When are you ready for the road?

[jeremiahmoto]

Let's say that your niece is buying her first bike soon and is asking you for advice.

What skills do you want her to have down before getting on a public road for the first time? How about a highway now, or in the city?

Curious on your thoughts, thanks!

 

[ST Guy]

To start with, a good sense of what is happening around her as she rides, with an emphasis on what is ahead of her, both near and far.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

How old is said neice? Mines only 16 so I'd say in general, no to highway and I'd want her to take the MSF course and ideally ride with me around town for a few weeks before doing her own thing. Of course all that would be based on the judgement and awareness I saw or didn't see while riding with her.

 

[Tally Whacker]

I'm with Nate on this one. Ride with her around town and watch her situational awareness.

 

[zanshin]

They should be a competent car driver, able to read and predict traffic dynamics, able to read the road surface. They should be predictable for other drivers. They should be able to manage traffic without becoming overwhelmed, and they should react to dicey situations fluidly. If they have a tendency to freeze, perhaps best stick to Volvos.

 

[WFO]

She should start out on a small dirt bike.

 

[ThinkFast]

Why has she decided to get a bike?

 

[budman]

Certainly a dirt bike is a great way to start.
Zanshin laid out some good basics.

The question is a bit vague on age on experience so assume none other than a bicycle.

So two things.
When she can repeatedly demonstrate cornering, throttle and braking control in a parking lot.

And when she can name and explain 10 of DataDan’s threads in the 1Rider forum.

 

[unicyclegamer]

Can she ride a dirt bike or even a standard bicycle? Has she been driving a car in traffic?