Finally done it - Got a Bike!!

[SPman]

Good on you , mate. You will find it tiring, initially - its the concentration thing - you are learning spatial skills at a lot of levels - things that experienced riders take for granted - like actually RIDING the bike have to be mastered and reduced to a subconscious effort level, before you lose that initial tiredness and can start to really enjoy.
Just get out there and do it!
SP

[Patrick]

...Problems? Most frustrating is that I keep forgetting to turn off the indicators, but I'm getting better....

An important one, newbie...nothing worse than a cage thinking you're going to turn left into the road he is pulling out of, just in front of you...

Saw a snake on a bike do it....once.......he shat his draws, as I did in the car...but nothing came of it once he immediately realised his BIG mistake...

[Leong]

Thanks for all the replies and encouragement guys.... currently in sunny Fiji with an hour to kill.....closest I can get to a bike is the 700cc Jetski they have here... great fun!! Looking froward to getting back on my bike on return... hope I haven't forgotten everything!!

The ACC has put together a site called Ride Forever which has some good advice about road awareness for riders. Well worth a read.

Good choice of bike too, they look good and appear to go really well.

Yes, I saw the ACC site via a link here.. it was very helpful, esp about riding gear. Thanks

.....You've probably heard it before, but CBTA. I cannot speak more highly of these courses. I did it in Wgtn so don't know the Auck crowd, but if it's the same deal then I think it rocks for learners moving through the licenses.

I've seen it mentioned, but will have to look into this more..... I'm guessing to look at the Passrite website, any pointers?

.....I highly recommend getting out in the country for a good old fashioned ride. Not knowing the Auck area, I'm guessing the coromandel or SH22 would be good. Go for one of the group rides (not the FAST ones!!), that way you'll find your motivation to ride a longer distance will help, and next thing you know you've just popped out 200k of riding without really noticing. ....

On the day we left NZ I took my bike out of our subdivision, down Pakuranga Highway, and back via Ti Rakau Drive.. ie all busy city roads. Stopped at Botany, bought something and found somewhere to store it, and then went out to Whitford... ie some country riding. All went well. No probs in the city. Out on the open road I'm having to judge entry speeds into corners, and having several "bites" at a corner...... diesel utes were going thru corners faster than me!! AT least I'm very comfortable riding at 70km/h now... in a straight line. I've got 3 free days when we get back before starting work, so look forward to getting more practice in!! Thanks Guys