Riding & driving classes: the saga continues

Good evening everyone,

Moving on with the story, I've attended 7 motorcycle riding classes and 5 car driving classes up to now. I've never written anything about how my driving class is going for the simple reason that my focus (preference and passion) is mainly on (for) riding; nevertheless, there may be some of you out there wanting to know so here goes.

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The driving class is held on a pool of Citroën C1s which, funny as it may look, seems to have been a wise choice because it handles very well and is very forgiving with the lack of skills usually found in a beginner.
The particular car I'm taking my class on has a clicky 2^nd gear (it shifts smoothly into it while at rest but it produces an audible metallic click when shifting while rolling, even if the clutch is fully depressed), a stubborn 1^st gear (again, smooth shifting when at rest but needs quite a push on the lever when moving) and a phantom clutch (there are two traction peaks within the pedal travel instead of just one).
Moving on to the good side, the servo-assisted steering has a very responsive and sturdy feel both while at speed and when creeping through back alleys. Strangely though, it feels like a motorcycle's handlebar when hitting potholes in the pavement al low speed :-) Another good feature is the servo-assisted brake which works smoothly in a linearly progressive way both when at speed and while coasting -- a very good thing for a beginner which tends to slam it every so often :-D

And what about me? Oh well, as I've mentioned previously, I'm not that much into driving as I am into riding. I'm making visible progress, I'm learning and I shall get my (car driver) license but my focus will remain with motorcycles and riding.

Speaking of which ...

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• I learned how to lean the motorcycle in a controllable fashion while taking a turn, much like I had been able to do with my bicycle before
• I learned how to apply gentle throttle while taking a turn to stabilize the motorcycle's posture and trajectory
• I learned how to prop it up its center stand without hurting anyone (myself, bystanders and motorcycle included)
• I learned how to push it around without straddling it, without dropping it (or making a mess out of my arms in an attempt to keep it from falling) and without the help of the engine (it may sound funny but it's a mandatory examination item, just as propping it up/taking it off the center stand)
• I started practicing riding in zigzag through a string of traffic cones spaced 2m apart (another mandatory part of the examination). It works, but I need some more practice to iron out any hesitation while shifting my weight from one side to the other
• I started practicing quick stops ;-)

And, last but not the least, I've found a good place to shop for equipment & apparel :-)

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Finally, I would like to quote David L. Hough, the author of (among many others) More Proficient Motorcycling: Mastering the Ride, as he found the perfect way to describe the attitude of a good motorcyclist: "Motorcyclists, like pilots, put the priority on avoiding accidents rather than attempting to survive accidents. The energy is focused on doing everything right, rather than surviving the crash.". This also helps me with explaining my choice to various people concerned with the risks involved :-) ... and this will also help me explain my future choice (I expect it to happen next year, from February onwards -- but I'm not sure of my budget yet) of taking classes for a PPL+IR license.

That's all for tonight,
Sleep well and ride safe,
@Dexter