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What are you riding?

Oaktech

By Oaktech
in General Chat

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Joanne

Joanne

Posted
Posted
Then riding into and out of work becomes the highlight of your day… phone off, no music, no one can contact you for an hour or two…

 

Blummin' 'eck! My ride was like.... 15 minutes! Only have to go 4 miles.

 

I had understanding people around me. I kept forgetting to cancel my indicator.... :/ But I started remembering more towards the end.

arwen

arwen

Posted
Posted

Well done!

It does get much easier and you start to enjoy it more and more. Took me a good few days in a row of riding in before I really started to relax and enjoy it :-)

Now, like others have said, it's usually the most enjoyable part of "work" for me is my commute by bike.

 

However this mornings was slightly terrifying as I hit a seagull... Can in front hit it, and it tumbled into me. Thankfully no damage to the bike or me, but poor silly seagull :-(

Andrew_C

Andrew_C

Posted
Posted
I had understanding people around me. I kept forgetting to cancel my indicator....
Having watched my Direct Access instructor narrowly avoid serious grief doing just that, my first mod to the bike was adding a bleeper on the indicators. It waits a set time, then increasing volume bleeps until you cancel. Muted if you have the brakes on.

 

Azonic Soloutions

  • Thanks 1
Joanne

Joanne

Posted
Posted
I was very much in the middle of the lane and doing a speed I felt comfortable at (27) kinda feel sorry for the cars behind me, but Burnley is a nice place to drive in and for the most part people are friendly and understanding of people with L plates!!
pcstru

pcstru

Posted
Posted
Having watched my Direct Access instructor narrowly avoid serious grief doing just that, my first mod to the bike was adding a bleeper on the indicators. It waits a set time, then increasing volume bleeps until you cancel. Muted if you have the brakes on.

Azonic Soloutions

Worth considering. I habitually hit cancel on the indicators every 10 seconds or so - I think it is baked into my DNA now.

  • Thanks 1
rickjames

rickjames

Posted
Posted

Just looking for some basic advice and I could Google all I like, but you all know best (probably)

 

Had my Vitus Vee-1 for about 2 and a half year now, bar changing brake pads (I'm awful at alignment) I've not done any component changes but kept it in relatively decent condition, Muc-Off kits. Average shelf life on the tyres? I'd say my commute through central London is 6 miles 3-4 times a week; no visible damage, but just wondering if I'm due. Definitely need some new grips as well come to think of it.

mikkydoos

mikkydoos

Posted
Posted (edited)

@Joanne Dont forget your hi vis too! You'll relax into it and start really enjoying. You'll be amazed at the things/situations you never saw behind the wheel of a car!

 

 

Well done :)

Edited by mikkydoos
Joanne

Joanne

Posted
Posted (edited)

on my CBT they said tread depth for legal requirements was 1mm.... but I'd change before then. get yourself a 20p and if the tread is more then the edge ridge you're ok, if it's getting to the ridge, change them, especially as it gets wetter :)

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

@Joanne Dont forget your hi vis too! You'll relax into it and start really enjoying. You'll be amazed at the things/situations you never saw behind the wheel of a car!

 

 

Well done :)

 

Looking at stuff like this.... LED Light Up Flashing Motorcycle Safety Reflective Vest Running Cycling Jacket | eBay

 

and this.... KepooMan Adjustable Reflective Vest for Running and Cycling with a Luminous L... | eBay

 

Suitable? Or just your standard hi-vis vest? I have a couple of those at home...

Edited by Joanne
bald_pig

bald_pig

Posted
Posted
I still really fancy one of these...

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]45361[/ATTACH]

 

Got rid of my sports car a few months ago and need to fill the gap !

 

I found the seating position horrid on the MT's!

 

@Joanne, staying in the middle of the lane is not the best, a lot of crud ends up there, really you should be riding along the tracks a car would drive, less debris :)

mikkydoos

mikkydoos

Posted
Posted
on my CBT they said tread depth for legal requirements was 1mm.... but I'd change before then. get yourself a 20p and if the tread is more then the edge ridge you're ok, if it's getting to the ridge, change them, especially as it gets wetter :)

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

 

 

Looking at stuff like this.... LED Light Up Flashing Motorcycle Safety Reflective Vest Running Cycling Jacket | eBay

 

and this.... KepooMan Adjustable Reflective Vest for Running and Cycling with a Luminous L... | eBay

 

Suitable? Or just your standard hi-vis vest? I have a couple of those at home...

 

 

Standard would do. With reflectors even better.

 

 

As long as it doesnt say 'POLITE' on the back, nobody will run you over :rolleyes:

mikkydoos

mikkydoos

Posted
Posted
I found the seating position horrid on the MT's!

 

@Joanne, staying in the middle of the lane is not the best, a lot of crud ends up there, really you should be riding along the tracks a car would drive, less debris :)

 

 

Indeed true. Google 'the diesel line'.

 

I had a couple of slips riding in Spain this summer.

crc-ict

crc-ict

Posted
Posted (edited)
Rode into work for the first time.... does it get less terrifying the more you do it?

 

I think it depends on you as a person. For me, no it didn't, not really.

 

I was OK after CBT, enjoyed my 125 for a year - enough to decide I wanted to do Direct Access, get a full licence and a big bike.

 

So I completed the course and passed the tests (which I found challenging - I never felt the whole 'big bike is easier to ride than a 125' thing), and bought a lovely Honda tourer.

 

Although it was lovely bike, I struggled to gel with the big bike and never felt at ease while riding. After a year or so, I began to find myself struggling to reconcile the risks vs rewards from riding, and started finding excuses to avoid going out.

 

And that was when I decided to throw in the towel with it, sold the bike and bought a sports car. I've not looked back, just regret spending £600 on the DAS course, and to be honest, regret selling my 125 which was a great bike and I actually enjoyed riding it. For me, moving up ruined riding for me.

Edited by crc-ict
Joanne

Joanne

Posted
Posted

Yeah my plan is to ride the 125 for 6 -12 months... if I like it do the mod 1 and 2 so I can ride the 125 without L plates.

 

If I don't like it, sell the bike #YOLO

arwen

arwen

Posted
Posted

Good plan :-)

 

As others have said. Try making your default position on the road in the right hand tyre track of the cars. Less chance of picking up a puncture or hitting gravel there. I change to the left track if I'm going round a right hand bend. This is a little video of my commute, it's on by big bike shortly after I got it, but I do the same on the MSX.

 

Towards the end, when I am filtering up to the roundabouts you can see the how rough the road is, making the bike judder and me weave around some of the bigger holes. This isalso where a lot of gravel accumulates and can cause you to lose traction.

I'm also in the habit of mashing the indicator cancel when ever I turn a corner/bend. Even if I've not put them on!

Joanne

Joanne

Posted
Posted (edited)

rode into work again today. Didn't die. Didn't forget about my indicators. Was a little hesitant at one junction, but I always take my time at it in the car. Getting less nervous! Pleased with myself.

 

Husband sneaky sneaky takes videos of me setting off. Creep.

 

Capture.JPG

Edited by Joanne
mikkydoos

mikkydoos

Posted
Posted
Kind of insulted that you think I'd ride on a motorbike in a skirt to be honest! I'm not stupid!

 

Aaaw. Im sorry. I take it back. Your fella needs a better phone! :(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(

 

I would ride a bike in a skirt ! ;)

  • Thanks 1
Joanne

Joanne

Posted
Posted
the video got compressed when he sent it via google hangouts. I forgive you. I got all my bike gear from the husbands step mum, so it's all good stuff. I made sure of that. It's the only thing saving your skin! :) I've got some leather pants too, but I'm not sure I'm quite ready to rock up to work in those just yet!

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