20 to 26 June: Where did you ride and what did you practise?

[Terminated]

Please spend a few minutes and let us all know, 'Where Did You Ride and What Did You Practise?' during the week. 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.

Next Tuesday evening Mystery and discotex will each choose an entry from this thread. The selections will then be copied across to the Newbie Update Blogg.

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

Heads Up and Enjoy

[riffer]

Okay, my $0.02.

I've been a motorcyclist since about the age of 12. I'm 40 now, and in my previous marriage (12 years - ended 6 years ago) I was banned by the ex from owning bikes. So I had to get my jollies riding mates.

Anyway, I started out riding Dad's vespas and progressed like many teenagers to dirt bikes and small 2-strokes before a 400 twin and 750cc GPZ before the ex intervened. But the love of bikes remained and something was always unfulfilled.

Gini and I moved out to Upper Hutt about 4 years ago and she suggested I get back into it. I got back into riding with a 1987 FZR750R. This time, I was older, and wiser, and had the internet at my disposal. I joined kiwibiker before I even got the bike, and decided to learn as much as I could this time, to ensure that I didn't repeat the lessons of my past. You could say that as a teenager I fell off a lot. Dirt bikes had taught me how to ride, but I'd also approached my riding with a large amount of fatalism and bravado, which wasn't going to do as a father of three (four now) in his mid-30s.

So... fast forward four years - where am I now? I've learned a lot about people management, training and inspiring others in my work life, and as far as the motorcycling goes I've tried to find out as much as possible about how to actually ride these things. That's not to say I'm an expert - far from it - but I know how to get information - and how to ask for more help - and how to show others how to get the help.

(hope that's okay as an intro Guy).

Anyway, I've been jobless for eight weeks and the bike's mainly laid low in the shed, getting a once a week outing to go over Wallaceville Hill, through Mangaroa Valley and over the takas and back, just to keep the skills up.

So, I've started my new job two days ago, and it's in Tawa, which means a ride over Haywards and either Paremata Rd or Grays Rd to get the the Porirua motorway. Now you're going to get just about everything on these roads so its a great refresher lesson, particularly if I decide to do Moonshine Rd instead of Haywards hill.

I threw a new Azaro AV46ST on the back of the RF last week, and its needed scrubbing in. Regular readers will also know I won the Quasimoto competition for a set of leathers which I am still getting used to as well. After years and years of riding in cordura or jeans and a leather jacket, a full race suit that's custom fitted is weird. The leather is gradually stretching and I'm able to move around on the seat now, which is helping me get around corners a lot easier now - the first time I rode in them I couldn't go around corners very well...

So, this week I've been concentrating on:

- scrubbing in the new tyre

- stretching the leathers - constantly trying to get more movement in the saddle and getting the timing right for the corners - I can't move as smoothly form one side to the other yet but it'll come.

- paying attention to road conditions - there's cold and damp in differing degrees on the way to work and the road changes

and generally making sure I keep it smooth (road conditions again...) and clean, and above all enjoy the ride. Its good to be doing it daily again...

[Clivoris]

Urk. The only riding I've done in the last week was at Manfield for second round of VMCC winter series. I've done plenty track days and used motorcycles for 27 years with 10 years off for travel and breeding. I don't have any illusions about being a fast rider but have decided to give racing a go because of the buzz I have seen others getting out of it, and it apparently improves the breed.
This was my first ever go at racing so I did a day of practice on the friday. I practiced relaxing the upper body, body position, identifying braking and turn-in markers, selecting the right gear and shifting vision through the corners. For me this means eye-balling my braking spot, moving my vision to the turn-in spot, identifying the apex, sussing my exit then looking to my next corner. I try to do this smoothly and move to each target before I have hit the previous one (while using my peripheral vision to fine tune things). By the end of test/practice day it felt as if I was riding as well as I ever had.
Naturally enough, come race day it all turned to shit. Anxiety and the totally new environment conspired to rob my attention from all the things I practiced. However, I was expecting this and believe that the day was a success for me because I didn't push myself to do anything more than get used to the environment and I know that next time on the track, the disciplines that I have been practicing will be easier to put into action. One of the great pleasures of motorcycling is that we never stop learning.

[merv]

I've been riding a long time so it kind of comes naturally to me and I don't normally write much about it, but BB#1 has asked for some comment on Sunday's ride.

At this time of the year the Alfredton Road is shaded in many places and reminds me of the Pohangina Valley East Road a lot - there are damp patches, mossy patches, muddy patches, sun in your eyes when its low and you are heading North and yesterday a lot of new seal with loose chip.

How do I handle that? Well firstly don't going screaming into blind corners too hard, change down gears early so you have better control with the throttle response of the engine and keep a good look out for the road surface. On the loose chip keep the bike as upright as possible and don't go too slow so that inertia keeps you straight and stay off line of the bike in front, the sticky tyres pick up a lot of stones and throw them at you.

[Kinje]

Quite windy on some of the Wairarapa straigths and around Featherston when I went to meet the Welly crew up the top of takas- concentrated on staying very relaxed in the arms to stop being buffeted too badly.

Like Merv said, the Alfredton Road threw up a few different challanges with some nice corners, but also some with damp shady patches, moss, loose seal, sheep s**t, sheep. Made sure I identified them and took it quite easy on those surfaces.

I was the lead rider so didn't have to worry about stones from the bike in front, but I was concious of making sure the people following came the right way and that I was setting an appropriate pace for the ride. At one point there was two different ways of getting to the same place, and I knew one and another rider knew another way...but after some confusion we ended up on the right road so all ended up good.

[Lissa]

The Winter Solstice ride yesterday was a chance to get use to big group riding again.

I started the day, checking my chain and tyre pressure with Ronin, but left him to wait for the Ashurst Boys and went to Carterton to meet up with the ride at the Wild Oats. Extremely windy from Masterton to Carterton, tried to remember to just relax the arms and lean with the bike, had to put my head down.. seemed easier.

On the way to Alfredton I was at the back with a couple of people behind and KoroJ infront of me. I knew that KoroJ was keeping me in his mirrors (as slow as I was) as the combination of wind and the gravelly road spooked me a bit. At certain times I wasnt too sure where to corner, (which line to take) as the back wheel seemed to slip now and then on the stones, one corner I went a bit too far left...amazing I didnt end up in the grass. Having someone in front of me helps me to concentrate and to watch how they corner, when they break and which lines they are taking.

Just rode at my own pace, tried not to worry if I was too slow for the riders behind me. I intentionally didnt push myself on this ride, and was able to just enjoy the scenery more... which is why I think this ride was my most enjoyable. Its just amazes me how on a group ride situation, everybody is riding their own ride, but are also looking out for others.

What did I learn?

1. Wind is a state of mind... as long as you concentrate and relax its fine.
2. You dont always have to push yourself to enjoy riding. I usually try to get out of my comfort zone, but this time I took it easy.
3. I have to ride out to Alfredton more, and practice my cornering.
4. Learn from others, even they dont suspect you are. Just following someone else and watching the lines they take can help.

[Macktheknife]

I help run the AWNMR in Aucks and really enjoy sharing the knowledge of 26 years of riding with others, I am no expert but do have some good skills in training others to handle a bike. Every week several Mentors and newbies of various experience (and some more experienced ones too) meet to practice some skills. These can be anything related to handling a bike well, braking, cornering, reading the road, how to be a good pillion, what a pillion briefing should contain, building confidence in your riding skills. We do this in all weathers and on most surfaces, then we all go off to the pub for a meal/beer/coffee/whatever.

Last week we trained specifically to help people understand how your own panic reactions can work against you in situations. Some simple cone work highlighted that if you read the situation incorrectly, your own mind 'tricks' you into having a reaction that is actually going to make the situation worse than it was to start with.
Changing the way people looked at the exercise resulted in them suddenly seeing that it wasn't as hard as they had first thought, and starting to enjoy the challenge and rapidly improve.

The lesson here is very transferable, in corners especially, riders often think they have misread/misjudged a corner and try to take some kind of action based on this assumption, sometimes this action makes things worse.

A simple exercise is to ride a road you know well at moderate speed or slower than you normally would. Delay your entry point into the corner as long as possible, just hold off tipping in until you feel yourself start to tense up, then go into the turn.
Notice how it feels after you have completed the corner, was it as hard as you imagined it to be, or did you feel 'that wasn't so bad actually'? Usually this exercise is a real eye-opener, and the point is not to get you to go faster around corners but to understand that panic and tension in the body is not going to help you deal with the situation, so relax, trust yourself and the bike, and focus on getting through the corner.
Remember, this is to be done at a slower speed than you would normally ride, you don't want to put yourself at risk, just learn about your reactions. It is recommended to do this with a mentor to help you.
Ride safe
Mack

[kerfufflez]

[QUOTE=riffer;1106079 So I had to get my jollies riding mates.
[/QUOTE]

I think I know what you meant by that!


Great post too, thanks.

[Drum]

............Just rode at my own pace, tried not to worry if I was too slow for the riders behind me........

You weren't too slow.

After spending all week commuting on the motorway to Welly in the cold, dark and wet it is great to get out into the sunshine and open roads on the weekends.

On the way up the 'takas on the solstice ride I could tell I wasn't in 'the zone'. I turned in late to a couple of corners early on, and noticed my attention drifting too. So I decided to take it easy that day and ride near the back. I had never ridden that Alfredton section before, so was more than happy to cruise along at your pace, and enjoy the ride and scenery.

For me, riding enjoyment doesn't involve going flat out, all the time. I get just as much enjoyment travelling at a modest pace and concentrating on perfecting lines.

[Little Miss Trouble]

I signed up for the girly coffee ride thinking it would be nice to get out and meet some other girls that ride. Saturday rolled around and the weather was crappy! raining then fine then raining again and very windy.
Met up in Barrys Point Road where McJim was waiting to escort us newbies accross the bridge, by the time we were ready to leave the wind was up again and I was ready to wuss out, but McJim wouldn't let us!
Long story short we rode from Takapuna to Botany to a really nice little cafe somewhere out near Glenbrook (through the back roads), then back home via the motorway. I practised riding in high-wind conditions - relaxing my grip, countersteering to keep from being blown off the road, maintaining open road speeds, and scanning ahead and around me on the motorway so I knew what the car drivers around me were doing.
I had a great time and couldn't sit still when I got home because I was so pleased with myself for concouring another one of my fears, big thanks to everyone that was there on Saturday

[Terminated]

This week I am very pleased to read all the entries and would like to make special mention about the senior experienced riders contributions. I am sure that Mystery and discotex had a difficult time in deciding which entries to choose. All is good, and as an aside I attended a group ride in the Wairarapa last weekend and I am delighted to see some of the other riders provided good insight and comments on how the day went for them.

Mystery and discotex, I hope the challenge of choosing your entries was personally rewarding – in having to read other peoples reports and their efforts in riding practice it does put a different perspective on things as a selector and I trust this was a useful exercise for you. Thanks for participating

Hi Guy
Really hard job trying to decide who to select. There were so many interesting and informative posts.
I have selected Miss.L. She overcame the urge to go home on a wet and horrible Auckland day and did an awesome job of handling poor weather, wind and motorway traffic. Well done!
Regards
Mystery

I signed up for the girly coffee ride thinking it would be nice to get out and meet some other girls that ride. Saturday rolled around and the weather was crappy! raining then fine then raining again and very windy.
Met up in Barrys Point Road where McJim was waiting to escort us newbies accross the bridge, by the time we were ready to leave the wind was up again and I was ready to wuss out, but McJim wouldn't let us!
Long story short we rode from Takapuna to Botany to a really nice little cafe somewhere out near Glenbrook (through the back roads), then back home via the motorway. I practised riding in high-wind conditions - relaxing my grip, countersteering to keep from being blown off the road, maintaining open road speeds, and scanning ahead and around me on the motorway so I knew what the car drivers around me were doing.
I had a great time and couldn't sit still when I got home because I was so pleased with myself for concouring another one of my fears, big thanks to everyone that was there on Saturday

Hey,

I think Macktheknife's advice about overcoming fear reactions has to be the pick of the week for me followed closely by Miss.L's post about handling the wind as that's been topical lately.

Cheers,
Discotex

I help run the AWNMR in Aucks and really enjoy sharing the knowledge of 26 years of riding with others, I am no expert but do have some good skills in training others to handle a bike. Every week several Mentors and newbies of various experience (and some more experienced ones too) meet to practice some skills. These can be anything related to handling a bike well, braking, cornering, reading the road, how to be a good pillion, what a pillion briefing should contain, building confidence in your riding skills. We do this in all weathers and on most surfaces, then we all go off to the pub for a meal/beer/coffee/whatever.

Last week we trained specifically to help people understand how your own panic reactions can work against you in situations. Some simple cone work highlighted that if you read the situation incorrectly, your own mind 'tricks' you into having a reaction that is actually going to make the situation worse than it was to start with.
Changing the way people looked at the exercise resulted in them suddenly seeing that it wasn't as hard as they had first thought, and starting to enjoy the challenge and rapidly improve.

The lesson here is very transferable, in corners especially, riders often think they have misread/misjudged a corner and try to take some kind of action based on this assumption, sometimes this action makes things worse.

A simple exercise is to ride a road you know well at moderate speed or slower than you normally would. Delay your entry point into the corner as long as possible, just hold off tipping in until you feel yourself start to tense up, then go into the turn.
Notice how it feels after you have completed the corner, was it as hard as you imagined it to be, or did you feel 'that wasn't so bad actually'? Usually this exercise is a real eye-opener, and the point is not to get you to go faster around corners but to understand that panic and tension in the body is not going to help you deal with the situation, so relax, trust yourself and the bike, and focus on getting through the corner.
Remember, this is to be done at a slower speed than you would normally ride, you don't want to put yourself at risk, just learn about your reactions. It is recommended to do this with a mentor to help you.
Ride safe
Mack

The selections tonight will be copied to the Newbie Update Blogg:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/bl...hp?userid=1728

Your selectors for next week will be Miss L and Macktheknife


Heads Up and Enjoy