Motorcycling and An Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

Well I am still here.
Though I originally joined Kiwibiker in 2004 (started riding in 2006) I went walk-about in early 2009. Since I returned to Kiwibiker in
May 2009 there have been numerous events and activities I have participated in:

(This blogg)
Motorcycling and My Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder OCPD
Perhaps some may understand why I deliberately spent the first 1000km riding in Stokes Valley in May/June 2006 before I ventured further afield. Also I unashamedly discussed my family background and my career as a ways and means of providing an insight to OCPD, and I might add here that by ‘getting it down on paper’ of itself is a useful and therapeutic benefit.

Advance Rider Refresher Training
September 2009 I completed my second Advanced course, the first being in February 2007. I encourage all riders to put this up on their calendar and seriously think about doing an initial advance course or returning to do the course again after several years.

Another Bike
November downsizing from my CB900 Hornet to the 250cc Kawasaki Ninja
The Hornet from new completed 45,000km in 27 mths and it was an economical decision to downsize for this summer season. With the following maintenance required on the Hornet – front and rear sprockets, chain, brake pads front and rear, another set of tyres and an extended service including a valve clearance, well there was a few thousand dollars in all that including workshop labour. So the wee Ninja has been a real joy to ride and when I bought it in November in the back of my mind was the prospect of selling it at the end of the daylight saving period. I have ridden over 75,000km since May 2006 (all recreational riding) and the wee Ninja it is up to 5000km now in three months already. I want to take time out and walk the golf course a little bit more often and playing in winter doesn’t bother me we have a good large group at my golf club for regular mid week events. Also there is a small matter of a teenage daughter and the probability of another car in the family – gee thanks dad.

The Ninja is available now.

Group Ride Guide
I was very pleased to see the Group Ride Guide posted up on this website. It is a useful item and hopefully gets the attention it deserves.

Novice and Returning Riders and ACC Submissions
Leading up to the Wellington ride to Parliament in November 2009, submissions were called for – I presented a view and this is contained in this blogg.

Mid-Week Programmed Riding Events
I noticed that when the Group Ride Guide was posted on the website that in practice there was a degree of reluctance (here in Wellington during Wednesday evening rides) to step up and organise/take responsibility and control. I suppose people, me included were concerned about litigation in the event of something going untoward during an ‘organised’ event.

Novice Riders and 250cc Pace Riding Events
Most recently I have co-ordinated two Tuesday evening rides in Wellington and the riding calendar is booked through each Tuesday until the end of March and daylight saving.

I personally would like to think that this whole topic can get some traction right across the Kiwibiker community. For my part here in Wellington in particular, there is no programmed route and destination riding events advertised on this website for this level of rider activity during the mid-week (and I suspect weekends too). I am very pleased with the last two rides and look forward for the level of interest growing. The facility exists in the calendar and in the Meeting/Events thread and I would like to encourage and see this used more actively during the mid-week rides next daylight saving 2010-2011.

Wednesday Evening Ride Program Until 31 March 2010
In addition to the Tuesday program, there is now a Wednesday evening program with six different rides between now and the end of daylight saving.


Heads Up and Enjoy
I look forward to meeting and talking with the Kiwibiker community and when you see the wee green machine at the summit or over in the Wairarapa come over and say hello.