Ride above 10mph with the insides of both hands in as far as they can go, practically touching the stem. Tell me how you feel about maneuvering at that speed. Maybe you get used to it, but I tried it for a few minutes last night and felt less than comfortable/safe.


I spent quite a few years with a motorcycle as my only means of transportation. No car, limited public transport, and not even a bicycle. It was never a serious thing, but the guys that would only ride their motorcycles on sunny, warm days definitely didn't seem to warrant the moniker of "real bikers." I was also commuting on a bike that was definitely not intended for that role, but it still did the job quite well and showed that most bikes can break out of their "category" and be versatile, at least as long as you are young enough to put up with occasional discomfort.