Chch Wednesday Evening Cruises - 2008

[SVboy]

Good ride last nite....again! My riding was shite! Still, learn from it and move on...Deviant esq!!!WTF!. Valid train of thought, but do you want to live forever, wrapped in cotton wool! I think Rashika says it well.

[Mr Triple]

Good ride last nite....again! My riding was shite! Still, learn from it and move on...Deviant esq!!!WTF!. Valid train of thought, but do you want to live forever, wrapped in cotton wool! I think Rashika says it well.

Yea it was another good run over the hill. Should of gone back with you in day light. Don't really like lot's of tight corners in the dark, my head light doesn't look where I want to look.

Deviant esq... you don't want to think that, like svboy and Rashika said being wrapped up in cotton wool etc would be a boring life. So see you out there next Wednesday?????

[helenoftroy]

Sorrry bout the noisy beast drowning out conversation...

Only went to Little river then home....spare key took bout 100 tries to turn on,wasnt going to risk turning offDay from hell yesterday-lost original key,side stand disappeared thu shingle on drive,bike had a wee lie down(shes heavier than my old GS1000)

All will be sorted today I hope.....

Had a wee ride on Skinnybirdmans Blackbird on way home.....woohoo

[Oakie]

I'll be very honest why I didn't come tonight and a lot of the reason why I haven't been to a lot of them lately - reading posts like this (warning: graphic text) has made me think hard about whether or not I'll continue to ride.

IMHO the fact that you are thinking of those sorts of things probably lessens the chance that they'll happen. You'll ride more safely. If however the thought of bad things happening takes all enjoyment out of riding ....

[phoenixgtr]

Ryan, I've got one question for you:

Why do you ride a motorbike?

Me, I do it because I love it. When I'm on my bike I feel like I'm home and I am alive! If you feel this way, then any amount of stories about gruesome crashes or whatever shouldn't mean diddly squat.

Rashika's right, life needs to be lived

[MyGSXF:Me]

reading threads like this has made me think hard about whether or not I'll continue to ride.

Hang in there for a bit longer Ryan.. wait till after the rider training weekend.. (I hope you are still going to be there!!! ) then re-evaluate where you are at my friend!! I can PROMISE you that after the weekend, you will have renewed faith in yourself & your ability on a bike You will feel & be so much more 'in charge' of what happens to you, instead of feeling vulnerable to all the idiots out there!! Your awareness of yourself, your bike & your surroundings will be greatly enhanced!! It will make a HUGE difference!! Don't give up babe.. you have too much to lose!

Jen

[Mikkel]

I'll be very honest why I didn't come tonight and a lot of the reason why I haven't been to a lot of them lately - reading posts like this (warning: graphic text) has made me think hard about whether or not I'll continue to ride.

HTFU Ryan! You know very well that you can give most people the learn on the corners and you certainly seemed to be enjoying yourself out there. You expressed a sense of achievement and joy at getting your full license...

I understand what concerns you are having from reading stuff like that. But it's a truth one has to face when riding bikes - death is both real and graphic and while we only are responsible for ourselves we can still be affected by the choice of others.

In that regard I just suggest you are very conscious about who you choose to ride with and how you choose to ride with them. If you got a loose unit in the group - just make sure they are well ahead of you and they won't be able to take you down...

You as an individual can make your riding as safe as you want to - without taking the fun away. You decide what safety margin you consider appropriate and stick to it. At the end of the day - the only thing that should keep you from riding is your gut feeling or if you stop enjoying it. But don't let fear do that - make sure it's reason and gut feeling!

[karla]

.... side stand disappeared thu shingle on drive,bike had a wee lie down(shes heavier than my old GS1000)

The kind of lie my Bonnie did at three hours new? Or the GN on the third day?

Seems like we've gotta do it once, hope she wasn't hurt too much. At least you've got it over and done with now.

[cruza]

Sounds like it was another good ride over the hill, got stuck at work .. buggar it all. I'm like svboy ,like to be home in the daylight if poss, riding at night/darkness does nothing for me, rather like seeing the countryside go by. You just have to accept that riding bikes, your going to come off some time, thats life, but you can work to limit those chances. Some days when your in the groove your be fast and smooth, on the other days its best to ease off and not push the envelope if your not quite all there.Quite agree on the pushbike thing , rather be on the motorbike, people just don't seem to care about cyclists round town.

[karla]

I'll be very honest why I didn't come tonight and a lot of the reason why I haven't been to a lot of them lately - reading posts like this (warning: graphic text) has made me think hard about whether or not I'll continue to ride.

Good on you for being honest and having that insight. I have been watching a lot of the graphic videos that are posted here and it really does affect me. I'm still riding, but with a lot more caution and more slowly - which I guess isn't at all bad - however each time I focus on a bin that someone else has made, I lose a little confidence.

Lately I've decided that I'm not going to fill my head with that stuff, because I want my thinking to be clear and back in the space when I was free to enjoy the technical/physical/emotional and spiritual side of biking. I LOVE my bike! I have found a new freedom, and a reason to stop zoning out and get into the focus of life - when I ride I feel like all my senses are alive.

And, each ride I come home from a ride I reinforce my belief about the safety of riding. It's in my nature to be mistrustful, and to look at negatives, but there are bikers here that have been riding since I was in nappies and they are still around. It can't be all bad.

Take it easy, listen to your instincts, and read some good material, like this thread on the age you started biking.

See you on the road ~

[pevs]

I'd just like to apologise to the insect world for collecting a few thousand of their mates last night. They're all looking very two dimensional on the front of me bike and lid.. although I did have to stop in Halswell and scrape 'em off me visor. Lurking in the middle of the road at night is a silly thing to be doing.. you'd think they'd teach 'em that at flying school aye!

[Monty69]

Sound like i misd a gud run over the hill. Its getting darker quicker now which wont help riding hme in the near future, so wot destinations are usually on the cards in winter? Do these wednesday nyt cruises still hapen mid-winter??? I spose ice becomes an issue rnd the hills. And grit too. sigh
Well im off to march hare so catch yous up next week

[Deviant Esq]

It isn't only due to that thread and that post, and the phantom of something happening, that is keeping me away. There are a number of reasons really: I don't like the speeds the group rides get to. They were made to be cruisy, but I've never been on one that has been. I don't do less than 100km/h on the open road, usually up to 110 when on these rides, but I'm constantly overtaken on the straights and then irritated in the corners. Okay, I know my bike's a piece of shit, but I just can't afford a new one. Believe me, I really want one, I've had the NZ forever and it's just not enough any more.

That's part of the reason, riding the NZ is frustrating. Having no money frustrates the shit out of me. Having no job, likewise (and yes I'm bloody trying). In fact, there is so much shit in my life that frustrates me at the moment I've lost count of it all. To be honest, I think about coming along to the ride and half the time I simply can't be fucked. I don't look forward to it, it frustrates me too much. Most people do 80km/h through town. I hate that. As well as other stuff.

The phantom of a serious accident isn't as much of a phantom as you might think, the way that some people ride. It won't matter how conservatively or safely I ride, there's always the chance of some braindead moron cager/campervanner/whateverthefucker coming the other way straddling the centreline, or pulling out in front of you, or whatever. Fair chance someone will take you out. But even if they don't, you only have to fuck up once yourself for it to be final.

Sorry about the bullshit post, not much going right here lately. Hopefully I'll spot you down there one night.

[Transalper]

I'd just like to apologise to the insect world for collecting a few thousand of their mates last night. They're all looking very two dimensional on the front of me bike and lid.. although I did have to stop in Halswell and scrape 'em off me visor. Lurking in the middle of the road at night is a silly thing to be doing.. you'd think they'd teach 'em that at flying school aye!

I thought you must have needed fuel when you stopped.
I had a collection too, but you must have cleared the path enough that I could still see and only cleaned the visor at home.

[fireliv]

It isn't only due to that thread and that post, and the phantom of something happening, that is keeping me away. There are a number of reasons really: I don't like the speeds the group rides get to. They were made to be cruisy, but I've never been on one that has been. I don't do less than 100km/h on the open road, usually up to 110 when on these rides, but I'm constantly overtaken on the straights and then irritated in the corners. Okay, I know my bike's a piece of shit, but I just can't afford a new one. Believe me, I really want one, I've had the NZ forever and it's just not enough any more.

That's part of the reason, riding the NZ is frustrating. Having no money frustrates the shit out of me. Having no job, likewise (and yes I'm bloody trying). In fact, there is so much shit in my life that frustrates me at the moment I've lost count of it all. To be honest, I think about coming along to the ride and half the time I simply can't be fucked. I don't look forward to it, it frustrates me too much. Most people do 80km/h through town. I hate that. As well as other stuff.

The phantom of a serious accident isn't as much of a phantom as you might think, the way that some people ride. It won't matter how conservatively or safely I ride, there's always the chance of some braindead moron cager/campervanner/whateverthefucker coming the other way straddling the centreline, or pulling out in front of you, or whatever. Fair chance someone will take you out. But even if they don't, you only have to fuck up once yourself for it to be final.

Sorry about the bullshit post, not much going right here lately. Hopefully I'll spot you down there one night.

I'm sorry ryan but this post is a load of crap. You can not blame it on the ride going to fast. You know perfectly well that I do NOT ride fast. I ride towards the back and will let others pass when I can. Yes we have some guys that like speed, and have the bike/skills to do so but there is a huge group of us that stick to the speed limits and take our time. Last time I road behind you you left me behind so you can be just as fast when you want. Life might be crap but you seem to be making a mountain out of a molehill.
Hope the rest of your life gets sorted, but on this issue HTFU.

Oh really nice talking to you Mrs El Stevo, I think talking to you made me feel heaps better heading over to Akaroa!