City riding
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,872
Likes: 83
From: Canton, Michigan
RE: City riding
ORIGINAL: WVICEMAN...I just moved to Michigan from Alaska and rode in W.V when I was a teenager but have never had to deal with city traffic and crowed interstates. How long is it going to take me get comfortable in this riding enviroment? I'll have to admit I'm a little tense out there....
As far as the Local Interstates...Michigan's version of NASCAR as I refer to them. You'll eventually get used to the tailgaters, lane switchers, cellphone chatting, Big Mac gulping, donut munching, coffee slurping, lapdog loving....Cagers. It's not just the 10-20+ mph over the posted limit that ya gotta do (or the cement trucks will run you down), it's the fact that you'll never be able to maintain anything that you once considered to be a safe distance. If there's enough room to fit in front of you...Some knucklehead rolling a Ford F350 SuperDuty is gonna fill it. Then hit his brakes.
My advice...Keep your head in the game....The side streets aren't much better. Running stop lights and stop signs is a 'sport' in my 'hood.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Exit 3
RE: City riding
I guess I'm in the minority, or drain bamaged but I feel safer riding in rush hour traffic to and from Philadelphia than I do cruising the back roads. It’s not that I don’t have any encounters with clueless, ignorant, cell phone talking a-holes; I do multiple times a day. It’s just that these encounters are very expected and I’m ready for them as opposed to when I’m enjoying a nice back road and some soccer mom pulls out of some side street without looking or some four legged varmint tries to torpedo me. That’s a real change your shorts moment. Riding in traffic is like riding in rain or snow. It can be a nervous time until you do it over and over again but you will get used to it.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,942
Likes: 2
From: LAKESIDE CA.
RE: City riding
make that two for the minority
I feel quit comfortable riding to and from work every day on the freeway
here in so cal maybe the people here are just better to us bikers (not)
you do have to stay awake most of the time tho.
leave your worries and problems at home or work and enjoy the ride....
[IMG]local://upfiles/5757/5BAF8CB1F3CB476F924F283F692C2688.jpg[/IMG]
I feel quit comfortable riding to and from work every day on the freeway
here in so cal maybe the people here are just better to us bikers (not)
you do have to stay awake most of the time tho.
leave your worries and problems at home or work and enjoy the ride....
[IMG]local://upfiles/5757/5BAF8CB1F3CB476F924F283F692C2688.jpg[/IMG]
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 175
Likes: 1
From: Phoenix, AZ
RE: City riding
I prefer to ride in the mountains, no cagers and no animals on the road. But now down to reality. In the city I prefer rush hours on the freeway, not the city streets. Traffic flow is one direction (most of the time). You become more vigilant, as stated, you expect stupid moves.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,682
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, TX
RE: City riding
You will get used to it, but do not get comfortable. Treat everyone as a threat, watch the tail wobbles - that shows where they are looking on lane changes. Staying alert will keep you safe, and you'll have no problem riding around.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,245
Likes: 0
From:
RE: City riding
I white-knuckled my surface street commutes here in L.A. for the first two weeks. Hell, my neck was even sore from being so tense. A complete, paranoid, basketcase during that time. The next couple of months, I was able to relax the neck and hands a great deal. Now, I'm comfortable while still maintaining a heightened state of alert and caution - always thinking ahead and assuming the worst. I still let my guard down sometimes and do stupid things every once in a while, but, I do that in my cage as well. However, it's the best I can do.
Whiff
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Stage III
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
RE: City riding
I know what you mean, I bought my first bike in april, a sporty 883 and had to teach myself to ride. I live in Baltimore and work on base in DC, My first ride was in rush hour on 95 south from B-More To DC. Holy ****. It didn't take long to get every possible road hazard thrown my way..Its great experience but not fun riding..Just have to drive defensivly all the time..I put 3500 miles on her already and am trading her in for a 2007 custom.. I am ready to graduate to a big boy..Ilove it it's so relaxing..
Intermediate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert, AZ
RE: City riding
Lots of good advice here. When I'm commuting on the bike, or just riding in town for that matter, I assume no one can see me and if they can, they want to run over me. As for riding on freeways / expressways, I think you're safer out there (statistically speaking) than on the surface streets. It's the bonehead making a left turn in your lap that you have to watch for. Keep an eye on your mirrors, turn your head for a lane check before changing lanes, and just keep looking around. You will get more comfortable as time goes on .....