Biking practice? alone or with groups?
Discussion
Hey,
I am very new to biking and i have recently joined a bikers group for polishing my skills. I want to ask and the professional ones, weather i should initially be training along with groups or should i prefer training alone?
Regards.
I am very new to biking and i have recently joined a bikers group for polishing my skills. I want to ask and the professional ones, weather i should initially be training along with groups or should i prefer training alone?
Regards.
Edited by novajones001 on Tuesday 29th January 12:52
Edited by novajones001 on Sunday 14th June 16:45
Personally, I hate group rides. A group of people none of whom ride the same, so useless to learn from. Def think about IAM or similar or someone who you know is a good rider. Which means they have a qualification. The amount of times I've been told someone is a good rider and been aghast. The 'good' needs qualification mostly! Good on track maybe. Good at going fast. Good at being an idiot.
Go for a few rides by yourself until you become used to how the bike handles and you are confident enough to be able to corner, accelerate and brake at a level you are comfortable with.
Once you become more experienced, it can be fun to go out in small groups, but only if the others in the group are aware you are fairly "new" to riding and will wait / slow the pace if you are struggling.
Its no fun trying to keep up with faster bikes and can end in a bad way.
Once you become more experienced, it can be fun to go out in small groups, but only if the others in the group are aware you are fairly "new" to riding and will wait / slow the pace if you are struggling.
Its no fun trying to keep up with faster bikes and can end in a bad way.
My experiences of group riding is it is far too easy for it to become a cock measuring session and then the silliness starts, people move out of their comfort zones and accidents happen.
You need to be comfortable with the group of riders you are riding with and for improving I would of thought 1-2-1 sessions with IAM or ROSPA would probably be of more benefit.
You need to be comfortable with the group of riders you are riding with and for improving I would of thought 1-2-1 sessions with IAM or ROSPA would probably be of more benefit.
I love the idea of group rides, but on the few i've been on i've regretted it afterwards.
First one was me and a few mates, all of us fairly new to riding. I had a mate with me as pillion. Most guys were riding like complete idiots. In the end i bailed on them and just let them get on with it.
Next one was a good few years later. Different group of mates through work. That time i was riding like an idiot, dragging one of the guys behind who had hardly ridden at all. One guy was being mr sensible and riding at his own pace, so we kept having to stop to wait for him. It was getting annoying right up until the lad i was dragging behind misjudged a corner and ended up down a ditch.
Last one i went on was a few years ago. Bigger group, and more experienced set of people who do lots of group rides. It was good, but it took forever as it was so slow. And when we did pick the pace up slightly one guy, who had just done his test, nearly got taken out by following someone on an overtake and nearly having a head-on.
At that point i decided to stick to commuting..
First one was me and a few mates, all of us fairly new to riding. I had a mate with me as pillion. Most guys were riding like complete idiots. In the end i bailed on them and just let them get on with it.
Next one was a good few years later. Different group of mates through work. That time i was riding like an idiot, dragging one of the guys behind who had hardly ridden at all. One guy was being mr sensible and riding at his own pace, so we kept having to stop to wait for him. It was getting annoying right up until the lad i was dragging behind misjudged a corner and ended up down a ditch.
Last one i went on was a few years ago. Bigger group, and more experienced set of people who do lots of group rides. It was good, but it took forever as it was so slow. And when we did pick the pace up slightly one guy, who had just done his test, nearly got taken out by following someone on an overtake and nearly having a head-on.
At that point i decided to stick to commuting..
The best way is to go out with an experienced rider who will be able to show you the right cornering lines etc.. It's important for the other rider to understand your current level of confidence and not to stress you unduly.
You may find yourself going a little bit faster than you otherwise might but sometimes you have to come out of your comfort zone in order to learn.
Also, look up your local BikeSafe team - it's about £60 for the day and you'll be out with top people (usually police motorcyclists - all of whom are great - and IAM/RoSPA riders).
When you finally get the hang of it you'll be addicted....
You may find yourself going a little bit faster than you otherwise might but sometimes you have to come out of your comfort zone in order to learn.
Also, look up your local BikeSafe team - it's about £60 for the day and you'll be out with top people (usually police motorcyclists - all of whom are great - and IAM/RoSPA riders).
When you finally get the hang of it you'll be addicted....
tonyinbrighton said:
The best way is to go out with an experienced rider who will be able to show you the right cornering lines etc.. It's important for the other rider to understand your current level of confidence and not to stress you unduly.
You may find yourself going a little bit faster than you otherwise might but sometimes you have to come out of your comfort zone in order to learn.
Also, look up your local BikeSafe team - it's about £60 for the day and you'll be out with top people (usually police motorcyclists - all of whom are great - and IAM/RoSPA riders).
When you finally get the hang of it you'll be addicted....
Totally agree with the above.You may find yourself going a little bit faster than you otherwise might but sometimes you have to come out of your comfort zone in order to learn.
Also, look up your local BikeSafe team - it's about £60 for the day and you'll be out with top people (usually police motorcyclists - all of whom are great - and IAM/RoSPA riders).
When you finally get the hang of it you'll be addicted....
New biker myself,met one of my mates on boxing day for a ride. Did 100 miles on A/B roads following him,looking at his lines and set up for corners etc.
As long as the other rider understands your limits and is there to be a good example,it's a great way to improve(I felt I did).
Oblgatory pic of fish n chip stop!
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