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Dedicated to the memory of our Mentor, Uncle B.

Thanks to Macktheknife and Miss.L for your selections this week: Stickchick and kave congratulations, you will be our next selectors.

Also I want to include riffer’s post regarding riding in these winter conditions and Macktheknife's entry.

Originally Posted by Macktheknife

Awesome SC, always remember, look where you want to go because you will go where you look.
Big ups to the HB crew, well done.

Originally Posted by Stickchick

I suddenly remembered you are supposed to look where you want to go not where there is a hedge. No damage done and apart from kicking myself for such a stupid mistake, off we went again.

Originally Posted by Miss.L

My pick is Kave, for learning from the scary bits!

Originally Posted by kave

This weekend Kam and I rode from east auckland out to the awhitu peninsula for the night, and rode back on sunday. The strong winds, torrential rain, and fog that I had to deal with made me have to focus on every aspect of my riding.

I had to keep a good eye on the road, as there were potholes that looked like puddles, pine needles and other bits of tree everywhere, and gravel from all the metal sideroads.

The fog was intimidating, I have ridden in fog before but this was more dense than I am used to-and the intimidation factor was probably increased by the fact that I am not used to unlaned country roads.

The wind wasnt a problem for most of the way as the road was tree lined. I was, however, caught off guard a few times when I came across a gap in the trees, or found myself up on a ridge, and had to deal with the full force of the wind. The combination of tight corners, slippery roads and wind trying to push me into oncoming traffic did give me one or two scares.

My main focus for the ride was trying to maintain power through the corners, keeping the bike as upright as possible and picking good lines, I also wanted to build confidence riding at open road speeds in wet conditions. I think the hour and a half ride (each way) gave me more valuable lessons than I have got from much longer rides on sunny days.

Thanks riffer for your post:

Originally Posted by riffer

I haven't got much new to report for this week.

To be honest, I've been concentrating on trying to actually keep warm this week, so I thought I'd talk about riding in winter.

The last three days the temperature's been well below zero each day, and it's been an exercise in smooth throttle and brake control, and picking the dry patches of road. I don't think I'll ever get used to how cold it can actually get on a bike in winter. This week I'm wearing thermals under leathers with winter gloves, and a neck sock and I'm really suffering.

Winter really seems to bring its own little problems:

The cold

Low sun (sunstrike)

Dark mornings mean you constantly have headlights coming towards you.

Black ice

I've decided to post some stuff on black ice I've found around the net in the hope that it will help some people:

Black Ice

Black Ice, that thin layer of ice covering roads, perhaps only in shadowed area, can be one of the most insidious winter risks to deal with. You can be riding along on bare pavement one minute and sliding down the road the next instant.
Black Ice is called Black, because it takes on the color of the underlying pavement. It is very thin, and often gives the impression of having some surface irregularity, and therefore appears to supply some traction. These looks can be deceiving, because as soon as you apply brakes (or make significant turning movements) you start to slide.

Turns

Turns on Black Ice are best accomplished by keeping the bike as upright as possible. This may involve offsetting your upper body to the side (toward the direction you want to turn) while at the same time keeping the bike upright.
The principal reason to keep the bike upright is NOT to keep more of your tire tread in contact with the road, but more simply, that a leaning bike necessarily puts lateral forces on the tire at the contact patch. The contact patch (where the rubber meets the ice) is that preciously small area providing all the traction. Black Ice frequently does not supply enough traction to counteract this lateral force - the tire slips out from under you, and down you go.
Turns with the bike mostly vertical also imply slow turns. That, more than anything is the name of the game.

Braking

Braking on black ice will cause a slight melting of the surface layer of the ice, producing a very thin layer of water. Water on ice is a lot more slippery than just ice.

Braking must be done with great care, and principally with the back brake. The front brake of a bicycle supplies way more braking power than the back brake. The more it works, the more weight is transferred to the front wheel, and the more the braking force applied to the contact patch.
The problem in winter is that you will quickly break traction with the front wheel. Once you do, your chances of remaining upright are minimal. Reserve the limited traction of the front wheel solely for steering. Brake with the back wheel. Transfer weight rearward, (stick your butt out behind the seat), to keep as much weight over the braking tire.
As long as you can steer you have a good chance of remaining upright. This is why if you only have one studded tire it belongs on the front. It is also why you want to avoid braking with the front wheel on black ice. Even with a locked up rear brake, and the rear wheel skidding, as long as you stay off the front brake, you can steer all the way down icy hills too slippery to walk.

Also Macktheknife's entry:

Originally Posted by Macktheknife

With the weather leaning more and more to slippery and nasty it is perhaps relevant to remind everyone that it is important to note what you are putting your feet down on when stopped.
I recently saw a guy stop at lights and put both feet down on the road, what he appeared to not notice was the road was covered on one side of him with a film of oily stuff (common at lights)
When he went to take off, he raised his feet and proceeded normally up the road to the next lights. When he stopped he put only one foot down (the oily one) and it promptly slid out from under him! He saved it from lying down but only by very quick reactions.
The point is, be aware of the road surface ALL around you.

Also this week, a KBer who shall remain nameless, stopped a bike he was not familiar with on a slight slope, when he tried to put his foot down he found the ground was just too far away to keep the bike balanced, and (after a valiant struggle) ended up on the ground with the bike. Embarrassing yes, but also dangerous if on the road, cagers do not expect you to just fall off in front of them at the lights.
Take care.
Mack

Finally, protect your survival space out there on the road this winter:

With attention given to:

On-coming traffic
Pedestrians and Parked Cars
Minor Intersection Following Distance
Blind Spot
Left-hand Curve
Right-hand Curve



Heads Up and Enjoy