Drinking and riding

its true, i cant quite ride as well after a beer or two, but i can wheelie a whole lot better

2 large scale crashes in my time and both involved alcohic, both when I started road riding and at the time no real drink driving laws.

The second time I had to *literally* crawl out from in front of the wheels of a cab to stand up. Poor bastard was jibbering - thought he was gunna run over me (not his fault - mine).

Decreased judgement + large horsepower - much weight = not ever going there again.

Besides its a lot easier to control a car when your pissed.

its true, i cant quite ride as well after a beer or two, but i can wheelie a whole lot better

I have nothing because of the 0.00 BAC rule we have here for L&P platers (I have held an unrestricted car licence for 5 years). If I could have a drink though I would only have 1 and only with a meal and it would be a fair amount of time before riding. The biggest annoyance is not being able to have a beer and $5 steak at the pub for lunch in fear of being over 0.00 at 5pm when I finished uni.

In the car with the 0.05 limit I will have a couple with a meal, I still don't like too much though as even though I can be under the limit I don't feel comfortable driving.

every one will do what they do but you increase your chances of an off. I dropped my 750 twice in the one night, once on the way from the RE hotel to a party, ran up the ass of the car I was following. Then on the way home from there on a downhill corner cause on the first smash I had bent the forks and didn't know it and the front guard got locked between the extractors. STUPIDITY!!!! I don't drink at all now, so it's not an issue but when I look back I'm surprised I'm still alive. Bikes and lots of piss is a dangerous combination in my experience.

If I'm out and having a meal or whatever, I'm happy to have a social beer, or light beer.

I think on the odd ride we've partaken in a beer at In Neutral. Everything in moderation, and so long as one adjusts their riding around the fact they've had one I don't see a problem. Some people ride pretty easy and realistally prob don't need to change a thing.

I think it all comes down to knowing your limits, whether it be bike or alcohol related. Some people take 2 or 3 to get to the same point as someone else needs 1 drink.. So each to their own, and once your off your P's you should pretty well know what those limits are, as you've had 3+ years to work them out. But is that a negative... No drinking no riding... Then you can and dunno when to stop because you've never done it before.


Dan

during bike maintenance i find it quite hard to not down a few while im at it (its thirsty work)... unless im measuring float height, that would be near impossible but theres always the test ride to follow...

not even a light beer

Same

Well for work i am on 0 alcohol so i tend to carry the theme on with everthing else to do with a vehicle of any sort.

A couple of lights wouldnt hurt you i supose but after you are used to 0=0 idea its easier to go with that.

I have been known to have a few beverages in a period of time, and then I have to get home. But if out on a Sunday ride, I will have a Soda Water and a light beer with lunch. I tried moving my bike in the driveway after too many beers in a short time, and nearly came a cropper.

I have learnt not to do that again.

I think 1 with lunch on a ride day is fine but as others have said ride within your limits afterwards.

Neil

I voted no, but i will have one now and then when riding. I just try and not have one, because i want another 12 I had about 3 beers a few years back and jumped on the bike.... I really noticed how much less lack of reflex and control i had over the bike..

My biggest drama is rocking up to rides with a massive hang over Probably worse than having a couple before riding i think.

Got to stop doing that. I might be able to ride a bit better

I'm not condoning drink riding or driving but I will have 1 or 2 and still ride, I will always make sure either I have already eaten before or am going to eat before riding again - I know my alcohol limits and 2 wont put me over or make much of a difference to my reflexes however I certainly do take it easy if I have had anything to drink at all.

Something to remember people is your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) peaks at 4 hours AFTER your last drink, so for at least 4 hours after any drink you will have a reading be it slight or not. A lot of people think that they can get around alcohol breathylyzers which is bollocks too I have heard quite a few stories about people that think they can beat them but you cant, its impossible, here is a quick and very basic low down.

Booze goes to stomach, stomach digests and passes on to blood, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide and other nasties including alcohol - the reading comes from the blood gasses that our lungs expel so unless you put something in your blood or in your lungs that can somehow absorb the alcohol and I have heard of nothing that will do this then you cant get around them.

Lastly to everyone saying ride within your limits if you have been drinking - shouldnt we ALWAYS ride within our limits on the road? I thought race tracks were invented for pushing our limits.

I use the same rule I use for driving a car. 1 light or mid beer and I can drive or ride. Doesnt matter what the time period between me drinking and driving is, one is my limit. Its coke after that.

around town a couple with a meal or a quick drop in to the pub is ok for me. not enough to get over the limit tho.

on a ride day not till i get home, but then