Wellington Wednesday Night Cruisy Summer Rides -- 2008/09

[GrayWolf]

sorry I don't agree with you. I'm perfectly free to sit back here and criticise if I want to. Just cause I don't show up on the WNR anymore doesn't make my opinions any less valid. Talk about burying your head in the sand.

Amazing, Opinion on a topic with no actual 'first hand real data' I think its called living Vicariously.

The simple fact is: MORE people than NORMAL are falling off. Maybe the ride needs to re-evaluate what factors are contributing that can be eliminated. Bleating about people not showing up is a cop out.

However, I do have something to add to this thread which does have some substance and maybe of some help. A theory in Psychology called 'Flow'. By Professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.

The basis of this theory is a balance of skill, challenge and arousal.
Low challenge against high skill level = boredom
High challenge against low skill level = anxiety
equal chalenge against skill level = flow (enjoyment or arousal)
This is a very basic breakdown and I would suggest reading this theory. For the competent motorcyclist, the speed of a Wednesday night ride could be boring, (low challenge). Unless you use the low speed to really self evaluate your technique. Low challenge can lead to lower concentration levels. For a novice/newer rider the challenge is a lot higher Vs the skill level. Probably near a flow/anxiety state. boredom and anxiety could contribute to why both types have had an off on the cruisey rides. Low concentration (boredom) and; high concentration on the direct task (riding) with no extra for assessing road conditions, thinking ahead etc.
I wonder how many on here who are commenting negatively could stand up and say their skill level is up to what it should be? When did you last do an advanced/refresher riding course? Just how much riding experience do you have? Weekend warrior? Fair weather rider? Commuter? How many years? its easy to sit back and snipe. Do I need a refresher? Yes I do, I aquired the Advanced test in the UK about 20yrs ago. That required being taught and followed by a qualified Police Motorcyclist. I KNOW I've developed a few bad habbits since then. Experience? Yeh 34 years of it and between 20-30,000km a year, do the bloody maths. Expert rider? No I am not!
Do I have the expertise to train another? NO! Does being a racing rider make you a shit hot/super safe road rider? Not according to many of the top racing riders over the years.

So PLEASE people, have a good think before sniping and moaning on here about the Wednesday rides and actualy come up with something constructive.
I agree with Hawkeye, there's people I've met on those rides I would very happily ride with any time.

[davebullet]

equal chalenge against skill level = flow (enjoyment or arousal)

I agree with that. Another way of putting it is sorta like going from using two hands down to one hand to undo a bra.

[ajturbo]

I agree with that. Another way of putting it is sorta like going from using two hands down to one hand to undo a bra.

only ONE hand???
who wants to let me try that???

[RantyDave]

only ONE hand???

The trick is that the one hand has to be holding a pair of scissors.

Dave

[Pex Adams]

People - LISTEN TO ME CAREFULLY. Before I come and start cracking some heads!!!

1. Senior (mentor) riders, take some responsibility here - learners are looking at you as 'role models'. Even on this tread they are looking at you and thinking I'm going to act like YOU! No wonder people are falling off....

2. Learners - You take some responsibility as well! You are not Valentino, nor was Bruce, which is why he's DEAD! and let me remind you of that!

Look, I don't want to have to go on a ride, or on this website and know that there is a possibility of anyone of you not coming back, EVER! Nor do I want to hear people critcising people (Fatjim) who are trying to help others get better. Its like voting, if you don't vote, you have no right to criticise.

Finally, maybe its time for a change - how about looking at going to some carparks, and practicing skills. Emergency Braking might be a great start (from the sounds of it) even in the wet. Also what about getting people to learn to look over each others bike.. Because until you all can start riding together, how about we all start getting along together!

Now lets get back to reality here - Merry Christmas, and be thankful you are having one, because Bruce isn't!

[davebullet]

only ONE hand???
who wants to let me try that???

It's taken some time to perfect the one handed technique for bra clasp undo-age. I've found the best way (if you are right handed like me) is to put your thumb into the underlapping part of the strap and use your index finger and 2nd finger to pull the overlapping part over - and hey presto, one undone strap. This technique is applied from the front of said bra wearer so you are reaching around the back.

Extra for experts:
1. Try on a multi clasp bra - especially the reinforced models. Speed triples and speed fours (aka 3 clasp and 4 clasp bras) are a real challenge
2. Speed trials - under 2 second release
3. Covert manoeuvre.... use the left hand to offer a gift / present, whilst the right hand quietly and effectively applies the technique (and you get away with it).

Dave.

[James Deuce]

Do I have the expertise to train another? NO! Does being a racing rider make you a shit hot/super safe road rider? Not according to many of the top racing riders over the years.

So PLEASE people, have a good think before sniping and moaning on here about the Wednesday rides and actualy come up with something constructive.
I agree with Hawkeye, there's people I've met on those rides I would very happily ride with any time.

It's not about training, its about hanging with people who have good habits. Training is for the RRRS Guys and Gals and the Roadsafe Guys and Gals. I do refresher courses every 2-3 years, just to beat the bad habits out again.

I've put a lot of energy into helping out people with roadcraft over the years, but people don't want to learn roadcraft, they just want to ride over the Rimutakas as fast as possible, trailing parts and fallen riders. I offered to put some energy into the KB mentor scheme, but I have a problem with expressing an honest opinion from time to time, and people forget that opinions are worthless and get very upset. They have no problem returning the honesty though.

There's no equivalent to RoSPA in NZ, because Transit/LTSA have deemed rider and driver training unsafe and don't want the Police to put time into rider or driver training as it promotes over-confident drivers/riders.

The biggest problem with the Wednesday rides as they stand at the moment are the lack of respect shown by riders of all capabilities and experience levels for each other. Most of the people you talk with will tell you they are "good" riders. I know a couple and I'm not one of them. There's no focus on maintaining a little discipline, things like overtaking a slow vehicle one bike at a time, staying on your own side of the road, and leaving a safe distance between bikes travelling together. There's often very little discussion about meeting points and destinations, as can be evidenced by posts in this thread.

When you've been riding for years there's stuff you take for granted, and one of those is confidence and a positive outlook, a sense of control over your destiny. None of the people I've spent time with go on the Wednesday rides. They've moved away, a couple have died (fell in with a different crowd and paid the price), had big accidents because I made them over confident, or just quietly gotten on with enjoying their riding without needing the affirmation and approval of a group of people on KB. The "mentor scheme" in Wellington isn't working and I'm not prepared to own responsibility for it. I simply don't have time. However in time honoured KB fashion that means I'm not prepared to man up, so my opinion is worthless.

Merry Xmas.

[captain_andrey]

captain_andrey unsubscribes from this thread.
Someone tell me when all the bitching stops.

[Hawkeye]

captain_andrey unsubscribes from this thread.
Someone tell me when all the bitching stops.

I'm with you captain.

[Fatjim]

Yeah guys, stop bloody bitching, and start bloody listening.

[ukiwi]

This is fucking insane
Im with Andrey and Hawkeye

Both me and the wife both ride with L plates and go on the Wednesday rides. Every time we have found plenty of experience and advice on offer. There has always been a leader and tec who, in our opinion, have organised and controlled things well, in fact I leaned more following Sels once up the tukas than I have in the past 6 months riding alone.
My wife, Lilly2wheels, changed her riding style, for the better, after a ride over to kapati and a chat with a couple of the senior riders who had followed her over.
So for the life of me I cant understand what the fuck all this is about.
I guarantee that all this BULLSHIT is stopping new riders from coming along.
Whatever is said here, the rides are a great way to spend your evenings, a great place to learn and are SAFE.

We will still be there for the rides, and the people we get to ride with and learn from, but this is it for me on the site, driving me fucking mental reading all this shit, and yes I understand its peoples views, opinions, advice blah fucking blah, but honestly no-one gives a fuck unless you turn up on the night

[driftn]

I agree with that. Another way of putting it is sorta like going from using two hands down to one hand to undo a bra.

I once looked at a bea and it just came undone. Hands are for the hopeless

[Fatjim]

Much more fun using your teeth, especially when the clasp is on the front.

BTW, see ya ukiwi.

[Drogen Omen]

and once again....

BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH ......
BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH ......
BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH ......





YOU BUNCH BITCH TOO MUCH...

[Drogen Omen]

Merry Christmas everyone.