1st genuine post hehe... target fixation

**madbikeboy** · 24th February 2009, 12:48

Originally Posted by Number One

Aww come on - with carry on like that his piss will stop turning to icecubes before it hits the floor

Well, he can be a cranky old bugger on KiddieBiker, but face to face he's a good guy. His intention is good, and I've said this 1,643 times, he's an important part of this community - I might not like the delivery of his message, but the intent is good.

**pritch** · 24th February 2009, 14:07

I posted this previously so thinking maybe I've maybe used up my current attachment allowance, here's a link:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...2&d=1174643096

In English we'd just say, "You go where you look".

I wish I knew how to correct tryping errors in the title...

**A_Mans_Ruin** · 24th February 2009, 16:07

Thanks guys, I am thinkin I may go out with a mentor at some point now... as I think a bit of positive criticsm can always help but its all about who and where really..... And Pritch, the pic said it all lol.... Dont target fixate!!!

**MSTRS:Me** · 24th February 2009, 17:49

To the OP. Take your advice from a mentor...http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...41&postcount=1 or at least from someone who has ridden bikes for years. The above 'technique' is bullshit, (barring avoidance of tarmelt) a motorcycle should not be ridden in the centre of the lane/wheeltracks...that is where a lot of splooge lurks...and the term 'apex' simply means that part of the corner where the curve begins to straighten out. Where you sit within the lane determines where that apex is for you as a rider.
Have a read of this, http://www.msgroup.org/forums/mtt/to...?TOPIC_ID=3555 and then go practice the green line.

**madbikeboy** · 24th February 2009, 19:57

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

best of luck
Steve

Respectfully, I understand what DB (Steve) is saying here, but chose to disagree with it. I would strongly urge you to find a mentor, who has been selected through a process here on KB, to give you riding advice. There are a number of very strong mentors in your area, guys like Katman are safe, they have for many years, and completed training. Look for the ME beside the name, or PM the one above this post for details of one close to you.

The learning process never ends, I still do the drills that I've been shown, and I've been lucky enough to ride with some extremely talented people over the years. Find some talented people to ride with.

**Dolph** · 26th February 2009, 19:16

Originally Posted by pritch

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...2&d=1174643096

In English we'd just say, "You go where you look".

I wish I knew how to correct tryping errors in the title...

Le moto suit toujours le regard du pilote

Exact translation = "The bike follows always the look of the pilot"

Meaning,...the bike always goes where the rider is looking !

**Dolph** · 26th February 2009, 19:17

So,...are there many Mentors in the Far North ?!?!

**MSTRS:Me** · 27th February 2009, 08:42

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/mentors.php?do=list

**pritch** · 28th February 2009, 15:27

Originally Posted by MSTRS

a motorcycle should not be ridden in the centre of the lane/wheeltracks...that is where a lot of splooge lurks...

I hope this isn't typical of what KB mentors are preaching. That's from the overseas books, the authors of which don't ride on our gravel chip roads.
That advice is downright dangerous.

There are many times where to ride between the wheel tracks is to be in the safest place.

**fireliv** · 28th February 2009, 15:31

Good stuff AMR! It something I have to work on too. I know I have improved though cos I dont stuff up many corners line I use to (by focusing on the centre of the corner).

**MSTRS:Me** · 28th February 2009, 15:37

Originally Posted by pritch

I hope this isn't typical of what KB mentors are preaching. That's from the overseas books, the authors of which don't ride on our gravel chip roads.
That advice is downright dangerous.

There are many times where to ride between the wheel tracks is to be in the safest place.

I never thought you'd stoop to quoting something out of context. The advice that is downright dangerous was in the post I referred to...(I see now that the entire post has been deleted)....that being to always stay in the lane centre. I also said that there are times when it may be appropriate (tarmelt being used as an example). It is all about what path is the safest/grippiest etc at any particular time, and there are those times when the splooge factor is less dangerous than something else.
Mind you, I doubt that any of the KB Mentors have been to mentoring school. I know I haven't. We've all arrived at our lofty position by surviving the School of Realworld Riding for many years, and no doubt we all have slightly differing opinions on what is safest etc. However, I challenge you to provide any evidence that what I said about the lane position is a bum steer.

**pritch** · 28th February 2009, 18:38

Nothing quoted out of context, well not deliberately. I didn't see the disappeared post...

I was annoyed when I saw what I consider dangerous advice. I thought afterward that maybe I should have been more diplomatic, but still I consider the stuff about splooge in the middle of the lane to be lifted from overseas sources and hardly ever relevant on our crappy chip/tar roads.

It is likely that newcomers will give credence to somebody who has ME after their name. In my world that means such people have to be very, very careful about the advice they give.

At least now a newcomer will see that there is another point of view.

Peace

pritch

**MSTRS:Me** · 1st March 2009, 09:59

Hmmmm...maybe the splooge factor is worse on smooth tarmac surfaces, but it can be an issue nevertheless. There are many other reasons for not sitting in this area, reasons which don't actually help this thread. And yes, there are times when it is appropriate to use this area...at least for short distances. The deleted post which I regret not quoting (by Dangerous Bastard) 'knowledgeably' informed us that the best place to sit in the lane was right in the centre, at all times, and to never deviate from this line. That he had practised this, did it all the time now, and the unwritten suggestion was that anything else was inferior. This from a rider who is barely out of his restricted licence (if indeed he is).
And yes, as a mentor, I take care to ensure that advice I give here is sound, and hopefully not open to alternative interpretation.

**scumdog** · 1st March 2009, 10:03

Originally Posted by Maki

Fixate on the escape route, not the obstacle. For some strange reason the bike always goes where you look. The point is that you should look where you want to go.

True.

Almost every time I've had an 'oh shit' moment it was because I took my eyes off where I was MEANT to go and looked at the approaching road edge.

**smoky** · 1st March 2009, 10:26

I think lines are important, and the art of setting your self up for a corner - you may want to think about your position on the road entering the corner, when to brake and when to get off the brakes, when to drop into the corner and when to feed on the throttle. It's also about understanding your bike; do you need to ride with rev's or does your bike use torque well in corners, you ride different bikes in different styles. Suspension on your bike will also have a say in how you set yourself up for a corner - different bikes different styles.
I take it you've already been told about counter steering, and about shifting your body weight (no I'm not talking about getting your knee down or anything silly, just shifting your weight).

It's not about speed, it's about smoothness and transiting your weight thru the corner and fluidity in doing so - so you can ride around Paradise Valley Road just flowing from one corner to the next, and getting that neat feeling you can only get on a bike.