Daft Lessons from a Learner - (Part 1 Probably!)
by
, 4th May 2011 at 10:22 (1952 Views)
Day 4 of riding and I already think I can pass on advice? Hell no. Feel pretty lucky not to have had an off so far though so thought perhaps others could learn from my near screw ups.
Day 1 – New bike is awesome – I own something that revs to 15,000rpm! I’m not sure I can adequately describe the beautiful cry of your first bike howling, or the first time you feel something really pulling at your hands, suffice to say I came back in with a huge grin on my face. Stalling pulling away up hill onto the main road? Not so smart. Thankfully it’s a light bike so leg power got me across the road to safety before what had been a distant car became a really serious issue. Went and found quiet road to practice finding the balance point between releasing the back brake when the clutch is at bite point. Still a long way from perfect but at least I can do it now! Also learnt that heavy winds make life interesting oh and did I mention that my bike is awesome?
Day 2 – Commuting into Auckland from KKK. Perhaps a tiny bit of a steep learning curve but the bike is now my only form of transport. Absolutely epic feeling riding past all the stationary traffic into work down the Northern Motorway - I had an experienced rider with me showing me the way through and widening the gap a little in the traffic – much thanks. On the way home I found out that my helmet was utterly useless at night and it was driving rain. So I lifted the visor and drove home anyway, felt like someone was continuously firing BB Pellets at my face. After sitting on the motorway being pelted… then on SH16 being pelted my decision making ability was degrading – and I didn’t notice till it was nearly too late. Hit an unmade piece of road at 70ish and had a very interesting few seconds gently shedding speed before the slight turn that I knew I couldn’t make on the surface. Then decided I ought to work out how to put high beam on while riding along, and found myself on the centre line of the road, thankfully with nothing coming the other way. Got home absolutely knackered, the most tired mentally I have been for a long time. Must learn my brains warning signs that I need to take a break.
Day 3 – New Lid, AMAZING. I can see clearly now the tint has gone… have realised that my speed is a little erratic compared to what I would have been driving in the car. Driving in the wet I am entering corners pretty slow and then accelerating away once I know I have traction. Going to take a lot of learning how fast I can safely take corners in all conditions. Lane splitting on my own was absolutely fine as I found someone else to follow that was going at a speed I was comfortable at. Need to learn to shift down appropriately so that I have power when I then need to accelerate. Have found myself in 3rd several times when I should have been in 1st or 2nd.
Day 4 – First open road overtaking. Epic feeling when you start to realise that you really can drop a cog and zip past someone. Followed 2 minutes later by a big breath, which completely steamed up my lid doing 100ish on SH16. Only luck meant that I was on a straight piece and didn’t find anything to hit while I fiddled to get the lid open. Must learn to breath lightly, or get a scarf that covers nose and mouth ( which might stop my neck getting quite so cold too!). The commute took a full 30 minutes less this morning than it would in the car though. Felt like it was starting to come together a tiny bit more – then stalled at lights in town. D’oh!
There are probably LOADS of other things I am doing wrong in fact I can think of a few – but I know I don’t write well enough to make this blog longer! Also If I hadn’t spent a couple of years commuting on a push bike in the UK I wouldn’t have dreamt of immediately starting to commute. I already have a great respect for the unpredictability of traffic! ( I also have a couple hundred thou miles driving 4 wheels but that I have learnt means precisely naff all!)
The biggest things I think I really need to concentrate on getting better at…
Road Awareness – I think I’m ok, which almost certainly means I could be better.
Holding a steady speed – I tend to yo-yo a lot between 65 and 100ish on the back roads, must be irritating as hell to others.
Bike control at 20-30km/h in 2nd gear – bike is Very throttle sensitive at that speed and I am a bit jerky.
Pulling away more confidently.
Stopping at Junctions in the right gear, under power then on the brakes, better in every department actually.
Correct cornering speeds I guess I will gradually work out, once I have learnt to listen better to what the bike is telling me.