Akl Thurs Night Ride and Drinks 2nd March @ 6.45pm

**Big Dave** · 3rd March 2006, 09:13

Originally Posted by Lazy7

god i wish i was a confident rider!

You need a lesson or 2 mate.
some of it comes from experience and time in the saddle - but book youself in for an appropriate course and you'll ride out much more on top of it.

**bugjuice** · 3rd March 2006, 09:15

oh shit, i was meant to call, wasn't i... blame Postie for that..

errrr... actually, I did call.. and you were out...

**Lazy7** · 3rd March 2006, 09:18

Originally Posted by Big Dave

You need a lesson or 2 mate.
some of it comes from experience and time in the saddle - but book youself in for an appropriate course and you'll ride out much more on top of it.

you're right. its probably a combination of not having big enough balls. and learning some bad habbits years ago and not being able to shake them!

who am i kidding. my balls are huge!

**avrflr** · 3rd March 2006, 10:08

WARNING: LONG POST. MAY CAUSE DROWSINESS Awesome ride was really enjoying it, trying to stick with zed and qkchk up near the front. At one stage got waved through by qkchk so was up front on totally unfamiliar roads with an angry red fireblade right behind me. I came over a blind crest thinking "what are the odds of there being a really tight corner here?" Pretty fucken good actually, just barely managed to keep it on the road as zed waved and went past. This was better as he seemed to know where he was going so I just tried to match his corner speed from there on. Turned on to the riverhead-coatesville road thinking "great I know where I am" so could be a little more confident. Can't remember if that's where the accident happened, memory starts getting foggy from there. Remember coming out of a left hander winding on the power expecting the rear pilot to hook up launch me down the straight. Instead it just spins and steps right out sideways good enough to make Ivan Mauger proud. So I'm thinking I'm about to high-side into orbit, try to steer into the skid and keep a bit of power on but although I managed to keep on the bike I didn't have much say as to where it was going by then. Into the ditch at 100+. Seemed to have a surprising amount of time to think stuff like "gixxers are crap trail bikes" and, since I seemed to be riding in the ditch without crashing for quite a while (prolly 2 secs) I thought "Fuck! I'm going to make it! THIS IS THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE!" Down I went like a sack of shit, back of helmet nuts road, no pain due to blessed unconsciousness. Don't remember much of the crash scene, or talking to people. An hour later was struggling to form sentences. Not surprising as the Shoei looks a bit second hand. The worlds cheapest leathers and gloves did their job admirably - no skin lost. Have a bruised bum and two very sore ankles. Goes to show you should wear proper riding boots and not defence issue combats. And a high quality bum protector.
To all the people who looked after me and my bike you are champs, a million thank yous. Frosty you are a legend for taking my bike back. Beers to you all when I see you next

**bugjuice** · 3rd March 2006, 10:17

good to see you back mate.. probably won't remember me either, but you didn't look too great last night..

rest easy, you'll be feeling it soon if not already.
I assume the docs gave you the all clear?

And you're right, they don't make the best trail bikes.. Did you know what caused it? There was talk of the oil dumping over the road..??

**Zed** · 3rd March 2006, 10:25

Originally Posted by avrflr

...Don't remember much of the crash scene, or talking to people. An hour later was struggling to form sentences. Not surprising as the Shoei looks a bit second hand. The worlds cheapest leathers and gloves did their job admirably - no skin lost. Have a bruised bum and two very sore ankles. Goes to show you should wear proper riding boots and not defence issue combats. And a high quality bum protector...

Great to read you're all relatively okay man. I didn't see the crash cos I was up ahead but Derek on the '86 Gixxer 7fiddy was following you and said there was heaps of smoke billowing out of your engine 'prior' to you looping it around the corner, so it sounds like you had a bad mechanical problem to start with? When he found you dude you were lying in the middle of the road, so he promptly moved you. You were fairly disorientated and kept saying that you couldn't remember a single thing at the scene. Thankfully a good samaritan stopped in his van and waved to slow down traffic, and he kindly offerred to take you and your bike back to the Albany pub, so 3 of us picked up your sad gixxer and lifted it into the back of his van between two beds! He was a cool cat and very helpful!!

Take care Tim (?) and rest up. Hope you get the bike sorted out smoothly!

Zed

Btw, my Honda wasn't at all angry, I was calm and collect throughout the whole ride hehe.

**avrflr** · 3rd March 2006, 10:35

Well, I didn't know that. Crikey thanks Derek for potentially saving my life. Embarrassed to say I couldn't pick you out of a lineup, but would certainly like to buy you a drink or several.
It doesn't surprise me to hear about the oil, after having plenty of grip all day I suddenly had sweet fuck all at the back. At least I'm not just an incompetent rider, I'm an incompetent rider who had a mechanical failure

So don't buy ex race bikes put back on the road. They can be.....temperamental.

**Big Dave** · 3rd March 2006, 10:42

Originally Posted by avrflr

So don't buy ex race bikes put back on the road.

Quote of the month.
Saw the aftermath at the pub. Glad you're OK.

**The Stranger:Me** · 3rd March 2006, 10:53

I hear you were blowing smoke for a while before the bin. Would be real interested to know where oil all over your front disk, forks and wheel etc came from when you find out.

**Zed** · 3rd March 2006, 10:55

Originally Posted by avrflr

...So don't buy ex race bikes put back on the road. They can be.....temperamental.

Hey waz that the bike advertised on TradeMe for a while??

**justsomeguy** · 3rd March 2006, 10:59

Glad to see you're ok avrflr.

Never try to use Zed as a riding speed/effort indicator- that fella always looks as though he's asleep on the bike. He and Warr are the worst - look like they're doing 50 when they're doing 150.

Gutted I missed the ride, looked like a decent turnout too. Fingers crossed for the next one.

**avrflr** · 3rd March 2006, 11:13

Cheers to all the well wishers. I only lost 5% of my brain. 5% of fuck all is no great loss

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

Never try to use Zed as a riding speed/effort indicator- that fella always looks as though he's asleep on the bike. He and Warr are the worst - look like they're doing 50 when they're doing 150.

I was having an awesome time following zed. A good fun speed. Now he'll say he wasn't trying, and I'll say I didn't know the roads. And the sun was in my eyes.

Originally Posted by Zed

Hey waz that the bike advertised on TradeMe for a while??

Yeah, that's the one.

Originally Posted by CaN

I hear you were blowing smoke for a while before the bin. Would be real interested to know where oil all over your front disk, forks and wheel etc came from when you find out.

I'd be interested to know too. I have no memory of seeing the bike post crash. I'm probably blocking it out as a coping mechanism.

**justsomeguy** · 3rd March 2006, 11:24

Originally Posted by avrflr

Cheers to all the well wishers. I only lost 5% of my brain. 5% of fuck all is no great loss

I was having an awesome time following zed. A good fun speed. Now he'll say he wasn't trying, and I'll say I didn't know the roads. And the sun was in my eyes.

Hahaha - nice to see you're still able to retain a sense of humour.

You look as though your over it and getting on with life.