Prac 8.01 (1st attempt) - Passed

Prac 8.01 (1st attempt) - 22/12/14 (Twentieth lesson)

Hi guys!! Its been a week since my last post, actually I've been to a self-practice (SP) session last thursday but I guess I won't be blogging about my SP or RC (circuit revision) sessions cos after all, they're just practice sessions so it'll be repetitive!! So anyway, I did horribly last thursday during my SP session!! My plank was shitty (posture is crazily wobbly, timing almost just pass 6 seconds) and I tried doing uturn at the traffic light junction for the first time (thankfully Chin Hwee was there to guide me!! Cos all these while I've only been doing uturning at the mini circuit and on the public road) but my uturning sucks ahahaha, right foot fell off pedal and did a wide turning. Felt so demoralized after my SP sesh cos I had my 8.01 booked the following monday! Also cos I know I'll be throwing away my $60 just like that if I fail my 8.01.

So today I took my 8.01 with 7 other people! Total there's 8 of us, 2 girls (including me) and 6 guys. Chin Hwee was incharge of our 8.01 today, and the first thing he said to me was "惨了啦!" Hahahaha cos he prolly saw how badly I did for my uturn last thursday. First half (4 of us) attempted the assessment first, and I was one of them while the other 4 people were in the second group, doing defensive riding where we'll be accompanied by 1 instructor each to ride around the circuit and outside on public road.

We did a 1 round of practice around the circuit test route before going to station our bikes at the starting line. Before that Yufang had "specially" helped correct whatever mistakes I did and I was extremely thankful! Gave me tips and stuff on how to 改 my silly habits. Felt sooooo nervous and anxious!! Our first group, number tags 13, 14, 15 and 16 had to go in order and I was number 15, hence, I'm number 3!

Did our circuit test route as per normal, but my heart was beating like crazy inside hahahaha. Slope was alright. During the "S" course, in my head I was repeating "FASTER FASTER FASTER!!" cos my "S" course isn't very stable in terms of hitting the required timing. Crank course was alright. Then here comes the narrow plank.. Recently I've been performing real badly at plank?! So anyway I did my plank and tried my hardest to prevent wobbling and I felt like I went too fast!! Then Chin Hwee told me, "Wah lucky lah you, timing is 6.38seconds." (We have to stay on the plank for more than 6 seconds). Then my ebrake.... Oh gosh my ebrake sucked so bad!! Did my ebrake then I saw the instructor writing something on his paper.. Die liao lor! Then Chin Hwee was a little further from the ebrake station and he told me, "You know you got marked for posture anot? That's 4 points! You could just tiptoe if you cant reach the ground so your handlebar won't be slanted."

Then we moved out to the public road! Went on left filter lane, lane change... And I saw the dude infront of me didn't cancel his signal all the way!! We have to cancel signal after lane changing from 3rd to the 1st lane and then turn it back on after the traffic light junction. But he was lucky lah first time it won't be marked as 4 points for failing to cancel signal. And.... Here comes the frightening uturn!!! My nightmare happened.. When doing my uturn I didn't throttle enough hence, I wobbled!!! My right foot slid off the brake pedal but I didn't drop my right foot on the ground. Then I did my uturn.. Luckily no wide turning. In my head I was thinking, shit man I'm gonna have an immediate failure.. Cause I know dropping of right foot is an immediate failure. So I was quite sian when going back to bbdc. Saw Vincent and he asked how I did, I told him about my uturning incident and he told me, "That doesn't necessarily mean its an immediate failure! Probably will mark you as wobble."

Then we went for our defensive riding, where each of us will be paired with an instructor and we went to ride around the public road test route 2x + 1 round in the circuit. Very angry with myself, for 2 rounds when I did my uturn at the public road, I did it with no wobbling and no wide turning!! Why is it when I took my assessment my right foot had to slid off?!?!! :(

Went to park our bikes and wait for our results. Chin Hwee then came and told us that out of 8 of us, 5 passed while 3 failed. I already had a feeling I won't make it. Then he gave us all our score sheets one by one and..... I passed!!!! Unbelievable. Thought I was gonna get immediate failure for uturn but I was marked as wobble.

This is my riding assessment checklist for 8.01 final evaluation!

I got marked for incorrect posture and clutching in too early (incorrect technique) = 6 points in total for ebrake. Sharp turning when turning at junctions, not checking blind spot (when I was just gonna start my final evaluation hahahaha shit) and not looking for traffic at side roads.

So thankful I don't need to go through 8.01 again, cos its so expensive! hahahha but I definitely will keep going for self practice (SP, circuit revision (RC) and road revision (RR) throughout my wait to my TP to hone my riding skills. Imagine how nervous I felt during my 8.01, it'll be 10 times worse during my actual TP!! Happy riding to you guys if you are taking up 2B practicals now!! :) I'll prolly blog as and when if I take any SP/RC/RR. Merry Christmas in advance! :)


Countdown to my 2B TP: 57 days

Prac 7.01 (2nd attempt) - Passed

Prac 7.01 (2nd attempt) - 15/12/14 (Nineteenth lesson)

Went for a night session today, at 7:20pm! Already got a feeling there'll be heavy traffic everywhere but figured if I could do it at night, I can do it in the daylight as well? hahaha.

Took my 2nd attempt of 7.01 with 4 other ppl, 2 guys and 2 girls. They're all 1st timers while I'm taking the 7.01 for the 2nd time. Instructors we got were this tall tanned uncle, only got his surname called Lim and another guy we got was Yufang, he was this bike team leader! Really nice instructor, initially I was really intimidated by him riding a class 2 bike + fierce face when I saw him during my 2nd attempt of 2.02 (cos he was there to help my instructor observe us) but now we did talk and all and I found he's really helpful! Gave me comments on how to improve my riding whenever I'm on the circuit.

Did uturning practices in the mini circuit and then my instructors told me to be the first bike LOL. First bike!!!! It makes me nervous lah cos people will follow me and stuff. Before that we went for a briefing on the public road test route then off to the road we go! I find that the key to doing a good uturn is..

GRIP THE FUEL TANK AND NEVER LET GO!!

Hahahaha its true... Plus just twist the throttle!!! It helped me so much and I never fall from the bike anymore. Except once in the mini circuit just now, I accidentally closed throttle, fell and dropped the bike LOL. Other than that I didn't fall off anymore nor did I do wide turning.

Did 4 rounds around the public road test route today, since I was the first bike I had to wait before the bus stop everytime I finished my right turning. I waited for quite a long time for the 4 remaining bikes to arrive cos you know, it's a peak hour session so there definitely will be more cars.

More cars = More waiting at the uturn!

It was so exhilarating when I went to throttle like mad after doing my left filter lane and had to do a lane change from 3rd lane to the 1st. I love the feeling! After that we went back to BBDC to return our bikes.

So I passed my 7.01 yayyyy!!! I can now go ahead and book my 8.01 final evaluation (where we have to do our circuit courses + public test route without getting more than 18 demerit points according to the TP checklist). Say if I pass my 8.01, then I'll only be waiting to take my TP!!! Will prolly have to go for more RC and SP before going for my 8.01 cos 8.01 cost like almost $60/session!! (non-peak). A normal SP or RC session is around $16 and $26 respectively (nonpeak).

And by the way, I have booked my TP test date already! It'll be on 17th Feb 2015.. Anybody reading this taking the same TP date as me? Drop me a comment!! :D

RTP, RTT and SP = 5 hours at BBDC

Alas! My long awaited 13th dec saturday is here. I've been waiting so long to take my RTT so I can book my TP! Because I've been passing my prac 1x a week so I kinda regret not taking my RTE earlier hahaha.

Woke up at 7-ish in the morning to prepare to head out. I had booked 2 riding theory practice from 0825 all the way till 1005, followed by my riding theory test at 1030-1120 and then a self-practice (SP) practical session at 1130-1310! Yeah its like almost 5 hours at BBDC hahahah, specially opted not to work today (cos I work normally work on the weekends) just for riding.

Did a quick run through on the 5 riding theory booklets and quickly made use of every minute hahahah. I felt so nervous when I walked down from the 3rd to the 2nd floor for my RTT.. Because all I could think of was, "What if I fail?!?! I'll have to wait like 2 more months before I can retake my RTT and then book my TP.." Went to the test room and the TP person gave me a slip of paper with my PIN and seat number. Sat at my seat, waiting for more people to arrive. Saw this dude sitting beside me started googling on stuff like, "how to control a skidding motorbike". Hahahah!! Did my test.. It consist of 50 qus, must get 45 and above correct answers to pass my RTT! I actually finished it in like 5-10 mins BUT! Being the cautious person I am, I went to review all my 50 answers again.. Actually I got confused with 2 qus but yeah. Submitted my answers and went to view my results...

I got 48/50!

Bet my 2 incorrect answers were the ones I got confused at hahahaha. Went to grab some food before heading to the motorcycle office to wait for my SP session! Yesyesyes this is my first ever self-practice practical so I was a little lost hehhhh. I was ready to grab my bike when Vincent said, "Why you never wear elbow and knee guard!" hahahahah I told him "oopsssss sorry I didnt know! It is my first time taking SP hahaha." Wanted to practice my uturns first so I told the instructors there if I could use the mini circuit for uturns, they were really nice and helped lay out the cones for me.

There were 2 instructors there, presumbly taking 1.03 prac, I know they are quite the "old bird" there, like the chief instructors kind.. They helped correct my posture and stuff, what to do and all. Of course I felt the pressure and stress to perform well since they're very experienced and I was afraid of doing it wrong. Subsequently I could do it (I think)! I went round and round the mini circuit several times wahahahha bloody retarded but then I prolly only had kena 2/3 times went off course/my right leg slipped. I was still very wobbly lah but I guess I have to slowly work on my uturns. Then I went off to the main circuit to practice my courses!

It was damn fun doing any courses I want?! Of cos SP will be cheaper cos there won't be any instructors guiding you. But sometimes at certain courses, some helpful instructors will give me pointers on how to improve my courses or help me to clock timing for plank or "S" course. I prolly went like 4-5 times around the circuit test route before heading back to return bike. The 100 mins really passed by damn quickly!!

Haven't decide whether to book another SP or to go for my 7.01 first but I'll prolly do either 1 next week. Good luck to me!!! :D

Prac 7.01 (1st attempt) - Failed

Prac 7.01 (1st attempt) - 9/12/14 (Eighteen lesson)

So in the end, nobody wanna buy my slot hahaha so I had to go for my 7.01 even though I don't even feel confident AT ALL!! :( So 7.01 is about: Independent riding in light and medium density traffic, with uturn, overtaking, defensive riding, risk forecast and reacting to hazards.

Took my first attempt of 7.01 with 2 guys and 1 girl, including me it'll be 4 of us! Instructors we got were Harry and Shaiful (he took my first attempt of 1.01 and first attempt of 2.02 previously). We were all first timers as well.. First we got our bikes, parked it in the middle of the mini circuit, briefing on how to do a uturn before heading out to the public road! Then we did our uturn practices.... And.... I fared horribly HAHAHA!! But not as bad as yesterday's uturn practice during my RC #2. Subsequently I can do my uturn but sometimes I went off course (wide turning) or my right leg will fall off the rear brake pedal :(

Took a break and got a briefing on the public road test route, where and when to lane change, check blindspot and basically where to go! Think overall we did like 4 rounds about the public road test route, I can't remember :|

There's a part where we have to lane change to the first lane after filter lane > merging lane. Everytime I'll forget to off signal?!!? Cos we have to off signal, pass by traffic light junction then signal right again to do our uturn. Anyway my uturn was bad!! Think 2/4 times I did a wide turning, instead of turning to the first lane I turned to the second and quickly lane change to the right my gosh :(

Just by doing a right turn after uturn requires 5 safety checks!!! Check left right for pedestrians, right blindspot, oncoming traffic, left filter lane and another time on the left before merging.The instructor said if we missed out anyone we will fail the class, when I heard it I felt damn scared hahahha I kept repeating the 5 safety checks in my head.

Anyway my last round before heading back to bbdc was horrible!!! Misjudged the speed of oncoming vehicles while doing my uturn and I immediately turned out hahahha best thing was I turned into the second lane wtf wide turning!!!! Then I already knew I'm gonna fail today's practical lesson already. Went back to return our bikes before a debriefing by Shaiful. In the end only 1 guy passed out of the 4 of us.

In conclusion, I must must MUST go for more practices on uturn before booking my 2nd attempt of 7.01!! Will be overseas from tmr till friday, and saturday is my RTT!! Hopefully I can pass my RTT and proceed with my booking of TP. Have also booked a SP session after my RTT, would wanna practice my uturning and "S" course. Don't think I'll book my 7.01 until I feel I'm ready hahaha. Good luck to me!!!!

RC #2

RC #2 (Circuit Revision) - 8/12/14

Went for my second RC session today! My previous RC was on 27th Nov, so it was a good (almost) 2 weeks since I last touched circuit courses. Sky was pretty dark when I was on my way to bbdc so yeah... "Gonna be riding in the rain today" was the first thing I thought of and deep down I was hoping it wouldn't rain heheh.

Took my RC with 4 other people today and the instructor we got was Izhardi! He took my first attempt of 3.01 previously. Looked out the window and saw it raining cats and dogs ugggghhhhh... Went to put on raincoat and pants after getting our ICs checked. This is the 3rd time I'm encountering the rain!!!!

Did a few rounds of narrow plank and pylon slalom first, omgzzz my favourite plank hahaha!! My average timing today was 8 seconds plus.. There was once I went super slow on the plank until I hit 10 seconds+ and Izhardi said "Faster leh, don't need so long!!!" LOL hahaha I didn't even realize it. Then we moved onto ebrake.. Today I did alot better than my previous RC #1 ebrake station. One time I stepped on the rear brake too hard and I heard some knocking sound.. Luckily my rear tyre didn't lock and skid!!!! My only problem is that I keep looking down at the line hahahah wahlao my eyes need to maintain.

Went back to return raincoat and pants cos it stopped raining, and moved onto "S" and crank courses!! If you guys have read my previous entries, the "S" course really is a nightmare for me!! Initially my timing was between 11-11.6 seconds subsequently I tried to throttle more and.... I got 10.3 seconds+ woohoo :D Crank course was okay for me. Next we did right turn, lane changing and slope. These 3 components were ok for me as well!

Moved onto uturn at the mini circuit.... I WAS IN A MESS!!! When doing my uturn I don't know if I braked too hard or never maintain clutch or throttle keep turning off and on and... I dropped my bike wtf. Right leg kept falling off as well, I cannot stay in my lane and shit...

I CANNOT DO A PROPER UTURN AT ALL!!!! 

Best of all... My practical 7.01 is tomorrow.. Public road riding with UTURN.

Oh the horror!!!! Seeing how badly I did for uturn today, I immediately went to put my 7.01 practical for tmr on try-sell. Its been a few hours now and still nobody wanna buy my slot :( Hoping some person will buy my slot so I can go for more uturn practices first. Because I know I confirm will fail my 7.01 tmr and waste more $$ (cos road pracs are more expensive hahaha) if I attend the practical. We shall see... *fingers crossed*

Prac 6.01 (1st attempt) - Passed

Prac 6.01 (1st attempt) - 3/12/14 (Seventeen lesson)

Hi guys, I'm finally back to taking my practical lessons!! The defensive theory lessons (PPL) really took up most of my time, plus PPLs had to be cleared in order. Anyway, 6.01 is - Independent riding in light and medium density traffic. In other words... RIDING ON THE PUBLIC ROAD!!! I was really reallllllllly excited today. 

Booked session 7, latest I ever booked till date, cos 6.01 had to be taken either in session 7 or 8 in the night time. Figured I don't wanna take session 8 cos it'll be from 9:10pm to 10:50pm, by then I think I'll be sleepy and stuff hahaha so I took session 7.

Took my first attempt of 6.01 with 4 other people, including me it'll be 5. Instructors we gotten were Vincent and Chin Hwee (he took my first attempt of 2.01 and first attempt of 3.02 previously). First we went to choose bikes and Chin Hwee briefed us on what to check for, like fuel tank, signal lights working or not and how to tie raincoat and pants on the back seat to make sure it was secured. Then we went to the bench where we were being shown the public road board and got briefed on our positioning, to be in a staggered position on a straight road, to give way to bikes when turning left or right and stuff. Deep down I was really excited to get started, all I wanted was to hop onto my bike and go but I can't lah hahahaha must listen to instructions first.

After being briefed, we went to practice our staggered positioning around the bbdc circuit before moving out via the bbdc carpark. Vincent had to take the lead and we all followed, Chin Hwee was the one doing the "sweeping" of the last bike, which was me cos I was the last bike hahaha. The feeling was damn exhilarating?! I rev and just whack throttle hahahaha. I prolly went 60-70km/hr omg, rather than in circuit I can only go up to 20-30km/hr only?!

Went around bukit batok area, I don't remember where but we did lotsa left turns, major to minor road and stuff. Stopped at the kerbside to have a small briefing on what were our mistakes. Majority of us were okay on the road, just that we didn't do our safety checks properly. We had to really exaggerate and turn our heads to check for, example: any pedestrians crossing the zebra crossing. We can't turn our eyeballs to see, must literally turn our heads and stuff.

After a small break, Vincent asked for the second last bike and the last bike (which was me) to move up hence, I became the second bike. Did more right turns during our 2nd half of the practical class before heading back.

Whilst heading back to bbdc.... This happened. Here's a badly drawn diagram depicting the incident!!

This bloody silver car just literally swerved between the instructor and first bike into the ESSO petrol kiosk station wtf?!?!?! So the first bike guy and myself immediately braked hard. Imagine if the car went even slower, I guess either myself or the first bike guy will crash into the car. Luckily we weren't going especially fast lah so we could slow down in time. Reckless driver is impatient pffttttt. The instructors even asked us during our debrief whether we rmbed the car plate number hahahah all 5 of us didn't but the instructors did?! It was SJP something something and ends with a P.

Went back to bbdc via the carpark and Vincent went in the opposite direction of the carpark?! We all just followed.. Turns out he "tricked" us to see if we can ride independently hahahaha!! Anyway during debriefing, Chin Hwee and Vincent brought up the carpark thing and said, "You all know what you all did wrong just now lah, so you all need to come back.."

All of us were thinking.. Wah need to come back to retake 6.01 already.. Suddenly they added on..

"Come back for your 7.01!!"

LOL, they got us all for a second there. So in the end we all passed our 6.01!! Next will be our last road lesson, 7.01 - independent riding in light and medium density traffic which includes, uturn, overtaking, defensive riding and public toad test route. So excited to get started! We were advised to go for a RC to brush up on our uturns since we'll be doing uturns in 7.01.

Will be overseas from 10th-12th, so I can't attend any bike pracs! Plus I've got my RTT on the 13th so I can book my TP date after :D Still haven't decide whether to book RC or SP next week to practice my uturn, but I've booked my 7.01 on the following week's Monday. Hopefully everything will work out hahahah. Wish me luck!! :D