Eastside are the local motorbike training experts. Based at Lea Valley Ice Rink, they have the largest site in London and boast a 90% test pass rate. Let’s see what they could do with me.

As a teenager, I’d messed around on mates’ 50cc machines. With L-plates, a provisional license and a smile I was officially ‘road legal’ but would never have described myself as ‘road safe’. Thankfully, these days things are more regulated. In order to to get started on a motorbike or a scooter you need to take a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) course that qualifies you to ride a machine up to 125cc.

I arrived at the Lea Bridge Road site at 8am sharp and our instructor, Lian, wasted no time in getting us started.  As it’s an intensive one-day course, there’s a lot of information to get through so it was straight to the office to run through all the safety gear and show us around the bikes. Right from the off, she worked hard at keeping everyone alert and focused, giving out information then asking questions to make sure it was sinking in.

Then it was time to saddle up. We started with the basics – riding in a straight line, then round in a loop, figures of eight and u-turns. By doing this we were learning gear and clutch control and also how to handle the weight of the bike. It was a bit like rubbing your head and patting your tummy at times but Lian was clear with her instructions and very encouraging when we got it right.

This took us up to about 3pm and, after a quick recap of everything we’d learned, it was time to hit the road. You have a maximum of two bikes to an instructor and Marc was allocated as my mentor. I was fitted with a one-way radio so I could hear his directions but he couldn’t hear my expletives. As we went out into the traffic I started to wonder what I was getting myself into. I found myself thinking ‘What would Steve McQueen do?’. This seemed to steady my nerves and we were soon cruising up Lea Bridge Road, albeit at the snail’s pace of rush hour.

Marc directed us towards Whipps Cross roundabout then on past the Eagle Pond towards South Woodford. When we hit a 40 mph stretch I was told to open up the throttle and I suddenly realised, after frowning with concentration all day, I now had a massive grin spread across my face. This was really good fun!

Then, after the thrill of the open road, it was time for the manoeuvres. I found the trickiest thing was remembering everything needed to control the bike whilst, at the same time, staying aware of the road. Marc kept me on track with firm but fair advice such as “Slow down”, “Keep your knees in” and, more than a few times, “Turn your indicator off”.  As time went on I also started to get the occasional “Well done” as well which was much appreciated. Then it was time to head back and, as riding the bike started to feel more natural, I found I could just enjoy being out on the road.

It was about 6pm when we returned to the training site and Marc told me I’d passed. Even though I was mentally and physically drained by this point I felt exhilarated – I’d done it!

Eastside Riders:

020 8533 2835 www.eastsiderider.co.uk