This Week 21 - 27th February - Ride and Practise?

[Terminated]

This week Nasty 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 week’s review will cover rides from Wednesday 21st February to Tuesday 27th February 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 Week’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 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 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

[fjones]

Ok maybe the place to put it... maybe not. My wife and I are both learning to ride in Grafton area, Auckland. Would be nice if there was someone around that could have a look and make sure we aren't learning bad habits etc etc....

[Squeak the Rat]

Ok maybe the place to put it... maybe not. My wife and I are both learning to ride in Grafton area, Auckland. Would be nice if there was someone around that could have a look and make sure we aren't learning bad habits etc etc....

Mate, check out the wednesday night mentor ride, disco dan should be updating this with the next date http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=43261 or PM dan for more info.

I'm on leave for a couple of weeks, but happy to help out if you haven't been able to sort anything out be then (if so PM me around the 8th march).

StR

[yungatart]

After 9 weeks off the bike, due to my accident, last night was my first ride.
I kept stalling on take off, had about 6 goes to get out of the driveway, but eventually got going after giving myself a severe telling off.
It took quite some time to relax and feel "in the zone'.
I practiced being smooth in the corners and taking good lines, remembering to look ahead and keep my eyes up. I was pretty slow tho ...I came off on a corner and lost what little mojo I had...
I only rode 40 odd ks, as my thumb was tingling like mad, (broken in the crash), but will be out there doing it again this evening.
I will focus on maintaining a higher speed in the corners and enjoying myself.
Can't wait!

[skelstar]

Yeah ok.

Just finished a 3100km tour of the SI on my Hornet. I spent a great deal of time chasing litre bikes with riders better than me, so I guess I might have learned a few things.

Lessons:

1. If there is a sign that indicates the speed for a number of corners (ie <45>), they aren't necessarily all the same shape/speed. This is demonstrated when powering out of the first 45 thinking "that wasn't that bad! I'm the man!". The second one is actually the <45> that the sign was based on.

2. Im floating into a <35> corner and its a bit hot. I've still got some front-brake as Im trying to tighten up into the corner. I've scrubbed some speed off but not enough, however when I let the brakes go, the bike tightens up nicely and I have no troubles with the corner at all. Get off the brakes and lean.

3. When you're walking down a path on the way to some tourist attraction and theres a group of people walking towards you, sure as shit you will end up on the right-hand-side of the frigging track. "You're not from this country are you?" (Jill Clendon 2007)

4. If you wear your cordura pants for 8 days straight in hot SI weather , and you have no way of washing them they start to smell like cheese...not Mainland cheese but some fancy Dutch variety. The kind of cheese where if you find it in the fridge you ask all your flatmates if its theirs because its way past its use-by and its time it should be thrown out. Wash your cordura pants on trips. Its just not healthy kids.

Practiced:

1. Keeping my head level (not leaning with the bike), up, and looking a long way through the corner. This improves your line immeasurably. You won't have any mid-corner line changes. Don't look at the frigging ground in front of your wheel!!!

2. Enter the corner slow and exit the corner fast. If you brake before the corner, do the head thing, get the shape of the corner and be on the gas you will most likely exit the corner quicker than the guy/girl that goes in hot, runs out of room, stands the bike up, adjusts, drops it down again and basically fuxks it up. You'll look way cooler. Trust me.

3. I practiced and executed marginal passing manouvres...all in the interest of science, and the fact that I hadn't got #2 above right and had to catch up somehow.

4. Practiced riding on roads with lots of pea-gravel. Its not something that can be taught online. You have to go out and do it yourself. Apparently. I recommend the Milford Sound road. Its neat.

[avgas]

just to add to this :
if a corner doesnt have a sign....assume less than 30. Not over 90. I f'ed this up when i was a learner riding on the waihi paeroa rd

[Flyingpony]

This week I practised countering steer because it's been a while since my last session.

Was very simple to do, brief push to the right with left hand and follow the bike through as it falls into a left turn. Used a similar technique to get out of this turn and thus ended up doing a nice set of continuous zig-zags down the road. Held the throttle constant throughout at 55km/hr. As the zigs progressed, I made the fall in sharper - still got the chicken strips

This week I also continued to practise balancing.

When slowing for lights, I removed both hands off the bars and tried to adjust my direction using just light downward pressure on the pegs, meanwhile also gripping the tank with legs and keeping torso straight. Worked quite well when required adjustments are minor but became unstuck if over applied (possibility because I can't do this on the bicycle too). Anyway, it will come in handy knowing I can hold a straight line and therefore be able to flex both hands.

[Lissa]

This week I just did the usual. Wednesday Night Ride... we went to the tin hut to meet up with the welly crew, but first a couple of us decided to go up the hill.. As per usual the boys take off up the Rimutakas, and leave me behind. Not that I dont mind, my brain and body is willing to keep up with them, but unfortunately my bike isnt .

Saturday was the ride for life. We meet up lots of amazing people in Masterton and started our trip up to Napier (but only managed Danniverk). On the way I practiced smooth rides... and again, passing is my main problem at the moment. If my bike had a little more grunt I could pass whenever the situation arose, but again, I have to make sure when I decide to pass, that its not going to take forever to get the speed up to do so.

Sunday a little blat up to the top of the hill. And again the boys left me behind. Didnt mind, as I was in no hurry, and wanted a chance to just cruise around and practice my lines. Was stuck behind a nice BMW convertable for a while, which the driver obviously didnt know how to keep his car on his side of the road.... blonker.

Anyway... what I learnt:

I really want a bike with more grunt. Been having second thoughts on my choice of first bike. I honestly thought when I started riding that I would just like the ride, and cruise around. Now I want a bit more speed and accerleration, infact, my bike is frustrating me to no end.

But....(as I have been told by others).

I am also just a learner. I have been riding only since November. There are other more important skills I have to learn and practice before I upgrade, and I just have to be patient. My bike is great, and my only prob is the lack of acceleration. Although I cannot wait until I get my full and upgrade to bigger and sexier bike, with the help of my little ginny, when I do upgrade, I should be a much better rider.

[TerminalAddict]

lessons learnt this week by me:

Just because you own a hot litre bike, doesn't mean an almost vintage vfr, and a hornet can't carve you up in the twisties

backing in to a corner on a hornet isn't that much fun, but not as scary as I expected

the hornet has the aerodynamic qualities of a loaf of bread, at (speed limit X 2) speeds, with a cross wind

a lot of riders assume their penii are larger than yours, but are full of excuses when they are 200 kms behind after the ride

you can go quicker around a corner with out trail braking, but if you decide to chicken out, you're buggered .. or least you feel that way

hot melted tar is slippery

I need some kind of fitness regime .. shoulders are somewhat sore, and legs are hammered after climbing off either side of the bike for 1000kms

gravel at (speed limit X 1.6) is not fun, but being over taken on said gravel, at said speed, by afore mentioned vintage vfr is funny as hell

having the rear end step out at (speed limit X 1.8) is kinda scary

passing on the outside of a corner feels very cool

[Warr]

lessons learnt this week by me:

Just because you own a hot litre bike, doesn't mean an almost vintage vfr, and a hornet can't carve you up in the twisties

backing in to a corner on a hornet isn't that much fun, but not as scary as I expected

the hornet has the aerodynamic qualities of a loaf of bread, at (speed limit X 2) speeds, with a cross wind

a lot of riders assume their penii are larger than yours, but are full of excuses when they are 200 kms behind after the ride

you can go quicker around a corner with out trail braking, but if you decide to chicken out, you're buggered .. or least you feel that way

hot melted tar is slippery

I need some kind of fitness regime .. shoulders are somewhat sore, and legs are hammered after climbing off either side of the bike for 1000kms

gravel at (speed limit X 1.6) is not fun, but being over taken on said gravel, at said speed, by afore mentioned vintage vfr is funny as hell

having the rear end step out at (speed limit X 1.8) is kinda scary

passing on the outside of a corner feels very cool

Hey thats pretty good for stuff for 1 outing!!
A couple of things you left out tho..
You (kindly) didnt mention that the rider of the vintage VFR was also of vintage material. That was good

& also something about the Harley riders after you carved them up only to be dispatched by the same VFR. I think they thought they were moving!!

Ride fitness is not a biggie. I mean look at me
Playing on a hockey team could help you imensly ..
But for me my back has caused some small problems.
My morning fitness regime. (Now everyone will know what a lazy person I am!!)
40 situps, 20 (womans) pressups, 20 back arch/holds no hands, several back arch & back stretchs, and some special leg/pelvis stretch which is good for sciatica.
Now if I wasn't so tight I'd join a gym etc etc, but the above is working ..sort -of for the mo & doesnt require to leave the house

[Maha]

) [/B].

I am also just a learner. I have been riding only since November. There are other more important skills I have to learn and practice before I upgrade, and I just have to be patient. My bike is great, and my only prob is the lack of acceleration. Although I cannot wait until I get my full and upgrade to bigger and sexier bike, with the help of my little ginny, when I do upgrade, I should be a much better rider.

I know the feeling, and it just gets worse, heres what i went and bought while i still had the GN, didnt even have the Yamaha 12 months and i wanted bigger, loved the Yammy (which BTW is now in Wellington so you may see it around) but sold it to buy the Triumph....I NEED BIGGER!





http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...3&d=1146634242

[Lissa]

I know the feeling, and it just gets worse, heres what i went and bought while i still had the GN, didnt even have the Yamaha 12 months and i wanted bigger, loved the Yammy (which BTW is now in Wellington so you may see it around) but sold it to buy the Triumph....I NEED BIGGER!





http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...3&d=1146634242

Ohhh thanks..... grrrrrrrr even more frustrated. I have 9 months to wait until my full. Ive had the GN for 3 or so months and am already frustrated.... not to mention JEALOUS of everyone else! Hmmm might spend the next few months... researching what I want, and dreaming.

[Rosie]

Saturday I rode from Rotorua to Taupo by myself, down SH5 and Broadlands road, nothing exciting, just the same route I'd take in the car. I was focussing on checking my mirrors often, and identifying places I could pull over on the side of the road, should I need to let cars past (when I do need to stop and let cars past I tend to have a mental block and start to get stressed).

The trip down was fairly uneventful. Except I'd forgotten to check my oil before I left home, and the light started coming on about 20km from Taupo (2 stroke oil light = tank is 1/3 full, so it's not a huge drama), but you don't want to get into the habit of riding around with your oil light on, so we popped in to Repco to buy some more oil on Sunday morning. Except Repco in Taupo don't sell TTS. Nor do BP. But Supercheap Auto do, they even sell the 4L containers (I'd only ever been able to buy 1L in Rotorua). I suspect the staff had never seen someone quite so excited about buying a litre of oil before. I left the remains of the container at Clint's place, for future oil emergencies, and I'll know to check my oil more often now.

Later in the morning Clint and I met up with a friend from work, and a couple of her motorbiking friends, and we went for a little cruise around some Taupo backroads. First stop was coffee on the lakefront, where there were quite a few other bikes in residence. We then went along Poihipi road to SH ? then back along Whangamata Rd to Kinloch for another coffee. Because I'm the newbie, I went in front, sending Clint ahead for major intersections where I wasn't entirely sure where I was going. This was the first time I'd been on a group ride (ie riding with more than one other person), so I was concentrating on riding my own ride, keeping an eye on my mirrors, and signalling my intentions fairly clearly. Except when I missed the turn to the café in Kinloch and did some odd things (all of which were indicated correctly though).

The pace was, by normal standards, pretty cruisey, but it was a really nice day, and Nic and her friends hadn't been to Kinloch before, so everyone enjoyed themselves. From Kinloch Clint and I went back to Taupo, and the others went home to Rotorua. On my way home from Taupo the bike wouldn't start at the petrol station, which was a bit stressful, but it started eventually. It may have flooded or something, I really don't know what the problem was.

I'd been generally feeling a little uneasy about the bike all weekend, but after she wouldn't start, I got my-bike-will-self-destruct-at-any-moment paranoia for a reasonable chunk of the trip home. I covered the clutch for about 20 mins or so, which helped me to relax. By the time I got to SH5 I was less concerned about the bike, but was still feeling a bit on edge, so wasn't terribly happy to find myself stuck in a chunk of traffic. So I turned off onto Waikite valley Rd, and did a few of my regular back roads on the way home. I concentrated on smooth cornering and smooth, frequent gear changes and this helped me to relax and keep my mind on my riding, rather than the bike potentially doing something bad.

[quallman1234]

I hit 1000KM total riding on my new bike this week.

I rode to school everyday initially focusing on not stalling at all and being aware of what is around me, minus the stalling because i was in a rush and just dropping the clutch i managed to do this.

On Wednesday night i went up the rimtuka's with the Wednesday night crew , it was a great expierence and was rather confident and didn't have any problems except getting a bit cold when riding home on the motorway afterwards.

On Friday night i went down the stock bank car park and practiced emergency stopping at 50,60,70kmh and aimed to stop a bit faster every time and to avoid locking any wheels.

Saturday morning me and guy (buckbuckNo1) caught up in silver stream and went to an old car park, to go though some basic slow speed maneuver's followed by a small ride over the hills and back.
I really appreciated guy's help/advice and learn't many new things , the things we practiced were;
*Counter steering - Never knew a thing about it until Saturday morning.
*Head positions - I knew about were my head should be but guy reinforced this idea back into my mind.
*Emergency braking followed by a quick take off
*Riding though a small area
I felt like i achieved quiet alot on Saturday and started putting these new found things into practice on the way home mainly focusing on counter steering and good head positions however in a sense it lessen my confidence what isn't necessarily a bad thing, because i used to always say that you could neither stop learning however i never fully believed this until Saturday!, Thanks again for your time guy! and i hope to go riding with ya in the near future , Cheers mate.

Sunday and Monday night - I practiced all the things buckbuck had taught/reminded me off in the car park and will do so whenever i can probably once every couple days after school.

I have decided to have a main focus for each week
So my main focus for this week is counter steering!

Kyle .

[chanceyy]

well I learned over this last week that I LOVE MY BIKE.

after getting her legal within the last week (& even though I wasn't) my mentor came down so we could go for a wee ride, well it felt bigger to me than him.

what did I learn, this bike seriously makes me smile when i ride her, no matter what others are doing I am consciously riding to my own ability. Learning her lil tricks & just feeling her through the corners & under braking.

Sat sat my basic handling course ( passed after amusing the instructor .. I just could not stop laffing & I think it was infectious) had a real busy day but needed to have a wee ride to boost my confidence for sundays trek to manfield. U4ea came with me & a bit of a ride round town, calling in to see the previous owner as he had not seen it running for several yrs, I think it almost brought a tear to his eye

sunday & I was totally nervous about riding the 18ks to shannon to meet the others but realised that
a) it had to be done sooner or later (since i live on a state highway)
b)no one will be there to hold my hand on other occasions
c) it was early morning so best time to give it a go

& off I poodled .. since my speedo broke on the first ride had to go by the revs & was comfortable riding til I met up with the others .. a few queries in regards to the noises from the engine & decision was made to carry on to manfield (at least i had company if things turned to custard)

for the first 10 ks or so just rode at my own pace not worried when the others were quite a distance in front of me .. they waited & once we regrouped travelled pretty much together. after the main highway & on a back road I gave the bike a few more revs & was pretty happy keeping up with AJ the bike felt awesome. Met my mentor & carried on to feilding .. confidence soaring & really felt like i was in the groove, arrived to manfield still smiling & laffing (this bike does this for me)

on the ride home I had a massive headache after being in the sun all day & having the noise of the bikes ... pretty confident starting out but just after leaving manfield I was in front & a gentle right hand bend starting fixating on the vechile in front & drifted to the outside line .. thought ohhh crap focus focus focus ... (side bar here)

the type of horse riding i do is very big on focusing on where you want to ride too .. this puts all the pressure on the outside of the horse & they will follow this focus, your body naturally leans into the turn & makes the turn easier ..

well this is what i did .. immediately took a hard focus through the corner & keep the power on .. (but was aware that the edge of the road was only a foot or so away) the bike got a medium wobble on .. but rode through it ..

what did I learn ..
that riding bikes & horses are similar,
do not ride when your not feeling the best
concentrate
if your getting outta control work on the focus into the direction & with distance it does work

& I love my bike even more


today I passed my learners