Big noobie noob

**highvoltage** · 30th June 2012, 15:15

so just got my first road bike have only ever been on dirt bikes, went for first ever ride down street n back,
pretty much pinned 1st gear and 2nd on the way back towards home realised i was at my gate in a few seconds tryed to stop fast using 100% rear brakes lol... maybe round 90kmh mark back wheel locked up and i was tail sliding for 20m or so. phew didnt come off but thats it put in shed take out key wait the 7 weeks to get my license back and do a handling course etc what a bloody fool i am.

on a side note respect to everyone who rides road bikes that was the freakiest & best few seconds in my life.. am completely in love but will stay off the bike untill im licensed and have the correct riding gear

peace thought u guys might have a laugh at that.

ps is it normal to hug your bike and whisper sweet nothings in her ear when u come home from work ive never felt this way

**ducatilover** · 30th June 2012, 16:03

Slow down Rossi

Welcome to the fun world of sportbikes, there will be a few people along to tell you you're going to burn and die (you might, but it'll be great fun)

Get some training and ride with a few mentor types and you'll be safe (read - winning) and having shit loads of fun.

Nobody on here actually knows how to ride BTW, they just pretend to.

**Akzle** · 30th June 2012, 16:17

Originally Posted by highvoltage

on a side note respect to everyone who rides road bikes that was the freakiest & best few seconds in my life.. am completely in love but will stay off the bike untill im licensed and have the correct riding gear

...ps is it normal to hug your bike and whisper sweet nothings in her ear when u come home from work ive never felt this way

gear is more important than license.

what happens in hamilton should stay in hamilton.

**highvoltage** · 30th June 2012, 16:20

haha yeah i am expecting the abuse, yeah akzle i am going to get the best gear i can since im abit of a lose unit

**unstuck** · 30th June 2012, 16:52

Great start, welcome.

**caseye** · 30th June 2012, 19:36

From what you have said so far, definitely get the best gear you can afford.
The rider training is a good idea, do it and get someone to ride with you who can tell you whats happening to you from both in front and behind.
Leaving the bike alone until you have got a licence is not a bad idea, but being afraid of a little skid isn't telling anyone on here that you've got the right attitude for road riding.LOL.
Take care and enjoy the anticipation.

**Damantis** · 30th June 2012, 20:42

but just ride to 85% of your ability. The ability wil increase over time with experience and instruction and there's less chance of killing yourself. ( It does little if anything to the chances of someone else killing you, but at least you are in control of what you CAN control )

Have fun and be safe.

**tigertim20** · 30th June 2012, 21:01

Originally Posted by Damantis

but just ride to 85% of your ability. The ability wil increase over time with experience and instruction and there's less chance of killing yourself. ( It does little if anything to the chances of someone else killing you, but at least you are in control of what you CAN control )

Have fun and be safe.

I laugh at how everyone tries to define it as a percentage, because its soo easy to tell when you are riding at exactly 53% of your ability.
And you cant know what 85% of your ability actually is, unless you know what your full ability is to compare it to, and you cant know that unless you actually ride at your full once in a while, and you wont really know for sure where your 100& was, until you overstep it . . .

I get the point though, always try to leave some in reserve.

still cracks me up though.

**highvoltage** · 30th June 2012, 21:29

but just ride to 85% of your ability. - Cheers bro very good advice (guessing 100% would be completely fearless going hell for leather pretty much was my first ride will def tone it back guess i just wanted a little taste of what it had before putting it away)

Leaving the bike alone until you have got a licence is not a bad idea, but being afraid of a little skid isn't telling anyone on here that you've got the right attitude for road riding.LOL.

- skid scared me off it abit since i got no gear no helmet and was my first ever road bike ride but didn't scare me as much as getting done riding while license suspended main reason she was put away i just wanted a little taste dont want another 12 months no license or a broken skull

**Damantis** · 30th June 2012, 22:25

Originally Posted by tigertim20

I laugh at how everyone tries to define it as a percentage, because its soo easy to tell when you are riding at exactly 53% of your ability.
And you cant know what 85% of your ability actually is, unless you know what your full ability is to compare it to, and you cant know that unless you actually ride at your full once in a while, and you wont really know for sure where your 100& was, until you overstep it . . .

I get the point though, always try to leave some in reserve.

still cracks me up though.

99% is the moment when you nearly shit your pants and think "Well, that was pretty silly, I'm glad I wasn't riding one percent harder!" Using that as a reference point, dialling it back another 14% is a reasonable way to not out ride ones ability, I think.

Sure, we never really KNOW our ability till we exceed it, but I think accepting perception of ability as reality ( provided one doesn't have a death wish ) is the safe way to go, as most underestimate their ability to err on the side of caution. Those who don't, often end up as the statistics that drive up our ACC levies.

**ducatilover** · 30th June 2012, 23:19

If you shit your pants you're riding outside of your abilities.

**unstuck** · 1st July 2012, 07:17

Originally Posted by ducatilover

If you shit your pants you're riding outside of your abilities.

Or trying to stay warm.

**insomnia01** · 1st July 2012, 09:20

you should check out LOR rides in the Waikato (meeting & events ), ride most weekends perfect riding companions for newbies

**tigertim20** · 1st July 2012, 12:15

Originally Posted by Damantis

99% is the moment when you nearly shit your pants and think "Well, that was pretty silly, I'm glad I wasn't riding one percent harder!" Using that as a reference point, dialling it back another 14% is a reasonable way to not out ride ones ability, I think.

Sure, we never really KNOW our ability till we exceed it, but I think accepting perception of ability as reality ( provided one doesn't have a death wish ) is the safe way to go, as most underestimate their ability to err on the side of caution. Those who don't, often end up as the statistics that drive up our ACC levies.

I think you missed my point about statistics. why does half the biking popuation think they can actually quantify their ability with specific percentages? unless you are racing and have datalogging equipment, its impossible to know your limits.

Originally Posted by ducatilover

If you shit your pants you're riding outside of your abilities.

this, in essence is exactly it. there are better ways to decide on the quality/safety of your riding.
One such technique is holding a green bean, or a coffee bean or similar between your teeth when you go out for a wee ride. If you clench up and break the bean, you'll probably realise that you are quite a bit more tense than you think, and it can make you rethink your approach, and rethink your ability.

Often people have no idea they are near the end of their ability until a tyre goes sideways and its too late, their are far more practical ways to discover the true limits of your abilities.

**Ender EnZed** · 1st July 2012, 12:45

Originally Posted by highvoltage

pretty much pinned 1st gear and 2nd on the way back towards home realised i was at my gate in a few seconds tryed to stop fast using 100% rear brakes lol... maybe round 90kmh mark back wheel locked up and i was tail sliding for 20m or so. phew didnt come off but thats it put in shed take out key wait the 7 weeks to get my license back and do a handling course etc what a bloody fool i am.

What you want to do to stop in a hurry is put your feet on the ground and don't bother with the brakes. Some people will tell you it's a bad idea but that's just because Big Brake Pads are pulling their strings.

Originally Posted by Damantis

most underestimate their ability to err on the side of caution.

And that's why most people have never had a hang over.