Who I am, what I ride and looking to join a club - suggestions? (mama)

[mama]

Hi,
I'm new to the website and would like to introduce myself. I am a solo mother of two beautiful kids, I got divorced and became officially single in May, upgraded from a scooter to my first motorcycle in July and brought a house in August! I LOVE riding my motorcycle and even if its a bit windy or drizzly it doesn't put me off. I brought a s40 suzuki boulevard 2014. It's wonderful! I'm still getting used to riding around Auckland roads but I think my gear shifting is getting smoother and my braking is getting better. My scooter was a "twist n go" so I didn't have to think too much, this is WAY different! I would love to enter the social side of riding but I'm the only one of my friends who ride. I have been thinking of joining a club but I have no idea which one would be best. Any suggestions? I'm in Te Atatu South, West Auckland and I'm over 40 years old. Would love some feedback!

[mstriumph]

Good to hear you are enjoying it ... you're right, it is sometimes more fun riding with a group

to start with, how about http://www.wima.org.nz/?

mainly women but, as I understand it, blokes ride with them too ......... and they cater for all bikes, all levels of riding so you'll prolly make friends in no time

[Akzle]

I have been thinking of joining a club but I have no idea which one would be best. Any suggestions?

the swingers club....

[Sis]

Gidday,

Glad you have found the courage to follow your dreams.

I am a member of Ulysses - you have to be over 40 and have an interest in bikes to join. Great club. All about fun and motorbikes.

There are heaps of opportunities out there for you to upskill. Some will cost you. On kiwibiker there are 2 free opportunites called NASS and SASS. North Auckland Street Skills and South Auckland Street Skills. You will find them under Meetings and Events. Go to the last pages to see what they are up to.

I help with the SASS one. Just a bunch of bike riders wanting to upskill themselves. And occassionally through around some b**shit. That comes with motorbikes as well.
We meet in Takanini as there are a lot of bike roads nearby. We go for a ride of up to 100 kms, do some carpark exercises and then to the local for discussions (read B**shit here). It's all fun and no pressure.

At SASS we have made friends with like-minded and occassionally do weekend rides.

If you are interested send me a msg

Have fun

[mama]

Good to hear you are enjoying it ... you're right, it is sometimes more fun riding with a group

to start with, how about http://www.wima.org.nz/?

mainly women but, as I understand it, blokes ride with them too ......... and they cater for all bikes, all levels of riding so you'll prolly make friends in no time

Thanks for the info, I will have a look at their website and it's great they cater for all bikes and levels, would love to meet some other like-minded people!

[mama]

Gidday,

Glad you have found the courage to follow your dreams.

I am a member of Ulysses - you have to be over 40 and have an interest in bikes to join. Great club. All about fun and motorbikes.

There are heaps of opportunities out there for you to upskill. Some will cost you. On kiwibiker there are 2 free opportunites called NASS and SASS. North Auckland Street Skills and South Auckland Street Skills. You will find them under Meetings and Events. Go to the last pages to see what they are up to.

I help with the SASS one. Just a bunch of bike riders wanting to upskill themselves. And occassionally through around some b**shit. That comes with motorbikes as well.
We meet in Takanini as there are a lot of bike roads nearby. We go for a ride of up to 100 kms, do some carpark exercises and then to the local for discussions (read B**shit here). It's all fun and no pressure.

At SASS we have made friends with like-minded and occassionally do weekend rides.

If you are interested send me a msg

Have fun

I have been thinking of the Ulysses Club as a late family friend was a member and he used to have some very positive things to say about them. I have looked at their website and noted if I am interested to come to one of the club nights held 1st Monday of every month. I'm quite shy and newly divorced so the prospect of going on my own and not knowing anyone is quite daunting. Can you tell me what the club nights are like?

[mama]

the swingers club....

Excellent, thanks for the option but not sure I would qualify....

[mstriumph]

Excellent, thanks for the option but not sure I would qualify....

ignore him - he's a troll
(probably trying to compensate for having a very little ... pretzel )

[Akzle]

ignore him - he's a troll
(probably trying to compensate for having a very little ... pretzel )

ma'am, with a name like Akzle MacLargenuts, one can never afford to miss an opportunity.

Mama: rule number one of the internet, nothing is serious.

Ulysees is for old white men, some of whom know their shit, others, less so.
I hear only good things about nass/sass, and it would certainly introdtuce you to a bunch of riders/ mentors.

[Banditbandit]

ma'am, with a name like Akzle MacLargenuts, one can never afford to miss an opportunity.

Mama: rule number one of the internet, nothing is serious.

Ulysees is for old white men, some of whom know their shit, others, less so.
I hear only good things about nass/sass, and it would certainly introdtuce you to a bunch of riders/ mentors.

Not all Ulysses are white ... I have a few acquaintances of the darker shades who belong ...

[Ulsterkiwi]

Not all Ulysses are white ... I have a few acquaintances of the darker shades who belong ...

Akzle is not likely to let veracity get in the way of a good story though :-)


To the OP, very smart to get involved with a group who can help you progress. I was lucky to come across a couple of guys who I commute with regularly. They have also become really good mates.
Lots of experience between them and their tips and advice and critiquing of my riding really helped my riding come along in leaps and bounds. Does your confidence no end of good and makes riding so much more fun (yes it can happen! )

[mama]

ignore him - he's a troll
(probably trying to compensate for having a very little ... pretzel )

Haha, I reckon you might be right there!

[mama]

Akzle is not likely to let veracity get in the way of a good story though :-)


To the OP, very smart to get involved with a group who can help you progress. I was lucky to come across a couple of guys who I commute with regularly. They have also become really good mates.
Lots of experience between them and their tips and advice and critiquing of my riding really helped my riding come along in leaps and bounds. Does your confidence no end of good and makes riding so much more fun (yes it can happen! )

I'm off to the first club night on Monday so I'm looking forward to it, a little nervous, but getting excited all the same!

[mstriumph]

Not all Ulysses are white ... I have a few acquaintances of the darker shades who belong ...

I'm sort of olive-hued ... and female last time I thought about it

poor fella is definitely missing the mark with his stereotyping lately ...

[*Boot's*]

I'd rent one or borrow one but I would never buy one! pass it on to a friend and they will get hooked then buy a bike (if your the only one with the biker bug sharings caring and the more women with the bug the better, They are usually more considerate riders and easier on the machines) however I would sell the thing you brought and but a sports bike personally…. (can't believe the harley patent doesn't stretch out to japanese too…. )

Anyway thats just my opinion, A Harleys a Harley….. bit like eating cardboard thats advertised as marshmallow.


Practice makes perfect and if you ever get bored, try riding around in circles with full lock either way without touching the ground with your foot (carpark is the best place to practice) and taking off at a grate rate of knots flicking through the gears, then stamping on the brakes once you reach full speed with controlled skids but aiming for no skidding of the tires at all. simple little things like that where your mind is refreshed about the dangers, and you become more accustomed to your bike under load/danger/accident conditions…. when turning (at slow speed) move around your bike, find out how tall you can stand? think of which way your going to jump when a crash happens, or is it best to hold onto your bike and slide through the crash? will your legs get caught? will your hand get scraped off onto the road? Mentors are good and very helpful, clubs are awesome because of the comradery and points of view but they are not riding your bike, you are…. This is a dangerous sport and female intuition will normally prevail however no one see's the driver who comes out of a side road while your doing 50km's an hour and are ten metros from your front doorstep of your house. All of a sudden were in hospital. They say it is the first 3 weeks, then the first three months then the first 6 months then the first year when a crash is more often to happen…. this is because we become relaxed or we become comfortable.

You on YOUR bike is the best training…. when your driving your car? think of what its like to be on your bike (what your would normally be thinking if you were still on your bike) but don't think of what its like to be in your car while your on your bike…. (obvious reasons) When your driving your car…. hold the steering wheel as if you were turning the handle bars of the bike hard left or hard right (keep your hands in this position while your driving down the motorway) fantasize about all the wonderful experiences you can have on a bike, and project all the bad things that COULD happen too. Take your bike (when theres not many people around) and go to one tree hill….. find out what its like to ride on grass……. extremely slippery with road tires and simulates drizzle of rain on the road after a few weeks of no rain (slippery wet weather conditions)

I have only had my Bike for a few weeks but every cent I can spare gos into the tank and tires….. the most time spent on my bike with my petrol in hand is at an industrial pro where they haven't started building factories yet….. I practice and practice until I know exactly how my machine will react in all sorts of conditions imaginable. I watch tube videos every now and then and figure out what I'm going to experience mentally in each condition…. I relax myself then put something in my way to scare me and take note of what I'm doing how I'm doing it to ensure when the time comes, I'm prepared as much as i possibly can be. Also if you come around a corner and theres a cow in the middle of the road? which way are you going to turn? can you turn? how can you prepare to evade something like this happening in the future.

Set up flat tires, one rear one front or both at the same time….. how is your bike going to handle with flat tires? say you get a puncture and are unaware of it until you hit a corner with that cow in the middle of the road… what then?

Truth is, I'm completely comfortable with myself and my ability……. yet I find myself going round and round and round in circles for at least one hour a week but up to 3 hours with good weather. I'd just never ever trust my bike.