Where can she practice?

[Bass]

My regular pillion, who also doubles as my wife, expressed an interest in learning to ride and so I bought her a GN for her birthday. That was a year ago. It's only done about 1000 km in the interim and I put about 850 of those on it, to run it in.
The problem is that she is scared of learning to cope with Auckland traffic on a bike, simultaneously with learning to manage the bike itself. I actually think that she learns real fast and manages the bike pretty well considering virtually zero experience, but that's by the by.
Obviously, what's needed is somewhere that she can practice and get to know her steed without the pressure of coping with traffic.
Do any of you good people (sort of) know of anywhere suitable in the Papakura area?
I have hunted the neighbourhood extensively and pored over maps, but got nowhere so far.

[Maha]

Pity theres about 80 ks between there and here cos i have a ride happening on the 29th. Have you thought about going out to the Manakau heads? Not too many roads where you wont find any cars but keeping them to a minimum is not that hard, once i get the Triumph back we should look a coming down that way and getting out on the roads, we dont mind the 'taking the time to have a look around' mode...Mark

[KLOWN]

get her to come to the wednesday rides. You could ride the ginny there while she took the car. Then all the practice gets done in a carpark or off the road at least. When she has the confidence up she will be able to ride there by herself.

[Her_C4]

My regular pillion, who also doubles as my wife, expressed an interest in learning to ride and so I bought her a GN for her birthday. That was a year ago. It's only done about 1000 km in the interim and I put about 850 of those on it, to run it in.
The problem is that she is scared of learning to cope with Auckland traffic on a bike, simultaneously with learning to manage the bike itself. I actually think that she learns real fast and manages the bike pretty well considering virtually zero experience, but that's by the by.
Obviously, what's needed is somewhere that she can practice and get to know her steed without the pressure of coping with traffic.
Do any of you good people (sort of) know of anywhere suitable in the Papakura area?
I have hunted the neighbourhood extensively and pored over maps, but got nowhere so far.

I had the same problem when I started out and didn't have anyone to help me with advice, confidence issues etc. I don't know your area at all (obviously!), but if it helps, I found an industrial area reasonably close to where I lived that I was able to use all back roads to get to.

In the weekends it was really quiet and I was able to practice in a number of large adjoining carparks. Any chance there is anything like that around by you?:sunny:

[Disco Dan]

get her to come to the wednesday rides. You could ride the ginny there while she took the car. Then all the practice gets done in a carpark or off the road at least. When she has the confidence up she will be able to ride there by herself.

Cheers Klown :yes: :sunny:

Kiwibiker Mentors are very experienced and know their stuff, come along and practice. No pressure. No judgements.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=45812

[sunhuntin]

i learned on a public rugby field, and did my bhs in a school playground. ask a local school if you can use their paved grounds on the weekends?

[Curious_AJ]

you can always go to UNITEC in Mt Albert... I'm not too sure how close that is to Papakura, but its where I go to study, and its a really good place to practise in for both driving and riding! (it takes me 30 mins from the northshore on the motorway to get there in morning traffic... if that helps, im not good with areas outside the northshore... lol)

[Donor]

My regular pillion, who also doubles as my wife, expressed an interest in learning to ride and so I bought her a GN for her birthday. That was a year ago. It's only done about 1000 km in the interim and I put about 850 of those on it, to run it in.
The problem is that she is scared of learning to cope with Auckland traffic on a bike, simultaneously with learning to manage the bike itself. I actually think that she learns real fast and manages the bike pretty well considering virtually zero experience, but that's by the by.
Obviously, what's needed is somewhere that she can practice and get to know her steed without the pressure of coping with traffic.
Do any of you good people (sort of) know of anywhere suitable in the Papakura area?
I have hunted the neighbourhood extensively and pored over maps, but got nowhere so far.

Papakura?

There are a few good learner rides you can throw together...

Will flick a PM when time permits...

[The Pastor]

send her over to my house, i'll teach her how to ride.

[Chickadee]

Hey Bass

Would your Mrs think about a www.rrrs.org.nz course? That did wonders for little ole me. I was shit scared about riding on the roads till I did one of their courses. Gives you more confidence in your abilities & how to handle a bike. I rode my bike home and been riding happily on the roads since then.

Totally recommend it.

I'm sure there are quite a few out Pap's way that are happy to help if she wants company for little pootles. I.e. Minnie, Donor etc

[EJT]

What about the Ardmore aerodrome? There are some nice quiet side rides around the airfield. Had my first cage driving lesson there and still go there occassionally on my bike to practice a few things

[Bass]

Many thanks people - I really appreciate the constructive input.
I shall point her at this thread and let her make her own call.
I would be only too happy to ride her bike to the Wednesday niters and I think that getting her WAY out in the country is not altogether silly either.
I actually think that part of the problem is that she really enjoys herself on the back of the Trumpy (like "if we can't take the bike, then let's not go") and so she doesn't have a major incentive to get herself moving under her own steam.


Coincidently, EJT, she started on the bike out at Ardmore (we have an aerial advertising business - banners etc - and so spend a lot of time out there), but she's past that now and needs a bit more room to learn to use the gearbox well and brake from higher speeds etc.

[EJT]

I live out Papakura way, and know heaps of quiet back roads around Karaka, Pukekohe, Alfriston etc (from my pushbiking days). Let us know if you guys want to meet up and cruise around those areas

[Toaster]

To start with I'd ride around your own suburb and keep to left turns for a bit. Then go the other way. Do heaps of laps around the block. Then slowly extend it street by street and keep up attacking the slow speed cul-de-sac turns etc. Get confident with indicating, gear changing up and down, braking and emergency braking properly and turning each direction. Being able to man-handle the bike around is important too (backing to a curb etc).

A good book to read is the bikers bible.

[Bass]

To start with I'd ride around your own suburb and keep to left turns for a bit. Then go the other way. Do heaps of laps around the block. Then slowly extend it street by street and keep up attacking the slow speed cul-de-sac turns etc. Get confident with indicating, gear changing up and down, braking and emergency braking properly and turning each direction. Being able to man-handle the bike around is important too (backing to a curb etc).

A good book to read is the bikers bible.

Problem is, we live on a major thoroughfare. Just getting out the gate can be scary and going round the block involves several sets of traffic lights and lots of B-trains

[stelartia]

or a carpark thats empty for the evening is usually good. i taught a friend of mine to drive a car in a car park. not too many things to hit and break!