Sunday New Years Eve - Where Did You Ride and What Did You Practise?

[Terminated]

This weekend Lucy and klingon are your selectors and they will be looking at good new rider training practice.

This weekend review will cover Saturday, Sunday - New Years Eve and Monday New Years Day and selection will be made by Tuesday Evening.

Those selected will have their training comments copied to BuckBuck's Update - Newbie Training thread and they will in turn be selectors the following week.

I encourage all newbie riders to seek out a riding Mentor to review your riding skills and technique periodically through your graduated licence time. Go for mentor riding reviews and discuss the matters that have been identified.

I invite any new riders to put forward their comments relating to specific training sessions they may have had recently, and not necessarily just this New Years Eve weekend.

The key benefit that I am encouraging is: for new riders/all riders - to 'key in' their comments to this thread and by doing so, this is a reinforcing personal training discipline.

You take the time to train on the motorcycle, you take the time to make an entry to this web site, and hence you have indirectly reviewed your own personal training discipline. Well Done.

All the very best for 2007
Heads Up and Enjoy
Buck

[Lissa]

Saturday: Went for ride with elle and Ronin to the Gladstone pub. On the way I successfully figured out how to stop my handle bars shaking (Not from Fear!) by cripping the tank hard with my knees... yay. Practiced my cornering at speeds. After a couple of diet cokes we headed out to the hill climb the back way to Masterton. On the way again practiced my cornering a little faster... helped alot to have someone ahead of me and behind. Awesome ride!

Accomplishments: No shaking handle bars. And learning to read the corners and not to slow down too much.

Told off for: Following a car to closely with one hand off handle bars, overtaking a car on the left in town, and crossing the centre line on a corner (could see no cars coming). (thanks Ronin... honestly I need a slap on the hand sometimes!)

Sunday: Headed out to the Gladstone for a coffee with elle. On the way decided that it was freaken cold, and should have worn liner in my jacket. Also learnt that my helmet is WAY too big, and moves around too much.

What I have learnt in the last Six Weeks since getting my bike:
1. Can ride comfortably at 100kph without freaking out.
2. Ear plugs are a must.
3. Wind doesnt bother me nearly as much.
4. Corners are my friend and are quite enjoyable.
5. Helmet sucks.
6. I :love: my bike and riding with friends.

[Chisanga]

Well I went on my first ever KB ride and had immense fun.

Things I learned was how to ride in 'staggered' formation and other group riding etiquette. I practised riding in the rain, taking it nice and easy and did my first 'long' ride at open road speeds.

I feel I benefited significantly from the ride and the conversations at the pub with other KBers. I look forward to the next 250 ride in a fortnight and hope to use this to again increase my skills and experience not to mention meeting other like-minded souls.

Hope everybody had an enjoyable and safe New Years

[MattRSK]

This is what I did. http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=41277

I had a bloody good time!

[Sketchy_Racer]

I rode in taupo, and practised not falling off, then fell off!

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=879582#post879582

[Minnie]

YesterdayI went for my first KBer ride just for the end stint, to start with, i practised looking confident as i rode to meet them at the Kentish, thinking please dont drop this bike in front of so many people. on the ride i practised using the road, as i have had a fear of riding to close to the centre line i have been sticking to the left hand car wheel side, a very sensible person said to me (thanks snails pace) ride on the right hand side and when you see a car approaching you move to the left hand side when the car has passed move back to the right, you should be weaving around the rd using its space all the time. i also learnt how to jump off my seat about a foot when a fast paced bike come wizzing past me, lesson learnt...use your rear vision mirrors!! thats what they are there for.

Also went for a ride to day , just a quick one i though , just to consolidate, as you do.....:yes: ended up in Pukekohe, first time i been there by myself, funny how it just seems so much quicker on the bike........another first, got to pass another vehicle it was actually another learner on what i think was another GN, oh the comradship felt as i waved and wizzed passed at 85km/hr:rockon:
It started raining in puke, another first for me, and something else i was nervous about i puttered along very slowly and let all cars pass before gingerly making sharp right hander to head home, keeping well away from all white lines , phew lucky the rain didnt last long and was soon hooning my way home coping well with strong winds. a fabulous ride:yes:

[Hitcher]

Yesterday, New Year's Eve, Mrs H and I awoke from our slumbers in Nelson and, after a leisurely breakfast, mounted our respective steeds and headed for Nelson. The weather was fine, windless with light overcast and cool in that early summer's morning kind of way. The road was mostly dry but with the occasional damp-patch, presumably from the previous evening's flirtations.

What did I practice? High-speed uphill cornering on the Whangamoas.

What did I learn? That it is about the most fun one can have with all one's clothes on. "Fucking fantastic fun and frolics". I also learned that I am in love with an FJR1300 and have made a note to self to buy one.

[Daffyd]

Just went for a quick fang up the hill this arvo as I was expecting visitors, but they didn't show. Waste of a good riding afty.
Practised my countersteering and uphill starts.
Went for a ride on a friend's Shadow on Saturday. There's something about cruisers. It reminds me of sitting on a throne. (Not a porcelain one!)

[vifferman]

Ummm....
Not only did I not ride, but due to some quirk of international date lines and whatnot, I didn't even HAVE New Year's Eve!!:gob:

We left LA on the 30th, and arrived early this morning. Apparently, CattleClass 'pretended' it was New year's Eve, and were offered free champagne, but the kind minders in Business let us sleep through the charade.

[Jantar]

I decided to just go for quick blat around the block with a stopover at a friends place for coffee.

So I left home at shortly after 11:00 this morning headed east and once past Omakau I took every turn to the left that wasn't a No Exit road. This took me through Drybread, bypassed Becks then through St Bathans, I deviated a few kms into Ranfurly for fuel, then backtracked to my origional route. Through Naseby, lunch at Danseys Pub, then over the Danseys Pass where I stopped for a couple of photos. At Livingstone I deviated to mates place (in Oamaru) for that coffee. Back up to Duntroon and once again I'm on my origional ride around the block. Absolutely beautiful riding up through the Waitaki Valley and past the hydro lakes. A toot on the horn as I passed Otematata in case Old Rider is out and about, then another stop in Omarama for fuel. Back home via the Lindis Pass and in the door right on 6:00 pm.

Did I mention that the ride around the block is 380 km, and with the deviation into Oamaru it was a pleasant 470 kms for the afternoon. I was practicing for the South Island Passes ride in february. :scooter:

Can you believe that these photos are taken in January?

[Hawkeye]

I practiced not checking the start time of the ride, missing the group at the pickup point by 15 mins. Rode around the bays by myself until I caught up with the group. Joined the group just as they were heading off to the pub for lunch and then leaving without going into the pub as I had other things arranged.

Mental note to myself: Don't assume start time - check.

[White trash]

I practiced riding on two wheels for once. Which is unusual.

Photographic evedince attached.

[Lucy]

Saturday: Went for ride with elle and Ronin to the Gladstone pub. On the way I successfully figured out how to stop my handle bars shaking (Not from Fear!) by cripping the tank hard with my knees... yay. Practiced my cornering at speeds. After a couple of diet cokes we headed out to the hill climb the back way to Masterton. On the way again practiced my cornering a little faster... helped alot to have someone ahead of me and behind. Awesome ride!

Accomplishments: No shaking handle bars. And learning to read the corners and not to slow down too much.

Told off for: Following a car to closely with one hand off handle bars, overtaking a car on the left in town, and crossing the centre line on a corner (could see no cars coming). (thanks Ronin... honestly I need a slap on the hand sometimes!)

Sunday: Headed out to the Gladstone for a coffee with elle. On the way decided that it was freaken cold, and should have worn liner in my jacket. Also learnt that my helmet is WAY too big, and moves around too much.

What I have learnt in the last Six Weeks since getting my bike:
1. Can ride comfortably at 100kph without freaking out.
2. Ear plugs are a must.
3. Wind doesnt bother me nearly as much.
4. Corners are my friend and are quite enjoyable.
5. Helmet sucks.
6. I :love: my bike and riding with friends.

Good on you Lissa for riding with friends and listening to their comments, and not being scared to admit getting told off!

It's such a quick learning curve on the bike I reckon that it's good to be reminded of things, overconfidence can happen so quickly.

Cheers
Lucy

[Lissa]

Good on you Lissa for riding with friends and listening to their comments, and not being scared to admit getting told off!

It's such a quick learning curve on the bike I reckon that it's good to be reminded of things, overconfidence can happen so quickly.

Cheers
Lucy
Thanks Lucy :)

I am open to any comments or suggestions ANYONE can give me. If it makes me a better rider than its all good. I'm a noob... barely 2 Months on a bike and I am not too proud to admit I dont know a hell of a lot YET! Thats why its so great to have people around me who will ride slow with me and give me pointers.

cheers

[Minnie]

Thanks Lucy :)

I am open to any comments or suggestions ANYONE can give me. If it makes me a better rider than its all good. I'm a noob... barely 2 Months on a bike and I am not too proud to admit I dont know a hell of a lot YET! Thats why its so great to have people around me who will ride slow with me and give me pointers.

cheers

Good on you Lissa , im a noob too, with about the same time on a bike , and i agree 100%. Theres so many neat people im meeting all happy to share their knowledge wihich makes this biking bizzo even more fun:rockon:

[Terminated]

Thank you for your posts to this thread and good to see the encouragement coming in from different people in response to posts here.

Thanks Lucy for your selection and supporting comments.

Lissa well done good to see that you are out there and getting feedback.

Here is the training update link:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=30010&page=15

Heads Up and Enjoy

[kevfromcoro]

sounds like u are learning quickly..listen to advice from experianced riders..older people.thats why they are still alive to tell there tales..i found the best place to ride when following a car.is dead centre..line your front wheel up with his number plate,,,,not to close...keep your distance,if u are to far to the the left..chances are he wont see u..also never pass a car on the left....dangerous.....try not to go over the centre line.....allways be prepared for an e-stop..if u have to stop in a hurry.go LEFT....look for somewhere that is going to be a bit softer to land on..ie. long grass..sand.small bushes,,,avoid large ojects,,if u can....big trees ,parked cars,,they stop u quick allright...but normally with a bit of pain...not sure about the helmet sucks bit....i personally wouldnt ride to the letterbox without my helmet....ride safe..KEV