Surviving the midlife crisis - Safety courses in ChCh?

[AlpinePossum]

Hokay... so I've decided to have a pleasant wee midlife crisis and buy a 600cc adventure tourer.

In my distant yoof, I drove (entirely untrained) for years on a 250.

Ok, so now I want to get back into it and...
* I know I'm rusty... my muscles still know what to do... but I'm not sure how well they'll do it in a crisis.
* All I know I made up myself anyway (or discovered bouncing down the road on my head).
* I've heard rumours of ACC sponsored courses.

So my current plan is this... take the day off, find a quiet circuit on the Waimak.... and "hamster wheel" around and around and around for the full day until the muscle memory matches bikes performance perfectly again.

But hey, with age (at least for some people) comes humility... I know I suck, but wish to learn to suck less....

Are there any (recommended) courses Christchurch?

[CookMySock]

Most of the courses will put you to sleep, mate. Any of the the ones I looked at were a condescending load of crap**. If you want a really interesting day out, get hold of a mentor who is on your wavelength, and he/she can cut through the bullshit and get you up to speed pronto. In no time at all you will have a shitload of things to practice, and you will be on your way, and really feeling like you are getting ahead.

Steve
** ok so I didn't look at heaps and heaps of them.

[sondela]

Don't know about Acc but Mainland Driving school do courses that are good for skill catch-ups, they have a website..

[YellowDog]

Hokay... so I've decided to have a pleasant wee midlife crisis and buy a 600cc adventure tourer.

In my distant yoof, I drove (entirely untrained) for years on a 250.

Ok, so now I want to get back into it and...
* I know I'm rusty... my muscles still know what to do... but I'm not sure how well they'll do it in a crisis.
* All I know I made up myself anyway (or discovered bouncing down the road on my head).
* I've heard rumours of ACC sponsored courses.

So my current plan is this... take the day off, find a quiet circuit on the Waimak.... and "hamster wheel" around and around and around for the full day until the muscle memory matches bikes performance perfectly again.

But hey, with age (at least for some people) comes humility... I know I suck, but wish to learn to suck less....

Are there any (recommended) courses Christchurch?

Sounds good & Congrats to you.

You'll find that modern bikes have a bit more 'umph' (as in Triumph) than your old 250. If you go for a sigle pop unit, you should be just fine.

Learning to handle the damn thing is a pretty good idea. You probably first need to establish where you are presently at.

The problem with training couses is that they have to cater for all and what you need is someone to get you safe and confident on your new powerful wheels.

By all means take the course however also expect that you will need something a bit more intimate.

Take it easy.

[James Deuce]

In my distant yoof, I drove (entirely untrained) for years on a 250.

There's your problem. If you'd ridden instead, you'd never have left.

Welcome back.

[Lilmsrocker]

Don't know about Acc but Mainland Driving school do courses that are good for skill catch-ups, they have a website..

Your right its not to improve skills....It WAS a thing that was being offered but only to about 100 people....it was to get newbies licensed....The course that normally cost around 5-600$ was being subsidised by ACC....It filled up fast...
There is a fast track system to get a person licensed coming up around Sept-Oct.....Call Mainland and ask for Mike Flowers to inquire.

Also......Mentoring is a good start if you dont want to spend any money....and I feel a real PERSONAL advantage when learning...BUT.......You can NEVER go wrong on any of the courses you pay for......boring?.....only to someone who perhaps isnt rusty or new!.....There's much to be gained from these courses!

[YellowDog]

There's your problem. If you'd ridden instead, you'd never have left.

Welcome back.

If he doesn't know the difference, he soooo does need a course!

[pritch]

There are books available which would help a new/returning rider to get into the right mode of thinking. If a "situation" occurs on the road the mental processes work faster recalling something you read a few weeks ago as opposed to some hazy memory from twenty years ago...

A check of amazon.com (or KB) will give you a list of titles to look for. Your local library should be able to get most through the Interloan scheme.
(There may, or may not, be a small charge.)

[BMWST?]

In my opinion you get out of a course what you put in....if you sit back and think I knew that ,i know that,what a load of shit......
However if you engage with the instructor and participate(ie "any questions?...ask one) then others will prolly also start to participate and the whole thing becomes more interesting.I also beleive most of these courses try to impart a mental atttiude,where observation and a proper defensive attitude play a large part in staying upright.

[LBD]

Hopefully the 600 will cure the MLC....I am about 6 years into my MLC and still surviving...almost enjoying it

[Pedrostt500]

Ok the only way to get back into the groove is clocking up lots of road miles in all types of road and weather conditions, team up with a few other local KB'ers, and remeber at all times ride your own ride, and yes every other motorist is an Idiot and out to kill you.
No matter what sort of speed demon you were when you were 19 on your 1979 XL 250, you have forgotten a lot more than you realise, so don't be scared to pay a few dollars to a local riding instructor or hooking up with a KB mentor for a ride or two, its worth its weight in gold.

[CeeJay]

Firstly, I think that just because you want to ride again, it has got nothing to do with the overused and inapproriate expression "midlife crisis". If it did, I would be having one as well. I take the view that the risks (of riding a m/c) are acceptable once again because my children are no longer dependent on me. Of course, this could just be rationalizing :-)

Secondly, there are many others (in Chch at least) who are in the same boat. Perhaps maturity permits one to be honest with themself about their capabilities. It's early days but I can say that there are plans afoot to help you and any others who want to assess their strengths and weaknesses and undergo one or more courses of improvement. The sticking point is that the Land Transport Agency has recently increased prices for the instructor endorsement that any tutor must possess if they are going to legally instruct you. Obtaining the "Instructor" endorsement now costs around $3000. PM me for further info....

[varminter]

I'm sure you have spent the intervening years driving a car and, having survived, are now a good defensive driver. This will stand you in good stead being back on two wheels. It's amazing how quickly it all comes back to you even if, like me, you didn't have much to begin with.

[p.dath]

See if anyone runs track days in your area. They are perfect for this. Practicing in a controlled environment off the road.

[Timer]

It now becomes a mid life "enhancement".
Get your bike and ride it someplace nice and quiet, and keep on riding until you understand what the bike can do, if you do get a mentor, even better.
You are of the age where you will err on the side of caution, and don't allow yourself to get into situations your "yoof" would have taken you.
Remember "Live to ride, ride to live"