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When you become more experianced, you will not need excuses or reasons to ride, it will become an automatic thing to reach for the bike keys first. Sometimes I just get on my bike and ride for no other reason than want a ride.

yeah, i can see myself canyon carving or having track days when i get more experience.

city riding sucks

sapaul wrote:When you become more experianced, you will not need excuses or reasons to ride, it will become an automatic thing to reach for the bike keys first. Sometimes I just get on my bike and ride for no other reason than want a ride.

This automatic reflex is hell on your grades, though.

On your next day off get up before the sun comes up. At the crack of dawn get on your bike and go. It doesn't matter where. Stay off the freeways and just head out of town. I know the freeways are more convenient but you do not have to ride them to get everywhere. Just keep going. The only thing you have to do is turn back in time to get home. You will probably see things you never knew were there.

Personally I hate riding around town for no reason and will just use the bike for errands. But I will sometimes get up early and take off. Last fall my wife and I got a call from a friend to meet some people for lunch. So off we went. The restaurant was on the other side of the state from us. 250 miles each way to have lunch. We ended up with about 16 bikes from all different directions. Everyone rode a similar distance to get there but with no common starting point. It was just an excuse to go for a ride. Have lunch-BS for a while- get back on the bikes and go some more.

You need seat time badly. Get out there and do it. Be adventurous. In time all the things you have to think about to do now will become reflex. You have picked up a tremendous bike even if a horrible beginner bike. Get out and use it!

Just have fun and be careful.

I take my bike to the grocery store almost daily, just as an excuse to ride "...oh I just need to get fresh meat for dinner, why take the car".

Skier wrote:

sapaul wrote:When you become more experianced, you will not need excuses or reasons to ride, it will become an automatic thing to reach for the bike keys first. Sometimes I just get on my bike and ride for no other reason than want a ride.

This automatic reflex is hell on your grades, though.

yeah but the older you get the less riding time you have, so you get kinda selfish.

I am now 44, going to live to 80 so thats 36 years x 12 months, dodo thats only 432 months left. Cheers I am going for a ride now. NO reason

i think i'll go to griffith park. i heard from dragonhawk that there are beginner friendly twisties over there.

it'll be long street ride though, about 17 miles of traffic light goodness since i can't take freeways yet.

i read chapter 1 of hough's book about canyon roads, any other tips besides...

- entering from the outside lane for a better view of the turn
- brake/reduce speed before entering the corner.
- keep steady or avoid sudden changes of throttle use.
- look through the turn.

what else?

I've gone 500km for coffee, and 260 one way for a slice of pie and a burger on the way back. Skills practise can get to be boring, but it'll make sure that you get home after you've eaten that slice of pie.

What you need to do is pick road and ask yourself where it leads, take it for 1/2 an hour, then come back. Pick a different road the next time. When you see a Tim Hortons... erm you don't have Tim's do you? When you see a coffee/donut shop stop and have one. Chances are good you'll find another biker there, and if you find another biker you have someone to talk to. Ask about good roads, why they like their bike, what they'd change about it. Look for the roads they mentioned.

Ride your bike to your favorite hang out, join the Cali Bike Night club. Any one of a hundred things.

Sevulturus wrote:I've gone 500km for coffee, and 260 one way for a slice of pie and a burger on the way back. Skills practise can get to be boring, but it'll make sure that you get home after you've eaten that slice of pie.

What you need to do is pick road and ask yourself where it leads, take it for 1/2 an hour, then come back. Pick a different road the next time. When you see a Tim Hortons... erm you don't have Tim's do you? When you see a coffee/donut shop stop and have one. Chances are good you'll find another biker there, and if you find another biker you have someone to talk to. Ask about good roads, why they like their bike, what they'd change about it. Look for the roads they mentioned.

Ride your bike to your favorite hang out, join the Cali Bike Night club. Any one of a hundred things.

that's a problem for me, im mostly at home ever since we moved here in the US, so i don't really have any favorite hang out places. sad i know.

i don't drink coffee. but i'll try some other place.

maybe i should check out nearby bike maintenance shops around here. im sure to meet a few fellow riders there.