[long post for novice, just scroll on bye
]
even the nicest people, when driving cars, can make poor
and wrong decisions, make false assumptions, take actions
which fail to include, you,, on your motorcycle..
the brain filters out things, as part of its function,
including things which dont trigger concern [such as mack trucks etc]
thus allowing brain function without overloadings from false alarms
from every other road user and vehicle nearby..
knowing this, you can include some, feedback from others
such as blinkers, brake lights, etc, but they may just as easily
intend to and turn one way while blinking the other, or not blinking..
drivers whatever their level of competency and skill can be
and are easily distracted, including by such as eating and drinking,
smoking, adjusting their radio, applying make-up [!]
just being tired and sleepy,, etc, and so on..
with baby on board drivers are likely to be distracted
to some extent anyway, and just with other adults
talking and so on, they cant be fully attentive..
this is just the way of it, for us..
you dont need to hate them, or fear them [causes tension]
but you must, not, trust them[!] think of it as if children
are driving the cars,, which some might be able to do,
but would be likely to make poor decisions now and then..
thus, egs of situations to avoid or at least approach with
extra caution; shopping areas,, suburban traffic,
traffic generally, intersections etc, ie, places where cars
will leave and enter traffic flows, stop suddenly, take off
quickly, prop, accelerate off the mark unexpectedly,
change lanes or simply wander out of their lane..
when their drivers brain is focussed on getting home quickly
or whatever, they are likely to take what are obviously
'stupid' or unthinking decisions on the spur of the moment,
such as doing a U-turn when its not on, or any of the above..
ok, the good news.. when this has truely sunk into your mind
you need not fear them, rather behave with healthy respect for
their size and mass and unpredictability..
then those things can become part of your, approach to riding,
and contribute to your, riding skills and appropriate responses..
all this verbage to make a simple point, but if you have read on
it will enter your medium term memory and become useful
inner awareness, when combined with your own experiences..
it is this awareness that virtually all experienced motorcyclists
have developed, one way or the other..
all good advice on practicing, braking, turning, and so on,
will when you put it into practice become part of your
-response- mechanisms, when needed..
you dont, want to be going thru thought process'
in response to a car coming at you, rather you want to
respond, appropriately, with avoidance, braking, acceleration,
moving into escape zones [which your slim motorcycle can enter]
in a similar way to say, when you knock something over but
catch it without thinking,, your hand sort of just does it..
practicing, repeating over and over, the basic skills,
will result in this sort of response in braking etc [
]
so never be in a rush when in traffic situations,
especially when in your first learning phases..
one good practice there is to learn to and practice
riding very, slowly.. like, walking pace..
when in traffic, suburbia etc, watch ahead with
eagle vision, looking ahead under your eyebrows
but taking in everything with peripheral vision..
such as, stop lights ahead [etc] which means
you can start to slow down in response, well before
the lights, thus not needing to brake in a short distance,
thus giving yourself greater latitude and more time
and space to respond if someone slams on the brakes etc..
i still do this religiously, having the intention of not, placing a foot
on the road, from taking off until arrival at my destination..
of course you must, sometimes, put a foot down..
but, if you start with this intention, you will, become more
and more adept at controlling the motorcycle, balancing
at low speed [good] and not, needing to hit the brakes
to slough off speed quickly in general riding..
this is just common sense, really, and should not, prevent
your enjoyment and pleasure in riding your motorcycle
which is after all one of the simple pleasures of life...
agree about the 'superman' [or superwoman] feeling,
which esp in safe situations at some speed is how
i describe that feeling using an idea most people
can appreciate.. leaning forward into the wind
with some speed including 'flying' around a curve
is pretty close to the feeling you get free falling
before opening your parachute, or, flying
'like superwoman'...
ps. im 64 [!] been riding motorcycles since 16..
if you dont count 'flying' on the tank of dads bikes
as a little boy.. there are lots of old motorcyclist,
which counters the assumption that we are all
going to die thru riding our motorcycles...
Her CBR
My CBR
