[Texas Jay]

There's a new development just behind my house. It has miles and miles of paved roads - but the homes haven't been built yet and there is zero traffic.

What a practice course! There are intersections, hills, curves, and long/straight roads to open up the throttle. I've been practicing all weekend and having a great time.

If you are a newbie and you have a new development near you, I recommend that you take advantage of it and practice. After a couple weeks of this, going into heavy traffic for the first time will be easier. I should be able to concentrate on the other drivers and not on shifting, signaling, etc.

I hope this helps. I've talked with dozens of experienced bikers and I'm surprised no one has suggested this. Maybe it's been so long, they just forgot what it's like to learn how to ride.

 

[ryo84106]

Newbie Heaven

Hey TexasJay... My wife and I own a home in Mckinney, behind Bob Tomes Ford. We Live in New Orleans now but travel back and fort between the two. I know that you have plenty of room to run the bike in your area. 8)

 

[Va bene]

What a great option. There weren't any places like that when I was learning just factory/office building/high school parking lots. Parking lots are good but your development sounds even better.

 

[SuzukiGirl1]

My favorite learning place is still the HUGE cemetery by my house...EVEN LESS TRAFFIC!!!! :wink: :lol:

 

[Texas Jay]

ryo84106 ---

I'm not far from Bob Tomes Ford, near Stonebridge Ranch. Built a house & moved here a year ago. I like this area a lot. Unlike most of Dallas, the west side of McKinney has many hills & trees. Stonebridge is a nice area to go riding. Eventually I'll go up to Lake Texoma - it's very scenic up there.

 

[sunny]

living in the country i have tons of space and lots of variety in the roads i practice on.
i do recommend you find a gravel road to practice on too.
right now i am concentrating my practice on a very twisty road with blind s-curves and broken concrete.

 

[c50tiger]

living in the country i have tons of space and lots of variety in the roads i practice on.
i do recommend you find a gravel road to practice on too.
right now i am concentrating my practice on a very twisty road with blind s-curves and broken concrete.

Half the roads near me have broken concrete or poorly patched asphalt, you get used to it after a while.

The gravel road suggestion is very good. One of the scariest experiences I had when I first started riding involved a gravel road. Was riding with some friends - basically playing 'follow the leader', and the guy out front at the time turned off down a dirt/gravel road. First time I had been on one, and it was very unnerving. Took a couple miles to catch back up to the other guys once we hit a paved road again.