TCWNR - Wellington 2006/2007

[sels1]

Glad you lot had a nice ride - I got sent to Gore for 2 days. (grumble) Will try to get there next week if the weathers ok.

[Wasp]

I think the pressure comes from not keeping up, feeling left out, being worried about forgotten and left behind and ofcourse the feeling of competition.

I remember that when i was a total newbie i felt the same thing, i had to keep up or i'd be left behind in the middle of nowhere with no one to help me if it all went wrong

[Darkman]

I think the pressure comes from not keeping up, feeling left out, being worried about forgotten and left behind and ofcourse the feeling of competition.

there should be no pressure. Everyone should be as relaxed as can be and enjoy the ride. No one would leave anyone behind. They will always wait. I remember about 15 months ago when I was a newbie and went on big rides with UB and Dafe. Although I am very competitive by nature, you know what you can and can't do..keeping up was something I could not do and did not even try. Just ride your own pase and enjoy the ride..don't worry about the fast guys, let them worry about you.

[Fatjim]

I worry about you constantly Andries!

[Uncle B]

You are a worry Bluebottle

[Kendog]

I always think to myself as I dribble along, "I'm sure everyone would rather wait 10mins for me to catch up than have to spend 2 hours by coming back to find me tangled in a fence or scrape me up from under a car and pile me into an ambulance or worse, a hearse".
I understand the pressure to keep up, but in the end, it's you riding your bike.
Mrs KD.

[Str8 Jacket]

I think the pressure comes from not keeping up, feeling left out, being worried about forgotten and left behind and ofcourse the feeling of competition.

I remember that when i was a total newbie i felt the same thing, i had to keep up or i'd be left behind in the middle of nowhere with no one to help me if it all went wrong

Yeah, I hear ya there. I felt that way when I started riding too, but found that I just couldnt do anywhere near the speeds that anyone was doing so I just puddled along at ridiculous speeds of 20-50k's over the hill and found that no one really did mind waiting for me. Someone always stayed behind me or waited for me at stops and usually gave me advice on what I could do to improve my riding etc. Now a year later im slowly getting faster, but more importantly im relaxed and confident in my riding skills and am finding that im riding alot more smoothly and really enjoying myself. Learning to slow down, ride to your own skill level and not worrying about what everyone else is doing is part of the learning experience I reckon....

[Uncle B]

so I just puddled along at ridiculous speeds of 20-50k's over the hill and found that no one really did mind waiting for me. Someone always stayed behind me or waited for me at stops and usually gave me advice on what I could do to improve my riding etc.

There will always be someone who will wait.
That's what makes the Welly crew so good to ride with.

[Wasp]

mmm i feel that even if we explain to newbies time and time again that we will wait not all of them will completly listen.

the only way i see to avoid this is to have a few people ride with them, ive followed a few people back after rides doing only 70km/h its not all that bad and atleast they know they dont have a cage up their ass harrassing them because they have an L plate and are only going 70 ks.

[Str8 Jacket]

There will always be someone who will wait.
That's what makes the Welly crew so good to ride with.

Yeah, we have a great group of KBers here in Wgtn. Everyone is very encouraging and supportive, helps alot when you just starting out thats for sure!

[Str8 Jacket]

mmm i feel that even if we explain to newbies time and time again that we will wait not all of them will completly listen.

I see where your coming form, but at the end of the day its a personal choice. Theres only one person riding that bike.... But you are right some people will always feel pressured to try and keep up, but again its a learning thing.

[MikeyG]

Last TCWNR I went on I started off trying to keep up with everyone else but b'cos I was so focussed on that I was tensed up and my riding went to crap. Once I realised everyone would wait and I stopped worrying I relaxed and the riding got better and better.

[Wasp]

how about we appoint a newbie officer each night? its their job to ride with the newbies and make sure their all right, ideas anyone?

[Uncle B]

how about we appoint a newbie officer each night? its their job to ride with the newbies and make sure their all right, ideas anyone?

That's a good idea.
I'll go along with that.

And to the newbie's.....Don't be afraid to ask for help or with anything you want to know. No question is a dumb question. That's how you learn.

Plus we should have a briefing before we head off so that everyone knows where we are going and to sort out the 'minders'.

[Fatjim]

Checklist.

Everyone knows where we're going.
Fuel stops if required are organised.
Everyone knows who the tail end charlie is.
Colostomy bags emptied.