They're different but very complementary skills. Cycling will make you a better driver and I'll bet that driving will make you a better cyclist.
That's why I told that cyclist I knocked over to "get a car". Helpful, you see. (joke)
So...I started learning to driving.
- Thread starter Cycling Dan
- Start date
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That's why I told that cyclist I knocked over to "get a car". Helpful, you see. (joke)
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Have you started driving round pot holes yet ! Very much a 'cyclists' reaction - also saves the suspension components !
cd365
Guru
- Location
- Coventry, uk
OP
OP
Cycling Dan
Cycle Crazy
In short yes. The driving instructor had to reassure me unless its a huge pothole i'm not going to break the car ha.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
OP
OP
Cycling Dan
Cycle Crazy
Excellent. My instructor had to stop me driving round them !
Tyke
Senior Member
Try to put one wheel each side of pot holes then they just go under car. The way some of the roads are getting this may not always work.
mcshroom
Bionic Subsonic
- Location
- Egremont, Cumbria
Atip I was given and find useful is that when you reach to get out of the car, use your left hand to reach across your body and open the door. This causes your body to spin round so you have a better view behind you and are less likely to door a passing cyclist/car. 
Frood42
I know where my towel is
- Location
- Magrathea, Horsehead Nebula
Good luck!
Learning to drive and pass the test now is probably harder than when I learnt to drive 13 years ago (at least, I hope).
I passed first time, both the theory and practical (but when it came to vunerable road users the tests weren't really up to much, and I had no cyclists to practice overtaking, thery were very much a rarity).
A car was very much needed to get about (public transport was poor and school/college were too far to cycle) where I grew up and so I took and passed my tests as soon as I could (I was 17), plus my mates all had cars.
Learning to drive and pass the test now is probably harder than when I learnt to drive 13 years ago (at least, I hope).
I passed first time, both the theory and practical (but when it came to vunerable road users the tests weren't really up to much, and I had no cyclists to practice overtaking, thery were very much a rarity).
A car was very much needed to get about (public transport was poor and school/college were too far to cycle) where I grew up and so I took and passed my tests as soon as I could (I was 17), plus my mates all had cars.
OP
OP
Cycling Dan
Cycle Crazy
I dont understand this annoyance against cyclists. Maybe its because I'm a cyclist. In the driving lessons so far I have seen some of the bad cycling which drivers egg on about, in fact only one I came across was a cyclist who was great but maybe not through pinchpoints. The others were more people on bikes. However Its easy to control most of the time. My annoyance rated far above cyclists are buses which stop on the road as there stop does not come off the road and parked cars. I find these two more annoyance and a hindrances to progress. I understand the bus and I find it ok, I can accept it but people who park on where there is a drive way or just block the road really grind my gears.
Matthew_T
"Young and Ex-whippet"
- Location
- Prestatyn, North Wales
Clutch control was one of my biggest problems. However, when you move onto bay parking and manouvres, you get used to where the clutch is. Its just familiarity with the car.
Good to see you are on the road in a different format now though! Everything will fall into place like flies when you spray them with killer!
Good to see you are on the road in a different format now though! Everything will fall into place like flies when you spray them with killer!
OP
OP
Cycling Dan
Cycle Crazy
Onto reversing now. Last lesson did round a bend and some more tomoz. Still shoot with the clutch. Stop starts are not as jerky but still shoot.
OP
OP
Cycling Dan
Cycle Crazy
Are you suggesting I kill my instructor?
Tyke
Senior Member
This is new to me and I once trained as a driving instructor but I have been driving almost 35 yr and have always done this. Now you mention it, it makes a lot of sense.Atip I was given and find useful is that when you reach to get out of the car, use your left hand to reach across your body and open the door. This causes your body to spin round so you have a better view behind you and are less likely to door a passing cyclist/car.
Matthew_T
"Young and Ex-whippet"
- Location
- Prestatyn, North Wales
Haha, NO. I probably had the best instructor in terms of being aware of cyclists. @gavroche and I both knew where to look in the mirrors for cyclists, and he always reminded me to look out for the imaginary cyclist when I was making a turn.Are you suggesting I kill my instructor?
I do know people who go through instructors like rocks through a window. There was one girl on FB who said she was on her third instructor because the other two she didnt like.
But only you know if your instructor is good or not. After you have completed a lot of lessons (20 or 30 depending on your skill), ask your instructor for some mock tests if they have not already. Mock tests were brilliant to me and really picked up on where you need to improve. Also, as your instructor has been with you throughout your learning period, they will be more critical on the mistakes.
When I did a few mock tests, I got 8 minors and one fail, on the second I got 7 minors and one fail, but on my test I got 6 minors and PASSED! But quite a few of the minors on my test could have been avoided by making small adjustments to my position.
When on the test or even a lesson, remember to just take your time and not rush anything. Also consider doing a wees intensive course with your instructor. They are normally 4 hours over 5 days. I did that and was almost ready for the test on the final day. You cover a lot in those 4 hours.
However, the possibility of the intensive week will depend on what you are both doing (you and your instructor). But it works out cheaper and a lot more convenient.
