It's annoying and tiresome, but it's necessary: the testing pre-test test, says Patricia Weston
Kitted out in my full black biker leathers and silver helmet on a sweltering hot sunny spring day, I set out to take my pre-test rider training course last Saturday. My instructor Jeremy from Fast-Track Rider Training met me in Finglas, where my motorcycle test would be in two weeks' time.
I applied for the test in October and have been driving my little Honda Rebel 125cc on a provisional 'A' motorcycle licence since then. I was pretty nifty on the road but the pre-test lesson would give me the specific knowledge of the course and test requirements.
To my disappointment, Jeremy showed up with a Honda 250 cc, not a macho CBR 600 cc, for me to do my rider training on. I had applied for an 'A' motorcycle test which, if I passed, would allow me ride a higher cc bike than my little Rebel.
The 250 felt very different from my low easy rider 125. The gear lever was positioned too close to the footrest which meant gear changing was a bit of a foot fumble.
Once I got the hang of the bike, Jeremy handed me a headset which would enable him to calmly, repetitively and irritatingly utter instructions into my ear over the next three hours. He would later learn how lucky he was to have escaped my muffled mumblings hidden under my helmet rather than hear my responses through a simultaneous headset!
He rode ahead, giving instructions along the way. He was an experienced and patient instructor and, despite the annoyance of the headset, I put my trust in him.
In among children playing football, parked cars, ramps, other riders and bus drivers being trained, we circled the crowded test route and I learned to ride the "correct" way in order to pass my test.
During the actual test, the tester follows behind in a car while instructing the biker to drive four laps of this busy residential block. Because the tester is in his car, he's doesn't know what gear you are in, or your speed.
Headsets are not used for the test, although the Department of Transport is currently piloting their use at random test centres throughout the state over four weeks to evaluate them. If approved, they would make the test more interesting for the rider - the tester could instruct the rider to take another route rather than staying around the housing estate in Finglas.
When tested you must drive twice in one direction and twice in the opposite direction. In order to pass you must drive on the far left of the centre of the road.
When overtaking one of the many parked cars, you must look behind your right shoulder, indicate and manoeuvre past. You must indicate past a parked car even if that car has only two wheels on the road.
When taking a right turn, look behind your right shoulder, indicate and manoeuvre to the far right of the road. The same applies when turning left and passing parked cars on your left.
On an average non-test day when you are riding your bike on the busy streets of Dublin, you meander in and out of stationary traffic, ride up on the footpath if there's no room on the road - or if you have leanings towards a career as a motorcycle courier. You ride on the bus lanes or closer to the middle white line to get past jammed traffic and avoid potholes in a congested and over-crowded city.
During the test the rider must also perform a U-turn and ride at a walking pace with the tester walking alongside you.
By the end of the three clammy, tiring hours,my ear was hot, red and bent from the headset's repeated instructions.
But my numerous bad habits had been corrected and I reckon I was a more informed and skilled rider. Lets hope the tester thinks so too.
• Rider training is the theme of this year's Motorbike & Scooter Show 2004 in the RDS, February 27th - 29th.