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Thread: Is intentional practice necessary?

  1. #1
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    Is intentional practice necessary?

    Some background first

    My dad taught me to ride on an 1979 Honda CX500 when I was about 15 or 16 (below legal driving age in the UK) on a private road. He made me do figure of eights, starts, stops, hill starts and so on. When you're a skinny teenager (yes, I was skinny once ), doing low speed figure of eights on a bike that weighed well over 200kg was something that required a fair amount of concentration and balance. Other than riding one of his later bikes (an FJ1200) round a car-park once a couple of years later, I didn't jump on a bike again until I was 29.

    However, in the intervening years, I did spend a fair amount of time with four wheels. I've owned a number of reasonable sports cars and done a reasonable amount of kart and saloon car racing. In 15 years of motoring, up until my diesel-soaked roundabout-induced off a couple of weeks ago, I'd never had an accident that didn't involve someone running into the back of me.

    When I decided to buy a bike three years ago, I went and booked the basic handling test. That was my first moment on a bike since I was a teenager. I took a couple of minutes (literally) to reacquaint myself with the controls and took the test; and passed. I bought my XR250ES a couple of days later. Picked it up from the dealership, then rode it home. In strong winds. And rain. Over the harbour bridge. At rush hour.

    When I got my bike, I just rode it. I didn't practice anything; I just got on it and rode to wherever I needed to go. I did this in all weathers and all conditions and simply didn't think about it. I suppose I've always been blessed with fairly good control of two wheeled objects (competive downhill mountain-biking when I was younger) and a general affinity for motorised transport. However, learning to ride is not just learning how to control a bike - it's two-wheeled road-sense as well. You can't really practice that. You have to develop it and pick it up and the only way is through real-world experience.

    All of this gets me onto my point: is it really necessary to intentionally go out and practice certain things on the road? Or is it just better to jump on the bike and ride the damn thing; go out and ride to where you need to go.

  2. #2
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    7th July 2005 - 12:00
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    That's a good question... and one to which there is no definitive answer.

    I know that when I learnt to ride the training course was all practical... no fucking around in car parks, just get out there and go. Of course we started in quiet areas with very little traffic, but steadily moved out and about until we were on some fairly busy UK A-Roads.

    My 2c... the more confident amongst us will just ride out and deal with shit as it happens, the more timid may need to practice things a few times to make sure they know what to do when it happens. Either way I spose, horses for courses.

  3. #3
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    I got my license in Japan where they require you do all kinds of stupid things which have little to no bearing on real-life riding, with the exception of one - stopping quickly. So far I have avoided two accidents due to all the drilling I did for the test.
    So in my opinion if there is one thing you should practise, it is getting to know the limit of how hard you can brake without locking up, for that time when you need to do it for real. Practise it in the wet too.

  4. #4
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    I recently did a RRRS course, they do them a Whenuapai airbase in Auckland. Even a very experienced GSXR rider who does 200+kph weekend blasts on the back roads learned something.
    Emergency braking and emergency countersteering were the main points for me.
    At only $50 for a full day of training, it's unbeatable value. And it's fun, you get to bullshit with other bikers and ogle machines and mess around on a vast runway.
    Determined to kill my bike before it kills me

  5. #5
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    25th June 2005 - 10:56
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    Perhaps if you learn to ride when you are young, full of testosterone, no fear and a lack of brain cells to boot, you may not need to "practice". Things come more easily to young people.
    For me, a confirmed an old fartess and nana to boot, I need to practice. Riding does not come naturally to all of us, certainly not to me.
    FWIW< I agree with Steam - A RRRS course is invaluable.
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  6. #6
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    OK - I'm not a fan of mentoring or expressing my opinions too much on riding because everyones experience is different, I leave that to the pro's!

    BUT!!!!!!

    In ALL aspects of you life, our brain and body can only handle a certain amount of conscious thought. Tennis players at the top level, Tiger Woods etc all have little rituals they go through between points / holes to reset the 'programme' so everything will run on auto pilot and the behaviour will become largely automatic.

    You cannot actively monitor every activity on a ride all the time. You will become fatigued in no time.

    Some essential activities must become rituals - mine include things like tapping the brakes to check function and teach my body the location of levers / pedals well before I need them, completing an 'emergency' stop on every ride, walking around my bike looking for leaks or faults before i ride and during a ride, checking lamp function.

    More riding oriented ones are deliberately thinking my way through the first corner and then switching that part off - hopefully it becomes automatic after that, over breaking the rear on a wet day to test tyre adhesion.

    Practise? Yes, make it a ritual, update your rituals to keep it interesting after all - if you can't perform an action without stress (practise) you have no hope in an emergency...

  7. #7
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    Everyone has things they are good and not so good at. When it comes to motorcycling, the thing(s) you are not so good at may lead to an early demise. Identify what is substandard and consciously work on that every time you ride, until you feel you are doing it right (for you, anyway). The other parts of your riding should improve automatically.
    Do you realise how many holes there could be if people would just take the time to take the dirt out of them?

  8. #8
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    Both.

    Although I have only been riding a short while, I have had some great teachers. Both friends and courses (CBTA and RRRS) have taught me many skills. And I have gone and practiced those skills.

    Now on the track, the same thing applies. I have some great teachers and will listen to everyone. I then go and try out what I have been told and practice those things that work for me.

    Practicing taught skills allows you to understand what you have been told and to translate it into what works for you.
    Exploring pastures anew...

  9. #9
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    In support of an earlier comment, I have ridden bikes on and off road for years and have the scars to show for it. Like many I have returned to bikes after an absence of some years and felt comfortable almost immediately, but recently I too completed a RRRS course. It was well worth while and the main points that I took with me were also emergency braking and counter steering. Worth it for that alone.

    The other area where I think all bikers should develop knowldege is about their bike - basic bike setup and maintenance. Regular checking of electrics, brakes, tyres (condition, type and pressures), steering and suspension.

  10. #10
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    Advanced Rider Course

    Earlier this year I attended an Advance Rider course. The majority of riders there were those who recently returned to riding after numerous years of not riding.

    Being alert to the whole subject matter of 'practice' and raising it in the forum for discussion is a step in the right direction.

    What fork in the road you take regarding practice is an individual choice. Enjoying the ride, arriving at the destination, and returning home safely...I do not take for granted.

    Heads Up and Enjoy

  11. #11
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    If we're all honest with ourselves, most, if not all of us have some areas of our riding which is stronger than others, and where we may have fallen into a bad habit.

    I'm all for practice and gaining more experience/confidence in areas of my ride I believe need improving. Especially when it comes to avoiding getting into lazy/bad habits. I talk my way through my ride. Especially on the fastbendybits.

    Oh.....and everyone should practice their himergency stops...often.
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  12. #12
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    As a rider with over 30 years up when I change my bike I always take it to a deserted car park and do all the stuff your Dad made you do. All bikes are different and I'd rather learn how much I can hit the brakes before they'll lock up,get a feel for the clutch,balance of the bike e.t.c. before going very far on busy roads.I'm not a perfectionist,not anal(my bike gets washed when it rains),just don't believe in taking any chances when it comes to riding,rather find out how my brakes react with plenty of space and no traffic about than when some clod hangs a right in front of me.A big part of riding safely is being comfortable and confident in your bike's abilities,if you havn't taken a few minutes to find out what they are it might cost you later on.I'm not talking about spending a whole day riding around in circles,if you're an experienced rider 10 minutes will do it but it's 10 minutes well spent.
    As for training,I'm hoping to do a days training with the local Police in July,even with so many miles in I'm fully expecting,hoping in fact,to learn something from the experts,probably picked up as many bad habits as good over the years.

  13. #13
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    3rd August 2006 - 19:35
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    Ive found the more conscious practice I do, the worse my riding gets.

    If you are an instinctive rider then you dont need the practice, all practicing will do is make you think, so when you end up with an 'Oh fuck' moment, you'll be thinking instead of acting upon instinct.

    Mainly the reason I had an off this week, too much time thinking of what I should be doing rather than just doing what I should be doing...
    Quote Originally Posted by NinjaNanna View Post
    Wasn't me officer, honest, it was that morcs guy.
    Quote Originally Posted by Littleman View Post
    Yeah I do recall, but dismissed it as being you when I saw both wheels on the ground.
    Quote Originally Posted by R6_kid View Post
    lulz, ever ridden a TL1000R? More to the point, ever ridden with teh Morcs? Didn't fink so.

  14. #14
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    Acting on instinct will get you killed. Instinct is designed for a different set of parameters than modern life. The human brain can only stay in the here and now up to 30 km/hr. Anything over that and you are now in planning, guessing, estimating, and speculating mode. Understanding the limitations of your CPU can help you tremendously.

    Practice is essential. Objective observation of your current skill level is vital. Bad habits and guesses kill more people than speed and alcohol combined. An accident in which speed is a factor is often the end result of poor instinctive reaction. Flight and fright are inappropriate responses in a regulated environment.

    Morcs - pick ONE thing to work on if you feel you need to. Trying to do too many things at once will result in the confusion you feel. One thing.
    If a man is alone in the woods and there isn't a woke Hollywood around to call him racist, is he still white?



  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jim2 View Post
    Acting on instinct will get you killed. Instinct is designed for a different set of parameters than modern life. The human brain can only stay in the here and now up to 30 km/hr. Anything over that and you are now in planning, guessing, estimating, and speculating mode. Understanding the limitations of your CPU can help you tremendously.

    Practice is essential. Objective observation of your current skill level is vital. Bad habits and guesses kill more people than speed and alcohol combined. An accident in which speed is a factor is often the end result of poor instinctive reaction. Flight and fright are inappropriate responses in a regulated environment.

    Morcs - pick ONE thing to work on if you feel you need to. Trying to do too many things at once will result in the confusion you feel. One thing.
    I get your points, but what I mean by instinct is subconsious thinking, your brain evaluating and processing all the time without consciously thinking it.
    Quote Originally Posted by NinjaNanna View Post
    Wasn't me officer, honest, it was that morcs guy.
    Quote Originally Posted by Littleman View Post
    Yeah I do recall, but dismissed it as being you when I saw both wheels on the ground.
    Quote Originally Posted by R6_kid View Post
    lulz, ever ridden a TL1000R? More to the point, ever ridden with teh Morcs? Didn't fink so.

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