A virgin no more... :)

**shadynz** · 4th March 2007, 10:11

hey all...

Well I had my first proper road ride this morning..! I'm still on a buzz from it, so will write out my experience while it's fresh in my mind... wow... all I can say really is why didn't I learn to ride sooner.

Anyway, no traffic around and nice and dry so got out early. Getting the feel of shifting gears up and down. A few stalls at lights but nothing major. Tried out some busy-ish stop sign intersections just to see how far my confidence would go. All in all in was fairly comfortable.

Things I noticed (and laughed about some!)...

1) Keep visor down.. (two bee strikes on a twenty minute ride!.. luckily they came in and went pretty quickly!!)

2) The van that is waiting at the stop sign WILL pull out, so be ready! Surprisingly I didn't get angry. Had I been in a car, I would have given what for.. But I just kept riding, thankful that I predicted what he was going to do ya know.. strange for me..!

3) Leaning when turning feels really natural, so gotta learn to trust the bike, relax and go with it.

4) Use both brakes.. I was testing out just front, or just back, and when you use both you feel sooo much safer. You feel "in control" of the slowing/stopping.

I have to learn all this first, as to get to my practice area, I have to go through a few major intersections! But will head out later this arvo to do some emergency stopping...

woohooo.. I love this

**Disco Dan** · 4th March 2007, 10:18

Originally Posted by shadynz

wow... all I can say really is why didn't I learn to ride sooner. luckily they came in and went pretty quickly!!

3) relax and go with it.

woohooo.. I love this

hehehe...

Sounds like you had fun, I hope you used the 'proper protection'

Keep at it, it only gets better

Have a lookie at this too..

**Boob Johnson** · 4th March 2007, 15:02

Woot for shady, way to go

Well done on anticipating the truck pulling out

The best bit of advice ive heard to date is....

"Treat everyone vehicle around you like they are out to get you". Like in a real nasty horror movie type of way

And thats exactly what I do, im on the look out every moment. Oh and the other thing is when your on the motorway make sure you turn and actually look behind you before you change lanes. The only way to be sure is to be sure I reckon

**Scorpygirl** · 4th March 2007, 15:24

Way to go!!!!

Good on ya!!

**hitch** · 4th March 2007, 16:07

Well done. I know what you mean. I had my second road drive and I feel comfy turning left it feels good and fluid (I feel one with the bike lol) but to turn right - oh man thats another story

every right turn I make you'd think one arm was shorter than the other.

**Scorpygirl** · 4th March 2007, 16:14

Originally Posted by hitch

Well done. I know what you mean. I had my second road drive and I feel comfy turning left it feels good and fluid (I feel one with the bike lol) but to turn right - oh man thats another story

every right turn I make you'd think one arm was shorter than the other.

Hi Hitch

One suggestion might be to adjust the handlebars, so they are closer to you. Rhino did this for me and after that I found it was so much easier to turn, especially right.

Just a thought.

**Swampdonkey** · 4th March 2007, 16:27

On yah shady! im finding it very very addictive,like you.........I had bee strike yesterday .One got done me jacket front and started stinging like mad.......had to pull over,get off ...helmet off..gloves..jacket all in micro seconds..like a strip tease artist on speed..find this bee giving me everything it can....must of looked bloody funny for the passers by.... all the best..enjoy the ride

**Juud** · 4th March 2007, 19:53

Good to see you enjoyed your ride!

Keeping you visor down is a great tip indeed! This year I have already ridden through a swarm of mad wasps, been hit by stone chips (cagers that all of a sudden decide to put their foot down on new seal) and a near hit by a golfball

(Haywards Hill for Wellingtonians). Don't care how hot it is, the visor stays down!

**SpinFx** · 4th March 2007, 20:23

Congrats shadynz, have fun out there and bee safe. lol

**Boob Johnson** · 4th March 2007, 21:09

Originally Posted by SpinFx

Congrats shadynz, have fun out there and bee safe. lol

lol nice one Spin

**heyjoe** · 4th March 2007, 21:20

Yeah

Being torpedo fodder for bees is not much of a buzz.

Glad u enjoyed the ride. Ride safe.

**Lorax** · 4th March 2007, 21:39

And, trust me on this, taking your eye off the road to look at a nice 7th form school girl is potentially dangerous too. No matter how tempting it is, don't do it...

Oh f$#k it, have a good look, but realise that a car may have pulled into your path 50 metres away. Gutted.