I couldn't even push Flick up into the garage today   I reached over felt a pop and immediate pain!

While I do understand about only riding for pleasure. It does concern me about the confidence though so few miles in a good amount of time. Skill just does not come from time of owning the bike it takes practice and lots of it! I mean if your prefer the car why are you bothering with a bike at all? With me it is the other way around the only reason I own both is for times like this. Because, anytime I am on the bike it is better than being in a cage! In the car too many distractions that take me away from being in the moment. Maybe it's the vulnerability of being on the bike but I feel more alive. When I mount Flick we become one when I'm not happy he's not happy and vice versa. This is also my time with God  I have speakers in my helmet and typically play praise and worship music ever so softly I can usually only hear it at a red light or after a close call. After one particular close call when a car came into my lane that the only thing that got their attention was kicking in their quarter panel. When I pulled over to let my heart recover the first thing I heard was Amazing Grace "twas grace that saved a wretch like me" and it brought me back to the moment with a realization to always live your life because it may be your last.

I just believe in living your life not surving it. Sorry, if I made others mad but it does tick me off when others make excuses or complain when it is a choice not to do something. I know what I'd be doing if I had a choice!

Mary

Quote from: Toogoofy317 on May 03, 2011, 09:05:11 PM

While I do understand about only riding for pleasure. It does concern me about the confidence though so few miles in a good amount of time. Skill just does not come from time of owning the bike it takes practice and lots of it! I mean if your prefer the car why are you bothering with a bike at all? With me it is the other way around the only reason I own both is for times like this. Because, anytime I am on the bike it is better than being in a cage! In the car too many distractions that take me away from being in the moment. Maybe it's the vulnerability of being on the bike but I feel more alive.

Mary

+1 

Confidence /= skill. Ownership time /= skill.

Don't want to come across as bust'n your chops, but it seems to me you look for excuses NOT to ride.

I think you might benefit from riding with others - not necessarily an entire group of 20, but maybe one or two others.

You have done the relevant Course in your area, haven't you? Contact the organisers and ask them about any Rides you could attend. You can learn a lot by watching other people and analyzing what they do and just talking to them. All experienced riders know everyone has to start out with no skills and a whole bunch of apprehensiveness and will not think down on people who ask for pointers.

Michael

Quote from: Toogoofy317 on May 03, 2011, 09:05:11 PMI mean if your prefer the car why are you bothering with a bike at all?

well, i miss rush hour, so i go the same speed. also, riding on the freeway for long distances doesnt seem fun at all. its just a constant speed with the wind batting u around. i havent enjoyed the freeway riding i've done so far. the hills are what i love.

that said, i might try riding tomorrow. MIGHT and i'm also a christian, so i listen to NPR or K-LOVE in the morning in my car. i dont believe i'm skilled enough to ride with music yet.

i'm not making excuses. i LOVE to ride. i just don't think the freeway is that fun. we'll see.

Quote from: StevenDavisPhoto on May 03, 2011, 10:56:23 PM

Quote from: Toogoofy317 on May 03, 2011, 09:05:11 PMI mean if your prefer the car why are you bothering with a bike at all?

well, i miss rush hour, so i go the same speed. also, riding on the freeway for long distances doesnt seem fun at all. its just a constant speed with the wind batting u around. i havent enjoyed the freeway riding i've done so far. the hills are what i love.

that said, i might try riding tomorrow. MIGHT and i'm also a christian, so i listen to NPR or K-LOVE in the morning in my car. i dont believe i'm skilled enough to ride with music yet.

i'm not making excuses. i LOVE to ride. i just don't think the freeway is that fun. we'll see.

I ride whenever i get the chance, even if its just commuting, i just enjoy being outside the cage and being so exposed to everything.

Don't get me wrong, twisties are awesome, but i dont think you can beat just being on a bike (i dont listen to music, i just use the time to clear my head and relax) 

well i'm gonna commute to work tomorrow (probably) and i'll let u know if i change my mind.

Don't let them pressure you into something that you don't really feel comfortable doing...they should know better  ...some people are strictly recreational riders...

I know a few people that were quite pleased with themselves...last year they rode 3000kms (1875miles), the riding season is 6 months so they averaged 500kms per month...I have to bite my tongue when they are boasting about their good riding year...I ride 500kms per week, but they are not me and I shouldn't expect them to be...they are happy riding their ride and I am happy doing mine...although I thought I didn't get much riding in last year...only 10,000kms (6250miles)...but that is me, not anyone else...I talked to another guy (retired), he averages 35,000-40,000kms per year (damn Goldwing riders anyway)...I just don't have time for that kind of mileage, but that is what he planned for retirement and he is living his dream...

I know that it is good to stretch your boundries once in a while, that's how you learn...but learn at your own pace...there is no race, just enjoy it and try to keep learning...if you want to ride to work, givver...but if you prefer to drive and listen to calming music (I can relate to that...I feel the road rage building if I don't), then do that and save the riding/learning for your free time...I think the others are more like me, and hate getting off their bikes...but others are content to ride when they have time and don't have any deadline to meet...it will take you longer to learn the skills, but so what...it's your ride 

Later.

I commute everyday it's above 40 and dry.  Although, my ride is only 5 miles and takes 10-30 minutes usually.  One thing I've found to help a lot is to grab a tank bag or strap something to the seat instead of using a backpack, it's a lot easier to ride without having to worry about something else. 

Good luck with the commute!!

Lately with gas at 1.39/L for regular (in ON, Canada)  I've gone from a fair-weather commuter to an almost every day commuter.  I keep a spare pair of clothes in my desk just in case. 

I totally agree about the highway being not that much fun, and enjoying the curvy hilly back roads.  My commute is 35 miles one way, and the highways in NC run really fast (which hurt my head/neck even with a higher windshield).  They're not fun. Riding is fun, but I don't find highways and idiots who float lanes while they're texting on their phones fun.  I like my car (and NPR on the radio..).  I hated commuting by bike at first, scared me to death.  There's a 5 mile stretch where the slow lane is going 75.  And there wasn't a good back road route to get there.  But I got used to most of the highways, found more mellower roads, and to be honest, the back roads I take totally make up for the highway I take.

Don't let folks rush you.  There'll come a day when you'll miss being on the bike so much that you'll be willing to be on the highway.  And research different routes even if they take a bit longer to get there. 

Good luck!

i thought about commuting on the bike but it looks so dam uncomfortable.  if i didn't have to sit at a desk all day and dress somewhat nice i would give it a shot.

I agree about only doing what you are comfortable with.

For me I wouldn't get on a bike without boots, CE armoured pants and jacket and high quality gloves (and quality helmet).  Yes it takes time to take off and put on but sliding down the road isn't the time to wish you had put it all on.

I wear a reflective sash as well (nearly always).  The cagers seem to think it is a badge of incompetance and give me heaps of space .... suits me fine  .

If you take the plunge,  the first time try to stay in the far right or far left lane when it makes sense to do so, this way you remove one lane of possible problems.  But plan ahead for on ramps and off ramps.

Its daunting the first time but great fun too.  Go for it, when you are ready.

Dress for the ride, not for the crash is what I go by.


Being on a motorcycle is dangerous.  But, you can reduce the risks by taking a few extra precautions.  All of those precautions involve driver skill and not gear.


That being said, I never ride without a full face and gloves.  I wear sneakers if I'm not getting on a highway and I usually wear jeans.  I've been riding since I was 14 and all the crashes I've seen personally it would not have mattered what gear they were wearing.  Your jacket doesn't make you a better rider.


by the way,  before anyone gives me a speech on riding gear (there's always one of them)  please understand I don't care.