Hamilton Wednesday night ride

[Switch]

Haha, thankyou, that brought a smile to my face...One day my time will come and i will be able to give you both a run for your money. Just gotta get rid of this damn cruiser

Ive almost had you both a couple of times even though i am on a 250

[Bnonn]

Rob, a better bike won't make you a better rider. Chances are that if you get an R1 and Matt gets an SV650, he'll still nail you in the corners unless you get some practice in. On the upside, I've never yet found natural talent to be an adequate substitute for study, practice, and experience. Although I'm speaking from my martial arts experience, I think it's universally true that even the most mediocre abilities can be refined to a high degree of skill by dedicated application—and the more mediocre you are, the more you tend to work hard at compensating for your lack of natural talent, and the better you become. People with natural talent tend to become complacent and assume they don't need to study or practice, and then they get whooped by people who, six months ago, had no chance against them.

Of course, I'm not saying you're mediocre; I don't really know how good you are. I personally sit closer to the mediocre end of the spectrum than the brilliant end—so I have to keep practicing, and particularly work at getting over my psychological limits.

Warr: a couple of spare bulbs would be great if you're willing to spare them (:

[TerminalAddict]

the biker-rider-fu is strong in this one master

[deeknow]

Rob, a better bike won't make you a better rider. Chances are that if you get an R1 and Matt gets an SV650, he'll still nail you in the corners unless you get some practice in.

Errr... how long have you been riding again Bnonn???
BTW, Rob's pretty handy on that FZR of his, as is Matt on the mighty Hoyo-bung

[Bnonn]

I wasn't criticising either of them, Deeknow. And I particularly wasn't claiming (implicitly or otherwise) to be a better rider. Far from it. But my riding theory is reasonably good, even if my practice isn't, and I have had a lot of good advice from much better riders than I, which I feel can be validly given to others even if I am somewhat hypocritical by merit of not being able to apply it perfectly myself. So I don't mean to sound patronizing or anything; I think that everyone who has ridden with me knows that I am not a particularly good rider, and that I recognize this and wish to improve. So any advice I give should be taken with this in mind, but also with the knowledge that I don't speak only from my own experience, but also from the authority of the better riders whose advice I have read or received.

Anyhoo, I was just taking what Rob said and running with it—if Rob himself thinks that Matt is a better rider than he is, then if this is true, a better bike isn't what Rob needs. A better bike will obviously make him faster if he's already riding at the limits of his current bike, but I dunno that he is doing that. But let me rephrase for the sake of courtesy:

If Matt were to ride my Fazer, and I got an R1, he would probably still beat me through the twisties. I mean, yeah, I could crank the throttle on the straights and overtake him, but anyone can twist their wrist and go fast in a straight line. What I need isn't a better bike; what my bike needs is a better rider. It seems like very often people say that they need a better bike to go faster, when in fact they aren't even going nearly as fast as their current bike would allow if it were ridden to the limits of its performance. I know I am guilty of this to some extent. I could have upgraded to a VFR250 when my ZR died, and remained legal, and probably have done myself a favor by doing so; but I wanted a bigger bike because I thought it would help me improve my riding. (In my defense, I did at least recognize that a 750 or 900 or liter bike would be beyond my skill level and simply be foolish.) The truth is that a bigger bike tends to be an impediment to going faster—it is entirely possible to own a ZR250 and to keep up with many riders on 600 sportbikes, but it requires you to have more skill than them. Even now, I am guilty of upgrade syndrome. "The suspension feels squashy in the corners—I need heavier oil and better springs." No, I need a smoother throttle and braking, better body position, and clean and accurate lines. Once I've got that sorted, then it will be time for better oil. The only upgrade I feel halfway justified doing at the moment is braided lines, because with a pillion on board I am not happy with my bike's stopping power. But even then, I could get much better stopping distance by practicing my emergency braking, rather than shelling over $150 and using technology to compensate for my lack of skill.

Again, the only person I'm aiming to criticize here is myself, but I think that other people would benefit by considering what I'm saying. It isn't just based on my own experience—in fact, I am mostly restating what far more experienced and skilled riders than I have told me, and which I have come to realize from my own experience is true.

[deeknow]

in fact, I am mostly restating what far more experienced and skilled riders than I have told me, and which I have come to realize from my own experience is true.

OK, I hear ya man... now take a chill-pill and get back to work

[TerminalAddict]

work is for wusses ... and the mortgage

[deeknow]

Speaking of not working... Bnonn and TA, fancy a beer at the Eastside at lunch? That mate of mine at innovation-park is goin TA so you'z could tee up transport, and its only a short stroll for Bnonn

[TerminalAddict]

would love to .. but got plans already today .. something about 3rd birthday so the boss buys lunch and beer

[Bnonn]

Heh, yeah, sorry dude I have plans too. Maybe next week?

[Switch]

What do ya know....I'm free...But i gotta pick up some chain oil *cough* have a shower, find some decent clothes, organise some stuff, and have some lunch. Sorry im busy

[Warr]

I wasn't criticising either of them, Deeknow. And I particularly wasn't claiming (implicitly or otherwise) to be a better rider. Far from it. ...........

I wouldnt usually respond to such a well written post... And perhaps I wont
But like he said in 624 words.... skill Man skill.

Perhaps we could have classroom skill nights with a whiteboard and use Twist of t wrist as course work !!

Do you know of any pubs with a whiteboard

[Bnonn]

I think that's actually a pretty cool idea, but I'd highly recommend Lee Parks' Total Control since it has actual classroom exercises to work through with cones and parking lots.

[ZeroIndex]

I wouldnt usually respond to such a well written post... And perhaps I wont
But like he said in 624 words.... skill Man skill.

Perhaps we could have classroom skill nights with a whiteboard and use Twist of t wrist as course work !!

Do you know of any pubs with a whiteboard

I've got a whiteboard in my room, and a 37" monitor, I know how to make coffee, and if someone brings beers/Bundaberg Gingerbeers with them, then those will be here too

[Warr]

A plan in evolving !! ... Wed night when its too wet or cold
How many bods could you seat in this area Rob ??