In Review – Newbie Training Update & OCPD Nov/Dec 2006 – Serendipity Part 3
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, 24th June 2009 at 11:11 (1031 Views)
Dedicated to the memory of my Mentor.
Buck's Update - 29 November 2006
Total Distance 9043km [since 12 May 2006]
DEE-FAP
Over the past week the following DEE-FAP is discussed
Discipline- You will know when you get that pit gut feeling when something goes awry - Expect the Unexpected.
Riding on winding roads with sweeping and blind bends: There were numerous occasions when I met oncoming traffic, cars, SUV's and heavy haulage trailers this past week and two things standout:
1. Avoided target fixation, and
2. Countersteering strategy kicked in and hands were already in position covering front brake and clutch well before the bend/s.
Feedback to myself - Expected [repeat] Expected - the Unexpected
Focus - Have one or two things as key review points each time you get on your bike.
Having moved from Learners to Restricted this month my focus has been at several levels:
1. Reducing speed from 100kph. Without immediately going into full on Emergency
braking procedure from 100kph I have practised speed reduction on an open quiet dead-end stretch of road moving up in 5-10kph levels from 70kph without trying to stop in the shortest possible distance but rather focusing on the bike's suspension initial brake pressure then increasing pressure. Also before coming to complete stop stepping straight down through the gears [click to 4th,click to 3rd, click to 2nd click to 1st gear] and getting left foot down then right foot down. This is a topic I want to cover with my mentor on our review ride in December.
2. Countersteering - Now that I am getting out beyond 70kph I am noticing more so now the influence of slight knee pressure against the fuel tank and this has been good when moving through open view bends - good feeling of balance and minimal steering effort with the quite good feed back of the 'slight push on the grip'.
Similarly on a good stretch of winding road [Blue Mountains Road leading up to Whitemans Valley] with slow to moderate bike control I have found balance, knee, lean, and gradual winding throttle on very rewarding both going up the hill and back down.
Attention - Develop a habit of cycling through your safety strategy.
Okay hands up how many times have we looked in the mirror and said to ourselves 'where did he/she come from' when you discover a vehicle right behind you.....Two things here:
1. Just because I [and you perhaps] have just got a Restricted licence I don't think we wear the mantle 'King of the Road'. This past week there have been several instances when I have purposefully found a safe spot to let that one or more vehicles pass: an evening ride coming back down the Rimutaka Hill and also down Blue Mountains Road were instances. I have seen the traffic coming and my priority is focusing on my riding technique - so I let the traffic get by and return to my practice. [If I know a vehicle is behind me coming down a hill I want to be constantly aware of how close or far back the vehicle is......you get around the next bend and there is a real time emergency braking situation on your hands.......] Key: I want to control my riding environment as best as I possibly can.
2. Okay I got my hand up and have said to myself 'WTF where did that cage come from?' [Paint a scenario say you came around a bend and there is a real time emergency braking situation on your hands - you flash check the mirrors....'WTF the cage behind is way way too close'.....Potentially you lost control of your riding environment 30seconds, a minute, two minutes ago....] How frequently do you check your mirrors? This is a constant alert reminder to myself 'Buck you're not paying attention.'
As an aside I had the pleasure of joining in the White Ribbon Day ride last weekend with about 100 bikes going around the city and coastline - Head Checks and Mirror Checks were a constant constant.
Personal - How you approach your DEE-FAP Discipline Focus Attention Personal strategies will be evolving as your riding skills develop.
Above all be true to yourself when you next go for a ride and think again about where you're riding and how you're riding. Remember you do not have to be overly tense and completely locked into your training program remember to relax.
When thinking about 'where you're riding and how you're riding' can be very rewarding - I continue to ride over parts of Stokes Valley where I did my first 1000km and I conduct an litmus test frequently [if not constantly] and the feedback is immediately rewarding: I recall cul de sacs where I would be hesistant when doing a u-turn where rear brake and clutch combined was still an overly conscious effort. Similarly, I can now look at winding roads eg: over the Holborn Drive and notice how my vision has extended way out and through the bends while at the same time counter steering, balance, lean, throttle are running altogether very smoothly.
Finally, this past week there were a few times when though I had nothing to stop me from going down to the garage and getting my gear on to ride, I just wasn't ready, in fact I even went out onto the front drive way and weeded for quarter of an hour and during this time I was thinking about where will I ride to, and, what will I review today.
Heads Up and Enjoy
3 December 2006
In Memory Of my Mentor
Time out for me for a while.
God Bless You
My Mentor
RIP
In looking back over this article of 29 November 2006, I also take some time out - this was my father's birthday the 29th November and he passed away in 1990. From him serendipity was also a gift.