Since everybody has one...

[sv-wolf]

Well, I guess I learned in much the same way back in the 1970s. Training courses were a bit thin on the ground then where I came from, and I was pretty clueless about that sort of thing, anyway. I'd just bought a bike off a fellow college student and couldn't wait, so I immediately set about working out what that twisty thing on the handebar did. I didn't know anyone else with a bike so I did it on my own. I spent a lot of time lying on my side on back-road tarmac I seem to remember.

A lot of kids still do it that way. I know this guy who is a riding instructor. He says that when the kids turn up for their CBT (Compulsory Basic Training in the UK) with their dads he asks them whether they have ever ridden a bike before and they mostly shake their heads. The dads leave for the day. He then tells them he's not their f*****g father or the sodding police and asks the question again. That way, he says, he discovers that a fair number of them have been knocking around on their mate's Fireblade for a year or so (!!!!!) - or something similar.

I wouldn't recommend it though as a way of learning. You pick up some pretty bad habits that way and you can be a menace to other people. I reckon you progress to being a proficient rider more slowly as well.

Once you've picked up the basics from someone experienced, however, I think getting out onto the road by yourself is not a bad idea. The fact is you are going to be learning for the rest of your life.

[Kal]

Anyway, Kal...care to enlighten me on the bad habits you picked up and are now shaking off?

Lets see.

Aggressively 'attacking' corners and roundabouts, which meant I wasn't giving myself enough time to complete the OSM-PSL routine beforehand

Braking using engine and rear brake well before the front, if I even used the front.

Leaving my foot covering the brake which led to my brake light being on a lot.

Lane position. I gravitate towards right of the lanes centre where the 'correct' general riding position is in the middle of the lane unless turning whern the correct lane position is on the side of the lane you are turning to.

Running wide on lefthanders (I'm still a little shakey about the second drop I had)

Indicating when I didn't need to.

Relying too much on my mirrors and not doing enough shoulder checks

Squeezing the bike through gaps two bikes width or less

Generally my observations were a bit sloppy

In fact most of them came down to being too aggressive and being a tad sloppy when riding. Shires and the instructor Steve in particular sharperned up my riding no end in the hours I spent thrashing their bike round the city.

In fact, although I am not legally required to undergo anymore training I am going back to Shires near the end of the summer to pick up some advanced riding techniques and polish my road skills.

[skinnyjoint]

i practiced a little bit before the course and im glad i did just cuz i felt a lil more comfortable going into the class, instead of being all nervous and "poo poo" cuz people are watching me

[sv-wolf]

Hang on a minute Kal. I don't think all of these are bad habits.

Yes, I know the DSM teaches newbs that the correct road position is in the middle of the lane except when cornering (when cornering they say, of course that you should gravitate to the outside of the curve to gain extra vision). However, this is not the rule taught by the police or by advanced riding courses like IAM or Rospa. These teach that on a two lane road the correct place to ride is on the crown of the road (ie to the right hand side of the lane) except when taking right handers. In right handers you should move out to the outside edge of the curve - ie the left of the lane. However, even this is not set in stone. When cornering at under 30 or 40 mph you should maintain the 'position of dominance' - the crown of the road, ie, the right hand side of the lane - because nothing is happening fast enough to prevent you responding safely and riding the crown gives you a host of advantages in traffic.

Some advanced courses still teach that on sharp bends, if conditions are right, you should cross the line into the opposite lane to gain extra vision. This always used to be the police view and was taught by IAM until recently. IAM have changed their minds again about this though. I think Rospa still teach it, but I'm not up to date on where they are at.

The debate between engine braking and front wheel braking continues. Advanced courses keep changing their minds about this one. Until recently engine braking was the preferred method. The argument has recently swung the other way and IAM, at least are now teaching that front brake braking is best. Not sure where Rospa is at present.

And everything depends on the condition of the road. There are a multitude of contradictory 'rules'. You should select the 'rule' which is most relevant to the immediate need and follow that.

But as for fashion in teaching - yer pays yer money and yer takes yer choice.

The rules taught by DSM are designed for newbs, they are not meant to be absolutes.

[SuperRookie]

Thanks for sharing that. Sorry about your drop. Glad to see it hasn't kept you off the bike tho. I've done a fair amount of research and am still acquiring literature on riding techniques. I do believe I'm practicing what I'm reading...especially since, lately, I have the benefit of a rider who was invited to become an MSF rider-coach watching me.

I will say there are a few things you mentioned that I haven't had a problem with as yet. One, covering the rear brake...I just feel more comfortable with the balls of my feet on the pegs and slide 'em forward as needed. Two, I've already etched in my head that most bikes' mirrors are for sh*t so there's no danger of me relying on them I don't care how much you adjust them. Besides your mirrors can only tell you "NO"...you have to shoulder check anyway...Hell, I shoulder check in the parking lot because, well, there are sometimes cars tooling around in there...new drivers as well.

In addition, I think it's very helpful that I'm to get some actual road experience in light traffic, a few short highway stints, negotiating bridges etc. The problem I see here in the states with licensing for any vehicle is the lack of driver/rider training in actual traffic. Come to think of it, we're all just still "practicing" in traffic