LEARN TO RIDE SLOWLY!!!!
Discussion
Been off the bike for about 9 months but had my first ride to work this year today. After riding bikes for 23 years and doing a 100 mile commute for 6, I'm a fair weather rider these days 
Anyway, what I want to get off my chest is the patent inability of most riders to ride, in control, at under 5mph. I rode trials to national level for 5 years, so I guess my balance and slow speed control is a bit better than most. So when filtering traffic - at least GET OUT OF THE BLOODY WAY if you can't ride slowly without stopping to put your feet down ever 2 seconds
Talking of which, can anyone tell my WHAT IS THE POINT of buying a bloody scooter with ENORMOUS cowhorn handlebars?? The things are so damn wide you need a dual carriageway to overtake a flipping car!! Jamie Oliver has a lot to answer for - no wonder scooter riders come in for a lot of flack.
Anyway, feel better now and even though I got exasperated in the traffic, it was the first time I've enjoyed my commute to work since summer last year
More so, 'cos the traffic into Chelsea was backed up to Heston this morning!!!!
Anyway, what I want to get off my chest is the patent inability of most riders to ride, in control, at under 5mph. I rode trials to national level for 5 years, so I guess my balance and slow speed control is a bit better than most. So when filtering traffic - at least GET OUT OF THE BLOODY WAY if you can't ride slowly without stopping to put your feet down ever 2 seconds
Talking of which, can anyone tell my WHAT IS THE POINT of buying a bloody scooter with ENORMOUS cowhorn handlebars?? The things are so damn wide you need a dual carriageway to overtake a flipping car!! Jamie Oliver has a lot to answer for - no wonder scooter riders come in for a lot of flack.
Anyway, feel better now and even though I got exasperated in the traffic, it was the first time I've enjoyed my commute to work since summer last year
More so, 'cos the traffic into Chelsea was backed up to Heston this morning!!!!
954 Girlie said:
Could always install some of those stabilisers that the disabled bloke had on his Fireblade a few years ago
That'll be Peter Griffiths then. He's also got/had a Ruf 993
What worries me is the Hardly Ableto riders who can't keep their bikes upright at low speeds - what happens if it falls over
I mainly use my bike for commuting into the smoke, so in the 6 or so months I've been riding, I've had lots of slow speed practice. While I feel I've improved a lot post my test, overall I'm still probably worse than average. The thing I do notice with all the slow riding I do though, is that I'm definitely not that confident with the faster stuff and make what can only be described as a pig's ear of some bends 
. Time for more training.
Steve (crap but improving on the twisties)
P.S. Stig - were you ever on Kick Start?
>> Edited by Steve_T on Tuesday 24th June 14:27
. Time for more training. Steve (crap but improving on the twisties)
P.S. Stig - were you ever on Kick Start?
>> Edited by Steve_T on Tuesday 24th June 14:27
Steve - almost!
The guy I rode with, Rob Warner, was but I didn't make it onto the programme. Although, Kickstart has about as much to do with Trials as track days have with F1
After calming down a bit, it's not so much the fact that they have trouble riding slowly, but they seem completely unaware that I'm behind them? Despite the odd 8k throttle blip and the h/lights on - they're oblivious.
Like all things, you can never learn too much. Personally speaking, I found that my riding experience has been more useful than anything when I started racing cars. Learning to look beyond the bend you're on, is hugely important.
Keep it shiny-side-up
The guy I rode with, Rob Warner, was but I didn't make it onto the programme. Although, Kickstart has about as much to do with Trials as track days have with F1
After calming down a bit, it's not so much the fact that they have trouble riding slowly, but they seem completely unaware that I'm behind them? Despite the odd 8k throttle blip and the h/lights on - they're oblivious.
Like all things, you can never learn too much. Personally speaking, I found that my riding experience has been more useful than anything when I started racing cars. Learning to look beyond the bend you're on, is hugely important.
Keep it shiny-side-up
Stig said:Amen,
Anyway, what I want to get off my chest is the patent inability of most riders to ride, in control, at under 5mph. I rode trials to national level for 5 years, so I guess my balance and slow speed control is a bit better than most. So when filtering traffic - at least GET OUT OF THE BLOODY WAY if you can't ride slowly without stopping to put your feet down ever 2 seconds
If a bike comes up behind you when you're filtering at *any* speed please get out of the way.
The number of berks on the M20 coming back from france sitting in the white line *not* filtering beggers belief.
Mark
)tim2100 said:
When I did my test in April towards the end of the test I was asked to ride along the road at walking speed for a while. It was the first time i had done this, but managed to pass.
So it is something that they are thinking about....
do they still get you to do a one point turn with no feet down?
as a rule, each new season, my mates and I go to a quiet place, and "pretend" to take the test, with radios, and comment on each others abilities. its a handy refresher.
yep, its still like that, do a u turn, no feet down or you fail.
I've been commuting into work for the last 2 weeks. My slow speed control is getting better every day but intil then I'm not doing too much filtering & am sitting behind cars so I dont hold the other bikers up.
What I do find amazing is the amount of scooters who just pull out without looking, often right in front of you, a few near misses already!
enjoying it though, and feeling more confident all the time.
I've been commuting into work for the last 2 weeks. My slow speed control is getting better every day but intil then I'm not doing too much filtering & am sitting behind cars so I dont hold the other bikers up.
What I do find amazing is the amount of scooters who just pull out without looking, often right in front of you, a few near misses already!
enjoying it though, and feeling more confident all the time.
Yep they still do the turn in the road, as said, walk the bike, then ride round.
I commute to another city 2 or three times per week on bike, which includes motorway or country lane (Depending what route/mood i'm in) and then through miles of queues. So I have learnt to filter through all of this, getting better and smoother by the day.
Tim.
I commute to another city 2 or three times per week on bike, which includes motorway or country lane (Depending what route/mood i'm in) and then through miles of queues. So I have learnt to filter through all of this, getting better and smoother by the day.
Tim.
dern said:
as a rule, each new season
What is this 'season' you speak of?
you've caught me, I dont tend to ride in winter any more. Its no fun in the rain and theres not enough sunlight when Im not at work to justigy getting it out.
I might get a scrambler tho, and use that in muddy fields in winter instead
[quote]If a bike comes up behind you when you're filtering at *any* speed please get out of the way.
[/quote]
Good point! the number of Ducati & Blade riders that ignorantly block my panniered cruiser are unbeleivable ! tiny narrow bikes, and I am still faster, even with pillion. Always amazed at how bad other riders can be. It almost makes it too easy to get past 'em - they're rubbish in traffic.
[/quote]
Good point! the number of Ducati & Blade riders that ignorantly block my panniered cruiser are unbeleivable ! tiny narrow bikes, and I am still faster, even with pillion. Always amazed at how bad other riders can be. It almost makes it too easy to get past 'em - they're rubbish in traffic.
Stig said:
Steve - almost!
The guy I rode with, Rob Warner, was but I didn't make it onto the programme.
Hey, I didnt know Rob Warner was on Kick Start! I am big into mountain biking (and more recently motorbiking) and have met him a couple of times at Red Bull events and so on... Stig - do you know a guy called Andy Bostock? He was one of the original team Animal Orange guys?
AntonyB
craigw said:
What I do find amazing is the amount of scooters who just pull out without looking, often right in front of you, a few near misses already!
Welcome to the rat race. Sounds like you're doing the right thing and taking it easy. One thing I have noticed is that better progress is more down to your observation and planning. This is how I get my own back on the scutters - just let 'em race away (as much as you can with 50ccs) and ride quietly past 'em when they're right up the back of the car in front and can't turn to filter.
Cheers,
Steve.
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