Quote Originally Posted by indysteel View Post
I'm assuming the light bulb moment you just had is that the vast majority of your rides don't provide much of an opportunity for you to practice stopping and starting and that works, in some respects, to your detriment in terms of improving your handling skills.

I'm going to stick with my previous advice. Stopping and starting is a skill you should work on and feel confident about. If your current routes don't require much stopping, then go to a parking lot and practice. Ideally, though, put yourself in some real-world situations. In my experience, there are areas of Boone County and western Hamilton County that provide a good mix of true country roads and "city-lite" streets that aren't not terribly busy that do you require you to stop for lights and stop signs. And challenge yourself not to "finesse" your approach to red lights.
I just took Indy's advice on my 30 mile ride today. I have no problem starting/stopping my bike, it isn't a mechanical problem. I think that it is a fear of getting run over as I start up when the light turns green...

Anyway, I deliberately edited my route today to incorporate parts of Zionsville after enjoying my no-traffic country roads I did NOT allow myself to walk my bike through any intersections, though I suspect that would have been faster. I wait until there is no doubt that I've enough time and then some

Of course I did fine at the red lights, though I did speed furiously through a yellow light but I made it

Obviously this unease is from not enough experience DOING it, there aren't any red lights on my country roads... I feel better after my experience today, and I will keep forcing myself to do this until it no longer troubles me. THEN I will consider more urban riding before deciding to try commuting.