Wellington Newbie Ride 29 Jan 06

**Kendog** · 29th January 2006, 17:47

Originally Posted by magicfairy

No problem - it was really nice to meet you. Would be nice to to go out for a "girls" ride sometime. BusaJim is itching to get back out with the fast riders, so I am looking for someone to ride at my pace. And its so nice to meet some other ladies riding for a change...
It was a great day out - big thanks to the organisers

Sounds good, pm me sometime. My hubby would be keen to go for a 'big boys ride' with your hubby sometime too!!

**RantyDave** · 29th January 2006, 18:32

What an astouding day out. Good company, good riding, good weather.

Big props to organisers, grownups or whoever for showing up and keeping the pace down to a level suitable for us noobs. I got to see some real good riding too - Jim flopping his busa gently down the back end of the 'takas was a work of art.

Again, cheers guys

Dave

**Dafe** · 29th January 2006, 18:55

Uncle B does it again! Well done Bruce on a successful days ride.
So when is the next one?

**phoenixgtr** · 29th January 2006, 19:32

Twas great. Looking forward to the next 1. I had so much fun even tho I was having problems with my bike.

Wasp, you got to ride a CBR600? Damn, wheres my luck? See you all later

**Uncle B** · 29th January 2006, 21:00

The ride seemed to be a success so if there was enough interest maybe we could look at making this a once a month ride?
I'm happy to organise/lead/tag along if it's a go.

**magicfairy** · 30th January 2006, 07:25

I'm keen. Can't speak for BusaJim, I think he may want to play with the big boys next time...

**phoenixgtr** · 30th January 2006, 07:59

I'm definately keen for a once a month ride

**sels1** · 30th January 2006, 11:26

Originally Posted by Uncle B

The ride seemed to be a success so if there was enough interest maybe we could look at making this a once a month ride?
I'm happy to organise/lead/tag along if it's a go.

Likewise. Even have some ideas about varying the route.

**madboy** · 30th January 2006, 11:38

Can we do the east-west drag strip next time? Mrs Madboy was very disappointed I was good all day.

**Str8 Jacket** · 30th January 2006, 11:49

Yeah once a month would be awesome, id definately be keen to come along to them. I had the best ride ive had for a long time and was able to relax and think about my riding without having to "keep up" with anyone.

**hsvboy06** · 30th January 2006, 12:13

Firstly, a BIG thanks to Uncle B for organising this ride - personally I would say it was the best ride I've ever been on (bar one minor point) because I actually got to ride with other people - I always had bikes in front and behind - brilliant - a real "group" ride at last!
I'd definitely be keen to make this a once per month ride - something easy to remember like the 1st Sunday of every month would be good (although that's TSS's ride day, which some might care about).

The minor bad point...? I had my first coming together with the hard black stuff. Coming down the 'takas on the way back I found out that turning into a corner just doesn't work when you're riding over an oil slick.
Damage report: To me - a minor graze on my arm (I've definitely had worse from other "safer" sports); to my gear - a couple of holes in my pants (I wanted to buy new ones anyway), a hole in my glove, and a scuffed boot; to my bike - rear brake lever bent (no way I can bend it back - soon to be replaced), the chrome pipe shield (what is this for anyway? I thought the bike didn't look all that bad when it was off altogher) is scraped badly, one bar end is toast (easily replaced), and some very minor scratches on the fairing (but I mostly polished those out). The worst part is that I'm intending to sell this bike in a few weeks and I wasn't wanting to spend money on it at this stage of the game (and I was wanting to say "mint condition; never dropped" but I can't do that now, I suppose). The good news is that I didn't wait until I had a shiney new bike before trying this new experience.

A BIG thanks to all those that stopped (I think everyone behind me did) and helped me get going again. I probably wouldn't have known what to do if I'd been on my own, and this is another reason why a group ride like this is awesome.

For a brief moment I did think that this was perhaps a sign that I shouldn't be riding a motorcycle because it is too dangerous and I *will* fall off (I had started to think I was being careful enough to never fall off). But no, I'm determined to keep going, provided I can learn something from this incident. So, what can I learn? What did I do wrong? I don't think I was going too fast or taking stupid lines or anything. My back tyre is pretty bald, but I believe it was the front one that slipped out, and it looks like new. Are the FXR's skinny tyres part of the problem - would a bigger bike have slipped in the same way? Or is it simply that I should have seen the diesel on the road, realised it was slippery, and gone around it? To be honest, I don't think I had any idea that it was there until I was standing on the roadside looking back up the hill. I guess I was too busy concentrating on other things, like not hitting the car in front of me. As a newbie, I more than likely need more experience so that "seeing" and reacting to these hazards becomes instinctive. I'd like to hear your thoughts, and particularly from those that actually saw it happen. Thanks.

**James Deuce** · 30th January 2006, 12:21

Originally Posted by hsvboy06

Or is it simply that I should have seen the diesel on the road, realised it was slippery, and gone around it? ........... I guess I was too busy concentrating on other things, like not hitting the car in front of me.

These two things are the key. I've only had one single vehicle accident, it was on the Rimutakas, and I fell off on diesel avoiding a minor slip.

The second point about following the vehicle is a big one. Always ride your own ride, don't use the vehicle in front as a guide or marker. Possible if you weren't so close you may have spotted the diesel slick, but then I'd be inclined to chalk it up to one of those things.

Good attitude.

**Str8 Jacket** · 30th January 2006, 12:26

hsvboy06 - Having had a couple of accidents myself I know how easy it is to start thinking about what happened over and over but as hard as it is sometimes it best not to think too much about it. The oil patch that you hit was huuge and what happened to you could have happened to any one of us. Its good to hear that your still ok and big ups to you for riding back home after it you must have been a bit shaken up?!
I think its a lesson to all of us that its really important to check out the road conditions etc, when a few of us were stopped at Caltex on the way home we talked with a few other riders and none of them noticed the oil either, so in a lot of ways they were lucky (maybe?). At the end of the day you are sweet the bike is pretty much ok and you still want to keep riding so things can only get better. Sure you'll be a but more cautious when your riding for a bit longer but is that really a bad thing!