Practice after the MSF ... I'm puzzled ..... please help

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Diecast61
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Practice after the MSF ... I'm puzzled ..... please help

#1 Unread post by Diecast61 »

OK .....

You take the MSF... Pass and get your endorsement.

You KNOW you need to practice ....before hitting the streets.

You have a bike .....

No trailer or pick-up.

How do you get the bike to the parking lot to practice if you feel you are not ready to ride on the street?

May seem like a silly question .... but I don't have a parking lot all that close to me.

THANKS!!!!
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jonnythan
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Re: Practice after the MSF ... I'm puzzled ..... please help

#2 Unread post by jonnythan »

Diecast61 wrote:OK .....

You take the MSF... Pass and get your endorsement.

You KNOW you need to practice ....before hitting the streets.

You have a bike .....

No trailer or pick-up.

How do you get the bike to the parking lot to practice if you feel you are not ready to ride on the street?

May seem like a silly question .... but I don't have a parking lot all that close to me.

THANKS!!!!
You pick a time when the streets are mostly deserted and head out. Practice on local roads, roads with little traffic, etc.

You have to get out on the roads.
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Re: Practice after the MSF ... I'm puzzled ..... please help

#3 Unread post by Brackstone »

Diecast61 wrote:OK .....

You take the MSF... Pass and get your endorsement.

You KNOW you need to practice ....before hitting the streets.

You have a bike .....

No trailer or pick-up.

How do you get the bike to the parking lot to practice if you feel you are not ready to ride on the street?

May seem like a silly question .... but I don't have a parking lot all that close to me.

THANKS!!!!
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Ian522
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#4 Unread post by Ian522 »

Unless you live on a major road, just practice riding around your block until you feel comfortable venturing out further. Something like 8am on a saturday is good, there is almost no one out. Just remember what they taught you in the course and take it slow and easy.
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storysunfolding
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#5 Unread post by storysunfolding »

So many options

-Rent a trailer from uhaul for $12 a day
-Rent a truck for $15
-Have a friend move it
-Be careful on your way to the parking lot
-Push your bike :laughing:
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#6 Unread post by Lion_Lady »

Plot the smoothest path to the nearest parking lot.

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#7 Unread post by Derail »

I went through the same thing the other day. I practiced going from a stop which was my main problem(not stalling). Don't want to do that at an intersection. Once I got that down I just rode with parents monday a bit before noon, didn't run into much traffic and my parents just stayed stopped until they saw I was going and then followed. Goodluck :)
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#8 Unread post by Shorts »

The buddy following in a car isn't too bad an idea...heck. A buddy following on a bike isn't either. But, the easiest would be to go early in the morning. We did this several times for my first street rides.
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#9 Unread post by Dragon on Wheels »

Mostly what the others said. Also, you would want to pick a time when there aren't cars IN the parking lot, so weekends or later in the day after work are usually good. I went during the weekends when I first started. I also started off practicing up and down my street(and others close by) at times when there wouldn't be many cars.

It might be good to let someone know you'll be out too. Just in case you stall or something happens, if you're gone too long someone could go look for you.
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Fly_Guy
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#10 Unread post by Fly_Guy »

Mall parking lots on a Sunday morning are a good bet, they don't open until at least 10 AM or maybe noon. Lots of space, and you can see anybody coming from a long ways off.

No matter what, you're going to be nervous the first times you ride on the road. Don't rush it, but don't keep putting it off. Eventually you just have to dive in and give it a shot. If you have more experienced rider friends, ask them to come with you (might have to buy breakfast, or at least coffee, to get them out of bed early).
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