Driving in town for the first time.

[Matariki]

I feel nervous just thinking about it.
Iv'e done it plenty of times before in a car, but I usually had someone next to me telling me what to do or keeping an eye on what I was doing.

Any advice?

[firefighter]

Which town are you driving in?

I would'nt have thought Masterton traffic was worth being concerned about........:shifty:

[rustyrobot]

You'll be fine! Just keep a good following distance, be VERY cynical about indicators (don't trust 'em) and presume that everyone else is a learner driver with no idea how to drive. My first shock in driving around town was how hard roundabouts were, but after finding a circuit of three I could just go round and round, it has become second nature.

[Stirts]

Just breathe, try and relax, and as rustybotrot said, keep a good following distances!

Own your piece of road, be very aware of parked cars, and if there are people in them move to the righter side of your lane, so if a car door opens or they pull out of park it keeps you further out of harms way.

First time is always the hardest, but you will find it is always easier than the scenario that plays in your head ;)

[Her_C4]

Everything else that has been said - plus make sure that you stop at all stop signs and and prepare to stop at lights (ie don't leave it until the last minute and shoot through amber / red). Give way at giveway signs and roundabouts even when the driver has eyeballed you and you think they will give way.... chances are, they won't.

Keep calm and if it all becomes too much pull over and take a couple of deep breaths until you feel ready to face the traffic again. Once you have done it, it will be easy peasy:)

[CookMySock]

Keep your rides short. All the above advice looks great - stay clear of everything and just pootle around quietly. Don't be rushed by cars behind you, and if someone ever dares impatiently give you a toot, just point a finger at your L plate - they will get the message.

Steve

[robertvi]

in town you'll probably be stopping and starting a lot more, so this is a good thing to be confident with before riding in heavy traffic. a friend advised me to drive through town (christchurch) early on a sunday morning so i could stop and start through all the traffic lights. i found after waiting for a while in neutral with both feet down my brain would sometimes forget what to do next to pull away properly :doh:

my instructor taught me: check your mirrors regularly, do a head check of your blind spots (i.e. turn your head and look) before changing lanes, keep scanning the road ahead looking for other vehicles coming from any direction (including parked ones pulling away)

[Ronin]

Wouldn't ride down Queen Street as a start. Try a loop from the round a bout up by Faulknors down to Kuripuni and then back up the other side. The traffic flow is nice and steady but will give you a good feel for what it's like. Also you wont have to contend with the cages pulling out of the angle parks.

[R-Soul]

Keep your rides short. All the above advice looks great - stay clear of everything and just pootle around quietly. Don't be rushed by cars behind you, and if someone ever dares impatiently give you a toot, just point a finger at your L plate - they will get the message.

Steve
Or you could point your middle finger at the sky...

[hellokitty]

Like Ronin said - watch out for cars coming out of angle parks - people just seem to pull out regardless.
Wear something bright - so everyone can see you, and assume everyone is an idiot and that you are invisible.
When I am doing something new and scary, (like the first time I rode over the Harbour bridge and into town) take it slow, stop at give way signs, take time to look properly before pulling out.
I f people behind you have a problem TOO BAD for them. Don't ever let impatient dick heads in cars rush you.

[CookMySock]

If people behind you have a problem TOO BAD for them. Don't ever let impatient dick heads in cars rush you.Yeah this is really important. Remember gazing into the fuel tank while you are topping your bike up with petrol? Remind yourself at this time a large chunk of the money you hand over for fuel is road user charges, so while you're riding on your bit of the road you paid to be here and they can wait. :niceone:

This is where you need an experienced rider who is content to sit on your six all afternoon - you can forget about everything behind you (including him/her) and just ride. :ride:

Steve

[rustyrobot]

This is where you need an experienced rider who is content to sit on your six all afternoon - you can forget about everything behind you (including him/her) and just ride. :ride:

Hey, that's a great idea!

[Ronin]

This is where you need an experienced rider who is content to sit on your six all afternoon - you can forget about everything behind you (including him/her) and just ride. :ride:

Steve

Yup, I've done this for a couple of riders now. Quite relaxing

[hellokitty]

This is where you need an experienced rider who is content to sit on your six all afternoon - you can forget about everything behind you (including him/her) and just ride. :ride:

Steve

Yes! And if you get flustered and stall the bike, and the car behind you starts honking the horn, the experienced rider can get off his bike and sort them out! (My husband did this once - I mean, who the hell honks their horn at someone with an L plate)

[CookMySock]

Yup, I've done this for a couple of riders now. Quite relaxingYeah, it makes me smile. I like to sit and watch people grow. They don't need to worry about me.

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Steve

[CookMySock]

Yes! And if you get flustered and stall the bike, and the car behind you starts honking the horn, the experienced rider can get off his bike and sort them out! (My husband did this once - I mean, who the hell honks their horn at someone with an L plate)Is he the pissed-off looking sort with a really loud exhaust? :killingme

I've ridden around behind learners for a couple of years, and NO PERSON ever dared say a word, lol. The only time something has been said was to my 15 y/o L-Plater daughter (on her own) when someone thought they might push in, and as SOON AS he saw she was a little girl on a huge 250 Comet with an L Plate, he was very apologetic! No, she didn't let him in! :laugh:

Steve

[willytheekid]

Great advice on here :)
If your ever in trouble or need help, remember, the majority of bike riders around you are only too happy to stop and provide assistance, we look after our own!
Ride safe (and to YOUR skill level) and keep those eyes open for "blind" drivers and the many hazzards previously stated.

[qwertydog]

My first shock in driving around town was how hard roundabouts were

I have trouble with these, but they're getting easier. I find roundabouts the trickiest

[aprilia_RS250]

Haha I wouldn't stress at all. I learned to ride through Auckland CBD. One of the first streets I actually rode on was Queen st. In a city traffic lights give you a great opportunity to practice starts and stops and it forces you to watch for road hazards which is something you NEED to learn to watch out for.

[Matariki]

I drove around for the first time today, everything that could go wrong, happened.
For starters my engine stalled at an intersection because I forgot to go down into second gear, then I forgot to indicate a few times, then I got really nervous around the roundabouts and interections waiting for cars to go past, while waiting at one of the intersections my bike went down into neutral without me realising it, making me look like an idiot.
Otherwise besides that no one beeped at me which was good but I still felt nervous as hell. Making mistakes I wouldn't usually do.

[Her_C4]

I drove around for the first time today, everything that could go wrong, happened.
For starters my engine stalled at an intersection because I forgot to go down into second gear, then I forgot to indicate a few times, then I got really nervous around the roundabouts and interections waiting for cars to go past, while waiting at one of the intersections my bike went down into neutral without me realising it, making me look like an idiot.
Otherwise besides that no one beeped at me which was good but I still felt nervous as hell. Making mistakes I wouldn't usually do.

Yep it has happened to all of us in one form or another. Great to get that out of the way, and now you know what to expect it will all become easier:) You know what they say - practice, practice and then practice some more!

Good luck - relax and enjoy:)

[CookMySock]

[huge trail of disasters trimmed] making me look like an idiot. No it doesnt miss. It makes you look like a newbie lady biker. And thats a very good thing - soon you will see.

Next time out you will feel much better.

Steve

[hellokitty]

now that you have done it, you can do it again and it will be easier as you know what to expect - nothing worse than being scared of new situations.
I can relate to that - in fact I will be riding my new and much bigger bike through Auckland City tomorrow

[blackdog]

if you can get in touch with Quasi (can you pm yet?) im sure she would be more than happy to ride with you, she has plenty of experience, is in your area and always keen for a ride.....

[Matariki]

Hmmm.... I want to go down and ride again but its raining. Should I?

[Maha]

Yip get out there and do it.
If you feel like you want to ride? then ride.
Time on the road can only increase you confidence, and that will happen.
Sort out a route that you are comfortable with and do it over and over.
Maybe Columbo Rd (nice and straight) through town, down past the park, out to Solway?
Practice your gear changing, be mindful of indicating, clutch control, just get out there and practice.

[CookMySock]

Hmmm.... I want to go down and ride again but its raining. Should I?Sure. Just stay well back from everything and no grabbing the brakes hard, kthx. :niceone:

Steve

[hellokitty]

Hmmm.... I want to go down and ride again but its raining. Should I?

do iiiiiiiiiiit!!! Riding a GN250 in the rain is much easier compared to riding a sports bike in the rain. Just do it, but take care.

[DJSin]

Keep at it, it gets easier and easier.

[Sentox]

Hmmm.... I want to go down and ride again but its raining. Should I?

Definitely. Too many bikers end up just avoiding the rain. Not only does it close off a whole avenue of enjoyment, but at some point you get stuck in the rain anyway, and it's a lot better to be confident when it happens. Just try to be as smooth as you can (take it slow, at this point), but relax. Tension (especially in your arms) is bad.

[bogan]

Hmmm.... I want to go down and ride again but its raining. Should I?

I would say get a bit more experience first, you only drove in town for the first time a few days ago, get used to it before you start adding complications like trying to avoid white lines when wet, as you will lose traction (very briefly) when you go over them.

[Matariki]

I drove around town again and this time no mistakes. :yes:
I went out when it stopped raining so the road was a little wet.

The corners were a little tricky but I remembered that I needed to look where I wanted to go, not at what I wanted to avoid. I went to the petrol station for the first time to fill up my bike (this time I didn't look like an idiot) can't wait to get back out onto the road tomorrow for more practice.

[Ronin]

I drove around town again and this time no mistakes. :yes:
I went out when it stopped raining so the road was a little wet.

The corners were a little tricky but I remembered that I needed to look where I wanted to go, not at what I wanted to avoid. I went to the petrol station for the first time to fill up my bike (this time I didn't look like an idiot) can't wait to get back out onto the road tomorrow for more practice.

Gimme a yell tomorrow, we will get out and go for a ride somewhere.

[blackdog]

go for a ride to collect this.....
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/0?p=1129737801

[CookMySock]

The corners were a little tricky but I remembered that I needed to look where I wanted to go, not at what I wanted to avoid.You are doing the right thing here.

It is easy to refuse to corner the bike in the wet "because the road is slippery", but this is a trap. It's far more dangerous for your brain to refuse corner it and then you hit something or run off the road - so be mindful of your thinking. Just slow down and steer as per usual.

Steve

[Gone Burger]

I drove around town again and this time no mistakes. :yes:
I went out when it stopped raining so the road was a little wet.

The corners were a little tricky but I remembered that I needed to look where I wanted to go, not at what I wanted to avoid. I went to the petrol station for the first time to fill up my bike (this time I didn't look like an idiot) can't wait to get back out onto the road tomorrow for more practice.

Hey well done! The first few times (well, many more than that for me) are a challenge, but the more you do it, and the more you get things right like you did yesterday, the more confident you will grow. When I picked up my first bike from the dealer, I had only just passed my learners licence the day before and the ride home was bloody terrifying! Through town traffice, stuffing up gears round round abouts, then up a long and windy rural road home with tight blind corners. It took me a wee while, but the more I did it the better I felt! And now I just can't get enough of being out on my bike.

Sounds like you are doing well - keep up the practice. Got to get some experience in the wet too as tyres feel very differnet around corners etc.

All the best - I can see you already have that desire to ride more, and its only the beginning my friend!!

[CookMySock]

@theblackstig, many thanks for the abusive red rep. Perhaps you might be more concise in open forum where everyone else can read.

Steve

[blackdog]

@theblackstig, many thanks for the abusive red rep. Perhaps you might be more concise in open forum where everyone else can read.

Steve

sure thing. your posts rarely make sense, and when they do you are usually talking shit

[Sentox]

It's worth keeping in mind that light rain, and especially the initial 10-15 minutes of rainfall, are the worst. If you've had a decent amount of water coming down, then a generally quoted figure is that about 80% of regular traction is available to you. This is plenty, when you think about it, if you are smooth in your inputs. So just increase your following distances, avoid the center of the lane (water and oil are not a good combination for traction), be mindful of the road markings, and rain is really nothing to be afraid of.

[R-Soul]

It's worth keeping in mind that light rain, and especially the initial 10-15 minutes of rainfall, are the worst. If you've had a decent amount of water coming down, then a generally quoted figure is that about 80% of regular traction is available to you. This is plenty, when you think about it, if you are smooth in your inputs. So just increase your following distances, avoid the center of the lane (water and oil are not a good combination for traction), be mindful of the road markings, and rain is really nothing to be afraid of.

In South Africa we dont get alot of rain for long periods, and then when the first rain happens (sometimes after months), all the oil and crap that was leaked from cars, tends to rise up and flow all over the road, making the whole road pretty dodgy. Now, I know that Kiwis arent used to a lack of rain :yes: , but it has been pretty sparse out there lately. So just be aware when it is the first time it rains after a long period. Those first rains are the most dangerous... :blink: