Seasonal safety reminders

[Oakie]

Especially for newbies but I fell into the trap the other day so perhaps a reminder for us older riders.

Autumn. Leaves on the ground. Dead leaves on the ground are damned slippery. I overlooked this and hit a small clump of dried leaves going around a corner the other day and lost both ends of the bike momentarily. I claim no skill in recovering the situation as the bike gripped again before I reacted (I think) ... but a little bit of poo nearly came out.

The other thing is sunstrike. To manage this, I have a strip of insulation tape on the bottom of my visor. When riding into the sun I just adjust the position of my open visor so the tape blocks the sun ... et voila. I can see again.

There are probably a few other seasonal issues if anyone else wants to contribute.

[Berries]

In winter it gets cold. When it gets very cold it can be icy. That can be slippery.

[caspernz]

Judging by the number of drivers who struggle with light rain on shiny tar...panel beaters must enjoy winter

[scumdog]

But dead leaves look so good in the mirrors when you've blatted through them and the turbulence and twin exhausts have blown the pile all over the place!

[AllanB]

And the changing leaves are to pretty at this time of year.

But good call. Slippery bastards when moist.

[Moi]

If you have trees near or over hanging your driveway, sweep the driveway!

Dead twigs falling from trees are like little rollers under foot when manoeuvring the bike...

[Laava]

It is very close to mothers day season. This means there may also be mothers in law lurking. Be careful out there.

[Berries]

Don't eat yellow snow.

[Oakie]

there may also be mothers in law lurking.

Kudos to you for using the correct plural
> mothers in law
> warrants of fitness

etc

[tigertim20]

a sunny day during winter months can fool you into thinking there is more grip available than actually exists on the cold road

[neels]

After the recent good weather, light rain on a cold morning on oil/diesel soaked roads can be dangerous.

This was evidenced by the ninja 300 that went sliding past the front of my car at a roundabout a couple of mornings back, all looked good with the cornering, then suddenly not so much.

[skippa1]

And the changing leaves are to pretty at this time of year.

But good call. Slippery bastards when moist.

You said moist

[fxxk]

Witnessed a ute go into a ditch facing the wrong way, north of Te rapa on a straight price of road. Have to wonder how some people manage to do it

[Ocean1]

a sunny day during winter months can fool you into thinking there is more grip available than actually exists on the cold road

Maximum lean angles on any reasonable surface at anything over 20deg coincide with the boots scraping and the sphincter snapping closed. Big difference on a cold day, and it took me a while on road bikes to sort of calibrate traction available on colder surfaces.

Had a moment out behind Masterton last weekend, couple of moments actually, on Lees Paparaka Rd, mainly due to the multitude of recent patches with well camouflaged loose chip everywhere, but once sliding the rear took longer than usual to hook up again on the cooler surface.

Which sort of reinforced previous thoughts about traction control and ABS being fuck all use if you're not on the gas or the brakes. Also prompted the thought that it was a good thing the sphincter had plenty of excercise through summer...

[James Deuce]

But dead leaves look so good in the mirrors when you've blatted through them and the turbulence and twin exhausts have blown the pile all over the place!

Ahh. Good. Someone else likes doing that.