Kiwi Biker forums - Blogs - bosslady https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/blog.php/36924-bosslady Kiwi Biker - New Zealand motorcycle community en Sat, 02 May 2026 03:04:27 GMT vBulletin 20 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/images/BP-Brown/misc/rss.jpg Kiwi Biker forums - Blogs - bosslady https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/blog.php/36924-bosslady Waikato/Bay of Plenty/Gisborne - 25-28th April 2013 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2749-Waikato-Bay-of-Plenty-Gisborne-25-28th-April-2013 Thu, 02 May 2013 05:14:27 GMT So Nerrrd and I decided we would take a wee tour through Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne a few weeks ago starting on Thursday morning (Anzac Day) in Auckland and returning (to Auckland) on the Sunday late afternoon so, 4 days, 3 nights. The plan was to do some camping (which is kind of new for... So Nerrrd and I decided we would take a wee tour through Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne a few weeks ago starting on Thursday morning (Anzac Day) in Auckland and returning (to Auckland) on the Sunday late afternoon so, 4 days, 3 nights. The plan was to do some camping (which is kind of new for us both). I won't lie but we didn't really think the whole thing through as well as we could have/should have!

This was the route planned originally: http://tinyurl.com/csdl35t

As for what we actually did, this isn't 100% right because someone else led the beginning and very end of our trip so I had no idea where we were! BUT I think it was something like this: http://tinyurl.com/cbhh3q9

So what can I say about the trip... we were VERY lucky in terms of the weather as the forecasts weren't exactly top notch and the days leading up to the trip were not so great weather wise. I think we were both very much blessed with good weather!

So, Day 1 we met up with Leathel and his Daughter and don't ask me where he took us I'm not sure, but I think it was out Miranda-type ways, was really nice riding a long the water. Anyway we eventually went our separate ways and off we were on our Journey. First stop was in Thames for a top up of fuel then on to Coromandel. We stopped at the Star and Garter Hotel and Saloon Bar for lunch. It was very easy to find it (pretty much right there when you pull into the town from where we came). The problem we found though was finding somewhere to park our bikes and still be able to see them from where we were sitting (paranoia set in - our lives were on the bike!). Food was surprisingly well priced, yummy, super quick service and we met the lady owner of the bar - lovely person! She said to tell all our friends they were trying to get better parking for bikes to solve predicaments such as the one that we found so that's good! Anyway ended up in Waihi for the night at the Waihi Holiday Park (?) $18 for a tent site and free (hot!) showers etc. First time I've ever put a tent together (thanks Nerrrd for your expertise and help!). As for sleeping in the tent well, it wouldn't have been that bad if not for all the trees that surrounded us, the leaves blowing in the wind made SO much noise all night I thought it was raining (it wasn't).

Next day we had hoped to get as far as Te Araroa but only made it to Te Kaha. I was pretty damn well tired as I wasn't expecting (read, I didn't research the route!) all the 25kmh and 35kmh turns, pretty hard for me as a learner I found and especially so when you load SO MUCH damn luggage on a tiny little gn - gee wizz! So, stayed the night at Te Kaha, it just happened to be where we stopped pretty much. At that point we couldn't be bothered with setting up a tent and "roughing" it so we tried to get a room for the night, they didn't have any cabins etc. left but did have backpackers accommodation for $16 each a night. We were very fortunate to be the only ones in the room/kitchenette - score! We even had a sweet old National TV!! It only got a few channels but hey.. killed some time there watching tv, filling in a Crozzle (?) and I watched some movies on my trusty tablet! Forgot to mention on the way to Te Kaha we came across a logging truck that had the ROW up a one way road but came around a corner and up a hill bloody fast, couldn't see around the corner, no way, nerrrd managed to quickly pull over into the give way but I didn't have time to pull in so got as far to the left as I could, cosy with the metal barrier and slowed right down. Not sure if that was the right thing to do, slowing down, but I figured if he could see me and could see I wasn't going anywhere I'd be ok, guess I am... nerrrd and I had a chat later thinking how could we have avoided that, don't think we could have, freaking tight corners and he was pretty fast! I swear I almost threw up in my helmet whilst simultaneously soiling my pants! (just joking, really... !).

Next day I was determined to get a tag in Te Araroa which I did (!!) just have to get the next one this weekend... Really pretty place and we sat on the beach and had a break for awhile before heading back. Then we rode back to Whakatane and being pussies stayed in a motel for the night and ordered pizza in and watched a movie on sky. I was pretty knackered though and crashed out early. I got to meet a lovely kitty the next morning but I couldn't take him home with me :(

The following day we met up with JaffaSaffer and his friend and Leathel and his Wife and did a little ride on the way back to Auckland. Got to the Bombays early afternoon and I was pooped! Home and all its conveniences and luxuries was beckoning!

So things I learnt...
1. I'm an Idiot. How stupid can you be, as a newbie who's still learning, to overload your tiny bike SO much? I didn't anticipate how much, if at all, it would affect how I would be able to ride around tight corners, or any corner for that matter. Don't try and be a Hero, cause you ain't! :lol:
2. Don't be a girl and pack so much shit you don't need.
3. Need to find a better way to pack all my crap onto my bike
4. For Goodness sake, bloody look at the route your'e taking so as to ascertain how physically exhausting it may be and plan accordingly. A month or two ago I rode from Auckland to Fielding in one day, about 520km odd and was only mildy tired by the end of it but was fine. Riding on this from for only 200-300km max this time around was that much worse as there were very few straight, easy roads. I spent most of this trip in 2nd, 3rd and 4th gear. I'm used to spending most of my "big" trips in pretty much 5th gear, open road speeds. I didn't anticipate this, because again, I didn't research - my bad.
5. Not sure if camping is for me... I really did worry about the safety/security of my stuff when I had to leave my tent and again if I had to leave my bike that had everything on it.
6. Plan meals a bit better, places to eat where you're going to stay? Not sure if this is a practical thing really but we spent more than I'd have liked on eating out for lunch and dinner. We did bring our own breakfasts's in the form of up 'n go's though so at least that saved some coin!

I'm sure there's heaps of other things I learnt and hopefully they'll come to me next time I get back on my bike (haven't fired her up since I got back on Sunday). All in all like I said to Nerrrd when we were on the trip - all experience is good experiences and I am sure that some of these mistakes won't be repeated again (can't make any guarantees though I suppose!) so hopefully future trips will be more enjoyable/less stressful!
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]]> bosslady https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2749-Waikato-Bay-of-Plenty-Gisborne-25-28th-April-2013 MotoTT Taupo Trackday - Saturday 13th April 2013 - Newbie Trackday Footage on GN250 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2741-MotoTT-Taupo-Trackday-Saturday-13th-April-2013-Newbie-Trackday-Footage-on-GN250 Sat, 13 Apr 2013 21:09:39 GMT I went to Taupo on the weekend just been for a track day here is sessions 1. Unfortunately the blog won't let me embed any more video's so here are the rest: http://www.youtube.com/user/xbiggestbossx?feature=watch . It's just a bit of fun really and I'm not particularly good at following lines, downshifting (when going that fast!), and generally just riding a motorbike in general lol. I fitted the Go Pro to the side reflector on my bike which seemed to be a really good location. It picked up the front wheel, chrome cover and the bottom of the headlight, thought it looked pretty boss! You can also see in the video the rim stickers I have on the front wheel of the bike that I brought off trade me.




I also have some photos from the day here: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/al...p?albumid=4614

]]> bosslady https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2741-MotoTT-Taupo-Trackday-Saturday-13th-April-2013-Newbie-Trackday-Footage-on-GN250 The Touring GN250 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2736-The-Touring-GN250 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 02:02:38 GMT So nerrrd inspired me to start thinking about possibly camping when I go on my trips. It's hard trying to plan trips around where I can stay for free! Tent etc gives you more freedom, well that's the plan anyway...

I'd been using a bag I got for free from the gym I used to go to. It's been helpful for my trips thusfar but no good for when it starts raining.

So anyway I got this bag: http://www.kathmandu.co.nz/packs-and....html?___SID=U for $99.98 down from $299.98 meant to be waterproof!


It's great and fits the tent, sleeping bag and mattress as well as clothes, toiletries etc.

I also got a second waterproof bag for things I want quick access to I.e. keys, my phone, drink bottle. I don't like wearing my backpack on my back and now I don't have to!:

http://www.kathmandu.co.nz/packs-and....html?___SID=U for $59.99 down from $119.98


And for short trips this bag is still big enough really. It's good because it's got some cap at the end that you can push the air inside the bag out, close the cap and makes the bag more compact.

I also needed a sleeping bag, tent and mattress:

http://www.kathmandu.co.nz/sleeping-...ey-purple.html $89.99 down from $179.98


http://www.kathmandu.co.nz/camping/t...age-green.html $89.99 down from $179.98


http://www.kathmandu.co.nz/camping/s...38-nautic.html $49.99 down from $179.98


I'm not going on another trip for a week and that's only a couple nights and no camping, but I'm hoping to get away around Anzac day.

But, that didn't stop me from having a tutu with packing configurations...







Will be interesting to see how this all works out on the next big trip I go on! Will wait till later in the week and try to figure out how to put up a tent! One last thing I need to get is some longer flat straps, once I put my clothes in the bag the straps won't be long enough to get around the bag especially seeing as I like to wrap the straps a couple times around the actual rack before putting it around the bag to keep it nice and secure!

We'll see how this goes I suppose.... ]]> bosslady https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2736-The-Touring-GN250 Waikato/Hawkes Bay 2/3/4th March 2013 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2714-Waikato-Hawkes-Bay-2-3-4th-March-2013 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 08:12:08 GMT Gravel, roadworks, wind and sun - you're not my friend!

Went on a nice trip in the weekend North Shore to work in Central Auckland on Friday, left work and stayed the night at a friends in Cambridge to help break up the trip a little from Taupo to Hastings the next day. Left Cambridge after a lovely bacon and egg mc muffin brekky and headed to Taupo to meet Grashopper on Saturday morning, few spots of roadworks, some road ripped up really bad on the way there, but somehow I survived...

Got to Taupo, met up with Grashopper but before I left Cambridge I realised the bolt for adjusting my chain had vibrated almost all the way out as the thread was gone on the adjuster. Now I'm not going to say his name... but a certain Mentor in Taupo hooked me up, changed my adjusters and off I went safe and sound with Grashopper to Hastings to see some of my family.

Made one stop on the way at the Tarawera Tavern (?) had some lunch (chicken, lettuce and mayo sandwich = simple but yummy and my beloved V!) bit of a dodgy place to pull in to just as you come over the hill. Not long after we got there, sitting down to eat our lunch, 4wd towing a jet ski turned left into the car park - person behind wasn't keeping a good following distance/not paying attention to what's ahead of them (those two things = bad combination!!) and almost went into back of said jet ski, lots of smoke from their tyres! Anyway... one of those you had to be there things. We came across a bloke there on a yellow bike (I still can't tell what's what ok? so sue me!! it was yellow!) from Napier who had just gone for a ride there to have a bite then back again - that's the life eh? Funny how I wouldn't normally break into conversation with absolute strangers but when you have a motorbike somehow it's like an open invitation!



Stayed the night in Hastings with family, although Grashopper wanted to try a hostel down the road from my Aunty and Uncles house. Bosslady led the way for the whole trip of course, not called boss for no reason? ;) But hey, thumbs up for Grashopper having to follow my awful lead, that lady deserves a big pat on the back! Anyway back to the hostel... Bosslady leads the way down the gravel driveway, into gravel car park. She thinks hey that's a good place to park and does a sharp turn. DOWN GOES GINNY! Several things learnt here:
1. Sharp turns on gravel, probably a stupid thing to do
2. Keep hard shit out of my pocket - I now have a garage door remote sized bruise on my thigh. I think I need to seriously start looking into a very small tank bag to keep things like my keys, phone etc. in
3. Cordura isn't as robust as somehow in my head I had pictured it was and while it does have its uses (water proofing etc.) I do wish I had bought leather! Damage to my pocket on my pants where I fell on the gravel, I was basically going ZERO k's per hour :P But hey, think of it as "character" eh?



And don't worry I'm fine and so is Ginny. I just had the right hand side of my pants and jacket dirtied when I fell on the ground/gravel, little bit of damage to my pocket, small bruise but the worse part? That actually didn't phase me too much, embarrassing for sure, but the next couple of days when I had to turn into a road, or go around a roundabout I had this bizarre sensation as if my bike was going to slip right out from under me and I was going to fall again, what a terrible feeling to come from such a stupid, insignificant mishap! The only "damage" Ginny had was some scratches/scuffs to the brake lever. When I dropped my bike first thing I did for some reason was hit the kill switch. Anyway some guy that saw helped me lift my bike. Got her up, tried to start her UH OH, not happening... oh that's right - kill switch DUH. Flicked it over, ginny didn't want to start... uh oh... give her some revs and away she went PHEW. No offence, but didn't want to be stuck in Hastings forever ;)

So anyway as I said, we (well I was anyway) were there to spend time with family I hadn't seen for 7 years. There was never anything stopping me from going in my car except for petrol costs of course but the thing with my bike is I find myself always trying to find an excuse to go for a ride, hence the weekend trip! Was great catching up with family and a nice meal was had, family within the vicinity came around for dinner too to say hello. Had some yum veges that my uncle grew, he runs his own little shop off the side of the road selling vegetables he grows.



Sunday morning we both left my Aunty and Uncles quite late and went up to Te Mata Peak. I'm not going to lie but since I was a kid and up until Saturday night, I actually thought it was called Tomato peak... Ah well. For a newbie me, it made me super nervous going up the sort of one lane road leading upwards, just made me uneasy because I couldn't see around the corners and the other side was a longgggggggg way down! Got to the top and what a beautiful sight...




I was nervous about going down but actually found it easier than going up!

From there we went straight to Napier where we went to a cafe for some lunch and then we caught up with swtfa for a coffee (or in my case, another V!). Was great meeting another newbie and one that was thankful for my inane threads - just saying!

Afterwards we went back to Taupo. We considered stopping half way again at the Tarawera Tavern/Cafe but we (especially I) wasn't really in the mood for going into the awkward entrance coming back just before you go up the hill. We did talk about stopping somewhere further up the road before hitting Taupo but as the "leader" I decided fuck it, I don't want to stop, I want to get back to Taupo LOL Grashopper later said she was happy we didn't stop, she must have been feeling the same ;) Back to Taupo about 5:30pm I think. My flatmate "M" arrived not too long afterwards and we went and got pizza from domino's and watched a movie before bed.

Next day we (M and I) said farewell to Grashopper and made our way to the Taupo track for M's track day. He said to take a picture of him so he could tell his gaybook friends he's so rich he has a whole garage to himself (clearly he jests!).



"M" also just got a new SHOEI helmet and I'm so jealous, it's absolutely gorgeous! Very jealous...



Spent the day there watching M ride and left to go back to Auckland about 3:30pm on the Monday.

AGAIN with the freaking roadworks, stuff you! Not very happy though entering the road works on the way out of Taupo. The man with the STOP sign wasn't anywhere near being where he actually wanted you to stop. I suppose I could have missed some kind of sign or something a little back but he actually wanted you to stop at least 5 metres before him so the traffic coming towards us could get through. Confused me because all the other roadworks guys were WHERE they wanted you to stop and/or had cones there to make it obvious. I'm sorry but waving at me doesn't mean much and doesn't tell me where you specifically want me to stop? So, I had to roll/push with my feet, my bike backwards. No problem with all the other roadworks/men with signs down that way though. I'm just saying it's easier for people to see you/know what you want them to do when you're standing up rather than sitting in your car a short distance from your sign...

About half way through my trip and particularly when I came out of Cambridge, boy did the wind hit me big time - nearly shat myself it kept trying to push me into the WRONG lane! I couldn't even keep my lines in the corners as I normally would as a few times some particularly strong gusts of winds almost blew me into other cars - windy it was for sure, but I wouldn't have called it gale force - still scary though! I had to keep to the left hand wheel track for a fair bit of that part of the trip. The worst part was a couple of occasions where I was slowing down for a give way or stop sign, down from 100kmh, slowing down, changing down gears, mid gear change and a big gust of wind comes through - PHEW! I survived though, so must have done something right...

Only stopped the once in Cambridge for fuel and the second time in Mercer for a stretch. This is where I realised it didn't matter that I got a head start on M getting home, because I'd forgot my bloody keys! So... might as well take my time getting home, which I did, and the wind and such was slowing me down anyway - all G!

Get home and I'm greeted by freaking heaps of bloody acorns all over our driveway (some random chinaman had come and picked up a couple shopping bags full the day before apparently - it gets that bad!). I think they have been conspiring with the gravel from the car park in Hastings because they too were determined to have me drop my bike. But I won this time, stuff you! The picture doesn't look that bad, but you get the idea.



Journey over, time to take off my gear and maybe find out why the lower half of my legs and knees are SO FREAKING SORE! Oh that's right, it's because I didn't put any sunblock on in Taupo, I'm a pasty ghost and got burnt pretty bad and to make it worse I was only wearing shorts under my bike pants so my sunburn must have been rubbing on the inside of my pants, especially around the knees, all the way up - ouchy!



Now to decide what to do for Easter Weekend!

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/al...p?albumid=4579 ]]> bosslady https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2714-Waikato-Hawkes-Bay-2-3-4th-March-2013 100km without getting my arse off the bike (01/01/2013) https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2680-100km-without-getting-my-arse-off-the-bike-(01-01-2013) Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:34:25 GMT ---Quote (Originally by bosslady)--- Riding for 2.1 weeks now (not incl. the couple of lessons i had in a car park). This time last week the thought of going on a main road was unnerving, the motorway? unthinkable! Tackled the motorway Sunday just been, the harbour bridge yesterday and had a...
Quote Originally Posted by bosslady View Post
Riding for 2.1 weeks now (not incl. the couple of lessons i had in a car park). This time last week the thought of going on a main road was unnerving, the motorway? unthinkable! Tackled the motorway Sunday just been, the harbour bridge yesterday and had a longish ride today. Been getting out almost any chance I can when its not been raining and/or I haven't had to work, not all of us get time off, slackers! (kidding!!)

Anyway first ride for 100km without getting my semi fat arse off the bike. Birkenhead to Orewa, tiki tour around, through Silverdale briefly then back on the motorway and all the way to Manukau, didnt get off the whole time, 100km done and dusted (technically it was 98km if you want to be super anal about it) grabbed some sushi, had a drink then back to birkenhead. My wee adventures have tuckered me out and I've only done 160km in total today :laugh: what a soft touch.....
Taken from my thread here: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...e-off-the-bike

It's funny reading that, 160km round trip and it's only going to get longer and longer with each "adventure"! It also appears I was spotted by Gremlin on the Newmarket Viaduct going a little too fast, I was freaking the f*ck out with all the traffic :laugh:

02/01/2013 This is funny.. as the below post says, I went on a trip with another KB newbie to Warkworth, good lord my directions were terrible, just terrible. Anyway, we got there, eventually.... and were recognised!! Well, my bike was anyway and I guess it was obvious who the "bikers" were seeing as we were wearing biker gear... I wonder how often I will continue to keep getting recognised unbeknown to me? :lol:

Just a warning to all kbr's, beware of stalkers on this website... I went for a ride to WARKworth today, whilst sitting on a chair outside the bakery after having a feed and watching a mental seagull harass other seagulls, I was approached by some strangers asking if we (was with FZR250, another newbie) were from Kiwibiker. Yes, we were... turned out these stalkers were Maha and Mom who recognised my gn with it's big L (L is for lovely, not loser FYI) plate perched right on the back. Awfully rude smelly people, invited us back to their abode, I didn't want to be rude (you never know the mental state of some of these internet types) so agreed. THEN they inflicted a beverage, chocolate truffle and great conversation on us. Terrible, just terrible! joking of course, was great meeting you both!!

Haha... anyway 185km today... birkenhead to Massey to WARKworth to Massey then got lost and went through Henderson then all the way back to Birkenhead and boy am I tired, good adventure though but a lesson to study maps properly before I go on my wee trips, haha.
06/01/2013 Letting stupid things get your confidence down... as per below post, some newbie lessons learnt.

Quote Originally Posted by bosslady View Post
Trip out to supercheap auto to pick up some degreaser and chain lube so I can clean my chain today. Get there, get what I need, hop on bike, go to get on main road, stall not once, but twice. Wtf? I barely ever stall anymore? but whatever finally set off, decided to go to cycletreads see what they had in the way of back protectors to fit inside my jacket. On the way there, stop at set of lights, go to take off STALL, by this time im feeling like an effing muppet and wondering whats wrong with me today? Anyway got to cycletreads, only insert back protector they had was an RST contour plus back protector, $40, was gonna get it but decided to do some more research first...

Get out of cycletreads ok, great. Decide to go to my local super and head up the top of archers(?) road, steep hill, slow towards the top but for some reason run out of steam when I'm not quite there, change to first though and get up to the top with the stop sign, all good. On the way to the super, stop at the intersection of onewa and glenfield road for a red light, I'm at the front. Green, go to take off, in first of course, STALL. Fark ok, turn on, let clutch out, bit of throttle at the same time, no different to any other time i do it, STALL, try again, STALL, now the cars are beeping. Try one more time and off she goes, phew! By this time my confidence is getting a right good knocking and I'm feeling like a dunce and wondering why all of a sudden my progress has disappeared! Pull into the super carpark, have a look at my bike, don't see anything untoward so go and do my shopping.

Back on, I've had enough, feel frustrated and tired, going home. It's at this point on my way home going down small hill I start noticing small jerking in my bike, small enough you could almost miss it but enough for me to notice now I've been on it for awhile. This feels like something that's happened to me before... Pull into the gas station 100m up the road, sure enough she's almost empty, pretty much almost to reserve, which I hadn't turned on cause I didn't realise the problem was fuel. Topped her up and I'm off on my merry way.

Lessons learnt;

1. Trust my instincts, if something doesn't feel quite right, it probably isn't
2. I shouldn't have blamed my riding skills (or lack thereof) and knocked my confidence which in turn distracted me, I should've followed point 1!
3. Don't ride when you're tired, even just a little bit but especially if you're a newbie. If I wasn't so tired I think I would've thought it through better, pulled over as soon as something didn't feel right and had I THOUGHT about it I probably would have picked up what the problem was and had been able to fix it straight away.

I've pushed myself too much lately, going to have a rest and use the cage today and tomorrow and most importantly make sure I rest up and get to bed at a decent hour!
The more I ride and the more time I spend with my bike the more I am obviously learning (or trying, sorta) about it. I have been relying a lot on my ears as to what it sounds like and a lot on my body as to what it feels like. After a while on my bike you get to know when she's not really happy with you and something is maybe wrong...

07/01/2013 I lost my L plate on the motorway that I'd affixed to my new pack rack (there will be another blog to follow about the drama that followed from installing that puppy!). Anyway I couldn't find a good one at The Warehouse, they only had those silicone ones that fit on the inside of a cars windscreen etc. Oh well.. Maha kindly gave me an L plate which was fantastic, but as you can see after a week or two the tyre burnt a nice tyre shaped cut out onto the plate! :laugh: I'm gonna leave it like that... Has given some people a chuckle for sure.

I'm slowly catching up now on blogging my posts from threads I've started so apologies for all the quoting, hope it's interesting for some newbies at least!
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]]> bosslady https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2680-100km-without-getting-my-arse-off-the-bike-(01-01-2013) So I went out for a ride tonight... (20/12/2012) https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2677-So-I-went-out-for-a-ride-tonight-(20-12-2012) Sat, 19 Jan 2013 07:53:31 GMT
Quote Originally Posted by bosslady View Post
don't worry, it was still light out! For those who have read my other thread http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...not-so-newbies I'm starting to feel a bit better and got brave and went out in the traffic w00t w00t :woohoo: then I got confused at an intersection (confuzzles me when I'm driving my car too) and went towards the town centre with twice as much traffic and corners haha uh oh. Anyway I'm still alive, albeit a little bit gross and sweaty, probably nerves. No mishaps except stalling after I'd stopped to give way to a car when I was turning right into my street, the couple of cars behind me probably weren't impressed but hey that's what the big yellow L is for eh... Other then that the hardest thing I am finding is changing down gears, I just don't "get" it! Any advice?
From this thread here: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...a-ride-tonight

Up until then I'd just tootled around my block a few times and going any further than that was unfathomable! I just meant to take myself just a little bit further than my neighbourhood and got confused at an intersection because I guess I don't know my neighbourhood as well as I think I do, and it's funny you know - some places I've driven through a million times and now on a bike, everything looks different and I don't recognise it anymore, I guess I never really paid attention when I was in my car. Anyway I ended up going further into the town centre than I anticipated and it made me quite nervous. Decided to pull into the supermarket car park and turn around and go home because it all felt too overwhelming all of a sudden. Surprisingly, I got back home alive :rolleyes:

As for the gear changing I mentioned. Sometimes I still have a little trouble almost 5 weeks on changing down but by that I mean it could be a bit smoother and require a little less thought but from then to now? I'm definitely way better, it's totally all about practice.

22/12/2012 I found a carpark in a nearby highschool. It's not the biggest but it's kind of long, has some little islands on it, speed bumps, a bit of length down the end of it for me to practice gear changes. Hills to practice hill starts, space to practice both emergency stopping as well as TRYING to come to a smoother stop... But I guess it's not normal for a bike to be doing that and people watching me from their houses or other people walking through the car park totally put me off, made me stall and generally just feel awkward, embarrassed, nervous. The worst part of that night, I can now laugh about and I like to tell the story because it's funny and it gives other people a bloody good laugh too. Just as the below post says, I went to go up a steep driveway and it's one of those moments where everything goes slowly except that I didn't do anything about it, because I didn't know what to do! Couldn't understand the funny noise my bike was doing. Basically I was in way too high a gear (3rd I think?) for what I was trying to do and when I went up the driveway, the bike started making a funny noise (which was my bike telling me about my gear being too high) and then it just died and fell sideways. So embarrassed I was trying to pick my bike up as quickly as I could before anyone saw me. Picking up a bike is hard enough as it is what made it a little bit worse was that it was up a slight incline, trying to sit it upright but also stop it rolling backwards at the same time. The worse part... I couldn't help but keep hitting the horn THE WHOLE TIME. I kept telling myself NO, NO!! STOP HITTING THE HORN!!! Kept hitting the horn... somebody came out... :facepalm:

Quote Originally Posted by bosslady View Post
So I went out again tonight... went to the local school, as I have a couple times to practice. Then these damn kids turned up and some man came out of his house and was watching me... needless to say I got a bit nervous and took off lol. Wish I could have practiced changing down gears a bit more but I was starting to get a tiny bit better, kept trying to remember the advice given I.e. blip... all went well until I went to visit someone around the corner. Steep driveway, going up, turning left DEAD. DROP!!! Fell on my left with the bike of course. Now shit happens right, but whilst trying to lift my bike I kept hitting the horn :facepalm: so yea people came out to look of course... sigh, lol.
I was also having trouble knowing what gear to be in but got some helpful advice in my thread.

29/12/2012 The first time I ran out of fuel... I vividly remember freaking the f*ck out when my bike started jerking. I pulled over straight away and looked at my bike but I couldn't see anything unusual. Then I had a thought, maybe it's fuel, because I haven't put any fuel in my bike since I got it... the gas station was only 100m up the road so I thought I'd try that and maybe it would fix the problem. At this stage I didn't know anything about a reserve for my tank, I didn't even know there was such a thing, I suggest ya'll newbies read up on it! Anyway yes... the fuel seemed to fix the problem but I was scared it would happen again so text someone off of here to ask their advice, they seemed to concur that it was probably lack of fuel... lol. Damn not having a gauge! As a newbie you can often live in constant fear of running out of fuel...

Quote Originally Posted by bosslady View Post
33.4km today :) had a funny ride. Left home early, hooned up my road, turned right at the top, cruised along for 50m, then bike started sounding shit and getting really jerky, losing power. Keep riding another 150m or so, still the same thing, pull over wondering wtf is wrong? everything looks ok? hmmm gas station down the road another 100m, maybe it's gas? $10 later she's off and away, happy as Larry! lol!! :oi-grr: dumb ass...
Anyway upside is today was very good and I feel my confidence creeping up slowly, makes me so happy! didn't have the fear in the pit of my stomach about going on the main roads like I did maybe a week ago. Yay me!
29/12/2012 The first time a biker "nodded" at me. It felt really good and it made me smile....

30/12/2012 I crossed conquering the motorway off of my list... TICK!

Quote Originally Posted by bosslady View Post
Thought I'd take the back way to Albany from Birkenhead cause there's a stretch of road that's 70kmph so I can practice going just that little bit faster. Ok now I'll take a ride through the industrial area.. cool... wait where am I now? oops... keep going, maybe I'll come across a familiar place so I can get my bearings? yup, Albany shopping centre except that now I don't know where the "back way" is (get your mind out of the gutter) to get back home... umm umm f*ck it, bit the bullet and got on the mway and strangely enough I'm still alive to tell the story? got off at northcote and got another *nod* from a bikie
31/12/2012 The Harbour Bridge, TICK!

Quote Originally Posted by bosslady View Post
Got on at Onewa this morning, off at St. Lukes for work this morning. Before 6am this morning so not much traffic, also of course it's almost all 80kmph for that whole ride except for a k or two before the st lukes off ramp where it's 100kmph. Going home will be interesting esp with the roadworks and it cutting down from 5 to 3 lanes. Anyway, yay for me!
I arranged a mentor (Kiwi Graham) around this time. I've only been out with them once so far but it was very good, I've learnt a lot since then but keep making a mental note of the things I need to work on so we can "attack" them next time I see him.

Now, I still need to build my confidence and have a lot to learn BUT I've also learnt HEAPS and built up my confidence since I started that thread. I am very happy with my progress so far and you know what? Proud of myself also. That said, I've really had to push myself, but at the same time be mindful of not pushing myself TOO much, some days I had to fight my mind to "let" me go out for a ride. No, I'm too tired (whatever) to go practice, No, I want to watch xyz tv show, No, it's too late, No, I don't want to get up that early tomorrow etc. I had to fight my mind because I knew the only way I would get better and start to enjoy riding, was by getting out there because honestly? I was DREADING going out on my bike and wondered, when would it ever be fun like people say it is?

I've had a lot of very nice and supportive comments in regards to my riding and how well I'm doing. As a newbie, you have to not let it get to your head "wow, such and such said I was really good at xyz" I think it's pretty easy when you get ego boosts like that, to let your head get inflated like a big balloon. But I'm not very keen on that balloon being "popped" and while I enjoy all the positive comments and support (don't stop them coming, please!) I have to keep it all in check.

On and upwards! ]]> bosslady https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2677-So-I-went-out-for-a-ride-tonight-(20-12-2012) This is for the not so newbies... (03/12/2012) https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2676-This-is-for-the-not-so-newbies-(03-12-2012) Sat, 19 Jan 2013 06:54:55 GMT
Quote Originally Posted by bosslady View Post
Seems like everyone you talk to when you tell them you're learning was a natural, got on a bike for the first time and off they went, like they were born to ride, fearless. Well is there anyone who's now a confident rider that was never any of these things? Anyone who's scared? maybe wanted to crap their daks? I never went into it thinking I was all that and a bag of chips, thought I might struggle and gosh darn was I right! I don't even know how to drive a manual so not a great start lol. Want to have hopefully a couple more lessons with an instructor before I go out on the road and despite dropping my bike multiple times (have the bruises and achey legs to show for it!) I sure as heck don't want to give up! Tell me I'm not a lost cause!
As per my thread here: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...not-so-newbies

I remember this post, I started thinking that I'd made a huge (and expensive, for me) mistake. But I persevered, probably for the wrong reasons, which were that I didnt want anyone thinking I'd talked myself up, that I was a douche (for giving up) or that I was "weak". It's definitely a mental thing, for sure. I lack confidence in most aspects of my life but was determined not to give up on this, that said it's still early days I guess. I'd already dropped a bike a few times by this point I think. The instructors bike, my bike a couple of times etc. it's a real knock to the confidence and I had HUGE bruises on my legs from it but I guess it's all part and parcel of learning and rather than let me put it off, like I said, I kept trying to persevere.

03/12/2012 shortly after starting the thread I had a lesson with my instructor again and man did it make me feel SOOO much better.

Quote Originally Posted by bosslady View Post
Just had another lesson tonight and mannnnnnnnn I feel SO much better. I explained to the instructor just to start with the basics again (this was my 2nd lesson) that I'm in no rush and if I have to have another lesson, then I will. I had a think about it last night and I think a lot of the problem is that I have a particular learning style, very visual and hands on and I have to repeat things over and over until I get it and without too much pressure or too much going on otherwise I get confused and panic. I still want another lesson but I think I've done enough to at least take it round the block, when my bloody gear arrives anyway! Still more to learn, I'm not up myself or a complacent person, like to think I'm a realist lol. Glad I'm getting better at looking where I'm going! all hope is not lost quite yet!
That's right... at this point I had the bike but my gear hadn't arrived so I only got to get on a bike when I had a lesson, that sucked! I was getting a bit annoyed by this point because I was itching to get out and practice but couldn't because my gear wasn't here yet. I guess that's a downside to buying online, all the waiting.

With my BHS, I felt like I was under a lot of pressure that I'd brought upon myself, not by anyone else. I shouldn't have incorporated my BHS and my first lesson/time on a motorbike in one, I felt very overwhelmed. If I had to do it again, which I don't (thank goodness!) I'd have done a lesson first, waited a week, then done my BHS, possibly incorporate that with a lesson beforehand.

17/12/2012 I finally got my gear so now I have no excuse but to go out and practice, practice, practice! Still a bit jittery, only willing to go out when the roads are pretty dead, say anything between 6-8am and 8-9pm and only around the block...

Quote Originally Posted by bosslady View Post
Update... I haven't been out on the road since sunday morning before last. My gear just arrived today so i feel a lot better about going out to practice although will still only do it when the roads are very quiet, until I build a bit more skill/confidence up. Am trying to arrange a mentor through this website too. Good luck to me, I guess!
From here.. it was just a matter of practicing and getting outside of my comfort zone. "So I went for a ride tonight" blog to follow... ]]> bosslady https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2676-This-is-for-the-not-so-newbies-(03-12-2012) Have I made some newbie mistakes? (30/11/2012) https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2674-Have-I-made-some-newbie-mistakes-(30-11-2012) Wed, 16 Jan 2013 02:07:23 GMT
Quote Originally Posted by bosslady View Post
Went stupid this week and spent a fair bit (by my standards anyway) of cash money on bike gear. In my defence I did the best I could, I didn't have any friends to ask for help or advice, read descriptions with a passion and checked sizing over and over again... but I'm worried I've bought the wrong kind of stuff, panicking about the boots in particular cause the descrip says mx? Anyway thoughts appreciated, don't think I'll get the gear for another 2 or 3 weeks:

Alpinestars Stell SMX5 Boots
http://www.fc-moto.de/epages/fcm.sf/...X-5-Black-0001

Alpinestars Stella Sigma Drystar Jacket
http://www.fc-moto.de/epages/fcm.sf/...ar-Jacket-0003

Alpinestars Stella ST5 Drystar Pants
http://www.fc-moto.de/epages/fcm.sf/...star-Pant-0002

Alpinestars Stella SP8 Women's Gloves
http://www.fc-moto.de/epages/fcm.sf/...men-Glove-0001

HJC CS14 Lola Helmet
http://www.fc-moto.de/epages/fcm.sf/...la-Helmet-0001
As per this thread: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...post1130441101

I had to kind of wing it and hope for the best when I got my gear. As my post says, I didn't really have anyone to ask as I was still "hiding" it from "M" at the time and although I was told to, I really didn't feel comfortable going in to stores to try on the gear and wasting their time since I was going to get it online anyway.

Everything above came from fc-moto in Germany (I think?) except for the jacket which I got from ridersdiscount.com as fc-moto said it didn't have it in stock. As you'll probably see in the thread if you can be fagged reading it, the jacket got "snapped" by customs and I got slapped with about $120 (?) in GST, Customs Fees etc. It would have been cheaper buying the jacket in NZ. Luckily the gear from fc-moto didn't get caught up at customs, no gst no other anger inducing fees etc. Luck of the draw I think it is.

Got the gear, all of it fit except for the helmet. I don't think I will ever buy a helmet overseas again - it's not worth it. Stupidly, I didn't even read up on proper helmet fit or even watch any youtube videos to find out how they're supposed to fit what they should/should not do etc. I ended up getting a HJC CLST 2 from Cyclespot Honda in Takapuna and am very happy with it apart from the neck strap. If/when I get another helmet, I think I'll get one with a better strap, not the "clicky-in-thingy" one. Here's a helpful link I since found for some more info on helmets http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/ .

Anyway been wearing the gear about a month now and am so happy, think it looks great, fits me very well. If I had a complaint about the clothing itself, the only one would be that the velcro strap on my pants isn't long enough and the zips won't go down over my boots all the way. Actually I lie, they CAN but I feel like my pants are a part of my boots, I can't move my legs properly i.e. the pants don't move up or down with my movement, makes for difficulty throwing a leg over my bike...

The jacket, pretty awesome... I still have the standard padding inside it although i did just buy an alpinestars back protector from Cyclespot Honda to put in the back ( http://www.alpinestars.com/bio-armor...or-insert.html ), feel a little safer-er now.. If I had any complaint about that? F*ck me it has SO many pockets, I shit you not. A minimum of 8 pockets for storage... maybe more?! Well... that's not quite a complaint I guess.

Boots, SO COOL.

Gloves, ALSO COOL.

Uhh... I think that's about it. Have attached a picture of me in my gear, have since been told I made a fashion error by putting the pants inside the boots. Rest assured this has now been rectified....

If any of you ladies have any questions give me a shout, personally I found it really hard to find much info about women's gear on the net. I wanted to look fashionable whilst parading around on my ginny 'ya know! And I've yet to buy exactly what I want to wear under my gear, which is skins at $100+ a pop for a top and leggings well.. it can wait..
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]]> bosslady https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2674-Have-I-made-some-newbie-mistakes-(30-11-2012) How it started... https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2672-How-it-started Mon, 14 Jan 2013 07:28:55 GMT I guess you could say I've never really had any hobbies as such. Nothing I've ever come across could take my fancy or my interest, rather, for any longer then a week or two, maybe a few, have just always kind of lacked the motivation to get interested in any one thing, for any length of time...

About 2-3 years ago I met a good friend who is also now my flatmate, "M". I've never really known anyone who rode a motorsicle but M did, and it seemed pretty cool, bad ass, haha. When summer rolled around I started tagging along to his track days. Manfield, Taupo, Hampton Downs etc. Don't know how many I've been to now, quite a few I guess. Some good, some bad, a lot of them filled with expletives and grumpiness for things that wouldn't go proper on his bike. But it was "cool" to see all the people on their bikes, nice to get out of Auckland, great to be able to support my friend and learn a thing or two and even though I was just the support crew (or pit bitch, apparently) I could already see the comradery without even being a biker myself, pretty cool!

Anyway, it must have been from the beginning of last year towards the end of last year especially that I started getting told by M (though I don't think he ever seriously thought I would do it) as well as an older couple we'd made friends with (from the Naki that go to track days), that I should get a motorcycle too. I ummed and ahhed about it for awhile, but never really thought I would do it. Why? Any excuse really, money, fear, I'll never be good enough, I'll hurt myself, fear, people will laugh at me, failure etc...

I don't know what it was that made me do it in the end but one day I decided nope, I'll go for it, at least I'll be able to say I tried if I fail (and actually although I was hoping I wouldn't, I kind of thought I would, fail, that is).

Booked in my BHS/Lesson with Rider Training in Albany on the 24/11/12. I don't know what I was thinking, that I'd just hop on a bike and it'd be all gravy from there? I didn't think I'd be awesome, but I'd underestimated how good I WASN'T. It was hard, I can't drive a manual (car), my balance is questionable, my coordination - also questionable, heck I'd never even turned a bike on!! If it were not for the patience of my Instructor, Steve, I think I would have ended up a crying mess in that carpark! :laugh: Anyway after falling over with their bike once and almost doing it a couple times more, I s l o w l y got through the BHS and passed. Think you can get out of 15 marks before you fail? I got 10, I think... not that great but a pass is a pass I guess. The following day(s) many very large bruises ensued.

What did I do next? Went home and told M I'd failed, cause I wanted to surprise him with my awesomeness (lol).

For a few weeks I'd been doing research on the internet, lurking and reading threads on here etc. etc. and had settled on getting a GN250 which suited my budget anyway. Borrowed enough money from the bank for my bike, a full kit of gear and another couple of lessons with an instructor. I should have saved but I wanted it and I wanted it now!

28/11/12 I had an acquantance help me choose a bike/test ride it for me. This is where I met my sweet GN250. She came with a screen/visor, factory sissy, sissy with padding on the back (I guess for a pillion) and a chain lock. Managed to knock a few hundy off the asking price so was happy about that. She had just over 7k on the clock when I got her and was a little bit neglected, aesthetically. Kept it at the sellers house until my acquiantance could pick it up on the Saturday.

29/11/12 I booked in my Learners theory for the following day, I didn't realise that if they weren't busy, you could actually walk right in and do it then and there! Needless to say, I wasn't at all prepared... I know I could have waited and studied for a week or two before sitting it but I thought fuck, I'm on a roll, why not? I swatted all night and did countless practice tests, I must have been up until midnight. I did heaps of free tests on: http://www.drivingtests.co.nz/roadcode/motorbike/ Then I went here and paid I don't know, twenty bucks? and did the "real" test 15 times http://www.roadcodepractice.co.nz/. Failed the first 5, passed the following ten so figured I was ready. 30/11/12, pass my learners, just. You can get 32/35 and still pass and that's exactly what I got, phew!

Saturday rolls around, A (acquaintance) and I went and picked up ginny and brought her back to A's house. He said he'd give me a quick lesson. Secretly (although it was pretty obvious, so maybe no secret at all eh) I was shitting myself, nervous as hell. "A" obviously had some natural ability, just got on a bike for the first time and off he went, however many years ago, so he says. He's a crazy (but lovely and very helpful!) Irishman though. Anyway the lesson went absofuckingterrible. Good Lord I was SO nervous. So nervous that I kept looking at the kerb when he was yelling instructions to me, kept looking, kept looking, went over said kerb and down the little hill onto the pavement, fuel pissed out the top of my bike, I couldn't pick it up, he was down the road and running to help me! E for embarrassed!! Lesson ended shortly thereafter and now I'm thinking FUCK what HAVE I DONE?! Shortly thereafter A rides my bike home for me and I left it out the front of our house to surprise M while I dropped A back home.

Got back home thinking M would be surprised... he wasn't. He asked whose bike that was. Mine of course! Then I told him I'd lied to him and that I did pass. He was most unimpressed and didn't talk to me much for the rest of the day :laugh: oh well, M doesn't like surprises, lesson learnt I guess ;)

In the following week or two after this I couldn't ride my bike as my gear hadn't arrived from fc-moto yet (that'll be another blog) but I did do I think another one or two lessons with an instructor (same one) to get my confidence up etc.

So anyway that's how it started... and now I'm off to troll some of my threads and posts so I can blog some of the other (possibly inane and boring to you) things that have happened to me along the way :)
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]]> bosslady https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2672-How-it-started <![CDATA[So I've decided to start a blog...]]> https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2671-So-I-ve-decided-to-start-a-blog Mon, 14 Jan 2013 06:44:19 GMT I've never really bothered to look at the blogs, kind of didn't realise/forgot they were there but really do see a place for them. So as to not be bothering people in the forums, perhaps I should start a blog? And anyway, a blog will help me "reminisce" over all my little "hiccups" and "triumphs" I've had (and will continue having, one hopes????, we'll see.....).

Where to start? Thought I'd collate some of my posts to date into blogs... here goes! ]]> bosslady https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2671-So-I-ve-decided-to-start-a-blog