Motorcycling and An Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

In my second month of riding I was very fortunate to meet a very good person who lived in my suburb. He would be my mentor.:

Hey BuckBuck,
Nice to meet you today & put a face to the name. Keep up the practise & when summer rolls around you'll be ready to venture further afield.

1000kms....that's nearly from Welly to Cape Reinga....didn't know Stokes was that big……

Tragically he was killed six months later.

I have included in this extract his mentor feedback comments.

Now at 650km in Stokes Vegas. Finding improved balance, leaning and counter steering, as well getting a good feel for slow turning with clutch and back brake keeping revs up a little.

All in all very happy with progress in the 3 weeks since getting the GN.


Books that have been passed to me include:
The Biker's Bible - Graham Allardice
Proficient Motorcycling - David Hough
Total Control - Lee Parks

I suppose all up since 13 May the 900km and elapsed time of 32 days I have spent a lot of time in the numerous cul de sacs here in the valley doing a lot of slow manouvering, clutch/bkbreak u-turns and also up over a good ridge road with a few bends. I have chosen different times of the day to expose to light and heavy peak conditions [the latter in the last week].

Also for those that may be interested I have looked at the following website:

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/school-SectionFive.htm - Though it is from the USA and you have to change L to R etc the general approach I found to be quite useful too.


I got all the time in the world now to ride each day weather permitting, and having never, I mean never ridden a bike before I decided I would set my first goal and discipline myself to remain in the SV until the 1000km came up. Been no sweat and really enjoyed the time here as you could build up certain riding conditions etc, I figured it was a good goal and good place to start.



17 June 2006

1000km In Stokes Valley - Golf November Two Five Zero

Elapsed Time 35 Days Distance Travelled 1000km:

Many hours of enjoyment, and plenty of good moments of learning, expected the unexpected and gave myself a few wake up calls.

Found a few good vantage points to stop and have a banana and orange and soak in the pleasure of my novice riding as well as to look at and around the lovely vistas of the Hutt Valley and down the harbour to Wellington.

I am so glad I set my first goal and achieved it unwaveringly.

Golf November Two Five Zero - GN250 has cast off for'd and aft, leaving port Stokes Valley, and is underway.

Thanks to all for your encouragement during this preliminary time of this newbie's riding.

19 June 2006
BuckBuck, your thread has generated good feedback on your progress to a better way of life. I for one have enjoyed reading your updates and wait for more episodes from your adventures and experiences outside Stokes Valley. A continuation of this thread would not be a bad thing as others and yourself can go back and see the progress you have made......it may even inspire others to follow a similar and sensible approach when starting out.
Keep up the good work and I look forward to more updates in the future.


1000kms IN STOKES VALLEY!!!!!!! WOW

20 June 2006

BuckBuck's Training Development 30-40-30

Target: To cover three major riding environments 30-40-30 ratio.

1. Suburbs riding - Leave the Stokes Valley and head out into the suburbs eg. down to the fringe of Lower Hutt. [Target 30km - objective to experience light traffic conditions]

2. Rural riding - circuit Stokes Valley - Silverstream - Wallaceville - Trentham - Stokes Valley. [Target 40km - objective motorcycle proficiency riding (selecting key focus items and review eg. counter steering, turning points, apex, and exit. To be varied and followed up with other training disciplines eg emergency stops etc)]

3. Slow Handling and Peak Traffic flows - Return to Stokes Valley go over 'local personal training circuit' review slow handling and practice. Move into school zone areas then to shopping centre distict in Stokes Valley. [Target 30km - objective Heads Up and Concentration Alertness Escape Strategies]

Personal Target to complete the above programme by middle of July - my birthday.


20 June 2006

I have met with a 'Mentor' from Kiwibikers and arranged to review my riding skills progress in July, by which time I will look forward to going out with one, two or three others in a group.




22 June 2006

Transition - Throttle and Brake And Suspension Sweetspot

Over the past six weeks I have noticed the [my] common problem that we newbies encounter and that is coming off the throttle too quick and also coming off the brakes too quick. This certainly affects the suspension and can cause handling problems. I am aware of it and have been improving this transition.

I have been reading Lee Parks' book "Total Control" and came across the above subject at Chapter 9 "Throttle Control" that discusses the transition and the "suspension sweetspot" [in the middle of the travel range].

Would like to get some feedback on this topic if you are interested in contributing please.

22 June 2006
BuckBuck, it takes time and lots of practise.
Try to make all your actions as smooth as you can.

And remember to have fun at the same time.

24 June 2006
BuckBuck,
Great skills to go out in the rain. Good on you for doing it to get the "feel" of wet riding.
Tips....
A relaxed but firm grip on the bars. Don't "death grip" the bars as it locks up your forearms and wrists reducing your steering input.
Slight bend at the elbows. Straight arms also reduces steering input.
Relax the inside arm when cornering (see pic).
Look to where you want to go and looking further ahead will "slow" things down giving you more time to react to situations and to plot your course to the next corner.
Smooth actions on all the controls. Harsh actions will unsettle the bike causing the rider to use more input to keep the bike under control.
The rear brake is only to assist the front brake. Most of your braking ability is done by the front brakes. Locking the rear can lead to an "off". Not recommended.
Relax and have fun.

25 June 2006
Thanks for your feedback. Was a good week with as discussed above. I am pleased with my progress and the tip you have given is much appreciated - it was good to get out of the valley and experience the longer stretches and the corners. Heading back over to Eastbourne this afternoon after the rugby, I enjoyed the run out there during the week and the gradual sweeping curves and of course the reducing radius ones too.

26 June 2006

The 30-40-30 program is working out just about right.
I am not necessarily trying to complete 30 plus 40 plus 30 kilometres in the one day but maintaining approximatedly 30%,40%, 30% of my ride outing to:

30% slow speed bike control handling
I do this in Stokes Valley before heading out.

40% Open road - rural district
I am fortunate to have Whitemans Valley nearby and this provides a good circuit enabling legal speed riding to 70km and good flowing curves and tight corners too. Eastbourne has also been taken up in the program.

30% suburban traffic conditions
Though always maintaining alertness, this is heightened more so in close traffic conditions.

The Eastbourne run, twice this week, was very enjoyable and on my return home yesterday afternoon, around 3.30pm I entered the inner Lower Hutt shopping district and put myself out there to experience the numerous roundabouts and traffic light intersections for 20 minutes or so. A good opportunity because although it was the Sunday afternoon the traffic conditions were still good without being too congested.

As in sport, in my case golf, the subtleties in the mechanics of a golf swing - the ability to be able to 'work the ball' right or left, high or low, short or long requires a basic foundation and years of developing a comfortable technique. Play your own game, when you try to play like a golf professional, you spend a lot of time off the fairway and in the rough.

Personal Messages - PM's are welcomed.

Thanks Mate
Heads Up and Enjoy