First Ride to Work

[Xdot]

I'm coming from dirt bikes so I've been tooling around the neighborhood for the last week-and-a-half getting used to the feel of a heavier, far more powerful machine. (I Like It!) Got my new front tire mounted. Changed all the fluids. Got insurance up to spec. Figured it was time for my first ride to work.

My town isn't all that crowded (Huntsville, AL) but the traffic can get heavy in the morning. Especially where I come in over a small mountain. I have to say, I was more than a little nervous jockying for position with two ton cars at 70 mph. And it must have rained last night so the road was damp in some of the curves. But I did well (which means I survived) and actually wound up riding most of this section with a guy on a GS with a sweet set of Gobi Boxes. Comforting to hook up and he kept my six all the way over. I reckon he could see my white knuckles through my gloves! I've seen him before from a car so I know it wasn't his first time in.

Traffic thinned out after that and I took less-traveled roads. In fact, they were pretty much empty so I enjoyed it much more. I scouted this section the other day and will probably be my typical route, at least until school starts back up. By the time I pulled into Research Park I was feeling a lot more comfortable and opened it up a little more. I had been looking forward to a nice, sweeping right-hander but noticed the sprinklers had soaked the pavement so took the outside lane. Dang! Cut the motor in my parking spot with a big grin on my mug.

Couple of things I noticed: I paid less attention to traffic when it was heaviest. No doubt because I was nervous. That'll get better. I need a better riding jacket. Something mesh for the summer. Canvas doesn't breath. Also, time to spring for that new helmet - looking for an Arai on sale. I wasn't sure what to do when that other bike joined me. What's the protocol there? Side-by-side? Tandem? We didn't hit a light but if we had I think he'd have pulled up beside me. After all, we were both on BMMRs so we're practically related, right? I was wearing earplugs so I'd have looked like an idiot nodding and smiling.

All in all an enjoyable morning. Planning on going to lunch with a (now) fellow rider who works down the hall.

John

[boxermania]

Albeit heavier than your former ride, you will find the front suspension and brakes quite reasurring and confidence inspiring.....just get out and ride, ride, ride......

[Lion_Lady]

Ain't it fun??? I've been commuting most days this summer. We've got both kids home and they've both got jobs. With only 2 cars right now (fortunately hubby and I have both got motorcycles) commuting by MC is no problem. My daughter works at the same place as me. We can ride to work 2 up!!

As for the protocol of riding with another biker... side by side is a "no" (unless you really trust the other biker, and it is still risky). Staggered is the norm, each bike in a car-wheel track, with a car length or more between. That way the following rider can see what's ahead and you've both got room to move side to side in the lane to avoid whatever.

As for conversation at a light, the signal for earplugs is to tap the side of the helmet and just say "can't hear you, earplugs."

P

[Xdot]

Caught a little rain on the way home Exciting Day!

[takemeaway]

LOL. Congratulations. But give a recap in about two weeks...you'll be laughing at your anxiety. You will get over it quickly.

Never ride side-by-side! Even if it is with someone you trust, you just never know what might come out of the underbrush. At a stoplight, you can sit side-by-side if you want, but don't have to. And a thumbs-up is universal.

[Xdot]

Never ride side-by-side! Even if it is with someone you trust, you just never know what might come out of the underbrush.

But I want to look like those Harley guys. I've even ordered a set of ape-hangers for my R!

[iowabeakster]

Lionlady says...

As for conversation at a light, the signal for earplugs is to tap the side of the helmet and just say "can't hear you, earplugs."

I'm always doing that... I often add a negative headshake.

I did it just the other day to a guy on a KLR who wanted to trade bikes. I want a KLR...but not in trade for my R.

A small town police officer was apparently blowing off some steam at me. I did the helmet tap, "can't hear you". He yelled louder, and again I did the helmet tap, "can't hear you" routine (even though I could).

He got flustered and drove away.

[takemeaway]

But I want to look like those Harley guys. I've even ordered a set of ape-hangers for my R!

Exactly my point. You can get a better look as parts start falling off of the Harley. Do post a picture of the ape-hangers.

[rdsmith3]

Once you get comfortable commuting, try New Jersey on I-80, next to the tractor trailers.

Dump trucks are the worst, however.


It's important to claim your space when you are commuting, or others will take it over. This means riding in the correct spot in a lane, and moving around a bit so people see you.

don't ride in the far right lane on multi-lane highways -- you have a greater chance of being hit by people remembering at the last second that this is their exit

[riceburner]

As for the protocol of riding with another biker... side by side is a "no" (unless you really trust the other biker, and it is still risky). Staggered is the norm, each bike in a car-wheel track, with a car length or more between. That way the following rider can see what's ahead and you've both got room to move side to side in the lane to avoid whatever.

I'd agree with the stagger - but keep a much larger distance - don't know what you're taught in Driver's Ed about "Braking Distances" - but in the UK we have different distances for different speeds - plus "Thinking Distance".

check this site : http://www.hintsandthings.co.uk/garage/stopmph.htm

Even if you ARE staggered - a sudden bit of braking by the guy in front of you will see you charge right past him - and if HE'S not left enough room - YOU will pile into the car in front! (yes - I nearly did that myself when I was younger - learnt a lesson THAT day!!)


The basic rules are:
Ride as if you are invisible, Ride for yourself, and your own safety. Because no-one else out there cares about you, they're too concerned with themselves and what's going on in their tin-box.

[riceburner]

Once you get comfortable commuting, try New Jersey on I-80, next to the tractor trailers.

Dump trucks are the worst, however.

Then come over to London and have your eyes opened even further!

[angellr]

riceburner states: The basic rules are:
Ride as if you are invisible, Ride for yourself, and your own safety. Because no-one else out there cares about you, they're too concerned with themselves and what's going on in their tin-box.

I would also add to the above that EVERYONE IS OUT TO KILL YOU! I had some lady almost take me out (3) times in a 3km stretch of road the other day!! She was weaving and bobbing in/out of traffic. Had I not been paying attention, would not be here to type this out ... good luck!

[riceburner]

riceburner states: The basic rules are:
Ride as if you are invisible, Ride for yourself, and your own safety. Because no-one else out there cares about you, they're too concerned with themselves and what's going on in their tin-box.

I would also add to the above that EVERYONE IS OUT TO KILL YOU! I had some lady almost take me out (3) times in a 3km stretch of road the other day!! She was weaving and bobbing in/out of traffic. Had I not been paying attention, would not be here to type this out ... good luck!

Sorry - but that's just incorrect.

they're NOT out to kill you - they're just not bright enough to realise that other people are out on the roads at the same time and thus don't waste their precious attention span on looking for other road vehicles. Thinking otherwise just puts you on the back foot, and is a method of (wrongly) removing responsibility from yourself for your own riding/life. ALWAYS take responsibility for your own actions - because no-one else will.

In your situation above - why did you stay close enough to the danger to be put in danger AGAIN, and AGAIN?? You should have backed away to a safe distance after the first swerve.



Another thing to think about when you're riding is that the (surprisingly neanderthal) human brain is hard-wired to react to "threats" on an unconscious level. Ie it can bypass the conscious mind and do odd things. One practical upshot of this is that drivers seldom "notice" (on a mental level) motorcycles, simply because they are smaller than the vehicle they're in, and thus not a threat. Car drivers will notice other vehicles of similar or larger sizes (cars/trucks/semi-rigs etc) because they ARE a threat - but not bikes. So - even if a driver "appears" to have looked at you - don't for one second ASSUME that he's actually taken notice of you.

[angellr]

riceburner asks - In your situation above - why did you stay close enough to the danger to be put in danger AGAIN, and AGAIN?? You should have backed away to a safe distance after the first swerve.

Because I was stuck in very heavy traffic *and* tried to get away from that woman ... no matter where I ended up on the road, she was right there trying to take me out ... must have been the SUV, cellphone and Blonde Hair. Ooooppps, did I say that?

[chibbert]

Firstrgear Meshtex jackets are great IMHO

[Airman]

riceburner asks - In your situation above - why did you stay close enough to the danger to be put in danger AGAIN, and AGAIN?? You should have backed away to a safe distance after the first swerve.

Because I was stuck in very heavy traffic *and* tried to get away from that woman ... no matter where I ended up on the road, she was right there trying to take me out ... must have been the SUV, cellphone and Blonde Hair. Ooooppps, did I say that?

No cell phone laws where you live ? WA made cell phone use in the car a primary offence last month, meaning they can stop you for just seeing you on the phone. Better yet, if you hurl the phone out the side window or hide it somehwere, they give you the ticket anyhow. Sweet, eh ? If you had your Stubel airhorn installed you could make the SUV lady try to get away from you. =) I commute about 20 miles of heavy freeway fraffic to work every day. I've found there's some cause and effect for erratic drivers, weather for example, but heavy traffic just multiplies the number of people trying to kill us.

[Samiam]

Xdot, my advice is to just stay away from other motorcyclists. I avoid them at all costs and even turn off to a different route if they persist in getting around me. I've even stopped riding on week-ends to avoid them. In my neck of the woods (Southeast) the vast majority of motorcyclists are on Harleys and they just frighten me. They are either new and unskilled or experienced and at least a little drunk.

And I don't like the familarity that other riders assume because they happen to be on another motorcycle. One other rider around me makes me uncomfortable; an entire herd of them makes me bonkers! Especially if they are on loud bikes and in some kind of slow motion highway parade, ostensibly for toys or soldiers or some other "good" cause.

[Caol]

In Ontario our rules of the road require a two second interval between vehicles and a recommendation that motorcyclists, riding together, ride in echelon at a one second interval. When I approach another bike from behind I always keep the two second interval unless I receive a definite indication that I'm welcome to "join up", and even then I don't close to the one second interval until I've observed the other rider's style for a while.