolah (again), he paid for me first (:
I CAN’T WAIT FOR TOMORROW~