Are you experienced?

**Rodney007** · 11th October 2009, 21:42

i thought it was based on how much you can rape a bike ?

**Drew** · 11th October 2009, 22:01

Originally Posted by Rodney007

i thought it was based on how much you can rape a bike ?

Gotta be part of it.

Perhaps how much you can rape it without fucking it at the same time?

**Kwaka14** · 11th October 2009, 22:09

It seems to me theres usually quite a difference between levels of experience and ability to ride or to teach and level of safety. These all seem to be mixed up and labelled as experience by most posts.

IMO an "experienced" rider would be one who has been on many different bikes and situations for a reasonable distance - say at least 100000km maybe - someone like Lee Rusty - or pretty well any of the Rusty Nuts guys. A safe rider on the other hand would be someone who uses what experience they have to introduce a level of confidence in the situations they ride in without pushing their boundaries. On the other hand a good rider may not neccesarily be greatly experienced and may be quite adept at pushing the boundaries, but they know where and when to do that appropriately. Someone who was suitable to give instruction could be any 1 or more of these 3.

Experience really means nothing without the attitude and willingness to learn from it and apply it.

Just my thoughts.

**Maki** · 12th October 2009, 03:04

Thanks all for contributing to the discussion, it is very interesting. One thing I would like to say is that being experienced does not neccesarly mean being skilful. You can ride many different bikes and more than 100.000km but if you are a klutz, you are a klutz and there is not much you can do about it.

On the other hand, if you are talented you may reach a level of skill that most others can only dream about with a relatively small amount of experience....

I guess the answer to the question, "are you experienced?" is highly subjective. Someone who never rode a bike might think a person who has ridden regularly for a year or more is experienced. People who have ridden for decades may have a totally different view. Me? I would say 5 years or more of reasonably regular riding, that's spending some time on the bike more days than not.

**PeteJ** · 12th October 2009, 09:50

Yeah, repeating the same mistakes for a million km over 25 years might make you experienced, but not necessarily expert.

So the description "experienced" doesn't really mean a lot.

And even "expert" needs to be broken down - expert where? on what? in what context? etc.

**george formby** · 12th October 2009, 10:52

Are you experienced? That was a Jimi hendrix album i think.... I've been riding for decades so I have had experience, then again I know riders with a similar time on two wheels who I would call lucky with their experience, they scare me. I am very interested in riding. I have done courses, read books, magazines & spent a fair bit of time talking too & listening to other riders. Consequently my knowledge & road craft is still increasing. I suppose that would make me knowledgeable. Would you call a car driver who has been driving obliviously with no thought on improving their ability for 50 years experienced? Their are plenty out there. Being experienced may be defined as learning & improving from your time on a bike?

**vifferman** · 12th October 2009, 11:48

No.

After 36 years, I'm still learning, just a bit more slowly than I used to.

**_Shrek_** · 12th October 2009, 16:00

Originally Posted by PeteJ

And even "expert" needs to be broken down -

X = unknown quantity
spert = drip under pressure

Originally Posted by vifferman

No. After 36 years, I'm still learning, just a bit more slowly than I used to.

me to

**Maha** · 12th October 2009, 16:06

I cant answer the question, all I know is, that there will always be someone better and someone worse than me......always.

**MarkH** · 12th October 2009, 17:01

Originally Posted by Maha

I cant answer the question, all I know is, that there will always be someone better and someone worse than me......always.

Many may not want to admit it - but that statement can accurately be used to describe all but 2* people in the world.
But if you keep riding you can keep learning and become more experienced, naturally there will still be those who are more experience than you and those that are less experienced.

* For the slow thinkers - the 2 people that this doesn't apply to would be the worlds worst rider and the worlds best rider.

**gatch** · 12th October 2009, 17:18

Originally Posted by _Shrek_

X = unknown quantity
spert = drip under pressure

Nice one, though I heard a slightly different version..

Ex = a has been
Spert = drip under pressure.

My boss thinks hes an expert.. I tend to agree with him..

**carver** · 12th October 2009, 18:34

Originally Posted by Maki

Thanks all for contributing to the discussion, it is very interesting. One thing I would like to say is that being experienced does not neccesarly mean being skilful. You can ride many different bikes and more than 100.000km but if you are a klutz, you are a klutz and there is not much you can do about it.

On the other hand, if you are talented you may reach a level of skill that most others can only dream about with a relatively small amount of experience....

I guess the answer to the question, "are you experienced?" is highly subjective. Someone who never rode a bike might think a person who has ridden regularly for a year or more is experienced. People who have ridden for decades may have a totally different view. Me? I would say 5 years or more of reasonably regular riding, that's spending some time on the bike more days than not.

mate, thats a pretty queer avatar