I read this intro to your biking experience cringing!
No problems with learning and all, and thanks for sharing it - but you sure are doing it all round the wrong way; certainly don't want to be shouting that have done all you did with your experience and NOT even done your basic handling!
Good to know that you know what you need to learn and what you have and haven't learnt, kudos to you for that - and keep on practicing. I was similarly a newbie like yourself not long ago, and a few things I learnt was - don't get too confident about your abilities. There are many a things which can catch us out which we don't be aware of, so keep looking up forums/tips. Ie there's a link about common ways of dropping a bike (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...-dropping-bike). Learnt valuable lessons from other people's mistakes/experiences..
As for protection - jeans melt into your skin when you slide, its really worthwhile getting kit, esp when you're learning, certainly when you're driving down to dunedin (sounds epic! do bare in mind there's quite a bit of fatigue, moreso than driving in a car, so plan for lots of breaks). Also have been on extremely crazy crosswinds, where you're pushed around the road - again, something you may need to factor in when your travelling long distant, perhaps have backup plans in case you can't make it to your destination.
As for your comment about being cheaper - when you add up servicing, and replacing bits and pieces, it can be just as much as owning a car. Its easy to look at how much cheaper petrol is, but tyres don't last as long and are more expensive to replace, there are service schedules, etc..
But do take care out there - welcome, and enjoy! Its a real blast! Was a fellow student in Dunny many years ago, so know just how cold and icy the road conditions can be - keep safe!
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Originally Posted by jimichelle
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