T's Newb Question of the Week

[Stark]

One or two people mentioned it here, but it's all about the comfort level. I remember when I first started riding I would just keep it in the neighborhood, practice, etc. And then one day I just felt like expanding a bit and rode to a friend's job, and after that I never really looked back.

I remember summers and summers ago one of the CSC guys who was a MSF instructor offered the "advanced rider" class for free to a bunch of us. He said something that I never forgot and think about every time before I sit on a bike, every single ride I take whether it's doing "townie" crap like going to the store or going for a weekend ride in the hills -- and what he said was that you never want to ride over 70% of your ability, so that you always have a margin of error to compensate with when something goes wrong. The trick is knowing that every day you get on a bike your ability level changes, and part of becoming an experienced rider is learning how to quickly gauge where you are that day.

The best advice I could give a new rider thinking about this question is to learn at the pace you feel comfortable with and never, ever, succumb to peer pressure while riding. Every summer I've been in this club there's been at least 1 crash because someone didn't realize that just because the person in front of you could do something it doesn't neccesarily mean that you can, or felt they had to keep up and didn't have the skill, etc. And unfortunately in this sport being wrong is rarely a casual learning experience. Learn the basic skills so that driving the bike becomes second nature, THEN start applying it to the more difficult things (weather, bad pavement, high traffic). Trying to learn things with a trial-by-fire type mentality is not only stupid on a bike, it's a good way to get hurt.

Secondly, never be afraid to ask for help -- I know personally I'm more than willing to spend an afternoon with someone new in a parking lot (and have done this before with some riders) or going around town or up to the hills helping them find lines, kill bad habits and learn, and I'd bet there are plenty of riders all around town here who would do the same ... ASK! That's one of the benefits of the CSC, we're a friendly bunch. And I think I can speak for every member when I say we'd much rather see a thread asking for someone to spend a few hours helping a new rider then read a thread about how someone's in the hospital. Or worse.

[Sortarican]

....QUESTION?:
....Is it better for newbs to learn the elements and the obstacles to overcome right up front. How do newbs get better?
OR
Would you all suggest a newb take it easy. Baby themselves for some (period of time (insert here), never ride in rain and wind. Never subject themselves to the likes of the Santa Fe madness or I-25 for that matter.

A tourist asks a New Yorker: "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?"
The New Yorker answers: "Practice."

1) Ease into and practice any new technique.
2) Work on "worse case scenario's" before you encounter the "worse case".
3) Put in the saddle time. There's no substitute for real world experience.
4) Assume that everyone else on the road thinks you murdered their
Mother, ran over their dog, and burned their house down, and now is their
opportunity to exact their revenge by turning you into roadkill.

Oh, and if at all possible, never....ever....ride on Die-25 if you can avoid it.
(See point #4).

[lightning126zp]

Lots of saddle time, take classes as much as you can, practice a bunch, and learn to ride in as much different terrain as you can.

[64BonnieLass]

Okay, it's hump day. Bump Day! So WHO'S HUMPIN AND WHO'S NOT! j/k (Course we all know Wicky is...that slut)

Okay so the week is half over. Who else hasn't posted their wisdom here. This is THE place to scream about your skilz and to teach me (and other viewers) your knowledge.

Please participate. It helps shape us all right?

T

[Bueller]

Okay so the week is half over. Who else hasn't posted their wisdom here. This is THE place to scream about your skilz and to teach me (and other viewers) your knowledge.

Please participate. It helps shape us all right?

T

You don't want to learn from me

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

I think this is a great way to share experiences with each other and enlighten others to some practices that may expedite our growth curve in respect to motorcycle riding. So, thanks for posting the question Terri.

I find for myself, I'm fairly aggressive in my wanting to tackle the things my more experienced friends are doing on their bikes. Including riding in inclement weather, tackling the twisties at a faster pace, and wanting to hit the track. Obviously, any of these can end badly without easing yourself into it at a smart pace...which is something I'm guilty of. I think we all are tentative when getting into something new, but each of our definitions of tentative can be quite different. For me, I feel I push myself beyond my comfort level lots of the time, but not to where I'm over my head. I feel that I'm not going to grow in anything I do if I don't push that level of comfort. The trick is riding that fine line of pushing yourself but not stepping out of bounds of ability or aptitude of being able to do something and ending up hurt.

Let's take this recent Mother's Day ride. I had no reservations whatsoever with the first part of the trip. I understood and respected the first part of the trip from Morrison to Palmer. I think it was a great idea for some of the most junior riders. I didn't mind chilling out in the back and sweeping.

The next part we took as a group was a little funner for me, yet the ride from Monument to Deckers was what I would consider fun, comfortable, and well within my ability. I didn't feel I pushed myself beyond those limits I spoke of.

Now, here's where I jumped up and tap danced back and forth over that line of comfort. I pushed myself at a pace I've not done before on the ride from Deckers to Pine Junction. There were times on this brisk pace run that I was asking myself what I was doing. I thought I was over my head during a few instances. However, I kept pace with some of the more experienced riders and surely learned a great deal. I know, at this point in time, what my abilities are. I know what my limits are and I'm proud of what I accomplished. Prior to the last leg of the trip, I would of never thought I was capable of that pace.

I think a large part of my learning experience on the ride I described above was listening to the advice I was given from a more experienced rider and that I've passed to more junior riders...believe in your bikes abilities. This bike I ride will outperform my riding abilities everyday. That allowed me to ride quicker, lean further, and try to really be smoother in my acceleration and braking.

I made it, but I still have lots of ground to cover in terms of riding smooth, which I think is key. If I can get the smooth part down, I think it opens the door for safer.

In regards to city traffic or interstate traffic, I feel comfortable. But, I remember my first time going from I-225 to I-25 through DTC to Lincoln during rush hour....certainly not a good feeling. There was fear, anxiety, apprehension, etc. Now it doesn't phase me at all.

Dive in, push yourself, learn from your experiences...but do so in steps wise to your abilities.

[dapper]

Dive in, push yourself, learn from your experiences...but do so in steps within your abilities.

fixed

Riding with slow peeps will slow your progression.

If you don't know what to ask to improve. Ask the experienced riders in person, "What should I be asking you so I can improve?"
Seat time is the biggie...

[lightning126zp]

fixed

Riding with slow peeps will slow your progression.

If you don't know what to ask to improve. Ask the experienced riders in person, "What should I be asking you so I can improve?"
Seat time is the biggie...

Slow riders doesn't always mean inexperienced riders.

As for the latter part +1

[dapper]

Slow riders could include, but not limited to being fragile, easily spooked, can lack quick reactions/thoughts, panic under anxiety, hypersensitivity, etc.


Example:

If you practice riding with Aaron Yates every weekend, you will learn quicker than riding with your Harley buddy with 30 years on two wheels.

[rforsythe]

Slow riders could include, but not limited to being fragile, easily spooked, can lack quick reactions/thoughts, panic under anxiety, hypersensitivity, etc.


Example:

If you practice riding with Aaron Yates every weekend, you will learn quicker than riding with your Harley buddy with 30 years on two wheels.

Not necessarily. The guy with 30 years on two wheels has a lot of experience and wisdom to share from riding that long successfully. It'd be a mistake to ignore that just because the other guy goes faster. You're also comparing apples to kumquats, one is great on the street, one is great on the track.

I don't always ride fast (in fact I tend not to more these days) but I have plenty fast reactions, I don't panic under anxiety, and last I checked wasn't fragile or easily spooked. I've also seen guys that thought they were fast, but would crack under pressure or have major issues with any extra thought requirements.

Speed is not the supreme identifier of a rider's skill, especially on the street. Some of the best riders I've ever seen could do circles around you on any road but also know when to chill out and slow down.

[jimwallace]

well this is an easy answer yet a complicated one. firstly the answer is ride ride ride ride. even if you have no one to ride with and no one to teach you anything.. you will still learn and as you progress you will undoubtedly push yourself even if it is simply through complacency. i am on my third bike and just had my first layover simply because i was lazy complacent and wasnt paying attention to what i was doing .....guess what... i learned another lesson... so answer ....keep riding and if you have a more specific question here is a great place to get an answer....p.s great job on this forum i think it is an excellent topic and has a lot of potential...pretty soon i may be looking for an answer,...props

[Warren]

Thanks to everyone for there advice. I am a pretty new rider myself, but have quite a bit of seat time already. I am really looking forward to getting out and riding with some of my experienced friends. I was able to ride with my dad when I was in Michigan a few weeks ago and that was useful. He has 30+ years riding experience and was able to learn a lot from him about riding on the highway and being safe. Now I can't wait to learn even more about negotiating the switchbacks!

[pilot]

IMI is a fun place to get some corner under the belt. However, on weekends it can get a bit hectic for new riders. Perhaps it is time to for some experienced riders to set up a parking lot day-- the old Target on West Colfax seems to be a decent place for training now-a-days.

Terri,
Glad to hear that you are reading some books on riding. There are several good ones out there: Total Control, Twist one and two and Proficient Motorcycling one and two, to name a few. It is an excellent way to get you "into the Zone". Also, the MSF Basic and Experienced Rider Courses can provide some valuable training. Then after a year or two, you can take an advanced technique course-- if you so choose.

I believe you said that you picked up an SV? I had the chance to ride one recently and found it to be a very good ride. It is easy to flop it from one turn to the next. Just enough power to get you up and going without too much torque.