Kiwirider November 2009 Edition

[p.dath]

Here you go Kiwirider, what every publication wants, free publicity.

I bought the latest edition about a week ago, but today was the first time I've had enough free time to actually sit down to read it.

I get to page 6 where the editorial is located by the executive editor, Ross MacKay, and it starts in on the Ministry of Transport's Safer Journey's discussion paper.

Oh dear. It just went down hill from there. First of all he goes on a rant how the major contributing factors to road accidents are not in fact the widely accepted factors of speed and alcohol, and then gives his opinion that the two major factors are road surface and the ability of the driver to control their vehicle.

The surface of the road has little to do with someone's decision to drink and/or drive at high speed. Of course alcohol impairs their ability to maintain control of their vehicle - but it is the alcohol causing this, and not their actual driving ability. You can't train someone to drink and drive safely.

And then he goes on to talk about all his driving/riding experience, and makes a comparison with Australia, and says that he has to re-calibrate his brain when coming back to NZ because Australia doesn't have decreasing radius corners like we do here, and then goes on to talk about having to scrub off speed and stand the bike up mid-corner.
It's not the roads fault that you entered the corner too hot. The road didn't suddenly change its layout. Surely a rider with the said claimed years of experience wouldn't be entering corners so hot that he has difficulty controlling his bike.


After reading such rubbish from the "Executive Editor" I found myself putting down the magazine. If the editors management can't even get the major contributing causes of road accidents right, has lots of experience riding yet can't manage cornering, then what is the quality of the remaining articles going to be like - that they oversee? Are those articles also full of lots of made up mis-guided information?


So save your money for a publication that might be able to get some of its information right. I regret my purchase. Don't make the same mistake.

[AD345]

Weenie is as weenie does

[Ixion]

Dude, you do know who Ross Mackay is, don't you?

[sil3nt]

Weenie is as weenie does

Haha indeed but he does have a point this time. I purchased one kiwirider and one biker rider magazine and that was enough to realise they are just full of dribble.

[325rocket]

Haha indeed but he does have a point this time. I purchased one kiwirider and one biker rider magazine and that was enough to realise they are just full or dribble.

hate to say it but i agree. superbike is the only magazine i will pay for. id love to be able to get into a new zealand bike mag but they just dont gel with me. im not saying they are bad, they just dont appeal to me.

[p.dath]

Dude, you do know who Ross Mackay is, don't you?

No. I did a Google Search first to ascertain who the person was, and nothing relevant turned up. Seems to be an almost invisible person.

Hell, even if I search for myself a couple of pages of relevant links come up.

[BMWST?]

Here you go Kiwirider, what every publication wants, free publicity.

I bought the latest edition about a week ago, but today was the first time I've had enough free time to actually sit down to read it.

I get to page 6 where the editorial is located by the executive editor, Ross MacKay, and it starts in on the Ministry of Transport's Safer Journey's discussion paper.

Oh dear. It just went down hill from there. First of all he goes on a rant how the major contributing factors to road accidents are not in fact the widely accepted factors of speed and alcohol, and then gives his opinion that the two major factors are road surface and the ability of the driver to control their vehicle.

The surface of the road has little to do with someone's decision to drink and/or drive at high speed. Of course alcohol impairs their ability to maintain control of their vehicle - but it is the alcohol causing this, and not their actual driving ability. You can't train someone to drink and drive safely.

And then he goes on to talk about all his driving/riding experience, and makes a comparison with Australia, and says that he has to re-calibrate his brain when coming back to NZ because Australia doesn't have decreasing radius corners like we do here, and then goes on to talk about having to scrub off speed and stand the bike up mid-corner.
It's not the roads fault that you entered the corner too hot. The road didn't suddenly change its layout. Surely a rider with the said claimed years of experience wouldn't be entering corners so hot that he has difficulty controlling his bike.


After reading such rubbish from the "Executive Editor" I found myself putting down the magazine. If the editors management can't even get the major contributing causes of road accidents right, has lots of experience riding yet can't manage cornering, then what is the quality of the remaining articles going to be like - that they oversee? Are those articles also full of lots of made up mis-guided information?


So save your money for a publication that might be able to get some of its information right. I regret my purchase. Don't make the same mistake.

you do realise that an editorial can be the editors own opinion on things dont you?

[p.dath]

you do realise that an editorial can be the editors own opinion on things dont you?

And every review reflects the opinion of the writer, or at least you'd like to think so, but of course management direct everything.

The editor effectively gives the publication its direction, controls what goes in it, and a reflection of the editors opinion reflects the direction and content.

[Ooky]

.

You can't train someone to drink and drive safely.

hmm I'd like to give it a shot under controled conditions free booze and track time!

[Ixion]

No. I did a Google Search first to ascertain who the person was, and nothing relevant turned up. Seems to be an almost invisible person.

Hell, even if I search for myself a couple of pages of relevant links come up.

Guess he's not as well known as you

[Headbanger]

hmm I'd like to give it a shot under controled conditions free booze and track time!

Hell yeah, I'll ride shotgun.

[Ixion]

hmm I'd like to give it a shot under controled conditions free booze and track time!

Might have to do quite a few practice sessions. Quite a few.

[Big Dave]

Ross welcomes any objective feedback on KIWIRIDER.

He has a clear Editorial policy that it is 'Our' magazine.
Meaning all NZ motorcyclists and disciplines of riding.

You can email your comments to him directly on
editor@kiwirider.co.nz

[Big Dave]

hate to say it but i agree.

It pays well. :-P

[FJRider]

First of all he goes on a rant how the major contributing factors to road accidents are not in fact the widely accepted factors of speed and alcohol, and then gives his opinion that the two major factors are road surface and the ability of the driver to control their vehicle.

The surface of the road has little to do with someone's decision to drink and/or drive at high speed. Of course alcohol impairs their ability to maintain control of their vehicle - but it is the alcohol causing this, and not their actual driving ability. You can't train someone to drink and drive safely.It's not the roads fault that you entered the corner too hot. The road didn't suddenly change its layout. Surely a rider with the said claimed years of experience wouldn't be entering corners so hot that he has difficulty controlling his bike.

Speed an Alcohol are the factors that are pushed by L.T.S.A. as being the major contributor to most accidents .... NOT widely accepted factors.... by motorcyclists. If YOU believe that though ... that is your issue.

Speed (and/or) alcohol are merely factors in an accident. Most accidents are the result of a number of factors contributing to the outcome. Road surface conditions are often "the straw that breaks the Camels back" ... so to speak.

No matter how well you know the road layout, a shoddy patched seal job with loose stone chips on the surface, could be/will be an issue at speed. Under the influence of alcohol or not. Favourite roads are only as good as you remember the last time you rode them. Be it a day ... a week ... or a year ... or more. DONT assume ... it will not/has not ... changed in any way since the LAST time you rode it. Those that DO ... may expect problems.

19% (thats one in five) of motorcycle "accidents" are caused by unlicenced riders, or riders without the correct licence for the motorcycle they were riding, inexperience usually equates to inability... Inability to control their vehicle.