Everything You Need To Know When Learning To Ride

When starting out on your journey of learning to ride, there is a myriad of information to get your head around. How do I book lessons? What kit do I need to wear? What can I expect during my lessons? How do I book my test? What happens on my test?

So many questions and until recently not one single place to find all the answers. Which has meant trawling through the internet piecing it all together.

RideTo is on a mission to change that, we’re always aiming to offer as much valuable information and advice on our website and the team have also put together an excellent resource that tells you everything you need to know when learning to ride.

The New Rider Journal is a comprehensive 115-page guide that covers everything from licences & training to gear guides, bike reviews, riding tips and much much more. The aim of the journal is to pack as much easily digestible information into a single guide that will help anyone who is learning to ride.

The New Rider Journal is broken down into six main sections, each containing a number of short articles taking you through the key information needed. Section one is all about learning to ride, with vital information covering Licences & Laws before leading into everyone's starting point the CBT, or Compulsory Basic Training.

All of the questions you may have concerning what to wear, how to prepare for your CBT, Motorbike controls, road signs, roundabouts and traffic lights are answered in simple, uncomplicated terms. For those riders who plan to move on from the CBT, this section also covers everything you would want to know about preparing for and gaining your Full motorcycle licence.

Section two offers lots of advice on riding gear and how to choose what's right for you and the riding you’ll be doing. The most important piece of protective clothing is of course the helmet and its very important that you go into your purchase knowing as much as possible. The Journal will teach you about styles, materials, safety ratings but most importantly it will take you through the process of choosing a lid that fits perfectly. The better a helmet fits, the safer it will be and the more comfortable it is the more you’ll enjoy your riding.

The same can be said for Jackets, trousers, boots and gloves and of course, the journal will give you advice on how to choose all of these as well as some of the RideTo team's top picks to help you on your way.

Now you’ve got your riding gear sorted, you’ll be looking for a bike and guess what? Yep, the Rider Journal will also tell you how to find the right bike, be that a scooter, a CBT friendly 125cc motorcycle, A2 compliant machine or a big full licence motorbike. If your budget doesn’t stretch to a brand new motorbike, then there are also some very handy tips on what to look out for when buying a used machine. You’ll also want to keep it safe when you get it home, so security isn't forgotten either.

So, you have your licence, you’ve chosen some good protective riding gear, the right motorcycle lock and your new pride and joy is safely locked up at home, that's it you're all done. Well no not quite. It is often said that once you’ve passed your test, that's when you really learn to ride!

The final section of the New Rider Journal is all about life on the road. A Q&A session with an instructor brings up lots of key questions that new riders will ask or encounter. Tips also include riding in the rain, in groups, with a pillion and at night.

Alongside these nuggets of information, ongoing maintenance, cleaning and insurance are all important parts of the riding experience and they have not been forgotten either.

Inspiring stories from real riders pepper the pages of the guide, as well as riding routes and ride out destinations to help you find your feet and really experience life on two wheels.

There really is nothing else like the New Rider Journal out there for new or prospective riders. It's an engaging one-stop-shop of all the information you could ever need packed into a quality coffee table style book. It’s easy to pick and jump straight in when you have a spare five minutes, or you can absorb every piece of information from start to finish if you’re that way inclined. Either way, at just £7.99 it's an invaluable journal which is available from the RideTo store.