No Such Thing As A Difficult Road

[Dragonhawk]

I've read a few newbie threads on various motorcycle forums lately and it has inspired me to write a little rant about so-called "difficult roads" to ride.

Here is the gist of what I need to get across: There is no such thing as a difficult road, only squirrelly and inexperienced riders!

There is one reason and one reason alone that newbies whine about roads that are "technical" and "challenging"; because they are going way too fast for their skill level. Period.

You think a road is "difficult" to ride? Then ride it again ... and try doing the speed limit this time. WHOA! Look at that! The road just got WAY easier, didn't it?

I'm sick of you "Valentino Rossi wannabes" who scare yourselves to death or say a road is "hard" to ride. Bull. There is no such thing as a public road that is hard to ride. It's only hard BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO CLUE WHAT YOU ARE DOING! You're hitting turns too fast. You're taking blind corners without leaning enough. You're rolling on the throttle through downhill decreasing-radius curves. In short, you riding like a freakin' idiot who doesn't know how to safely control your motorcycle. Stop it.

Heck, freakin' Lombard Street isn't a "challenge", as long as you don't ride like an moron.

[Ninja Geoff]

Amen. It's all about your skill and how you ride that makes it hard.

[mcmahonm]

Thanks for saying it, I am a relativly new rider (3yrs), and the one thing that I learned early on was riding was alot more fun and so were the roads if I was not riding to scare the crap out of myself.

The biggest thing I do now is slow down and learn the road a little, also get comfortable with my skills, try to build them at a moderate speed, not at the edge.

[ShawnKing]

I've read a few newbie threads on various motorcycle forums lately and it has inspired me to write a little rant about so-called "difficult roads" to ride.

LMAO What a *great* rant and completely true! I'm going to post a link to it on my site!

[sapaul]

Well said, now try doing it again in a constructive, educational and inspirational manner, you never know you might just get across to the
squirrelly and inexperienced riders!

[ejshotgun]

Couldn't agree more!
I look at roads as a "challenge" if they are of the "more challenging" variety then I take it slow and then I retake it. Of course I'm always looking to "expand" my skills. Some guys just like to "go fast", a sure way to get killed or at the very least kill your Bike.

[basshole]

there's gonna be lot's of squids with hurt feelings now. GOOD! That's the best post I've seen in days!!!

[zarakand]

Very good post, but it does not take into account the twisty roads that cagers love to speed on too. It can be quite difficult and stressful for a new rider, obeying the speed limit on one of those roads, as others zip past them and tailgate them.

[Dragonhawk]

Well said, now try doing it again in a constructive, educational and inspirational manner, you never know you might just get across to the
squirrelly and inexperienced riders!

Okay. Let me make it more positive with this amendment ....

I used to BE one of those squirrelly and inexperienced riders and went down twice because of it. So take my word for it - I know what I'm talking about and I speak from experience. In the immortal words of Han Solo, "Don't get cocky!"

[ejshotgun]

Well said, now try doing it again in a constructive, educational and inspirational manner, you never know you might just get across to the
squirrelly and inexperienced riders!

Okay. Let me make it more positive with this amendment ....I used to BE one of those squirrelly and inexperienced riders and went down twice because of it. So take my word for it - I know what I'm talking about and I speak from experience. In the immortal words of Han Solo, "Don't get cocky!"

Amen, Bro!!!!