Newbie or intermediate?

Originally Posted by plowsie

19 years old. Been riding 1 year and 3/4 months, covered 18,000 on SV's/CBR

I'd say I havent even hit puberty...

(That is not open for abuse from anyone Yes even you ASM)

Now, stu, I think its time you learn't about hair in all those funny places and why you dont have to wax it all off once a month...

Originally Posted by alpinestarhero

I consider myself reasonably experiance din the ways of london riding.

Still not great on sweeping country roads, like those of Sussex

Agreed, in London, I seem to leave couriers......

I can flick through traffic very quickly, but safely. But i need to get my B road skills up.

Originally Posted by Daimo

Agreed, in London, I seem to leave couriers......

I can flick through traffic very quickly, but safely. But i need to get my B road skills up.

yea, thats my problem. I'm good in london, and I reckon I could show my dad a thing or two about town riding (infact, I have done a few times - he's not always instantly looking for the gaps to filter through). But I need some time out with my dad on the A and B roads - thats his domain, and I drop to my knees and pay respect at the speed and smoothness with which he carves up those curves. Think john reynolds, but no knee down.

Matt

Originally Posted by ASM-Forever

Yes, but like i said you really need to have suffered some form of knee injury.

I have one of those, right kneecap was plated in Nov 1981 after breaking it in my big crash. I fell off again in August 1982 and wore away the screw heads so they took the plate out. I now have a nice scar there.

Originally Posted by ASM-Forever

Also as you beat me into replying to a thread when you were having 'one of your bad days', i say its no excuse at all.

I have lots of bad days, but I don't use them as an excuse

[rictus01]

you got to love this stuff, people are after the magic number or limit to pass or mileage to do so that they believe they are "as good" as someone else.

he's a tip, there isn't one.

worked out last year I've covered over 1 1/4 million road miles on a bike,
well over 30 yrs
ROSPA gold
Police class one motorbike course passed
and competed in just about all the major motorcycle sports at one time or another.


I rode for 4 months last year covering just under 12,000 miles, like a complete prat, loads of mistakes and dropped the bike twice.

Not riding just now and probably won't for the next few months, and what Have I got to look forward to ?, learning the whole lot all over again.

you don't just pass a magic number and then you're good, you always work at it or you're never going to be.

Cheers Mark.

[KnightRider]

I passed in May and have racked up 9,000 miles, but I'm another one of those people who have done loads of miles and would consider myself an intermediate rider on the type of roads that I use, mainly motorway and central London rush hour filtering.

Put me on the twisties and I cant corner for sh*t.

With all that said, when I came back from holiday I realised that I still had to get back into the swing of things and that I was no where near as good as when I left - so it is back to being a noob again until I get back into the swing of things.

Doesn't everyone find that their riding ability depends on more factors than just miles and the term of riding? I bet that I could run rings round a couple of the guys that have more experience but that haven't ridden all winter. Give them a few weeks and they will most likely catch me up and get their ability back.

Think what we are concluding here, and Rictus put it very well, is that mileage and experience will get you to a certain level, to maintain it or improve on it, you need to keep on riding the bike, like anything else it's all about practice. A rider who meets a variety of roads and conditions on a daily basis will be much more comfortable with his bike and his riding that somone who doesn't. Just like riding a horse, the better you know the animal.....

[dizzyblonde]

I would say there isn't a competition for newbie/intermediate etc thing.
The day you can ride the way you do, comfortably and safely, wether that be bimbling or riding like a loon, then you are experienced. Add to that when your mates are hooning around and you think, I'm not playing I'm happy doin what I do, then you've gained control. Erm fallen off, brushed yourself off, and got back on-another notch on the experience ladder, hit an animal( like me) and stayed on.....well you get it.

but even after all the miles, or lack of miles I've done, round France and back, with mates not with mates, I still feel like a newbie

and do you know what, it ain't an issue

[Ruffy]

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

...
and do you know what, it ain't an issue
...

Well said: I think you've just described what I believe is the point when you move up from being a newbie, when you realise it's about your own abilities, not other people's.

Know your own limits, aspire to be better and work on it but, overall, be happy with what you are and have the self assurance that what you do today will mean that you will be able to ride tomorrow.

That is an emotive question really. Some people can ride a bike or drive a car for years and they remain a crap rider/driver.

Being a good rider means knowing your limits, knowing you bike limits and seeing hazards before they happen. This means you have to stay 100% focused on where you are going and what is happening around you all the time. Unfortunately humans are very good at learning the hard way. The trouble is death does not give you a second chance!

If a survey has ever been carried out, I bet it shows that the odd summer weekend rider is more likely to have an accident that a regular rider. However I know it is a well proven statistic that you are more likely to have an accident on a familiar route, as people become complacent and do not pay enough attention.

I reckon after a couple of years of regular riding you should have learnt enough to stay safe and deal with most situations.

Tim