Learning to Ride (Track vs Street)

[the chi]

Originally Posted by Trip

Ok, here is where I am going to go with this. Yes, romping down a country road, I have no issues, however when I get on the interstate and try to maintain decent road control can get iffy (not talking about blasting through traffic/lane splitting and such, just normal everyday legal riding.) I don't have a lot of experience in riding in cities and busy roads. Basic skills like lane position and observing rules of the road is not my strong suit at all. These are just not lessons you learn at the track or up in the mountains. This is where I think a lot of track riders would be deficient when they tried to make the switch.

I dont think its about street versus track on these skills necessarily, but actually putting these skills to use to get the practice.

Basics like you mention are something taught in MSF and should be something you are aware of as a newbie and are not something you would learn at the track. An MSF booklet for your area would teach you the book learning, and getting out to some of the more metro areas would give you the practice you'd need.

[Trip]

Originally Posted by the chi

and getting out to some of the more metro areas would give you the practice you'd need.

So there's the answer. It's not something you learn at track.

[shmike]

Originally Posted by Trip

So there's the answer. It's not something you learn at track.

You will not learn to ride in rush hour traffic at the track.

Did you really need a thread to tell you that?

(Legal) riding in an urban environment is not what many would consider "riding well", it is survival riding.

[tommymac]

Originally Posted by shmike

You will not learn to ride in rush hour traffic at the track.

Did you really need a thread to tell you that?

(Legal) riding in an urban environment is not what many would consider "riding well", it is survival riding.

thats why I offered him up a trip to manhattan on a nice afternoon LOL

[Trip]

Originally Posted by shmike

(Legal) riding in an urban environment is not what many would consider "riding well", it is survival riding.

Riding well doesn't have to be knee on the ground, just more than capable of riding in the environment you are in.