2-8 May: Where did you ride and what did you practise?

[Terminated]

Next Tuesday evening Kinje will be your soul selector and will chose two entries from this thread. (Kinje was selected by both Mrs Kendog and Daza last week.)The selections will then be copied across to the Newbie Update Blog at the end of May.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/bl...hp?userid=1728

Please spend a few minutes and let us all know, 'Where Did You Ride and What Did You Practise?'. Humour and photographs are welcomed, however please keep in mind the general spirit is to enlighten us all about your riding practice and technique.

By all means if you have any concerns about your riding ask questions and I am sure a mentor or senior experienced rider will be only too happy to touch base with you in the forum or by PM personal message. Last week, Kinje had written up some interesting comments and Merv was able to provide some constructive feedback. Thanks Merv.


Heads Up and Enjoy

[vamr]

Went out to supervise a photoshoot in devenport on tuesday. Stole a friend's mc21 nsr for a quick blat on the way back... was running plugs that were a little on the coldside for happy sitting under 50 in residential areas but good fun opened up.

Found it interesting comparing the subtle differences in power curve (in relation to my bike) and how it effected my cornering (apart from the its-not-my-bike bit).

[Terminated]

You can't beat Wellington on a blue dome day they say. Just had to have a ride by myself Stokes Valley - Lower Hutt - Haywards Hill - Paekakariki Hill - Paraparaumu - Pauatahanui Inlet - Haywards Hill - Lower Hutt - Stokes Valley: 123km

Focus:
Gear selections and setting up corners.

On longer stretches eyeballing ahead 12 second markers at varying speeds and seeing how close my picked spot was to '1000 and 12'.

Overtaking distances and gear down selection: mirror, signal and head check.
***********
Passed several riders coming down as I was going up to the top of Paekakariki Hill. Stopped and chatted to a couple riders at the top.

During the conversation the topic of a quick ride Picton to Greymouth popped up, ferry crossing one Friday morning and return Saturday night, now that sounds like a plan for the beginning of next daylight saving - must hang onto that thought.....[if not sooner]

Heads Up and Enjoy

[Stella]

I got my learners friday a week ago and went on the road for the first time last weekend.

This Saturday I went out to Foxton Beach from Palmy with a couple of friends, one in front, one behind. It was great, felt nice and safe and watched, but still doing it all by myself I made sure the one I trusted most to keep to the annoying learner's speed limit etc was in the front. Only problem was I wished he would indicate a bit longer before doing something, but I think I was following too close too. I kept further back on the way home.

It was nice flat, mostly straight roads, though coming back we went a slightly more windy way, which was excellent practise.

I was surprised how easy it is cornering, it didn't really feel like you had to do much. I thought it would be a lot scarier than it was.

It took a while before I realised I had a fifth gear....

I need to get better at slowing down, remembering I have a rear brake, and figuring out when to change down (and doing it more smoothly). Correction, I need to get better at everything, but mostly it is working. I can't believe I did 100kms today!

I am very happy at where I am for only having had my bike for two months and first sat on the back of a bike seven months ago! (and never driven a car, so the whole road thing is very new.)

After I got home I fell asleep (was shattered, so much concentration) then rode to the supermarket on my own - revolutionary! I had to walk before and it is such a mission. Then got home and found my license in the letterbox, I am 27 and *finally* have ID

Stella

[Daza]

Yesterday went for a hour long ride. Just rode around the streets, practised my stopping and starting. I need to try riding in busier traffic and get used to that at the intersections, being able to make smooth take offs when theres traffic about. But yesterday i wanted to get used to riding on the open road, so i headed out towards lake Karapiro, which has some nice long straights and a couple of easy corners (which i enjoyed going through countersteering makes it so effortless). The wind buffer takes getting used to, mainly around the head. But that is what i wanted to do get used to it, so i did two trips back and forwards along that long road. I hope in the near future to ride to work on my weekends on, when the traffic is lighter. So i can keep my riding up when i work a weekend.

My wrists got sore at times and i did stop and rest them, but i was able to ride longer even though i haven't ridden for 5-6 days because of work.

Then i headed towards the petrol station thinking i might need a topup and it was my first stop at one on a bike. Just as i pulled up to a pump,and came to a nice stop my bike died. So i put $13 of gas in (it was half empty) and when i went to kick start it, it didn't want to start at all. As there was a car behind me waiting to leave so i had to push myself out of the way, and kept trying to kickstart it. The kill-switch hadnt been touched. So i tried a few times and waited alittle bit. Then this guy asks if i need to borrow a cellfone to call somebody and asked if i had be riding down Lamb street earlier and i had, as heard my bike and said he thought it didn't sound right.

About five minutes later i was able to get it going again and went home. I turned it off and then tried to restart it and it did hmm. This is the second time it has died on me when coming to a stop at the end of my riding and wouldn't start again until later.

I suspect it could be the plugs. I don't have time to check them today as im going out this afternoon, but it involves taking the tank off which i havent done before so i will leave it for another weekend. Or maybe i should just take it in and get it serviced? I might give the bike shop a call tomorrow and talk to them about my problem.

I tend change gear on the bike when the powerband starts to kick in, as it seems it really wants to take off. So perhaps as someone else has commented on here it isn't really good for the bike, since its made to operate in high revs. But as im still learning to ride so i've been on the cautious side. But i wonder if this could be affecting the plugs and points?? Maybe that is why that guy thought my bike sounded not quite right and it died on me at the petrol station. I hope i haven't gone off topic with this?

[Grub]

Well to day on TCSMR (c) we did the Akatarawas in the rain. These are difficult condtions which is an excellent learning tool requiring top concentration.

What did I practise?
In these conditions, you have to not only maintain a high level of situational awareness but you also *must* read every centimeter of the road. This ride had it all. We had pea metal, narrow twisty roads with spots of gravel, wind-blown vegetation and only one or two cars. To survive you need to be aware of everything in front of you as well as put todays weather in context of the last month. In other words, how long since it rained, will there be a lot of oil and rubber residue on the road. Has it rained heavily enough today to clean it off? Does this road get enough use to scrub the nasties off the surface, might there be lichen and moss in some of the corners?

What did I learn?
- Bits of tree on the road no bigger than your hand can be slippery
- You can't see the oil between the wheel tracks, but it's there
- On narrow roads, there is no safe line
- On narrow newly sealed roads with pea metal, the right wheel track will force you across the nominal centreline on right-hand corners and potentially into the path of hidden cars
- If you're stuck in the right-hand wheel trak in pea metal, you cannot get into the left hand track without crossing the loose stuff in the middle of the corner. If you try you will probably fall off.

I love being tested in htis way. It just has to make you a better rider

[jimbo600]

Went over the takas to Gladstone.

Practiced wheelies and getting the hill climb times down.

[Minnie]

On saturday i did the poker run, was a great ride on good roads, as i had not ridden for a couple of weeks, needed to think about what i was doing as the sheer enjoyment of being back on bike overtook as it does and found my self not setting up for corners etc properly, so once i got over the excitement factor, settled back down and practised good smooth lines and tried to practise leaning, some of the roads and they were twisty ones were recently re sealed so watching out for loose chip, took ahwile but then found my groove so to speak and had a great ride.

today a friend dropped off his 1986 yamaha yz350 for me to try out, other than a quick go on a VTR 250 this is the only other road bike i have ridden apart from my ginny, so was a great experience to feel the power band of a two stroke, it felt so much more stable on the road and nice cornering. found the lean forward position gave me a sore neck though.

so that was my weekend, great stuff.

[Jerms]

Saturday was a beautiful sunny day here in Christchurch so I joined in with the Plains Motorcycle Club and their Cholmondeley Childrens Home Fund Run. It was a leisurely ride from the base of the Port Hills to Governors Bay via the Lyttelton Tunnel...awesome sound through the tunnel with over 60 motorcycles...

A great chance to keep an eye on my positioning in a lane and checking my mirrors. A little daunting riding amongst such a large number of bikes but heaps of friendly folk to chat with after the ride.

[The Lone Rider]

On Saturday, like Jerms, I went to the ride with the plains motorcycle club and their cholmondeley childrens home fund run. It was my first ride like it, so butterflys where present in the stomach. The day at first looked cloudy which was ruining my buzz. When the clock clicked around to the time I needed to leave home to be at the gathering point, the day was sunny and warm. I went and picked up someone I had invited along (kinda an interesting first date eh?), and then arrived at the meeting place of Princess Margaret Hospital.

There were bikes of all sorts, with people chatting. After a walk around to see the hardware we were gathered together and given a quick run down of the plan for the ride. Around this time I noticed my bud Jerms hadn't shown up and it kinda sucked.

When the ride started we got nicely grouped together (Jerms arrived then) and we all took off. I noticed as we drove we got plenty of attention, with people waving and coming out onto the street to see the attraction.

When we got to the lyttleton tunnel the noise was amazing. The rumble of 80 bikes was hitting the pain threshold of hearing. It was a sound of power - of biker pride.

We weaved around roads and bays, and on arrival to the childrens home we were greeted with very excited children. We were given a warm greeting by the staff and we all ended up doing what we do best. We socialized

Being on a 250 it was a mission to keep my own; going up and down the hills and hitting 100k when we got to a 100k section of road. For me it was excellent practice in gear shifting, and a learning experience in the differences in performance of bikes.

More importantly, I learnt that there are plenty of great people out there who just like bikes... love bikes.

Plenty of pics here
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...t=49043&page=3

[Kinje]

Hopped back on the 600 on Wed and Thur night after work.
Quiet wee cruise out to Martinborough and back on Wed night just to try and get the feel again- took it fairly easy and it was begining to come back.
Thur night took off for the takas and had a challanging ride up on a wet road. Concentrated on being very smooth on the throttle. Quietly back down to Martinborough then shot home- no clouds and full moon in the valley. Fantastic way to clear the mind after work
Got my groove back

[gijoe1313]

Went for my restricted test this morning. Made sure before hand that I had :

My licence
My application document (not needed, but it reminds you what you need to bring!)
Correct gear, all checked for snug fit and no distracting elements (cleaned visor, checked zips, clips and buttons)

The bike itself I did a mark one eyeball :

WOF (this should be sorted way beforehand! )
Registration up to date (ditto as above)
Brake lights - front and rear
Horn
Indicators - front and rear
Lights - High and Low beam
Tightened screws, checked front fender mudguard/tyre hugger
Chain lubed the night before
Mirror positioning (do again as needed when examiner following)

Before the test itself, I gave my bike a wash as my usual ritual when I know the bike needs that extra special performance and used the time to focus on the skills I need as a rider of two wheels of freedom :

Head checks (left and right - visible head turning action)
Mirror checks
Lane positioning
Knowing what the bike sounds like at certain rev/speed
Thinking about indicating and turning off indicators
Planting both feet down at stops
Ensuring gears are correctly selected (I didn't use more than the first four!)
Thinking about the types of hazards in the local area that I could encounter

I'm sure there are others I haven't mentioned, but I gave a mental checklist to every detail I could think of.

I made sure I turned up half hour early to the designated testing centre, to ensure no hassle and to quietly think again of the above points. Was polite and cordial with the examiner. Repeated his instructions and listened to everything he said.

Went through the pre-ride check. He got me to go through all the controls - even told me to take hand off right handle and check the back brake separately (was thorough this one!)

On the ride proper, I engaged my indicators all the time (as you normally do - at least three seconds before turn), rode to conditions, head checks at every road and mirror checks.

Ensure speed was to the letter and rode like I normally do. I had to cross rail lines, so I stood on my pegs and approached them confidently (I think seeing me do this, he didn't bother with a U-turn inspection later on!)

Did the three second gap in traffic before turning into the route and always doing the head checks.

Before I knew it, back to the station and a last trap at the end. A stop sign at the station before where I had to park. Double feet down, a quick glance in the rear mirrors and a knowing nod from the examiner.

Reflecting back on the ride, I did it easy as you please - I didn't really deviate from the normal way I rode (except for not accelerating as quick off the mark as I am want to do! ) and basically dotted all the i's and crossed the t's.

15 minutes from total time I left at 7.55am to 8.10am return! five minute pre-inspection for a total time of 20 minutes (less than the half hour I waited beforehand! )

Asked final question "So when can I take off the L-plate?"
"Anytime you like after I hand you this temporary Restriced Licence, note that all conditions for Restricted Licence is still in force."

Woot.

I did a little shimmy, I did a little shake, I did the hokey-pokey and rode out of the station. That's the major thing I did this week!

[Bass]

I rode down to the track day at Taupo.

I practiced: -
Chasing Vespas
Mucking up the lines while cornering slowly
Getting passed (though not by Vespas)
Locking up the back wheel by changing down too soon
Generally being in the wrong gear
Scraping extraneous bits unexpectedly
Having a ball

I learned that: -
The sprint has a rev limiter.
That I have to be forceful on the upchange at high revs.
That my guess at tyre pressures worked pretty well.
That I lack skill.
That I need to stop trying so hard and just keep it smooth.
That none of the above matters cos I had a ball anyway.

I then put the mirrors and panniers back on and rode home

[Lissa]

Friday: Went for my Third Ride on the bandit out to Castlepoint. The aim of this ride was to get comfortable on the bike and to practice my cornering. Rode behind Skel to look at how he corners, but had to first try and keep up to him, which wasnt as easy as I thought.

Stopped at Uncle B's Corner, the first time I had been there, and had a quiet reflection and thought about Uncle B. I wonder what he would think of my latest bike purchase. Unfortunately it was raining out Castlepoint way so we decided to go on to Martinborough.

On the way to Martinborough I tried to corner smooth and faster than I usually do, as I tried to keep up with Skel. (who wasnt going that fast). One corner I went into I went in a bit fast, felt like I wanted to hit my brakes (you know.. that OH SHIT moment) but kept my cool and just tipped the bike.

On the way back from Martinborough I ran out of petrol. While I knew it was the case, someone else thought it was something else and tried to pull my bike apart, I guess I know a bit more than I think .

Sunday: Went on the Memorial Ride with Ronin and Elle at 8am. After making the kids pancakes, to keep them happy, I was only about 10 minutes late to pick up Ronin on the way.

Tried out my 6th Gear on the way to Featherston, and absoutely have no reservations about trading in the GN for the bandit now, even though I lost my left mirror on the way, my tail light is blown and my fork seals gone. Meet up with everyone in Featherston as the Featherston straight was freaken windy we didnt go up the Takas, (our usual meeting place).

Breakfast at the flying fish in Martinborough was awesome and meet some great people. Then we headed to Gladstone. I throughly enjoyed the ride, behind Bull I think, and tail end charlie. I had no pressure on me to keep up, and just rode my own ride. Concentrating again mostly on cornering and reading the road. Having a mirror missing is annoying to say the least, I didnt realise how much I rely on them.

Lunch at Stellas, we melted in the hot rapa sun. And yes, me putting the bike into neutral as I rode off from Stellas was COMPLETELY on purpose, I knew it would give you a giggle Deano!!!! No actually, I put the bike into neutral all the time, got to learn to hit the gears a bit more forcefully.

So riding the bandit is alot of fun. Lots and lots to learn still. I keep going on about feeling comfortable on the bike, but thats what I am still learning, my limitations and being in control.

[granma2]

[QUOTE=Bass;1044741]I rode down to the track day at Taupo

Hey we went there too....

I learnt that my GS 125cc bucket is way too slow.
Next track day I intend to have a faster bike.
It's easier to get the knee down on a bigger track and passing
on corners, is much easier.
Taupo is cold at this time of year!