Blister

Big hor?

I got it during my practical 1.01 lesson.

It's my very first practical lesson and I am really nervous. Despite hearing so much from my brother, I knew the lesson was leading to a doom the moment I couldnt lift the bike to release the main stand.

I reached bbdc early for a change, because I have no idea what to do, where to go, etc.

It was quite easy to find the place, and although the instructors there are mostly very lao lan, I still manage to submit my booklet with the assistance of one of them.

The lesson started relatively smoothly. My bro said the first lesson should be mainly verbal and teaching us the components of bike, and signals etc. Makes perfect sense, because while I took my basic theory lesson, the instructors said during first driving lesson, students will be informed on the location of the steering wheel.

If given that I havent went through the bike handbook for my rte, I would not be able to differentiate throttle and clutch and etc.

There was only 4 of us in today's lesson, I guess I am lucky because that is why I could successfully get the instructor's attention everytime.

And before anyone start, I would like to say something.

SO WHAT IF I CANT RIDE A BICYCLE!

I admit that because I cant ride a bicycle, I dont have the balancing skills that is required in riding a bike. But even so, my main problems today was never balancing, it was how my legs are not long enough to reach the ground from the bike.

And how my mind doesnt recognise the sequence : full clutch > throttle on > release half clutch slowly > (bike moves off) > throttle off > full clutch > hand brake slowly

I either throw throttle, or throw clutch, or jam brake, all three no-nos.

And because my fucked up legs are not long enough to reach the ground to balance properly, I am only balancing myself with 3 toes on each feet, I actually fell.

I must be the first person in the entire school to fall off the bike when it is moving at less than 1km/h.

I held my clutch, turn my throttle and release half clutch slowly, when the bike moved, I actually threw throttle and jam clutch (jam clutch is very ok, to all the uninitiated, like myself) and the bike rolled to a stop. Before my toes manage to work up enough friction to stop myself from moving forward, I fell, left handed.

(Luckily my hp in my right pocket.)

Oh, I forgot to mention, for the sake of the uninitiated too, that for riding lessons, one have to wear helmet, jeans/pants, long sleeved top, covered shoes and gloves. For the first few lessons, we had to wear elbow guard and knee guard.

If I wasnt wearing my gloves though, I would be typing this entry with a bloody hand.

Without surprise, because the bike is at such a slow speed, I actually saw myself fall in slow-mo. I couldnt react in time though, but I experienced the bike swaying to the left, but my left leg didnt react by stretching out to break the bike's fall. I released my clutch, bike jerk, my left palm found the ground first, my left leg touched ground, my left elbow touched ground, my head touched ground.

Because I have no idea how to fall, I was trapped under the machine. But the instuctor pulled it off me, and asked, dripping with sarcasm, that whether I need to see the doctor?

I told him I am fine.

The instructor, Mr ALEX TAN, held my bike while asking me to hop on again. The moment I swing my right leg over the machine, I must have bought it too close to the back, because I immediately scalded myself on the engine metal (I guess that is the engine metal lah, at least, who cares about the correct name).

Hence the blister.

I yelped, alex turned around with menace in his eyes and I told him I am fine, I just happened to scald myself.

I actually fell a second time. Well, half-fell.

This time the bike fall to the right. I've got no idea whether it was because after my first falling experience, or was it because my right leg is more responsive, I stretched out my right leg and watch the bike fall underneath me. Because I am not daddy-long-legs, I could only let the bike bring me down, and I collaspe.

Alex disheartenedly uprighted the bike up again and left me. I couldnt get the bike moving even when I release the clutch after that, and I had to raise my query again. He indicated that my gear is on neutral, of course I wont get the bike to move.

With that I immediately step down to gear one, and the bike shot one step ahead.

"Let me guess, I forgot to clutch in?" I checked sheepishly.

Alex wearily nodded and left me to continue to practice. While the rest of the ppl moved on in the lesson, I had to keep practicing the same things over and over again.

I didnt progress much in the lesson but he still passed me, now I wonder how would I die when I do my 1.02. Sigh.