Experienced bikers

I just thought I'd ask the opinion of the org on what you feel constitutes experience in biking. Is it years? or mileage? I know its a broad question but just in general. For example is a biker who has been riding consistently for 20 years 1,000 miles a year more experienced than someone who has been biking for a year and covered 20,000 miles? I know there are other factors to consider and I am simplifying it but just humour me please

Cheers

IMO the confidance of the rider has a lot more to do with it than years or miles.

probaly a ratio of milage to years. For example, my dad has been riding bikes for 35+ years, but dosnt cover more than 5000 miles a year (if that) riding.

He's still stupidly quick though, and very smooth. Think John Reynolds, but no knee down, and thats him

Matt

Originally Posted by hovis

IMO the confidance of the rider has a lot more to do with it than years or miles.

I think confidence and common sense. You may be confident at filtering thorugh stationary traffic at 60 mph, but is that really wise? I'm confident at filtering through stationary traffic at 15-20 mph, which is probably a safer speed!

Confidence helps you keep under control of your bike, that much is true

Matt

i don't do many miles but have been riding continuously for 16 years, i would rate my riding as normal (not great not really bad), i think hovis is right confidence does have alot to do with it the problem is i find my self an over confident rider and thats when i have the most fun our usually bin it.

An experienced biker is one who has been there, done that, got the scars and lived to tell the tale...


... now whether they are a 'good' experienced rider or a 'bad' experienced rider depends on what they've learned from having been there and done that etc.

[dyzio]

In the 7 months that I have my license I've done 7k miles...
I manage to brake when an idiot pulls out or tries to push me off the road, or to stay in a corner which suddenly tightens, but I always say that I have a lot to learn...
I think there's no simple answer to your question, because you can always improve.

[jambo]

"Experienced" is a little tricky to work with. Biking is a multi disciplined event

Some people are very fast in town because they commute daily, but less confident on B roads. Some are fast on a track day but take risks on the road many wouldn't be comfortable with. Some people ride well but get caught out by rubbish conditions because they haven't ridden through many winters before...Some ride well but never have a clue about maintaining the bike....

Years help build up experience of weather conditions, suitable clothing, routine maintenance, and often lead to a calmer, smoother rider. Miles help make sure you're very familiar with how (at least) your bike feels doing the type of roads you've racked up those miles on.

I don't think you have to crash a bunch of times to be experienced, but the longer you're riding, and the more miles you do, the better you should be at not getting into sticky situations in the first place, rather than just dealing with them once they've developed.

Bottom line, I've still got tons to learn and I've been riding for several years and many miles. But I'm better than I was, so I guess that's what you aim for....

Just my 2p

I can remember reading a quote, possibly in Bike or Ride or somewhere, that said often if someone's been riding for 8 years, it's often that they've had 8 years of "1 year riding" as opposed to "8 years of riding", due to the skills that you begin to learn and build on are learned in the first couple of years....


Not sure if I agree 100%, but it sounds fair.

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Al_Sweetman

I can remember reading a quote, possibly in Bike or Ride or somewhere, that said often if someone's been riding for 8 years, it's often that they've had 8 years of "1 year riding" as opposed to "8 years of riding", due to the skills that you begin to learn and build on are learned in the first couple of years....


Not sure if I agree 100%, but it sounds fair.

There are some riders that get a bike, do a bunch of ride outs with mates, on sunny days then when they're doing ok they park it up for 6 months. Next year they'll do very similar roads, with similar mates on similar days. These people are essentially repeating the same year. I think you need to be challenged and do different things to improve