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 ‘These
are Donatella Versace’s motorbike gloves; they’re
tiny, she has such little hands,’ says my instructor
as I fish out a larger pair for my virgin attempt to tackle
two wheeled motorised transportation.
If Donatella can do it, so can I. Not
only am I hoping to complete the Compulsory Basic Training
(CBT) course – needed to ride any scooter if you haven’t
passed your driving test, or took it after February 2001 –
but my editor expects me to surpass the fashionistas on their
twist’n’gos by riding a manual 125cc motorbike.
For many women who harbour the dream
of opening a throttle and flying through congestion on two
wheels – but are also intimidated by the prospect of
learning alongside confident blokes – learning the ropes
can be a put-off.
City of angels
But there is an alternative. Founded by TV producer Alison
Grade last year, Girls Angels, a motorbike training company
based in West London, runs single-sex classes (taught by both
men and women) and kits its riders in distinctive neon pink
fluorescent jackets.
After our preface to everything from leathers to laws, we
get down to the nitty gritty and are introduced to our 50cc
automatic mopeds (just in case you’re a novice, automatic
means no clutches or gears to worry about so learning is simple).
‘Check your lights are on and
make sure you always do the life-saver – a look
behind you that can prevent accidents,’ says instructor
Mem. We complete some wobbly U-turns in the on-site tarmac
arena. Within an hour, all the ladies are cheerfully riding
rather clumsy figures of eight. And then we attempt mock junctions
around cones.
Although learning to ride a moped in
the confines of a car park seems fun and easy, real roads
are a different proposition.
We head out into the streets in the afternoon and while it
takes a couple of hours to be able to balance confidently
and know where to position yourself correctly, it’s
exhilarating.
I happen to notice several mopeds weaving
into the cycle lanes but Mem says thi is a ‘big no’.
My ‘this is easy’ enthusiasm quickly wanes the
following morning. ‘Throttle off – front, rear,
clutch, gear,’ I mutter as I try stopping my gleaming
silver CG125 Honda from second gear. For any real biker, the
125cc is a squirt of a machine but, for me, it symbolises
a heady graduation into the lowest ranks of the biker world.
There are many things to remember:
the left handlebar is a clutch; left pedal is the gearshift;
right handlebar is an accelerator; right leg is for braking.
This is a foreign experience for motorist and cyclist alike.
In the practice area, getting into
first gear is fairly smooth, bar letting the clutch out too
quickly and the bike rearing up like a frenzied horse. ‘Remember:
gears to go, brakes to slow,’ the instructor tells me.
But when I forget, my automatic reaction is to let go –
of the clutch.
On the road, I make the same mistake
again at a junction and wheelie towards a horrified white
van man, so we return to the practice arena where I pay penance
by riding tight figures of eight until using the clutch becomes
intuitive.
Amazingly, it does.
I stop thinking and the motorbike and
I start weaving naturally. Finally, my dreams of being Dennis
(or perhaps Denise) Hopper are re-ignited and I go home a
content, fledgling Angel – until the Wheels editor sends
me to do my DAS test (Direct Access) that is.
Girls Angels CBT, including bike, costs £100 or £80
if you bring your own bike. Leathers and helmet are supplied.
Tel: 020 8843 6660.
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