I'm on a long-term hiatus but this is exactly the right way to get introduced. The skills that you learn there and riding ATGATT can save your life (did save mine), and allow you to enjoy an incredible experience.
this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2023
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The beginner's course builds in good habits that will make you a better rider, and may save your life. And it's great fun; my class (around 1990) had all kinds of people in it and everyone was smiling like idiots.
I still remember that NX125 fondly. What a fun little machine.
Good on you for taking the course, you'll do fine.
I took what was at the time the MSF BRC, basic rider course, after getting my license and riding for a year. I still do annual parking lot practice (turns, emergency braking) on my own to keep my skills fresh.
I took that last year, never having ridden before and knowing I'm terrible with clutches in cars, but it was a lot of fun and much easier than I expected, and it really made me feel confident about riding. Then I got my license endorsement and put off buying a bike til I was able to save enough for one I wanted (and a good set of protective gear), and now I've lost all my confidence to even take one for a test ride. None of my local friends have bikes so I have none to practice on. I will probably end up paying to repeat the same course just to re-familiarize myself enough to feel comfortable enough buying one.
I hear you. Taking the course again isn't a bad idea, skills you don't practice don't get ingrained and those that are get rusty.
As far as confidence, I'll let you in on a secret... I feel a little anxious before almost every ride and I've been riding since the 1980's. I have a routine of safety checking the bike and my gear before each ride that settles me, it doesn't take long. More than once I've cut short a solo ride or bailed out on a group because I wasn't focused or feeling it (rule #1, ride your own ride). I wouldn't worry about it.
Yeah, I think that tinge of anxiety is healthy, as long as it's not overwhelming. It feels helpful for keeping focused in any activity where safety issues are frequently disastrous, even if they might occur infrequently. And recognizing there's a danger there kind of enhances the enjoyment of doing it.
Ride safely and remember the car always wins.
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