09-26-2023, 08:24 AM
Not sure how to answer this. I usually answer this by saying: slower than some, faster than others. Other than the occasional slip up I don't ride foolishly anymore (ahem Back of the Dragon one time exception) and haven't for years. Those that have ridden with me, often comment that I ride very smoothly. I don't intentionally speed (I'm a +- 5 kinda guy) and I don't pass across double yellow lines, I don't take unnecessary risks or chances etc. I generally obey laws and rules. Empty Sea calls me a Boy Scout lol.
I have been riding on the street for 58 years now (an estimated 850,000 miles), in addition I raced motocross for 10 of those years from 1972-1982. I have ridden in all of the lower 48 states, 2 provinces of Canada and 5 countries in Europe, so I'd say I am certainly an experienced rider. I practice my riding skills nearly daily year-round in a 4-season state. Since I started tracking my mileage and days ridden in 2014, I have averaged 22,552 miles per year and ridden an average of 302 days per year. I probably won't make that mileage this year, since our annual Fall Men's Trip is questionable this year, but I should still be able to make 20,000 miles and beat the average days ridden. Today's ride was number 244, so I only need to ride 58 of the next 96 days. I have only missed 25 days riding in the last 9 months. I should be able to make 330+ days this year, letting myself miss 10 days over the next 3 months. My record is 350 days out of 365 in 2020, missing only 15 days that year... the year I turned 70.
There are certainly people that can ride faster than I can, so if that is a measure of a rider's skill, then I fall short. If longevity surviving on the street with traffic is the measuring stick, then I'd say so far, I am doing pretty well. Knock on wood!
I have been riding on the street for 58 years now (an estimated 850,000 miles), in addition I raced motocross for 10 of those years from 1972-1982. I have ridden in all of the lower 48 states, 2 provinces of Canada and 5 countries in Europe, so I'd say I am certainly an experienced rider. I practice my riding skills nearly daily year-round in a 4-season state. Since I started tracking my mileage and days ridden in 2014, I have averaged 22,552 miles per year and ridden an average of 302 days per year. I probably won't make that mileage this year, since our annual Fall Men's Trip is questionable this year, but I should still be able to make 20,000 miles and beat the average days ridden. Today's ride was number 244, so I only need to ride 58 of the next 96 days. I have only missed 25 days riding in the last 9 months. I should be able to make 330+ days this year, letting myself miss 10 days over the next 3 months. My record is 350 days out of 365 in 2020, missing only 15 days that year... the year I turned 70.
There are certainly people that can ride faster than I can, so if that is a measure of a rider's skill, then I fall short. If longevity surviving on the street with traffic is the measuring stick, then I'd say so far, I am doing pretty well. Knock on wood!