Akaroa GP rant

[Daffyd]

I remember some years ago two highly respected KB riders were leading a group ride, when for some reason one rode ahead. When he was returning to the group he was doing just this, Unfortunately his mate was doing the same and their heads hit. Not sure about the outcome... I think both died instantly, but at least one of them. Those who were members 8-9 years ago will remember this. Since then I NEVER allow any part of my bike or body o cross the line. (Except in an emergency).

[WNJ]

I remember some years ago two highly respected KB riders were leading a group ride, when for some reason one rode ahead. When he was returning to the group he was doing just this, Unfortunately his mate was doing the same and their heads hit. Not sure about the outcome... I think both died instantly, but at least one of them. Those who were members 8-9 years ago will remember this. Since then I NEVER allow any part of my bike or body o cross the line. (Except in an emergency).

Sad day on the CORO GP

[rastuscat]

https://www.facebook.com/24833050867...type=3&theater

Cheers EJ

You are my photo hero.

[trufflebutter]

Yes thank you EJ.. I searched for about an hour yesterday using all combinations of words to help, to no avail.

[willytheekid]

...able to change line should the situation require it.

Sums the whole problem and solution up nicely (Cos if ya don't have time to react to change's on the road...ya done fucked up!)

[rastuscat]

I have seen a few UK bike police videos on the net and a lot of them like to hug the centre line on bends with the theory being they can see around them better so they can corner faster. Maybe many guys here from the UK and Europe follow this sort of riding as I have seen a few local vidoes of guys from Europe hugging the centre line on bends. I guess riding in preparation of someone coming around the bend a bit over the centre line would take all the fun out cornering for them maybe.

I completely understand.

One day someone will die doing it. Some already have.

The best way to make sure it isn't you is to avoid the centre line. Keep a safety buffer between yourself and the oncoming traffic, whether you can see it in not.

Amazing the number of people who hit things they didn't see.

I for one still manage to enjoy cornering without taking those risks. I've had fun flogging my Cherman behemoth around a track too, but that line stays on the track.

[swbarnett]

One day someone will die doing it wrong.

You missed a word.

The best way to make sure it isn't you is to avoid the centre line.

There's an easier way - don't be there at all.

Keep a safety buffer between yourself and the oncoming traffic, whether you can see it in not.

But being able to see the traffic is a safety buffer (as long as your brain is also engaged).


Like many things, on the road or not, done properly it's not a problem.

[AllanB]

It's the one thing I've never figured out with bikers.

Let's find the nicest twisty road, and do everything possible to straight-line it.

Hahah that made me laugh - fair point too.

Why? Basic really - can go faster while more upright ............

[300weatherby]

Annoying how many of the Akaroa GP mob have no line structure of their own, no ability to decide exactly where they are going to put the bike and where they are going to turn it and exit - the main reason for some of the riding lines you see, are a direct result of a complete lack of ability to decide and execute to a plan, they simply follow the white line, if on the blind side of the corner, you scrubbed out the line and painted a new one that went straight over the edge, most will follow it straight over, and the next one in the road train (one of their scary pastimes) will follow.

You can see the lack of control over their own destiny in corners when you have a look at the parked bike and assess (read) their tyres, which generally show that: typically they do not ( remember these guys are trying to go as fast as possible ) stop the bike, bang it on it's side, stand it up and fire it out on the gas (not suggesting that is ideal in an environment that tight either), more usually, the bike is slowed down enough to turn in from a long way out so that silly lean angles get generated, they become stuck with that lean angle as their only tool to turn the corner, and the control is no longer theirs, they wait on the bike while it turns on a suspended throttle and are at the mercy of geometry, eventually exiting the corner on the line decided by the bike, and gently ( I'll bet most of them think they are hard as on it) apply throttle as the bike stands itself back up.
For the Akaroa sport bike GP mob:
Lean angle does not mean you are Rossi.
Time spent at lean is time spent going too fucking slow!

My little spit does focus on a specific rider type and platform, but does apply to many other also, the only answer is to tie education/training to licencing, but spending nearly 30 mil on a bullshit flag debate is more important than spending on education.

[rastuscat]

That kind of covers the subject from an efficiency point of view.

Which is part of the beef.

But it's not just the Power Rangers who hug the centerline. I've seen Cruisers, dual sports, cafe racers, bobbers, all sorts.

Shit riding is shit riding, regardless of the riders demographic.

[mulletman]

Ive briefly followed a track rider on the hill who rode like they were on their racebike climbing all over it and constantly running wide
so what training/skills had they had that was transferable to the road ?

[pritch]

We stopped and had lunch at Little River with a guy who had an off by hitting a pine cone on a recent outing. A line with a safety margin might have saved him.

Knowing about target fixation might have helped him more.

[rastuscat]

Knowing about target fixation might have helped him more.

Almost hit him with that but didn't want to burst his bubble.

He was busy blaming the pine cone. I don't think he wanted to hear that his riding caused him to hit it.

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

[EJK]

There is a guy on FB who takes candid shots of riders on the Akaroa road and maybe some are hoping to look cool if they get snapped.

Blaming the photographer for each and individual rider's "cool" riding habit is poor sportmanship

[Moi]

Almost hit him with that but didn't want to burst his bubble.

He was busy blaming the pine cone. I don't think he wanted to hear that his riding caused him to hit it.

The SPCPC* takes a very dim view of that sort of behaviour...



* Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Pine Cones