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I use the same argument for people learning how to ride motorbikes when they live in London or another urban area: start on a scooter, so you negotiate traffic
by barrkel 7y ago
I use the same argument for people learning how to ride motorbikes when they live in London or another urban area: start on a scooter, so you negotiate traffic and learn positioning without worrying about gears and clutch, and are able to make tight turns without fear of dropping a bike.
Once you're confident in traffic, switching to a geared bike is much easier. Learn one big new thing at a time.
- gonzo 7y agoOTOH, my father wouldn’t let me get a driver’s license until I could drive the semi-truck mounted (3 axle) water truck with the 5x4 transmission (20 forward gears, 4 reverse, but you don’t use them all), air brakes (but no brakes on the steering axle), no power steering and about 16 gauges (oil temp for engine, both transmissions, both drive axles, air pressure, oil pressure, water temp, pyrometer, turbo boost, tach, speedometer, voltage, etc.) The splitter box (the 4 speed) had a reversed pattern from the main box (the 5 speed). Fully-loaded with 3,000 gallons of water, 500 gallons of diesel and 1,000’ of drill pipe it weighed about 55,000 lbs (GVW). It was complex for a 16 year-old.
- wadkar 7y agoSounds like your dad was a lot of fun! I “cheated” my uncle by telling him I already know how to drive and took his stick shift to the neighboring ground to play on my own :)
- gonzo 7y agoMy father and grandfather were a ton of fun. They taught me a lot. I miss them both.
- jeffrallen 7y agoI suspect your uncle knew your game, and was giving you the experience he knew you wanted. :)