Confidence AND Competence?

[yorkie_chris]

Riding normally in front of a copper on anything other than a bikesafe day is a really bad idea!

Lucky we only have plumbers in the pennine massive.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Riding normally in front of a copper on anything other than a bikesafe day is a really bad idea!

Lucky we only have plumbers in the pennine massive.

While we were riding there was some guy on a sports bike coming the way (must have adjusted is speed upon seeing the fluorescent copper bike behind us) trying to gesticulate 'He's behind you!' as we razzed past him.

It was useful though, and the copper was fair enough.

[dizzyblonde]

No need for a track day, I've ridden for seven yrs and never been near the track!

Be at one with your bike, and don't copy others, learn your own road (if you know what I mean), sure go out with someone with more experience (and when I say that I don't mean someone that has been riding a year or two I mean someone whos been at it an eternity).
Get some stamina, don't just do a few miles do hundreds of mile, when and where you can, be it on a motorway, twists, turns, hills bumps and lumps.

The longer and more you ride the better you get. If you fall off, get back on again, but don't expect you to feel all that confidence that you have got come back straight away, do it all again, just the same, and you'll be better for it.

Last year I rode to Devon (on me tod), Scotland(tried on my own but Speedy Claire wouldn't let me!), Essex twice(once on my own once met half way), Wales, The Lakes, been to Bordeaux and led the way there and back......all helps I have come on a great deal, as I came off the year before.

[yorkie_chris]

But always bear in mind that just because someone has had a license for 20 years does not mean they have been riding properly for all that time or that they have not picked up 20 years of bad habits

Look at everything logically, read roadcraft again and again and never do anything "just because" someone told you to. If you can't see WHY to do something and the person telling you to do it can't explain the logic behind it, you need to ignore that "fact". Same as anything, keep an open mind and be critical.

don't fall off.

[dizzyblonde]

Most that have been riding some twenty odd years are more likely to be able to give you some proper sage advice than someone whose been at it two.
You ride for yourself and pick up your own bad habits. I've certainly listened to people whose advice I've asked for, thought about it and taken it on board.....doesn't necessarily mean I will use it though.

And just to be a big head, I may listen to those who have ridden less than me..and usually I pretty much ignore it too, IMO those who have done, are usually the knee down and get round the bend the quickest sort at the highest revs.....and I don't particurlarly like that style at all.

Ride for yourself, its the best advice you can can give yourself.

Not long ago, I rode with an IAM assessor for four hundred miles. In that time, she couldn't fault any of my riding, so I can't be doing that bad at all Told me I should at least think about doing the IAM thing

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

No need for a track day, I've ridden for seven yrs and never been near the track!.

The reason I found the track helpful was because it seems to have helped me negotiating any unexpectedness in corners. I admit I'd caught myself previously reaching for the brakes when I found a 1/2 lane wide pothole on the outside of a country bend - which put me in an even more dangerous situation. Not done the same since (touch wood )

IAM helped me with hazard perception/smoothing stuff out. Definitely made me slower and more paranoid though, not too ársed.

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

Most that have been riding some twenty odd years are more likely to be able to give you some proper sage advice than someone whose been at it two.

My dad has only ever given me two bits of advice; the first day we went riding together, he said "if you are running wide, push on the inside handlebar and you will make it round". That has saved me a few times (except I find pulling on the outside bar is easier lol). The other bit of advice he gave me recently was to know the tyres have more grip than what I'll ever need or ask of, even when its raining.

Given that he rides faster than me in all conditions, even on a 25+ year old NC24, I don't doubt him

[Mej]

Originally Posted by ceeshaw

Hello guys -- my first posting.

The intro: 34, passed my direct access last Sep, bought my first bike (a curvy SV650 of course) on 3rd Jan, and I've been out just about every weekend since. The plan is to commute on the bike, which would currently be about 12 miles a day and will be about 35 miles per day from March when I take on new work role.

I'm riding different routes on the weekend, some dual carriageway to get some experience at national speed limit and lots of A roads to get better at cornering,and a little bit of motorway. At the moment I'm not commuting because the weather's been so carp in the mornings.

I'd like to do some advanced rider training in the summer and I've read Motorcycle Roadcraft and ordered a copy of my own to work through properly. I'm just hoping I'm not developing any bad habits as I ride by myself (all my mates to chicken to learn something new)!!

Here's the question(s): what would you guys recommend as being a great way to improve confidence AND competence on the bike? What are the newbie pitfalls to beware of (bad habits etc)?

Thanks for the wisdom! I've been searching through the forum for the last month learning plenty. Cheers!

welcome, i asked the same question when i started.

nothing beats milage underyour belt and i did rospa, because it was pretty much free and that helped me loads personally, especially with cornering and riding in bad conditions. so i would recommend it.

Cheers all, some great advice there! Thanks.
Another question though: do you ever stop smiling when you start 'er up and head for the hills??!
Thanks for the offer Alpinestar -- will definitely take you up on it another time!! (Working the 19th).