AWNMR - Akl Wednesday Night Mentor Ride

[Disco Dan]

I hope it stops raining or I am too chicken

Why dont you get one of these trendy hats? ....you will be fine! It will be good for us to do this in the wet this time, you will learn heaps! and will be confidence building!

[Blondini]

Why dont you get one of these trendy hats? ....you will be fine! It will be good for us to do this in the wet this time, you will learn heaps! and will be confidence building!

Really truly I do not have the nerve ,I Imagine it to be like ice skating on wheels.

[Big Dog]

No! Looks like a wet one though! A great oppurtunity to try emergency braking on painted lines!!! ...oh wait, MDU thats your job ay?

IMHO evasive manouvers and cornering in the wet need to be under the belt before emergency braking.
I base this on if you have no bike stability in the wet all the practice at braking in the world will do you no good.

In the wet you are more likely to take a corner than need an emergency stop.
On the other hand if it gets a bit twisted it pays to know how to straigten up before you give it a go live.

If you know how to turn in a hurry in the wet that will get you around a lot more trouble than you are likely to stop in.

If all goes well we can try some emergency stops in the wet when the tyres are warmer, but I would prefer to see some people showing some confidence and skills before we launch into wet weather braking practice.

Wet weather braking practice for me involves a carpark, a repeatable speed, and seeing how many spaces I can stop in.
Eg go around once at 50kmph and execute a no hurry stop from a landmark.
Note how many spaces that took and repeating trying to stop one space shorter everytime.
The big difference between dry and wet braking is that you still pull the lever just as hard, you just have to be more progressive about it.
Being progressive properly will heat the discs quickly and load the shocks properly. These are not so important in the dry where there is plenty of grip and tyres and brakes retain the temperature quite well.
In the wet these return to ambient very quickly.

If you only ever practice grabbing a fistful that will be your first reaction in an incident, even if there is a better exit strategy.
In the wet this will in many cases lock the front wheel, and the same attitude will lock the rear.

If you know how to be progressive, smooth and the difference between a exit and shit must stop you can brake really hard, with practice even when tipped in (do not try this until you have done braking in the wet often).


In the wet you have a lot more control than most bikers realise, you just have to be smooth enough to take full advantage of the grip you paid all that money for.

Don't believe me? Take the time to find out slowly.

[Big Dog]

Really truly I do not have the nerve ,I Imagine it to be like ice skating on wheels.

You can do it so long as you stay smooth and don't rush anything.

When I was on an L plate I rode as often as I could in the wet figuring that if I could ride in the wet I could ride any time.
Personally I think this is why even at an enthusiastic pace or under hard braking most pillions complain that I was taking it too easy.

In the beginning I found the best way to get a good smooth action was to sing cheesy little ditties.
Takes your mind off the perceived danger and allows you to focus on the events around you. Songs you like are not such a good idea as you lose track of what you are doing.
A motocross riding friend who taught me the basics of riding said that was how he focused during the start and in the mud. It helped me a lot, try it. If it does not help try something else. Someone else I mentioned it to likes to recite his times tables. After a while when your confidence has improved you will stop without noticing.

[Ixion]

Um. Let us just bear in mind that many of the "learner" type bikes have tyres as standard that are very shitty in the wet.

[Big Dog]

Um. Let us just bear in mind that many of the "learner" type bikes have tyres as standard that are very shitty in the wet.

Exactly why I propose we don't go straight into braking in the wet.
However if they can ride those tyres in the wet they can ride any tire in the dry.

[Morcs]

I will be there tonight, even in pissing rain.

My riding yesterday was extremely reckless, in the rain too, I had 7 potential death causing incidents, from oil on the road, white lines, and my own carelessness weaving in and out of traffic on the motorway at very high speeds...

I could do with talking about safe riding, calm me down a bit... otherwise everytime I have serious personal issues and jump on a bike, it could be the last time I do.

Confession over. I need a hug and a beer.

[Disco Dan]

I will be there tonight, even in pissing rain.

My riding yesterday was extremely reckless, in the rain too, I had 7 potential death causing incidents, from oil on the road, white lines, and my own carelessness weaving in and out of traffic on the motorway at very high speeds...

I could do with talking about safe riding, calm me down a bit... otherwise everytime I have serious personal issues and jump on a bike, it could be the last time I do.

Confession over. I need a hug and a beer.

geesh mate!

I was always told that the road is a giant cheese grater... and your a block of cheese!

I cant help with a hug, but as for beer..... im sure one of the mentors could give you a bear hug?

[ManDownUnder]

Really truly I do not have the nerve ,I Imagine it to be like ice skating on wheels.

Um. Let us just bear in mind that many of the "learner" type bikes have tyres as standard that are very shitty in the wet.

Each quote supporting the other.

Blondini, riding in the rain is actually fine, but you need the tyres that can handle it. As Ixion so eloquently pointed out.... yours need some attention. You're probably better off speaking to someone relatively new to riding about their perception of what to learn (KeyStone comes to mind).

The lessons to be learned will be fresh for them - they'll recall what to learn and do whereas I can't remember all the stuff to be learned - most of it goes on instinct now.

[M1CRO:Me]

Wont be able to make it this afternoon sorry.. Have had the last few days off work and am still not 100%... Have fun

[Big Dog]

Each quote supporting the other.

Blondini, riding in the rain is actually fine, but you need the tyres that can handle it. As Ixion so eloquently pointed out.... yours need some attention. You're probably better off speaking to someone relatively new to riding about their perception of what to learn (KeyStone comes to mind).

The lessons to be learned will be fresh for them - they'll recall what to learn and do whereas I can't remember all the stuff to be learned - most of it goes on instinct now.

I thought Frosty talked the Blondini gang into getting new tyres on the mini after the first stopping on a chocolate practice night?

[Lteejay]

I hope it stops raining or I am too chicken

Same here mate.

[Ixion]

It has stopped raining.

[Blondini]

Each quote supporting the other.

Blondini, riding in the rain is actually fine, but you need the tyres that can handle it. As Ixion so eloquently pointed out.... yours need some attention. You're probably better off speaking to someone relatively new to riding about their perception of what to learn (KeyStone comes to mind).

The lessons to be learned will be fresh for them - they'll recall what to learn and do whereas I can't remember all the stuff to be learned - most of it goes on instinct now.

I have pirrellis(sp) the front one is three weeks old,I will do my best to be there If its fine I am definately there. If it rains i will do my best to get the nerve to be there ,but looks like it is clearing

[slinky]

yeh i got a glimpse of the sun. might clear up.