10-09-13, 04:13 AM
And one or 2 more:
A fast bike does not necessarily make a fast rider. A good rider on a basic bike will run rings round an amateur on a Fireblade.
Advice from a mate years ago, and which has stuck with me: "It's not diesel, or wet roads or dozy car drivers that cause accidents; it's not knowing how to deal with it that's a problem".
HGV's have, and create big blind spots: if there's a car in a side road (esp on the left) s/he may let that car go (due to the need for increased road space). Even if that car driver looks, s/he may not see a fast moving bike, as such it's a bad idea to go wazzing up on the wrong side of the road to pass the HGV (people have done this before today), and the average cager won't expect a bike hammering on the wrong side of the road either.
Learn to ride the bike you have, before trading up to the latest super-duper machinery (ie, don't run before you can walk).
Trust no-one on the road.
A car ahead jumping on the brakes apparently may signify a speed trap ahead; it may also be a driver not concentrating (a car full of passengers can be a clue, ie they're busy chatting to mates).
Everyone drops bikes, sooner or later; it's embarrassing, but it's part of the learning curve. Look on Youtube "Picking up a dropped bike" for methods to pick it up without doing your back.
Looking "through" the windows of a car can help clue you up on traffic events you cannot yet see otherwise.
A fast bike does not necessarily make a fast rider. A good rider on a basic bike will run rings round an amateur on a Fireblade.
Advice from a mate years ago, and which has stuck with me: "It's not diesel, or wet roads or dozy car drivers that cause accidents; it's not knowing how to deal with it that's a problem".
HGV's have, and create big blind spots: if there's a car in a side road (esp on the left) s/he may let that car go (due to the need for increased road space). Even if that car driver looks, s/he may not see a fast moving bike, as such it's a bad idea to go wazzing up on the wrong side of the road to pass the HGV (people have done this before today), and the average cager won't expect a bike hammering on the wrong side of the road either.
Learn to ride the bike you have, before trading up to the latest super-duper machinery (ie, don't run before you can walk).
Trust no-one on the road.
A car ahead jumping on the brakes apparently may signify a speed trap ahead; it may also be a driver not concentrating (a car full of passengers can be a clue, ie they're busy chatting to mates).
Everyone drops bikes, sooner or later; it's embarrassing, but it's part of the learning curve. Look on Youtube "Picking up a dropped bike" for methods to pick it up without doing your back.
Looking "through" the windows of a car can help clue you up on traffic events you cannot yet see otherwise.