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Dedicated to the memory of our Mentor, Uncle B.

Lissa’s Selection:This week I pick Rosie.

Originally Posted by Rosie
Two focuses for today were being aware of, and riding at, the speed limit, and trying to keep my revs above 5k (ie. Changing gears more often).

Shows she is getting comfortable on her bike, and learning to change up/down gears according to the road.. ie cornering etc.


Originally Posted by Rosie
Lake Rotorua is a good circuit, it's not too long, and has a variety of different traffic/road situations. And doesn't keep the same speed limit for more than about 3km at a time. So I was scanning ahead to look for the speed limit signs, and, using the traffic around me, and my dodgy excuse for a speedo, was concentrating on riding at an appropriate speed.


Shows she has good concentration and awareness.... ie looking for speed limit signs.

Originally Posted by Rosie
And I was changing gears more often, to keep the revs between about 5-8k. Sometimes I get lazy and leave the bike in too high a gear, and it doesn't do the bike any good, and it doesn't produce as much power. And at the moment I'm trying to not over rev it, as I'm still running in the new piston and barrel.
Previous things I had been focussing on - smooth cornering and smooth gear changes, seem to be going well.

BuckBuckNo1: I would like to add too, to Rosie’s additional comments posted subsequently in the thread:

Originally Posted by Rosie
I haven't actually been riding the whole time since I got my learners.
My bike's been having a few 'issues' since the beginning of June. The engine started playing up, turned out it needed a new piston and barrel, and after waiting an eternity for those to turn up, the first time I went for a ride after that, I was knocked off at a stop sign, and had to wait several months for more parts to arrive. I got the bike back in the middle of January, so I'm slowly getting back into it, and increasing my confidence again, before going for my restricted.
I'm doing pretty well, but some days I become convinced that I'm about to get hit from behind, or that my engine is going to stop randomly while I'm riding.
But you're right, I really should just get it done.



Originally Posted by Steam Out of my three possible choices, I choose Chanceyy, because she is practising being
AWARE
and awareness is the most important of all. Be aware and everything else follows more easily.

Originally Posted by chanceyy
well could not resist it today .. snuck the bike out for a wee 7k toodle up the road .. conscious that I had left the blinkers on my first ride today it was an awareness to remember to turn them off

it was not a blat today, more about feeling the bike .. practiced squeezing both brakes gently, & down shifting for slowing down & cornering ..also being aware what revs I was doing .. sat on 3.5 for most of the way, awareness of hazard detection, & using my mirrors constantly (checking no boys in blue were on my butt )

I was tempted to try it again .. but thought better of it ... good choice .. almost outta gas lol

roll on next two weeks til we are both closer to being legal ..... kinda


Originally Posted by Rosie
My choice this week is Nasty, for recognising when she isn't in the right frame of mind, stopping for a break and figuring out a way to deal with the situation.
Sometimes I'll get myself stressed about something when I'm riding, but I'll keep going, hoping that the problem will 'just go away' (bad idea, I know), and later I'll be talking to Clint (who had no idea I was stressed at the time, he isn't psychic, bless him), and he will have some good ideas about what I could have done differently at the time - had I stopped to explain what the problem was.

Originally Posted by Nasty
Sunday we had a great rip to the Wairarapa. Top of the hill ... one small stop on way up to re-focus and sort my shit when I realised my head was NOT in the right place. I then remembered what one of the guys at work (old rider) told me when working on something you hate ... find a gear stick to it .. and learn the lines for the corners that way eliminating one of the things to worry about .... and it worked ... great trick ... thanks Henry! ... made it to the top .. Hawkeye was there and came for a coffee in Caterton ... Once finished there it was the backroads to Martinborough .. which was great .. quite a few riders ... and just lovely open spaces ... main thing to watch was my speed .. and position on road .. which when going long and straight was great!!

Originally Posted by chanceyy
sorry for the late selection .. got a wee bit excited last nite about the RZ being legal & taking her for a spin ..

my pick this week is steams post getting the brush up for the full test & furthering the learning curve .. also recognising bad overtaking pass ... & being frustrated & making bad choices could end badly .. whats the rush .. your on a bike enjoying the ride

Originally Posted by Steam
I did the practical part of my Defensive Driving / Street-Talk course, with A1 Driving School in Wellington.

I met up with Andrew from Roadsafe (who does the practical on behalf of A1) and we basically went through a practise of the Full License test.

We went over hazard recognition, which they ask you about at the test, and we went for three small rides around the city, practising the three stages of the Full test.
He gave me some tips about safer riding and some things I could to do polish my riding for the test, and that was that, an easy and interesting hour.
The only thing he really had to say is that I was going too fast for the tester to follow easily in traffic (although not over 50).
And that I looked confident and comfortable.
He said I was above average for someone about to take the test, and I would pass easily! Chuffed, Me!
I have booked my Full Test for 14th of March!! Exciting!
600cc Dual-Purpose bike here I come!!

On Sunday I went for a ride around the bays with Buckbuck and Drum. It was a beautiful day and unfortunately everyone else had the same idea, we were stuck behind cars going 40kph for almost the whole way.
I set out to practise Delayed Apex cornering, rather than taking the race line, and I did this even though we were going too slow for it to matter.

I got frustrated at one point and overtook dangerously, and for this I apologise to the gods of motorcycling.
Still, it was nice to be out in the sunny sun. Hot!
On the way home I split jammed traffic like a demon, that new bypass in the city was gridlocked from the basin to the tunnel. Not for me it wasn't, the lanes are nice and wide, leaving room for us two-wheelers down the middle.

This coming week I intend to find somewhere to practise emergency braking from 100kph. I have never done that before, should be interesting.