Help please. I need a mentor!

[kilgh]

Well Hellokitty, I definately want to start offroad for the first few hours of riding. You never notice how busy your area is until you need it to be quiet!

One good day, get myself sorted...that's the plan anyway.

So what aspect made you so nervous?

Maakz, you get weekends off?

[hellokitty]

So what aspect made you so nervous?

I really have no idea. I have had 2 really serious car accidents (but I was a passenger) but I doubt that was the cause of the fear. Maybe I was scared of failing? Perhaps I am just a big baby?

[supa.m]

I really have no idea. I have had 2 really serious car accidents (but I was a passenger) but I doubt that was the cause of the fear. Maybe I was scared of failing? Perhaps I am just a big baby?

The bit that made me nervous was the cars, and to be completely honest after 20 years it still does. I am comfortable that its normal enough (perhaps even healthy) to be more than casual about every ride. As you get more experience you will get less concious about your riding skills and more concious about the other things like the fantastic experience of riding and the hazards that come with it. It only gets better!!!

[Maakz]

Evening yall
Kilgh-yeap i get weekends off thank gawd or i'd freak out and go postal. Vacant lot nearby has my name on it. Count down to the weekend my friend.
Hello Kitty-am apprehensive cos i'm ultra conscious that fucking up on a bike has serious consequences, yet i enjoy the buzz i get from the ride? Total Azz at taking off and shifting gear, far too rough. Intellectually i know what to do, but its the putting into practice that gets me, that and i tend to get phased by the number of cock ups. I inevitably get past it but it is shocking. I dread stalling and being unable to shift gear, or shifting into the wrong one, and being caught in peak traffic. Super.M - hope to one day lax on the ride and just cruise.

[kilgh]

Yeah, totally Maakz, the riding is okay, it's the stopping and starting that get me right now.

Hellokitty, fear of failing. Have some of that too...but more the fear of failing in traffic. Remember that from learning to drive too.

Supa.m due to my shift hours, fellow drivers have already made me completely paranoid. People are nuts! I always expect the worst. And usually get it.

[kilgh]

My day off and it's hosing down again. Will spend the day visualising riding.

[Maakz]

Yeah i know Kilgh, gawddam...fricken beauty weather all week then BAM! Cyclone Wilma happens, only days off to practice on bike and weather bomb strikes. Totally gutted man, looks like urz truly will be in the garage sitting there taking a virtual ride and looking even more kooky than she is already. Fine pair we are hey. Fingers crossed weather dissipates before work beckons Tuesday. For the love of Mary, pleeeeaaassssseeeeeeee give us some fine fricken weather already. Tis enough of a trial to be a newb, we don't need arz weather on top of it all. Ay Carumba.

M

[kilgh]

It's raining so hard now that I can't even watch the motorcycling! Sky Sport is down and out!

Tuesday is my next day off again I think. Surely some stable weather by then.

[orsem]

Yeah i know Kilgh, gawddam...fricken beauty weather all week then BAM! Cyclone Wilma happens, only days off to practice on bike and weather bomb strikes. Totally gutted man, looks like urz truly will be in the garage sitting there taking a virtual ride and looking even more kooky than she is already. Fine pair we are hey. Fingers crossed weather dissipates before work beckons Tuesday. For the love of Mary, pleeeeaaassssseeeeeeee give us some fine fricken weather already. Tis enough of a trial to be a newb, we don't need arz weather on top of it all. Ay Carumba.

M

I can agree with the bloody weather being a pain. Swelter in the heat during my working week(which is 8 days long) then bam, shite when I have my days off. I am so pleased I live out in the country or I would certainly entertain the neighbours. Sitting on the bike purely to get a bike fix because the weather is rubbish, or going for 2 or 3 laps round the farm yard when the weather breaks briefly, just to get that riding fix.

It has gotten to the point where I think stuff it, and just go for a blatt round the block(it's a 45km block) in the rain.
I am so addicted to my motorbike. Don't know how I will cope when I start working 11 day working weeks....might just have to go for a blatt at lunchtimes just to get my fix. Riding the quad and farm bikes just don't give you the same open road buzz

[kilgh]

You're lucky you have a paddock! I'm jealous. And you don't have to put up with crazy Auckland drivers.

I've had to work 11 day weeks...sucks. Happily lately they are generally not more than 6-7 day weeks usually. But still, the rain has been particular in choosing my days off!

[Maakz]

Hi Kilgh/Orsem...
Totally identifying with the bike infatuation, love my neon orange hyo-bag, have to say tis only getting worse as time cranks on. 11 day working weeks seriously suck BIGtime, and i thought i had it bad. Hahaha, bout the blatting it Orsem-am too chicken to attempt a rain ride at this point in time. Thankfully though blustery in my kneck of the woods today, the sun came out long enough for me to go for my own blatt in the paddock/vacant lot next to me.Enjoyed every minute, though i seem to have provided albeit unintentionally much titillation for the neighbourhood. Had the neighbours looking over the fence and people stopping in their cars alongside the mainroad to take a gander at my antics. Thought 'Fruck IT' who gives ratz, and did my thing, practicing like a looney mofo. Thankfully didn't bin, slide or dump...did have a WTF moment when a gust sent a sizeable branch up into my front wheel and grind, soz i brought bike to a stop, cleared the offending flora, checked the bike was sound and got back to it. I know what ya mean about crazy drivers, no consistent application of the road rules, courtesy or commonsense round my area...really hate numnutz who use entry only ways as exits...rant rant. Contemplating a blatt round Rewa tomorrow, early morning ride to beat the crazies. Fingers crossed weather holds out and crazies stay in doors.

[orsem]

I have fingers, toes and anything else crossable, crossed in hopes that tuesday is fine, not too windy and perfect for riding. Might, if the weather is good, tag along on a group ride organised by the local bike shop. Or go for a blatt along the foothills and back roads, take in the scenery and just enjoy a ride.

I find riding in the rain not too bad, the bike seems to handle beautifully in most situations. And believe it or not I have even ridden to a bike rally in the rain, partied in the rain,(amazing how you soon warm up after a few beers, even more beers and a few vodkas) and had an absolute ball. Met quite a few KB'rs who provided such wonderful entertainment. Looking forward to catching up with a fair few of them again at the March Hare, then possibly the Brass Monkey

[Maakz]

Morning glory...or not? Rather grey weather out there, but hey, got in my early morning ride almost free of hassles...left 6.50am and back not long ago, am so STOKED!!! This update may seem trite to the dapper hands at riding, but dude, seriously ecstatic this morning. Beat the loonies, well the majority and had a blatt all about Rewa...two hairy changes but luckily in the vacant parking lot ironically, and managed to correct thankfully, never to repeat dumbness again. To be legal i stuck the L plate on but man, is that a beacon for every dick in a car there is, i tell ya-as time clocked on and more cars hit the road it was like every hoon bag had it in for me and my L plated bike...wasn't going snail pace slow, and wasn't being a tool on the road either, didn't accidentally leave blinker on, so what gives? Could only think they either hated the bike or twas the L plate? That's when i called it a day and made my way home. Have read other postings on here that say the L plate is a curse, like sticking a target on ur back.

Loved the exhilaration of the ride and having clear roads though...

Got my fingers/ toes and eyes crossed for ya Tues ride Orsem, partying in the rain and catching up with some fellow KBs...like the sound of that...nice one.

[kilgh]

So cool! It's tommorrow or Wednesday for me.

[orsem]

Tuesday turned out just brilliant. Decided to head into town on the bike, get a few jobs done, and go the longer way home, a little trip of around 65km. Didn't end up going on the group ride, tho now wish I had. There were wind warnings, but the winds only eventuated over night, and are still howling over the alps. No riding today sadly due to them. But fingers crossed for tomorrow.