My first road ride

**Blondini** · 9th December 2006, 20:36

Originally Posted by Shaun

As a new rider, you may tend to ride to left hand side of the road so as to give the cars more room to pass you?

If you do this? Stop it! Stand your groung dead centre in your lane, it is up to them to pass you, not your problem.

Pretend tha are all going to try and kill you

Look at the drive way entrances they are trying to turn into to make sure there way is clear, before they slam on the brakes and you rear end because there path was not clear.

Always make eye contact with the driver of a car that can turn in front of you and take you out, at least that way you know they have seen you.

Have fun and hit the car park, take some thing so you mark the ground there, make a mark that will be guide for when to apply your brakes for braking practise, and come to a complete stop, get off your bike and make another mark, that way you have a reference as to whether you are or are not getting better at it

I know they will kill me ..Me in the centre I am very cautious and ready to learn car park ???? I would rather learn where I am going to be.. in traffic ..hey I live in auckland ,,traffic all round no road rules to them I am used to that. Looking forward to mentor ride on wed yes:

I made my mark when I was born so i will follow that .....

**Swoop** · 9th December 2006, 20:47

Originally Posted by julie

car park ???? I would rather learn where I am going to be.. in traffic

Practicing stopping is best done on an empty part of the road, away from other traffic.

**elle-f** · 9th December 2006, 20:56

thats so awesome! i remember about 3 years ago when i just got back into biking and i too bought a 150 although a suzuki rg and i was as nervous as hell. i wish i knew about this site then because i was on the side of the road letting cars pass - although i dont think i was doing 50 in a 50k area HAHA

oh those were the days!

And i practised turning and stopping in a carpark after hours and it probably was the best thing i did. i would practise and then go out into the traffic and i actually was better for it.

have FUN

well, it sounds like you are anyhow

**Lteejay** · 10th December 2006, 15:50

Originally Posted by julie

Hi all just a little late update...It has been one of those weeks all round.I thought it a little late but anyway.....Thursday morning I got a little brave and took my bike to my daughters athletics day at school...out of the road up the hill a little bit round the corner...there

Then I got a little braver and went tiki tour down to see if any local kb home

Not home ..oh well.. so I decided to tackle the local round a bout from different directions,I was a little aware of what may happen if I stall...But all good

Sooooo a little braver I went up the local birdwood slowly ,lots of road works and corners,back on to busy main road ,down the hill ,home.To my mate sitting here...So you a bikie chick now? Its still just me trying something I want to.I say to them ha ha 35 k up birdwood (100k area)then I got up to 60 k,You are not allowed to go that fast says he...Yeah

I can go 70 >>>> oops not in a 50k ooooooops thats right...I love my new venture and am aware to be cautious....keen to get on old north road now

Hey crashe where was it we were going?monday morning??????weather permit?????

I'm smiling from ear to ear for you. Once I finally get on the road maybe we can hook up for a ride sometime - well after I get confident enough

**Blondini** · 10th December 2006, 15:53

Originally Posted by Lteejay

I'm smiling from ear to ear for you. Once I finally get on the road maybe we can hook up for a ride sometime - well after I get confident enough

That would be cool.

**klingon** · 10th December 2006, 21:31

yay julie!

Thursday was also my first ever road ride - it was such a GORGEOUS day I couldn't resist it. Before that I had only ever practised in car parks. I really wanted to get my hill starts, emergency stopping etc sorted out before I went out in traffic. Still a long way to go, but there's nothing quite like being out amongst it on the road.

Another thanks to Shaun, Fatjim etc for the newbie tips. Always helps to be reminded.

See you on the road julie & Lteejay.

**crashe** · 10th December 2006, 21:55

Good gawd....... I go away for the weekend....... and all I am getting are texts from Julie saying "I am doing this and I am doing that"

I say well done......but dont forget to practise.

Now the last thing I said was "you have to practise a lot more in your street.... wait til I get back for the next lesson....."
But no, Miss Impatient one heads off on her own........ into the wild blue yonder......

So I can see I will have my hands full keeping this one in line....
and getting her back to basics..

So Julie, have you taken on board what these guys have said......?
Cos guess what, you and me are gonna be doing...

Practise and more practise.......

**FROSTY:Me** · 10th December 2006, 22:15

Julie--LISTEN TO THE GREMLIN (SHAUN)
You practice your braking in a carpark so if you go past the limits of your brakes or ability all you will hurt is your pride.
The alternative is under the wheels of a truck.
You have a couple of really good carparks close by you

**Pixie** · 10th December 2006, 22:34

Originally Posted by Shaun

Pretend tha are all going to try and kill you

Don't need to pretend

Originally Posted by Shaun

Always make eye contact with the driver of a car that can turn in front of you and take you out, at least that way you know they have seen you.

Don't rely on this.Mindset can ensure that a driver can look you straight in the eye and still not register you are there.
He'll be looking for cars and trucks

**Roj** · 11th December 2006, 10:32

Originally Posted by julie

Was I supposed to be scared cos I had no fear and I am not sure this is a good thing..I was very watchful but I was not scared at all ,just wanted more.

If you are truly scared you are not really able to concentrate as well as you need to, being watchful is good, if you are nervous that would be normal, sounds like good progress to me

**Blondini** · 11th December 2006, 14:55

Thank you all for your great advice,I am listening to you all and I appreciate any advice

Well an update...11 dec 06 crashe turned up and we headed off up don buck,onto the main highway and along old north road,very slowly....I thought I was doing 70ks but crashe speedo said 60k so I am going to have to check that out.Well I have learnt that I do not have to slow down 200 metres before an intersection

HEEE HEEE.Well we called in to a friends house on waikaukau valley rd had a cuppa then headed back the same way but faster...It felt really great until the clown that tried to run us off the road on don buck...No we weren't doing any wrong....Thanks for watching my back and preventing what could have been my last ride crashe that was superbly handled and good on you for giving them a revv up

**Terminated** · 11th December 2006, 15:20

Originally Posted by crashe

So Julie, have you taken on board what these guys have said......?
Cos guess what, you and me are gonna be doing...

Practise and more practise.......

Gidday Crashe and Julie,

Crashe good to see you will get Julie under the wing. There have been some tremendously good posts here for you Julie in this thread. You very well may start out riding 'without fear' and then you will start to get that pit feeling in your tummy, take note of it.

Crashe mentioned my BuckBuck Newbie Training Update thread when she was down here in Wellington last week, take some time out together and perhaps read through it together. Remember though it is written by a Newbie and with the influence of a wonderful mentor, it is not the be all and end all - just an insight. Crashe spread those wings my dear.

And Julie, enjoy your new found freedom and pleasure.

Regards
Heads Up and Enjoy

**Shaun** · 11th December 2006, 15:40

Originally Posted by julie

I know they will kill me ..Me in the centre I am very cautious and ready to learn car park ???? I would rather learn where I am going to be.. in traffic ..hey I live in auckland ,,traffic all round no road rules to them I am used to that. Looking forward to mentor ride on wed yes:

I made my mark when I was born so i will follow that .....

Good luck then

**crashe** · 11th December 2006, 15:43

Originally Posted by julie

Thank you all for your great advice,I am listening to you all and I appreciate any advice

Well an update...11 dec 06 crashe turned up and we headed off up don buck,onto the main highway and along old north road,very slowly....I thought I was doing 70ks but crashe speedo said 60k so I am going to have to check that out.Well I have learnt that I do not have to slow down 200 metres before an intersection

HEEE HEEE.Well we called in to a friends house on waikaukau valley rd had a cuppa then headed back the same way but faster...It felt really great until the clown that tried to run us off the road on don buck...No we weren't doing any wrong....Thanks for watching my back and preventing what could have been my last ride crashe that was superbly handled and good on you for giving them a revv up

Julie's comment about slowing down...... well about 200 meteres out she slows down to a snail's pace til she eventually stops at the intersection....
So I got quickly onto that...... after that she improved greatly..
So she is taking on all the advise and learning quickly.

But when Im not there Julie is going to practise emergancy braking,weaving etc etc in her street.

Julie - I got a phone call back from the company re incident...
They are not impressed with their driver and he is in deep deep poo...
They actually do random drug tests... guess who is gonna have to pee into a bottle... The company wont stand for reckless or careless drivers...
He was most concerned re your wellbeing.... and hope it hasnt put you off riding.

Mate thats what I was there for, to protect your butt....... from these wankers... I managed to keep him a distance from you... even thou he was right up my arse.

For those wondering: As we were coming down Don Buck Road (very windy road) to head back to Julie's place.. this plonker decided that he wanted to hoon past me and force me into the gutter and be right up Julie's arse...
(she has a yellow L plate on the back)

I was the correct following distance behind Julie..... this dude ended up like a matter of inches from the back of her bike.
I forced my way back in front of the van to protect Julie.. and signaled to the dude to "BACK OFF" he remained on my arse all the way down Don Buck Rd.
Both of us were doing the correct speed limit.... and Julie was following a white car in front of her... in fact there were a number of cars in front. So at no time could we get past as Julie isnt really ready to start overtaking on that section of road. Plus we were doing the speed limit.

I slowed right down to get more space between Julie and I should I come to grieve with this pratt..... If I was to come off I wasnt gonna take Julie down as well. I tried everything to get this dude to back off.... tapping the brakes to slightly shaking the bike... but he stayed right there.

Sure I could have pulled over and let him pass, but I wasnt leaving Julie exposed to that. Plus on top of that he wasnt going to be able to pass all the cars in front.

Back at Julie's I made a quick phone to the company.
This afternoon the manager rung me very concerned.
He is pulling in the dude and about to bollock him out big time...

In this situation I really believe the manager in what he is going to do.