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Spindly Killerfish

Joined:

Jun 08

Posts: 240

Spindly Killerfish says:

Top Tips For New Bikers

I was just thinking after I posted the stupid reply about sticker removal (sorry) that there is a myriad of experience on this forum as well as the 'new to biking' fellows (and fellowesses).

Has anyone got any top tips (real ones this time) in relation to biking, skills maintenance etc that has been passed on or learned over years of experience that newbies could benefit from, things like taking out a coaster to put your sidestand on in hot weather so it doesn't sink through the tarmac.

Just thought as old farts could impart a bit of brain.

Sorry if this is a repost. SK.

P.S. whilst writing this I am wearing my wife's panties.

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  • Posted 5 years ago (01 March 2009 13:13)

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used2bfast

Joined:

Aug 07

Posts: 4281

used2bfast says:

Top Tips

When riding really slowly, ie into a car park, especially 2 - up, make sure you are in gear! No - really. I have managed to be in this situation twice, and as you let the clutch out, the thing revs its balls off, and you fall over! I did manage to save it (6' 3'' and 14 stone helps) but nearly put me back out:blink:

Also, DO NOT look at yourslef in the shop window, when you are in trafic in the town centre, thinking how "cool" you look. You are not cool lying in the road, having just ridden into the car in front of you at 5 mph. Yes, I did that too!:lol:

Also, do not ride with the kick start up your trouser leg........yeah, I did that too! Fell over at the flippin "t" junction:blink:

U2BF for top tips.

 ps. I am writing this with marigolds, and a hankie on my head.

[This Reply has been modified by the Author]

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  • Posted 5 years ago (02 March 2009 08:35)
Kamchat

Joined:

Aug 02

Posts: 27238

Kamchat says:

Tips for beginers

Few items worth carrying with you (under seat/backpack)

Small puncture repair kit (rubber plugs, gas bottles) you can get these from Heine Gerrick etc. for about £12).

Length of clear plastic pipe, - 2.5ft + for siphoning petrol from one bike to another should you or mate run out, (Particularly if you are riding out in the countryside a lot or abroad where petrol,stations may be far apart or close early).  Oh, and a small plastic container too (empty juice bottle ... if storage space is tight then a small plastic bag  - with no holes! :winkie: (check it at home with water).

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  • Posted 5 years ago (02 March 2009 08:48)
Kamchat

Joined:

Aug 02

Posts: 27238

Kamchat says:

Probably said already

But a small bit of washing up liquid polished into the inside of your visor berore you go out on cold/wet days will help stop visor misting up.

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  • Posted 5 years ago (02 March 2009 08:50)
Kamchat

Joined:

Aug 02

Posts: 27238

Kamchat says:

Riding tips

When following a mate - particularly on country roads, try not to ride directly in-line behind - you are more likely to get a stone through your radiator (been there! :upset:) or a chipped headlight or twated by a high speed rock (been there too! :wacko:) flicked off their back tyre.

 

In the countryside on unknown roads - if travelling fast always be wary of small old bridges crossing rivers ...the road/bridge was designed and built before modern transport and the bend leading onto them can be more acute then you thought! (often almost a right angle) ...This would have been the easiest/cheapest way to build them - a shorter bridge using less material.

 

Roads ahead can often be read read using clues - The sharpness of curves/ bends in the road can often be estimated by lines of telegraph poles/ trees/ hedges running alongside the road.

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  • Posted 5 years ago (02 March 2009 09:03)
ducatiboy1967

Joined:

Feb 08

Posts: 4630

ducatiboy1967 says:

if your bike wint start

Do check some mong hasn't walked past and knocked off the kill sitch for a laugh before decending into a Basil Fawlty and wacking it with a tree branch.  Hi Vis gear is not for gimps!  If you ride in poor visibility it will help if anyone is actually looking.  If you plan on visiting the Nurnberg Ring spend a few quid on some laps with a Ring Meister as you will not get the lines right even if you are a God.  Always listen to older riders who actually have made all these mistakes and, never right them off as they are still alive!:wink:

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  • Posted 5 years ago (02 March 2009 09:07)
ducatiboy1967

Joined:

Feb 08

Posts: 4630

ducatiboy1967 says:

Plus

NEVER carry your mibile inside your jacket.  My mate did that and highsided his Busa.  The phone caused a pneumothorax...he would have got away with bruises otherwise.

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  • Posted 5 years ago (02 March 2009 10:18)
lfcmick2510@yahoo.co.uk

Joined:

Jun 08

Posts: 12

lfcmick2510@yahoo.co.uk says:

top tips

hey take it easy on small country roads! a woman cut a sharp corner when i was comin the other way and my bike ploughed into the front of her car luckily i jumped off and out of the way of the car, unluckily the tit behind me was too close and couldn't stop and ended up running me over whilst helpless in the road. Result, a helecopter ride to hospital with a broken femur. Just take it easy and enjoy!

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  • Posted 5 years ago (02 March 2009 10:20)
teddy1981

Joined:

Sep 08

Posts: 848

teddy1981 says:

Ask people.....

dont be afraid of looking a tit by asking a silly question. You'll get some stick, but generally some good answers afterwards.

Get someone to appraise your riding, go for a lesson with an IAM/ROSPA instructor, best £30 you'll ever spend, its amazing what they can pick up on from a short ride with you and make you smoother and safer with some pointers.

Try riding in all weathers, it'll let you know what you and your bike can cope with. (Make sure you dress for the weather though!)

If you have to ask yourself if that gap is too small to squeeze through/overtake in/filter through, then it most probably is.

And as said before, they most definately have NOT seen you coming. Treat them all the same, even if they are the worlds safest driver, everyone makes mistakes.

ACF50 is the worlds best water repellant. One application a year and your bike stays rust and *dirt free. Well worth the cash. (*Dirt washes off with a light spray from the hose.)

Ride safe people.

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  • Posted 5 years ago (02 March 2009 11:38)
haplessdan

Joined:

Nov 04

Posts: 1936

haplessdan says:

tips

If you overcook a corner, don't panic, DON'T BRAKE.  Your bike is almost certainly a lot more capable than you are, and it can get round the corner even if you can't, as it were.  Relax, look where you want to go, push the bar to countersteer and go for it.  I did this once, overcooked a corner like mad, but (to my surprise) I managed to get round, although I almost had my head taken off by a car coming the other way.  Also, it completely removed the (generous) chicken strips on one side of my tyres.  Result!

Learn how to change brake and clutch (if applicable) fluids and do it.

Don't put your foot down on the white lines when it's wet.  I did this, the bike didn't fall, but I tore every muscle in my upper thigh keeping it upright.  Ouch.

If some bugger in a car hasn't seen you (ie hasn't looked) and is changing lanes on top of you, don't bother with the horn, he won't know it's for him.  Bang on his roof instead.  That'll wake him up.

Don't try and stay with people who are faster than you; let them go.

Be nice to cyclists, some of them have cars too...

When I can be bothered, I'll put together a big 'Riding in France' (where I learned to ride) paragraph and post it.

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  • Posted 5 years ago (02 March 2009 11:51)
ninjachica

Joined:

Jul 08

Posts: 3460

ninjachica says:

Indicators

Remember to cancel your indicators. 

(My o/h needs to read this one.  We now have a special handsignal!)

Maybe that car did see you, but thought you were turning into the street...

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  • Posted 5 years ago (02 March 2009 13:14)

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