- This topic has 2 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 9 months ago by Ursula Alusru.
I got me a big ol first bike! Any tips?
-
AuthorPosts
-
July 18, 2010 at 12:31 am #4114Ursula AlusruParticipant
Hi eveyone – I’m new! I’ve wanted a bike for a good ten years or so, and bought a 1981 Suzuki GS850G this week that is in great shape. I’ve been reading all about first bikes all over the internet and realize that it might make sense to start with something smaller, but her I am – I loved it as soon as I saw, had been on the back of a big bike for a while, and took a friends for some rides a while back – oh and I did the safety course – twice! I got my licence 10 years ago, let it expire, and then re-certified about 2 months ago. I’m 5’10 and 130 lbs so the height feels ok, I did drop it the second day I had it on a gravel road stopping on a hill at the cottage, which made me feel like an ass, but I now know how to pick a bigger bike up (pushing with my legs not puling with my arms) and I have a set of engine bars on order. I love riding it and learn something new absolutely everyday. I’ve been trying to do at least 100km every day and am planning my first big road trip (2000km or so). Reading the fourms today made me feel way better about riding the highway (I thought I was the only one white knuckling it all the way) and who know ear plugs made that big of a difference! So, I was wondering if anyone had any advice to new riders about riding a heavy bike (other than don’t start with one)?
July 18, 2010 at 2:03 pm #27567Jeff in KentuckyParticipantMy advice is lots of practice going slow in parking lots- the extra weight is not a problem over 20 mph because the bike starts to balance itself more, and braking and turning is less of a rebalancing act. You could also do exercising to make your body stronger, to more easily muscle the heavier weight around.
July 18, 2010 at 6:27 pm #27571Ursula AlusruParticipantI’m training for a half marathon, so I thought I was in pretty good shape! Apparently not the case. I’ve got muscles I didn’t even know I had! It definitely feels really physical and I’m sore in my arms and back after a good ride. I’ll get all over the parking lot in the evening once the cars clear out.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.