Learning to ride
I decided to start learning to ride whilst working in Warrington for BNFL in 2002. Since it was a brief period when I actually had some disposable income, it seemed like a good time to go for it!
After contacting a few different training schools, I decided to do my CBT with Grainger School of Motorcycling in Warrington in late 2002. They use a variety of hired car parks in the Warrington area to do their training, depending on how many people are being trained at once. The training was extremely good – I’d never moved a motorbike in my life until CBT day, and they still got me through it no problem. I had to come back at a later date to finish off the road section, but they didn’t make any extra charge for that.
I spent the winter months bimbling around on the Honda H100 and Cagiva Planet, before starting lessons for my A2 test with Tom Grainger in the spring. I knew that there was no way I’d be able to afford a big bike for at least 2 years after taking my test due to going back to university, so I couldn’t justify the extra cost of doing the Direct Access.
My instructor Malcolm was fantastic. Always patient, even when I was executing manoeuvres at traffic lights that lemmings would have been proud of! The instruction was always on a one to one basis and, unlike some training schools, Malcolm always followed behind me so he could monitor my riding closely and comment by radio.
I took my test in June 2003 and passed, despite committing the cardinal sin of changing gear during the emergency stop!
It has recently come to my attention that Malcolm sadly passed away in 2006 following a short illness. My hugely belated condolences go to his family and friends at the loss of a great man.