Learning curve

[pixc]

I noticed a week ago that the tyres on my wee bike weren’t quite right. They seemed to be deteriorating close to the rim but they still had heaps of tread. After talking to someone who had a clue, I decided I should get some new ones. I bought a set in Tauranga and prepaid for the fitting as well. All I had to do was get the bike from Te Puke to Tauranga to get the job done. Only a 25-30 kms. No mean feet you may think. No,not for you experienced lot, however, I’ve only been learning to ride for 6 weeks. I’ve only ridden to work and back. Mostly rural and only briefly through the blip of a town that is Te Puke. The more I thought about it…the more it gave me the shits!

I decided that Thursday was the day. My bf was going to follow me in the van to make sure I was ok. Didn’t make it thursay..and bf went to golf Friday..grrr “Do it Saturday” he says “ there wont be as much traffic” he says. ( I’m a country girl..and I dislike city traffic)

Saturday, today, rolls around…and the weather is crap! I have no choice but to do it today because the car is booked in for a service Monday and I need the bike to get to work.

I start off ok.heading out of town…in the pissing down rain…getting TOTALLY soaked in 2 mins flat. (Draggin Jeans are the only pants I have for riding so far) On the open road I was feeling comfy keeping up with the flow of traffic 100-110 , keeping a good distance from myself and the vehicle in front. All is fine and dandy, then I get to the Mount. There was traffic from here to Africa! It was like peak hour traffic! And in the rain  I was cold and wet and WAY outside my comfort zone.

Dropped the bike off to get its new tyres, and the guy says he’s too busy to do it today. I wasn’t happy. It was a huge effort for me to get there. In the end he fitted the tyres for me, which I REALLY appreciated. Before I left for home, the guy warns me about new tyres being smooth and to run them in for 100ks and he tells me my steering needs looking at. It wasn’t really what I wanted to hear. If I thought it was daunting getting there…the trip back home seemed like a whole lot worse. My nerves got to me about then. My wet gloves feel like boxing gloves and my boots felt like clowns shoes. My jeans are soaked and i wonder if this is how babies feel when they have full nappies. I was fudging my gear changes..and was very, very uncomfy. I wanted to click my heels 3 times and be at home. I made my way out of Tauranga, thru the mount and back on to the main road home. I never really noticed before how crap the road is between the Mt and Te Puke before.

I made it home feeling pretty pleased that I managed it all in one piece. Perhaps I shouldn’t have gone outside my comfort zone like that, but I’m actually glad I did. How else am I going to become a competent rider if I don’t.

[limbimtimwim]

Perhaps I shouldn’t have gone outside my comfort zone like that, but I’m actually glad I did. How else am I going to become a competent rider if I don’t.

Right on.

You can apply that thought to your whole life...

[DingDong]

Nice novel...
Welcome to the site, your not wrong about the road between Mount and TePuke... if you try it on a sports bike its soooo bumpy your brain gets rattled and thats a body part we need to work correctly.

Practice makes perfect, being too cautious is better than being over confident but dont give up... you'll get there... then we'll see you at the Navigator on Thursday nights

Your tyres need 100-150 kph before you can trust them fully... you'll be alright as long as you dont try to get a knee down

PM "wybmadiity"... she lives in Te Puke and can give you some riding tips

[Ixion]

Well done.

The biker spirit. May I suggest the outlay of a small sum (less than $10) at the Warehouse, which will purchase a pair of waterproof trousers. Impermeable and impervious to any rain (and thus not the most comfortable in dry weather since they do not breath). But a boon in heavy rain. A slightly larger, but still modest , sum will suffice to acquire a matching waterproof jacket.

[The Pastor]

eek. A 25km ride is a mission. Well we all got to start somewhere... I guess....

[Ixion]

I can think of a few folk on 600s 750s and even litre bikes who would cry off a 30km trip over unfamiliar roads in pouring rain without proper wet weather gear.

As you say, we all began at the beginning.

[pixc]

Nice novel...

Yes ..I tend to woffle sorry

PM "wybmadiity"... she lives in Te Puke and can give you some riding tips

Ahh yes Ive met her. Nice lady..she enters data efficiently at work.

[pixc]

Well done.

The biker spirit. May I suggest the outlay of a small sum (less than $10) at the Warehouse, which will purchase a pair of waterproof trousers. Impermeable and impervious to any rain (and thus not the most comfortable in dry weather since they do not breath). But a boon in heavy rain. A slightly larger, but still modest , sum will suffice to acquire a matching waterproof jacket.

While I was there i bought a pair of waterproof strides. Put them over my wet jeans.

[SwanTiger]

Good on you for pulling it off despite your discomfort and it sounds like you'll mature into a real biker

[07fatboy]

RESPECT!!!...tell your boyfriend hes a tosser

[ZeroIndex]

That's the way to do it.. chuck yourself in the deep-end, and eventually you'll laugh at all the boy-racers in their ricecakes, no-matter the weather conditions..

[pixc]

RESPECT!!!...tell your boyfriend hes a tosser

You mean again??!!

[Mr. Peanut]

Your tyres need 100-150 kph before you can trust them fully... you'll be alright as long as you dont try to get a knee down

Really? I dont trust my tires until im doing at least 220km/h....

Basically I wait for them to go from smooth black to scuffy lighter black.

[DingDong]

Really? I dont trust my tires until im doing at least 220km/h....

Basically I wait for them to go from smooth black to scuffy lighter black.

Good point... you dont normally think of your tyres until you depend on them.

Scrub'em up everyday

[SuperDave]

Good attitude you have.
I hope you got a set of Bridgestone bt39ss tyres, those are the shit on FXRs!