A month ago I watched a riding buddy die on the side of the road

[caseye]

LOL, another rider joins the fray, on you Corse.

[Muppet]

That's a bloody good article and I'm in the process of printing it out. I thoroughly enjoy track based rider training, and do it as often as I can (in preference to plain old have a go days), but you're right, often little of what I learn improves my ability to ride a bike safely on the Queen's highway. I come away having had a blast and probably a little better at late braking or better able to take a specific corner etc, but none of that counts for anything when Mary Pajero doesn't see me because she's too busy stopping little Tarquin from smearing his organic chocolate on the leather upholstery.

I think there is a lot of value in teaching specific skills on a safe track environment that can be practised in the real world. For example, I learnt some good stuff on a Mainland course at Levels a year or so ago about what to do when things go wrong in a corner, and I have found quiet roads and practised it. A few weeks ago I came round a corner to find a pothole right where I wanted to be and instinctively did the stuff I'd been practicing. I also found myself overcooked in a corner the other day and didn't instinctively do what I knew I should do and nearly went dirtbiking, so since then I've been practicing. I've also been practicing panic braking since I saw Ewan mess that up, and yesterday it rained so I went out and did panic stops in the rain on greasy roads with tyres that are not far from dead. Anyone who is really good at something practices it until they can do it really well instinctively and hopefully when Johnny Commodore pulls out in front of me on a wet and greasy road I'll pull up safely or get around him.

I'm afraid there is a perception with a lot of riders that "skill" means the ability to go really, really fast round corners. I agree it takes a lot of skill to do that and it's a lot of fun - one of the reasons I ride a slow bike is because I like going fast too much and lack self discipline, but too many people focus on that skill at the expense of all others. The other day I was following a guy on a sports bike through some corners and he was riding hard. On right handers his wheels would be just inside the white line as he apexed, only problem was his head was in the other lane, and he did that frequently. I decided to drop back and let him go in the hope that he would slow down now that he didn't have to show that he was faster than the fat old bastard on the retro bike and didn't see him again. He could corner really well and on a track he would have been a star, but he wasn't riding for the road with cars coming the other way, gravel, potholes etc

Your threads are excellent , well done, sorry about your friend. We've all fucked up at some time, anyone who says they haven't is full of shit, I ride proffessionally everday and I'm still learning.

[Mikkel]

Situational awareness!!

Something high ego testosterone loaded wankers do not have

Plenty of situational awareness I'd wager - but all focused at trying to make their cock look bigger than it is.

[Hotchefnz]

Am surprised that bike gear ie helmets are'nt a W.O.F requirement.
I think most bike riders are safety concerned but am surprised with the idiots who you see riding with no gloves, boots or shonky helmets.
Make it a requirement

[red mermaid]

You can't as a WoF inspection is of the vehicle.

Its left to each persons own judgement to decide what to wear, otherwise it could go to the ridiculous situation of dictating what other/all drivers can wear.

[Herman Jelmet]

The councils, farmers, roading contractors and LTNZ need to be more responsible for the conditions of our roads (pot-holes, cow poos, gravel etc.)[/QUOTE]

I live in a rural community. I see my fair share of shit roads every day. Councils , farmers and roading contractors have never been responsible about the state of our roads, VERY extreme circumstances would be required to make a farmer hose down the cow shit on the roads every morning and evening after milking, and can anyone imagine those lard arsed flat bed truck loaded with gravelly bitumen inhabitants who regularly without warning, dump shovel loads of that shit into pot holes without tamping it down with some sort of vibrating weighty lawnmower ( can't think of the name of the machine-- is it vibrator? ) do a more professional or safe job? Not going to happen unless they all get sacked and invent a machine to do it.As for the councils,, gin laden incontinent has beens are not capable of any sort of rational judgement or decision. Our roads are not going to get better till radical changes take place-- I hope I am proven wrong soon! I just put up with the roads in northland cos thats the way they are, I agree with you waxxa I just don't think highly of the people responsible for the conditions of our roads