Sunday 11th February - Where did you ride and what did you practise?

**Terminated** · 10th February 2007, 23:04

This weekend Lissa and Steam are your selectors and they will be looking at good new rider training practice and welcome input from senior riders and mentors.

This weekend review will cover rides on Saturday and Sunday reported here in this thread and selection will be made by Tuesday Evening.

Those selected will have their training comments copied to BuckBuck's Update - Newbie Training thread and they will in turn be the selectors for next Sunday's Where Did You Ride and What Did You Practise?.

I encourage all newbie riders to seek out a riding Mentor to review your riding skills and technique periodically throughout your graduated licence time. Go for mentor riding reviews and discuss the matters that have been identified, then practise, practise, practise.

When you go for your Sunday/weekend ride think about those things you want to focus on and review before you set off on your ride.

I invite any new riders to put forward their comments relating to specific training sessions they may have had recently and not necessarily just this weekend's ride.

The key benefit that I am encouraging is: for new riders/all riders - to 'key in' their training comments to this thread and by doing so, this is reinforcing a personal training discipline.

For those posting to this thread, a degree of humour is welcomed as are pictures of your weekend ride, however please note that the emphasis is newbie training awareness.

You take the time to train on the motorcycle, you take the time to make an entry to this web site, and hence you have indirectly reviewed your own personal training discipline. Well Done.

Heads Up and Enjoy
BuckBuckNo1

**Steam** · 11th February 2007, 19:48

Today I rode to the Carterton Sprints with my brother, both of us on GN250s, heaps of fun!

Things I focussed on:
Good ride planning, we knew how long and where, we fuelled and toileted, we oiled and checked.
Hazard scanning, constantly through the ride I scanned for hazards. Until now I haven't had the habit of looking in my mirrors but today for some reason I was looking constantly.
Moving away from hazards, riding within the lane for safety.
I rode over the Rimutakas twice and didn't have one single "Oh Shit" moment. Ususally I have at least one, so perhaps I have learned to relax and go a bit slower, within my skill level.
I told my brother to ride seperately up the hill, because I didn't want to be following him at speeds I wasn't comfortable with.
I practised countersteering consciously, it is very interesting to see what the bike wants to do and understand why.
Oh, and I set out at the beginning of the day to have a good safe ride, and make it a day to focus on skills and attitude.

So it was a good day. I'll make my selection by Tuesday afternoon.

Congrats Buckbuck on the new bike, fingers crossed it all worked out!!

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 11th February 2007, 19:52

February 11th 2007 my ride for the day

My report of the day trip with the South Island Passes Tour
http://quantumillusions.com/biker/?q=node/88

**chanceyy** · 11th February 2007, 20:03

well could not resist it today .. snuck the bike out for a wee 7k toodle up the road .. conscious that I had left the blinkers on my first ride today it was an awareness to remember to turn them off

it was not a blat today, more about feeling the bike .. practiced squeezing both brakes gently, & down shifting for slowing down & cornering ..also being aware what revs I was doing .. sat on 3.5 for most of the way, awareness of hazard detection, & using my mirrors constantly (checking no boys in blue were on my butt

)

I was tempted to try it again .. but thought better of it ... good choice .. almost outta gas lol

roll on next two weeks til we are both closer to being legal ..... kinda

**Flyingpony** · 12th February 2007, 08:07

Not a newbie to biking but I am a newbie to touring.

After last weeks ride to Akaroa from which I suffered a pulled shoulder blade muscle, it was decided to practise riding distances that exceeded 5km.

So, after tootling off to do the shopping, me and the bike rode 'around' the block home, via the short way, home is 5km away, but I wasn't going that way.

Ended up tootling right across town to New Brighton via Dyres Rd. After going around and around the Owles Terrace/Brighton Road round about, next stop was Sumner and then home.

Spend over an hour in the saddle and unsure of distance travelled. On the return leg about 8km from home, had to stop because of discomfort and enjoyed spending two minutes watching miniature ponies eating grass (as luck had it after stopping at this random driveway) and listening to the FXR engine ticking over nicely behind me.

Finished the ride feeling worn but happy and all muscles were absolutely fine the next day.

P.S. And all the sprotbike riders waved back too

**Rosie** · 12th February 2007, 09:38

Just went on a small ride on Sunday. I went for a lap of lake Rotorua in the early evening, once it had cooled off a bit.

Two focuses for today were being aware of, and riding at, the speed limit, and trying to keep my revs above 5k (ie. Changing gears more often).

Lake Rotorua is a good circuit, it's not too long, and has a variety of different traffic/road situations. And doesn't keep the same speed limit for more than about 3km at a time. So I was scanning ahead to look for the speed limit signs, and, using the traffic around me, and my dodgy excuse for a speedo, was concentrating on riding at an appropriate speed.

And I was changing gears more often, to keep the revs between about 5-8k. Sometimes I get lazy and leave the bike in too high a gear, and it doesn't do the bike any good, and it doesn't produce as much power. And at the moment I'm trying to not over rev it, as I'm still running in the new piston and barrel.
Previous things I had been focussing on - smooth cornering and smooth gear changes, seem to be going well.

On my way home I took a bit of a detour and rode through the middle of Rotorua and snaked around various inner city roads, still focussing on my gear selection and my speed. I don't ride on inner city or suburban roads much, and suspect I should be practising these so I can go for my restricted test.

**Lissa** · 12th February 2007, 11:19

Rode to the sprints yesterday morning at about 7.50am... learnt I should wear more clothing at that time of the morning. Had to stop at Wild Oats for a coffee on the way to warm up.

Got to the sprints, meet heaps of awesome people. But felt I should have entered, just for the fun of it.

Went off with Brent (kinje) for a coffee after lunch... which turned out to be another coffee in Martinborough. Learnt to ride smooth and at a constant speed the whole way. Learnt that when trying to over take brent on his 250, to sneak up behind him, before he realises what I am about to do.

Then we decided to ride up the takas, and watch the 'sprint' people ride past. Getting comfortable on the hill, although the traffic was pretty awful and slow on the way up. Then down we went, then after 'bending brents arm' we went back up... what did I learn on the way up again?.... Dont ride the hill with lots of traffic.. should have learnt the first time.

On the way back down again I had what should have been a "OH SHIT" moment... totally my own fault. I past a car on the way down, doing about 100k, when I saw a 20k corner coming up... first thought in my head was, 'slow down'. So I braked. Next thought was, 'dont brake on a corner', so as I went into the corner I took my hand off the brake... and pushed down, scraped my boot on the road.... was amazed what my little Ginny can do.

So from that I learnt:
1. Not to get too cocky
2. Dont pass cars when I dont really need to
3. .. but also my bike can corner alot better than I thought.

Will make my selection by tuesday night too.

**Lissa** · 13th February 2007, 19:24

This week I pick Rosie.

Two focuses for today were being aware of, and riding at, the speed limit, and trying to keep my revs above 5k (ie. Changing gears more often).

Shows she is getting comfortable on her bike, and learning to change up/down gears according to the road.. ie cornering etc.

Lake Rotorua is a good circuit, it's not too long, and has a variety of different traffic/road situations. And doesn't keep the same speed limit for more than about 3km at a time. So I was scanning ahead to look for the speed limit signs, and, using the traffic around me, and my dodgy excuse for a speedo, was concentrating on riding at an appropriate speed.

Shows she has good concentration and awareness.... ie looking for speed limit signs.

And I was changing gears more often, to keep the revs between about 5-8k. Sometimes I get lazy and leave the bike in too high a gear, and it doesn't do the bike any good, and it doesn't produce as much power. And at the moment I'm trying to not over rev it, as I'm still running in the new piston and barrel.
Previous things I had been focussing on - smooth cornering and smooth gear changes, seem to be going well.

I use to keep my bike in too high a gear as well, good thing to practice is taking it down a gear, esp when you are about to head into a corner. Shows she is aware of what her bike is capable of.

On my way home I took a bit of a detour and rode through the middle of Rotorua and snaked around various inner city roads, still focussing on my gear selection and my speed. I don't ride on inner city or suburban roads much, and suspect I should be practising these so I can go for my restricted test.

Good luck for your restricted Rosie.

**Steam** · 13th February 2007, 22:33

Out of my three possible choices, I choose Chanceyy, because she is practising being AWARE
and awareness is the most important of all. Be aware and everything else follows more easily.

Originally Posted by chanceyy

well could not resist it today .. snuck the bike out for a wee 7k toodle up the road .. conscious that I had left the blinkers on my first ride today it was an awareness to remember to turn them off

it was not a blat today, more about feeling the bike .. practiced squeezing both brakes gently, & down shifting for slowing down & cornering ..also being aware what revs I was doing .. sat on 3.5 for most of the way, awareness of hazard detection, & using my mirrors constantly (checking no boys in blue were on my butt

)
I was tempted to try it again .. but thought better of it ... good choice .. almost outta gas lol
roll on next two weeks til we are both closer to being legal ..... kinda

Buckbuck, maybe these threads could be expanded to read something like " This week, where did you ride and what did you practise?" as the single day ones are getting too few respondents.
Over to you, they are your threads.

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 13th February 2007, 22:43

Originally Posted by chanceyy

more about feeling the bike ..

Bikes like that... like it a lot...

**Hawkeye** · 13th February 2007, 22:56

Originally Posted by Rosie

I don't ride on inner city or suburban roads much, and suspect I should be practising these so I can go for my restricted test.

Hi Rosie, How's it going. We did our Learners around the same time. I can't believe you haven't gone for your restricted yet! Just do it. You have been riding long enough now to handle the Restricted test. It is actually a breeze. Once you have done it you will wonder why you hadn't done it sooner.
GO FOR IT...

**ajturbo** · 13th February 2007, 22:57

i rode my bucket... i praticed gettin my knee down..... and my hip and my elbo... also my hand, and handle bar... the fuel tank got the closest it has ever got to mother earth with out me taking it off....

and yet i broke nothing!!!
not unlike my boy luke.. who some how managed to do the same .. but broke his brake leaver .. for the 4th time.. so he is getting good at something!!!

**Rosie** · 14th February 2007, 08:01

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Hi Rosie, How's it going. We did our Learners around the same time. I can't believe you haven't gone for your restricted yet! Just do it. You have been riding long enough now to handle the Restricted test. It is actually a breeze. Once you have done it you will wonder why you hadn't done it sooner.
GO FOR IT...

I haven't actually been riding the whole time since I got my learners.
My bike's been having a few 'issues' since the beginning of June. The engine started playing up, turned out it needed a new piston and barrel, and after waiting an eternity for those to turn up, the first time I went for a ride after that, I was knocked off at a stop sign, and had to wait several months for more parts to arrive. I got the bike back in the middle of January, so I'm slowly getting back into it, and increasing my confidence again, before going for my restricted.
I'm doing pretty well, but some days I become convinced that I'm about to get hit from behind, or that my engine is going to stop randomly while I'm riding.
But you're right, I really should just get it done.

**Terminated** · 14th February 2007, 20:54

Originally Posted by Steam

Buckbuck, maybe these threads could be expanded to read something like " This week, where did you ride and what did you practise?" as the single day ones are getting too few respondents.
Over to you, they are your threads.

Yes point taken, I have noticed the drop off and will now expand the period.
For example:
Going for A Ride This Week [Day/Date to Day/Date] -Let Us Know Where and What Did You Practise?

Heads Up and Enjoy

**mstriumph** · 14th February 2007, 21:04

did a country circuit thru gingin /chittering then into rode down the coast to overnight at Fremantle, heading home via the swan valley /toodyay road on the sunday

had plenty of opportunity to practise dirt-riding through the roadworks, avoiding delinquent cages on nice sweepers, playing tag splitting through the city traffic ..... and watching the blokes poetic lines thru the corners

t'was goooooooooooooood