The truth? Most CBT nerves have nothing to do with ability. They’re about uncertainty. The vast majority of riders complete their CBT in one day — especially if they arrive prepared and calm.

Winter riding in the UK isn’t just about cold hands and fogged visors. It’s about diesel rainbows on roundabouts. It’s about white lines that feel like ice. It’s about visibility that drops without warning. It’s about drivers who haven’t seen a bike for weeks and they forget we exist.

The truth is, I’ve hit a wall. Personally and professionally. Due to ongoing life challenges, including caring responsibilities and the long shadow of a painful divorce, I’ve found myself without work — and worse, without the steady sense of direction that once defined me.

I knew this Mod 1 training session would test not only my ability to balance and corner, but also the whispering doubts in my mind. I had to be better than I had been before. I had to push myself just a little bit further past my comfort zone. Kurt, our trainer, radiated calm as usual and always full of insights. As he guided me and my riding pal for the morning through slow-speed manoeuvres and hill starts, I strained to keep my gaze on the horizon making sure that Kurt did