Anyone care to comment/advise

**MSTRS:Me** · 15th March 2006, 08:48

I agree that TrackDays are a must. BUT......like a lot of women, Yungatart is nervous of being a slowpoke and holding others up. The track is a big scary bogey (in your head) until one has actually been on it, so I understand where she is coming from. She is a better rider than she gives herself credit for and once I get her on the track, she will make a quantum leap in confidence. In the meantime, every ride we do helps as do your comments and advice. Cheers all.

**JohnR** · 15th March 2006, 11:21

Originally Posted by Motu

I don't know anything about the 12 second rule,I started doing this stuff before anyone developed theories about it.As soon as I exit a corner I look straight to the horizon and then scan back to where I am now,this can be a few metres,or a few kilometres,but I constantly scan this area to know where the road might go and what other obsticals like other vehicles etc I might meet.At times I also scan back with my mirrors and look to the sides...not just taking in the scenery,but as much info as I can.

That's the point.:spudwave: There are probably a lot of things that you/we do that are instinctive, enabling us to ride as we do.

In this case (12 second rule) somebody realised that not everyone did it, hence the theory.

**Colapop** · 15th March 2006, 11:29

Get her to talk to Str8 Jacket about trackdays, I understand she was nervous about it but had an absolute blast (airhorns and all). She was, slow compared to some, but that didn't stop her.

I understand if at any stage anyone doesn't feel comfortable they can pull off to the side and the truck will come and pick 'em up? So there's no pressure. (get her up to Taupoo)

**Ixion** · 15th March 2006, 12:03

Originally Posted by JohnR

That's the point.:spudwave: There are probably a lot of things that you/we do that are instinctive, enabling us to ride as we do.

In this case (12 second rule) somebody realised that not everyone did it, hence the theory.

I never got the 12 second bit. I look as far ahead as I can see both down the road and out to the sides - looking for hazards, and trying to figure out where the road goes - looking for power poles, tree lines, buildings, tail/brake lights, anything that gives some advance notice of which way the road's going to head. But I dion't know how far ahead 12 seconds is, especially on windy stuff. So I suppose i'm doing it, but I think trying to work out "Um is that 12 seconds aahead? Or 15 ? - allowing for what looks like maybe a bend in between - but it might be two bends ? Um , if it's two that next hill is probably 20 seconds , but theres a river down there , so maybe a bridge coming up, how many seconds does that add ? - oh shit I just crashed, worrying about how many secnds things were away" is a waste of time.

**JohnR** · 15th March 2006, 12:20

Originally Posted by Ixion

I never got the 12 second bit. I look as far ahead as I can see both down the road and out to the sides - looking for hazards, and trying to figure out where the road goes - looking for power poles, tree lines, buildings, tail/brake lights, anything that gives some advance notice of which way the road's going to head. But I dion't know how far ahead 12 seconds is, especially on windy stuff. So I suppose i'm doing it, but I think trying to work out "Um is that 12 seconds aahead? Or 15 ? - allowing for what looks like maybe a bend in between - but it might be two bends ? Um , if it's two that next hill is probably 20 seconds , but theres a river down there , so maybe a bridge coming up, how many seconds does that add ? - oh shit I just crashed, worrying about how many secnds things were away" is a waste of time.

OK. You win.:slap:

From now on it shall be "the as far ahead as you can see without running over the dog, cat, cage, elderly pedestrian or police officer that has appeared 5 metres in front of you" rule.

**Ixion** · 15th March 2006, 12:28

Why not just the "Look ahead as far as you can " rule. And at 100kph 12 seconds would only be about 300 metres. So I reckon you need a 24 seconds and 36 second and 48 second rule too. Simpler rule , "If you can see it , watch out for it. If you can't see it, assume it's there and dangerous". Even covers bath tubs around corners. I reckon there's to much trying to make "rules" about driving and riding nowdays , instead of applying common sense. Asians are bad at that they're so busy figuring out which rules to apply that they run into you.

**JohnR** · 15th March 2006, 12:46

Originally Posted by Ixion

Why not just the "Look ahead as far as you can " rule. And at 100kph 12 seconds would only be about 300 metres. So I reckon you need a 24 seconds and 36 second and 48 second rule too. Simpler rule , "If you can see it , watch out for it. If you can't see it, assume it's there and dangerous". Even covers bath tubs around corners. I reckon there's to much trying to make "rules" about driving and riding nowdays , instead of applying common sense. Asians are bad at that they're so busy figuring out which rules to apply that they run into you.

Because... oh never mind.

**Blackbird** · 15th March 2006, 14:15

Originally Posted by Ixion

Why not just the "Look ahead as far as you can " rule. And at 100kph 12 seconds would only be about 300 metres. So I reckon you need a 24 seconds and 36 second and 48 second rule too. Simpler rule , "If you can see it , watch out for it. If you can't see it, assume it's there and dangerous". Even covers bath tubs around corners. I reckon there's to much trying to make "rules" about driving and riding nowdays , instead of applying common sense. Asians are bad at that they're so busy figuring out which rules to apply that they run into you.

Sigh......:rolleyes:

You wouldn't work in IT would you Les??

**yungatart** · 15th March 2006, 14:25

Okay everyone, thanks for your help. What I am going to do is not think too much about my riding, relax more and look further ahead and just keep riding...eveytime I go out I get better, more confident, more relaxed and smoother, so if I keep on riding I will get to the stage where I won't feel like such a Nana...right?
More practice....

**Ixion** · 15th March 2006, 14:49

Originally Posted by yungatart

.. so if I keep on riding I will get to the stage where I won't feel like such a Nana...right?
More practice....

Woz wrong wiv being a Nana? Doesn't hurt , anyrate.

**yungatart** · 15th March 2006, 14:53

Nothing wrong with being a Nana, Ixion. I am one, to four darling little rugrats- however it doesn't mean I want to ride like one or look like one either, for that matter. But, as at this point in time, I do ride like one, it is nice to know I am in such good company!

**Motu** · 15th March 2006, 16:22

Looking ahead and reading the road is good stuff...but we can still get caught out eh? Who hasn't been reading the power poles and see them go in a straight line,and you can also see the road 500mts ahead....then found a U bend to rival the waste pipe under your sink!?

One evening going on dusk/getting kinda dark on a gravel road...I had been following the road on the edge of an old stream bed or shore line,it was pretty obvious where the road was going,even in the dark,then I came across a one lane bridge.''Oh choice!'' thinks me,I like to get a bit of air time over the bridges....but in the back of my mind I know that Murphy puts right angle turns on the other side of these bridges.So I hit it kinda a bit quick,but not too,too fast - and sure enough there was a 90 deg turn after the bridge! I got around ok...just another wake up call.

You just have to leave that little bit of room for these things.