"New bike test - a question for the Instructors" thread in "Staying Alive"
Spotted a short piece in the new edition of Bike, about the new bike test. Allegedly you will have to wheel the bike backwards through ...

Spotted a short piece in the new edition of Bike, about the new bike test. Allegedly you will have to wheel the bike backwards through 180 degrees (so I suppose that represents from nose to the kerb to tail to the kerb a bit further along.) No problems so far, seems a reasonable (and fairly simple) test that you can manuouvre the bike at rest.

Then it goes on to say that in pushing the bike around you must NEVER put both hands on the bars, to do so is an instant fail.

Why ? If I were doing that I would put both hands on the bars as soon as the bike was rolling back down the camber, that way I can use the front brake if nescessary. With a steep camber and a heavy bike that could be necessary.

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Cousin Jack

A bof that rides a Bonnie T100.

I wondered that too . . .

Chances of getting a sensible answer from DSA?

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Argue with me: http://the-ride-info.blogspot.com/

you won't be able to use your mobile if you use both hands - silly...

I gather the "correct" way to wheel a bike backwards is one hand on the right bar covering the brake and one on the grab rail or frame under the seat.

Of course, if the terrain is flat, an equally (if not easier way for most people) is to sit on the bike and paddle it backwards - particularly if you want to reverse to the left rather than the right.

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The dull copyright bit - feel free to nick it for personal use. If you want to reprint it for your club, I'd like a mention as author. Otherwise hands-off. Full terms
"Force has no place where there is need of skill" Herodotus 450BC

Which of course puts you on the 'wrong' side given that stands are mounted on the left.....

Oops... you're right

Complete DOH moment there - it's early...

You should be wheeling the bike on the left, one hand on the left bar, one hand on the grab rail.

So how DO you reach the front brake if the bike's going backwards down into the kerb??

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Sponsor Page XMAS OFFERS Blog Website Courses Riding Tips Shop
NEW - online e-course
The dull copyright bit - feel free to nick it for personal use. If you want to reprint it for your club, I'd like a mention as author. Otherwise hands-off. Full terms
"Force has no place where there is need of skill" Herodotus 450BC

is the question we want answers to...

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non quod, sed quomodo

1. Know your way out of a situation before you get in to it.

2. One of the things my Dad taught me: sit on it to wheel it backwards downhill, use the engine to drive it uphill, always - within the realms of possibility, of course - park facing uphill.

So for the 'kerbside' example, ride past, keep sat on, wheel backwards.

The DSA test, of course, will be on a parade-ground-flat test site.

When Threads Collide . . .

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Argue with me: http://the-ride-info.blogspot.com/

So to sum up - learn for yourself, work out a way that works for you, then fail because it isn't the 'standard'?

That is what I think will happen. I do all the things people have mentioned (sit on the bike to go backwards downhill, etc) but it almost invariably means putting my right hand on the bar to cover the brake as soon as I don't have to actually push the bike. Thank god I passed my test years ago.

Do the people who actually dream up these tests actually ride bikes?

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Cousin Jack

A bof that rides a Bonnie T100.

quickly stamp on the gear lever and put it in 1st, should stop the bike instantly .... job jobbed

ps I am not an expert!

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we can tell!

On a sensible non-daft note, our lass is doing her test next week, is this requirement to handle the bike in use at the moment, or is it the back end of the year when the "Nw Test" is supposed to be in force?

Is it still the old, walk the bike in a U turn mode then get on and U-Turn it back again.

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Or stick it in first before you start and feather the clutch.
It might work.

The article was supposed to be about the new test, due to start in September (ish). AFAIK the current test is still unchanged.

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Cousin Jack

A bof that rides a Bonnie T100.