Terminated
7th September 2007, 17:58
On Thursday this week Biggles1 and I rode over to the Wairarapa along Ponatahi Road to Carterton, coffee and bite to eat, and return.
I followed Biggles1 on the way over, and he followed me back.
Well to start with on return to Wellington: leaving the Wild Oates at the intersection with SH2 I grabbed a handful of front brake, I then stalled the bike (this was the second stall - first one at Martinborough), and to top it off upon leaving Featherston I failed to cancel out my left indicator so I returned back over the Rimutaka Hill with the indicator going the whole time to Kaitoke - here Biggles passed me and gave me the opening and closing thumb and fingers. (Note there was a vehicle at the t-intersection at the Kaitoke reserve wanting to come right onto SH2 and here is me travelling along from the vehicle's left and my blinker going. Shhh Thanks Biggles1
I went trawling back through the Newbie Update as I recall the incident last year when I was proceeding through an intersection with my left indicator on....I have also included Uncle B's reply:
Dateline: July 2006
As At 18 July
Elapsed Time: 6days
Distance Travelled 408km
Total Distance 2911km [since 12 May]
Riding days completed since last update: 4days
This update comes with a few wannabe and newbie insights:
Each time I go out I ask myself:
"Where do you want to go today?"
"Why do you want to go there?"
"What do you want to achieve?"
I believe it was once remarked about a famous explorer:
'He didn't know where he was going.
When he got there he didn't know where he was at.
When he got home he didn't know where he'd been.'
Being a newbie there is one thing for sure I treat the motorcycle with respect, the road code, and all other motorists the same way. Never loose your cool, pull over if needs be, don't look for blame, look at yourself and ask what did I learn from that.....
Here are two Heads Up events:
Scenario:
1. Proceeding down the road with an oncoming car wanting to turn right across your line........did you forget to turn your indicator off coming straight through and off the last roundabout. Remember if you are proceeding through the roundabout [not going off to the left, or around and off to the right] you still need to indicate [left blinker] as you are proceeding straight through off the roundabout. Okay with me so far, then your proceeding down the road and there is that car wanting to turn right.........T-bone on the menu?
2. Winding inner city suburb, going up the hill and approaching blind left bend - do you feel lucky........If you play poker you could shoot for an open ended straight, an inside straight, a full house. But before you went any further though, you thought that you may call and raise but, but, but, decided to throw your hand in. Was it the right decision? You watch the table play out and see the royal flush being laid down to win. The narrow winding roads in town are cramped with parked cars everywhere and to meet a truck around the bend that is already over the centre of the road because of the parked cars will be more than a royal flush your up against. Remember what the Mentor said pay extra care on those blind left bends, don't leave yourself hanging out there wide because you never know what may be coming at you.
Scenario Discussion:
In the first case I noticed the lady driver pointing at me then she held up her right hand above the steering wheel and proceeded to dab her index finger and thumb repeatedly together ['you've got your blinker on]. You know when you get that pit in the bottom of your stomach...and say to yourself 'you dumb ass - that lady driver is more alert and careful than you are now wake up to yourself'...fortunately she could see I had no intention of doing a left turn [my left blinker being on]and she had the presence of mind to give me the blinker warning sign with her hand.
[Heads Up] Doing the right thing coming off a roundabout is fine but remember to cancel out the indicator, and of course after any left and right indicator turn remember to cancel out the indicator.
On the second case, well there was a truck in the middle coming down the winding road as I rounded the bend, I was in good position not too much lean on not out too wide coming off the apex and toward my middle side - I was able to immediate push the left grip further and counter steer away from approaching danger.
[Heads Up] Survival Instinct - practise your counter steering so it becomes your immediate go to reaction. Being confronted with a truck and immediately going off the throttle and or immediately emergency braking were not options either case would have left me hung out to dry.
Saturday 15th
Where: over the Haywards and around the inlet.
Why: weather was overcast and fine misty rain with moderate wind - you choose to experience these conditions before you let the conditions catch you out.
Achieve What: Building your experience up, through wanting to [self determination] rather than being confronted with weather conditions you have not practised in.
The Haywards is a notorious stretch and cars often travel too fast for the conditions. Being out there with the L-plate could be considered a target waiting to be taken out. Having travelled over the Haywards hill several times there are several bail out areas if the traffic is building up going up [from SH2] or down[out to SH1], I have pulled over a couple of times more as a courtesy than a fear factor.
As I said previously the inlet is a good ride around - as luck would have it traffic volume was high heading back to the Hutt Valley along the Whitby [note there was the slips on SH2 that day so traffic from the city obviously did the long route] and to a crawl around Judgeford.
[Heads Up] Choose your weather conditions and also look at the weather forecasts before heading out.
Sunday 16th
Where: Up to Caltex Upper Hutt then into town and around the bays
Why: To meet up with any KB'ers and say 'Hi' then into town to enjoy the ride.
Achieve What: Mainly a casual ride, but also to be mindful of extreme traffic conditions around Oriental Bay and out to the airport. [The motorway at 70km can have its moments so live in the rear view mirror and stay calm and alert]
[Heads Up] Enjoy your casual ride. I had not been around Shelley Bay for a long time and to do it on a bike was something I always thought about. Relax enjoy the ride but always be strategic.
Monday 17th
Where: Wainuiomata out to the coast
Why: Time to take on the Wainui Hill [and I have never been out to the coast]
Achieve What: Riding focus was going over the Wainui Hill and particularly coming down the Hutt side. Achieve good control [throttle, brake, and suspension] and counter steering and lean on the winding bends coming down and mindful of any traffic in your space immediately behind and in your blind spot.
[Heads Up] Like the weather conditions choose your time to go out and take on something that may be on the edge of your comfort zone, and literally choose the right time of day 1pm would be better than morning or afternoon peak.
Tuesday 18th
Where: Brooklyn Windmill
Why: Time to take on longer and new suburban conditions. [Nte travelled
over Haywards out to Porirua then off the motorway all the way to Brooklyn - good traffic experience Porirua - Tawa - Johnsonville - Khandallah - out to Karori then back to Brooklyn] Down to Newton to Mc D's Reverse route home.
Achieve What: Prolonged concentration in suburban traffic conditions, escape strategies, protecting your own riding space.
[Heads Up] Forgetting to cancel out an indicator can be a sign of fatigue, particulary if it is a rare thing in your riding strategy.
Well there you go that was 4 days of consecutive riding around the region and personally rewarding:
Like that explorer:
1.Know where you want to go
2.Don't go too far [because you may have reached you fatigue limit before you know it.]
3.And when you park the bike up at home identify no less than 5 things that you thought about out there that you felt good about and or want to improve the next time you head out.
Heads Up and Enjoy
Hey BuckBuck,
Forgetting to cancel out the indicator is more common than you think. Checking your instruments is just as important as checking your mirrors. Imagine if the lady pulled in front of you because you left your indicator on.
On winding inner city roads, adjust your speed to the surrounding conditions.....ie: parked cars, width of road etc....A truck will take up more road to negotiate a turn.
Good heads up on different senarios.
Tomorrow, Saturday 8 September 2007, there is a ride out to the Wainuiomata Coast, and looking back at the post above, I noted that it was not until July, two months after I got my bike and some 2,500km travelled, before I took on the Wainuiomata Hill last year.
Newbie Update Blogg:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/blogs/viewblog.php?userid=1728
Heads Up and Enjoy
I followed Biggles1 on the way over, and he followed me back.
Well to start with on return to Wellington: leaving the Wild Oates at the intersection with SH2 I grabbed a handful of front brake, I then stalled the bike (this was the second stall - first one at Martinborough), and to top it off upon leaving Featherston I failed to cancel out my left indicator so I returned back over the Rimutaka Hill with the indicator going the whole time to Kaitoke - here Biggles passed me and gave me the opening and closing thumb and fingers. (Note there was a vehicle at the t-intersection at the Kaitoke reserve wanting to come right onto SH2 and here is me travelling along from the vehicle's left and my blinker going. Shhh Thanks Biggles1
I went trawling back through the Newbie Update as I recall the incident last year when I was proceeding through an intersection with my left indicator on....I have also included Uncle B's reply:
Dateline: July 2006
As At 18 July
Elapsed Time: 6days
Distance Travelled 408km
Total Distance 2911km [since 12 May]
Riding days completed since last update: 4days
This update comes with a few wannabe and newbie insights:
Each time I go out I ask myself:
"Where do you want to go today?"
"Why do you want to go there?"
"What do you want to achieve?"
I believe it was once remarked about a famous explorer:
'He didn't know where he was going.
When he got there he didn't know where he was at.
When he got home he didn't know where he'd been.'
Being a newbie there is one thing for sure I treat the motorcycle with respect, the road code, and all other motorists the same way. Never loose your cool, pull over if needs be, don't look for blame, look at yourself and ask what did I learn from that.....
Here are two Heads Up events:
Scenario:
1. Proceeding down the road with an oncoming car wanting to turn right across your line........did you forget to turn your indicator off coming straight through and off the last roundabout. Remember if you are proceeding through the roundabout [not going off to the left, or around and off to the right] you still need to indicate [left blinker] as you are proceeding straight through off the roundabout. Okay with me so far, then your proceeding down the road and there is that car wanting to turn right.........T-bone on the menu?
2. Winding inner city suburb, going up the hill and approaching blind left bend - do you feel lucky........If you play poker you could shoot for an open ended straight, an inside straight, a full house. But before you went any further though, you thought that you may call and raise but, but, but, decided to throw your hand in. Was it the right decision? You watch the table play out and see the royal flush being laid down to win. The narrow winding roads in town are cramped with parked cars everywhere and to meet a truck around the bend that is already over the centre of the road because of the parked cars will be more than a royal flush your up against. Remember what the Mentor said pay extra care on those blind left bends, don't leave yourself hanging out there wide because you never know what may be coming at you.
Scenario Discussion:
In the first case I noticed the lady driver pointing at me then she held up her right hand above the steering wheel and proceeded to dab her index finger and thumb repeatedly together ['you've got your blinker on]. You know when you get that pit in the bottom of your stomach...and say to yourself 'you dumb ass - that lady driver is more alert and careful than you are now wake up to yourself'...fortunately she could see I had no intention of doing a left turn [my left blinker being on]and she had the presence of mind to give me the blinker warning sign with her hand.
[Heads Up] Doing the right thing coming off a roundabout is fine but remember to cancel out the indicator, and of course after any left and right indicator turn remember to cancel out the indicator.
On the second case, well there was a truck in the middle coming down the winding road as I rounded the bend, I was in good position not too much lean on not out too wide coming off the apex and toward my middle side - I was able to immediate push the left grip further and counter steer away from approaching danger.
[Heads Up] Survival Instinct - practise your counter steering so it becomes your immediate go to reaction. Being confronted with a truck and immediately going off the throttle and or immediately emergency braking were not options either case would have left me hung out to dry.
Saturday 15th
Where: over the Haywards and around the inlet.
Why: weather was overcast and fine misty rain with moderate wind - you choose to experience these conditions before you let the conditions catch you out.
Achieve What: Building your experience up, through wanting to [self determination] rather than being confronted with weather conditions you have not practised in.
The Haywards is a notorious stretch and cars often travel too fast for the conditions. Being out there with the L-plate could be considered a target waiting to be taken out. Having travelled over the Haywards hill several times there are several bail out areas if the traffic is building up going up [from SH2] or down[out to SH1], I have pulled over a couple of times more as a courtesy than a fear factor.
As I said previously the inlet is a good ride around - as luck would have it traffic volume was high heading back to the Hutt Valley along the Whitby [note there was the slips on SH2 that day so traffic from the city obviously did the long route] and to a crawl around Judgeford.
[Heads Up] Choose your weather conditions and also look at the weather forecasts before heading out.
Sunday 16th
Where: Up to Caltex Upper Hutt then into town and around the bays
Why: To meet up with any KB'ers and say 'Hi' then into town to enjoy the ride.
Achieve What: Mainly a casual ride, but also to be mindful of extreme traffic conditions around Oriental Bay and out to the airport. [The motorway at 70km can have its moments so live in the rear view mirror and stay calm and alert]
[Heads Up] Enjoy your casual ride. I had not been around Shelley Bay for a long time and to do it on a bike was something I always thought about. Relax enjoy the ride but always be strategic.
Monday 17th
Where: Wainuiomata out to the coast
Why: Time to take on the Wainui Hill [and I have never been out to the coast]
Achieve What: Riding focus was going over the Wainui Hill and particularly coming down the Hutt side. Achieve good control [throttle, brake, and suspension] and counter steering and lean on the winding bends coming down and mindful of any traffic in your space immediately behind and in your blind spot.
[Heads Up] Like the weather conditions choose your time to go out and take on something that may be on the edge of your comfort zone, and literally choose the right time of day 1pm would be better than morning or afternoon peak.
Tuesday 18th
Where: Brooklyn Windmill
Why: Time to take on longer and new suburban conditions. [Nte travelled
over Haywards out to Porirua then off the motorway all the way to Brooklyn - good traffic experience Porirua - Tawa - Johnsonville - Khandallah - out to Karori then back to Brooklyn] Down to Newton to Mc D's Reverse route home.
Achieve What: Prolonged concentration in suburban traffic conditions, escape strategies, protecting your own riding space.
[Heads Up] Forgetting to cancel out an indicator can be a sign of fatigue, particulary if it is a rare thing in your riding strategy.
Well there you go that was 4 days of consecutive riding around the region and personally rewarding:
Like that explorer:
1.Know where you want to go
2.Don't go too far [because you may have reached you fatigue limit before you know it.]
3.And when you park the bike up at home identify no less than 5 things that you thought about out there that you felt good about and or want to improve the next time you head out.
Heads Up and Enjoy
Hey BuckBuck,
Forgetting to cancel out the indicator is more common than you think. Checking your instruments is just as important as checking your mirrors. Imagine if the lady pulled in front of you because you left your indicator on.
On winding inner city roads, adjust your speed to the surrounding conditions.....ie: parked cars, width of road etc....A truck will take up more road to negotiate a turn.
Good heads up on different senarios.
Tomorrow, Saturday 8 September 2007, there is a ride out to the Wainuiomata Coast, and looking back at the post above, I noted that it was not until July, two months after I got my bike and some 2,500km travelled, before I took on the Wainuiomata Hill last year.
Newbie Update Blogg:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/blogs/viewblog.php?userid=1728
Heads Up and Enjoy