My first stuff up

[Drew]

I think the main point of these training days is to weed out bad technique, which I think might be what you are getting at.

That is what I hope they do, and even if it is not all they do, it will be the majority.

I just pray that no biker ever thinks they are doing anything "the right way". Oh, except me. I crash THE RIGHT WAY, ironically, from doing it too much.

Biffing it away in the driveway, at nearly no speed, does not count.

[Geeen]

........
I shall now stop stirring the pot...maybe

So when are your Lightechs showing up?

[Geeen]

Some posters just like to be patted on the back with that words ''you'll be fine'' uttered quietly in their ear, without taking in constructive comments...positive or otherwise..

And others just post smartarsed comments for no real reason....

[Maha]

And others just post smartarsed comments for no real reason....

....if its not a pat on the head post, then is classed as smartarsed?
All posts on this particular thread are constructive...some are just looked upon in a negitive way, because they seem non conforming to an uptight select few.

[MystikEagle]

Hey here's a question(s), how was your riding on the road after your "track" day compared with riding there? Did you find you were more aware of your surroundings? How far ahead were you looking compared to before? Did you ride slower or faster? Did you pull wheelies and try and get your knee-down?

My riding on the road was much better on the way home. I personally think I was much smoother, I know my lines through the corners were much better/wider. I used to just hug the inside of the corner but now I am actually planning my turns with a wide entry, late apex and smooth throttle out. I did ride faster but like I said before, I was alot smoother and I certainly felt alot safer than I ever have on two wheels. I was on the rear tyre on the straights and had the knee scraping along the road on every turn

And yes, most of my threads do seem to turn into some form of heated discussion...

[MystikEagle]

I feel the need to clarify what I was asking in my first post as this has just turned into an argument over if a training day on the track is beneficial or not.

I explained what had happened so that people knew the situation.
I then wanted to know if there was an easy way to touch up the damage done.
Any advice to prevent the same thing happeneing again is appreciated.

As to the training day, I was given alot of riding tools to adapt to my own riding, no right or wrong way. Because of this, I feel alot safer on the bike and was easily able to work out what I had done wrong to end up in the dirt in the first place. I just wish they had shown me an easy way to pick up a bike after dropping it!

[arcane12]

Not that I have had the pleasure, but something like this I think is the usual method?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPjYweKeiLk

I think there is a better link in the rant and rave forum

[Geeen]

I just wish they had shown me an easy way to pick up a bike after dropping it!

Like this?

[MystikEagle]

Not that I have had the pleasure, but something like this I think is the usual method?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPjYweKeiLk

I think there is a better link in the rant and rave forum

Awesome! I would never have thought to pick it up backwards like that!

[FJRider]

I feel the need to clarify what I was asking in my first post as this has just turned into an argument over if a training day on the track is beneficial or not.

I explained what had happened so that people knew the situation.
I then wanted to know if there was an easy way to touch up the damage done.
Any advice to prevent the same thing happening again is appreciated.

As to the training day, I was given alot of riding tools to adapt to my own riding, no right or wrong way. Because of this, I feel alot safer on the bike and was easily able to work out what I had done wrong to end up in the dirt in the first place. I just wish they had shown me an easy way to pick up a bike after dropping it!

You probably learned things you may not even be aware of. Good habits should start early .. and rider training days start good habits. How best you use those new skills and habits is entirely up to you.

You decide if any advice given here should be ignored ... or followed. But over the weekend ... you gained a lot of experience. And survived.

You-Tube has a few vid's on how to pick up a bike without destroying your back. Some on here may even post a link.

And the next time you "off" in your drive ... YOUR first thought will be ... dam, I've done it again ...

[arcane12]

Noooo! Now I am going to have that Brittany Spears song in my head!

[chasio]

I feel the need to clarify what I was asking in my first post as this has just turned into an argument over if a training day on the track is beneficial or not.

I explained what had happened so that people knew the situation.
I then wanted to know if there was an easy way to touch up the damage done.
Any advice to prevent the same thing happeneing again is appreciated.

As to the training day, I was given alot of riding tools to adapt to my own riding, no right or wrong way. Because of this, I feel alot safer on the bike and was easily able to work out what I had done wrong to end up in the dirt in the first place. I just wish they had shown me an easy way to pick up a bike after dropping it!

I have to ride for half an hour to get to some gravel, so I am jealous of your driveway. Transalper made a good point about body position when cornering on gravel, which I hope was not lost in the fog. I also thought the point about really dropping back when close to home was well made.

The questions I'd ask are do you think you'd recognize the head-space you were in shortly before the accident if it happens again? And what would you do differently?

[MystikEagle]

I have to ride for half an hour to get to some gravel, so I am jealous of your driveway. Transalper made a good point about body position when cornering on gravel, which I hope was not lost in the fog. I also thought the point about really dropping back when close to home was well made.

The questions I'd ask are do you think you'd recognize the head-space you were in shortly before the accident if it happens again? And what would you do differently?

I aggree, slowing down when you get close to home is a great idea and something I will be doing in the future.
The head space I was in... I switched to auto pilot as I know the road well... BIG no no and won't happen again
Next time, if I am feeling that tired, I will pull over somewhere for dinner or something similar if practical or just ride slow as and really take my time with everything.

[FJRider]

I aggree, slowing down when you get close to home is a great idea and something I will be doing in the future.
The head space I was in... I switched to auto pilot as I know the road well... BIG no no and won't happen again
Next time, if I am feeling that tired, I will pull over somewhere for dinner or something similar if practical or just ride slow as and really take my time with everything.

Even if you slow down ... don't start thinking of all the things you need/want to do when you get home. Tired or not ... concentrate on riding 1st ... and getting home (or where you are going) 2nd.
Switch the brain off, when the ignition gets switched off.

Most accidents happen within 10 km's of home.

[Brooke]

I agree with picking the bike up back to the bike. I had an unfortunate incident where the bike was dropped (conveniently after filling it full of gas and a full tail bag on the back). I guess the thing for me is, it totally sucked that it happened but Its good to know that I can pick it up on my own fully loaded.

Speaking of braking, before I started riding motorbikes, I had only ever ridden push bikes. It took me along time to realise the back break on a motorbike isn't the most effective to use (especially as the main brake) unlike push bikes where if you use the front brake as the main brake you're over the handle bars!

I'm really happy Ckai got me to do it. I really wish I had done it when I was a noob so I didn't start out, form bad habits and now try to change them. In future, if either of my children want to ride bikes, they can, so long as they do some sort of training first to teach them about the bike, techniques etc.