North Auckland Street Skills - NASS

**p.dath** · 15th April 2012, 09:24

Personally, I am not convinced of the value of back protectors - but I do have one, and wear it when I am on the open road.

If you had the choice of spending $200 (entry level cost of a back protector) on a back protector, or getting $200 more of boots, jackets, pants or gloves (such as armoured boots, armoured apparel or gloves or leather), than I would tell you to spend your $200 there first.
I feel spending $200 extra in those areas will probably result in an increase in protection that would make a greater difference than a back protector.

However if you already have good gear, and you want to spend even more money on gear, then sure, start looking at back protectors.

The racing fraternity is a little different. You would have to be a mad man to go racing at speeds up to and over 300km/h and not already have really good gear. And what's more, you would probably have spent 2 to 4 times more on that gear than a typical non-racing road rider. So once you have made that investment, investing a small extra faction in a back protector is not such a big deal.

So now back to ART. So there is a requirement to have a back protector. Personally I am saying that for group 1 I don't think it is going to make much difference. HOWEVER imagine if you were making that safety decision on behalf of everyone in group 1, and after repealing that requirement someone *did* back a back accident. There would be no way to tell if a back protector could have prevented it (for the reasons mentioned above), but it would play terribly on your mind. Also bear in mind if there was such an accident OSH would almost be certain to investigate. Would the AMCC be able to pass the test of "had it taken all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of participants". And removing such a requirement would certainly make it easy for an OSH official to say "no".
So for those reasons I think it will always be a permanent requirement to wear a back protector at ART days.

**D3ADLYTuna** · 18th April 2012, 15:41

so who is heading along tonight? or is it even on?

**zealchick** · 18th April 2012, 16:10

We are hoping to....depending on what time we finish work :-)

**Sharry** · 18th April 2012, 16:41

I am too. Havn't been along to NASS much latelty so thought I would make what I could of the weather

**D3ADLYTuna** · 18th April 2012, 16:59

turns out i cant come as i need to go check out flats lol. fail.

**p.dath** · 18th April 2012, 17:02

I should be along.

**p.dath** · 25th April 2012, 17:55

Looks like it might be a nice evening ride. Not sure who's going to be along, but I plan to be there tonight.

Remember to where an extra layer. It will get cold on the ride home.

**Gremlin** · 25th April 2012, 18:08

Still at shell westgate? There right now.

**MarkW** · 30th April 2012, 20:31

It just so happens that I am down from the winterless north this week and Wednesday night has been kept free so that I can drop into Albany around 7.30 this week (May 2nd) and then on to the eatery afterwards.

**The Singing Chef** · 30th April 2012, 21:02

Originally Posted by MarkW

It just so happens that I am down from the winterless north this week and Wednesday night has been kept free so that I can drop into Albany around 7.30 this week (May 2nd) and then on to the eatery afterwards.

Pity I won't be riding, would be good to catch up! Might see if I can pillion out.

**nzspokes** · 30th April 2012, 22:15

Originally Posted by MarkW

It just so happens that I am down from the winterless north this week and Wednesday night has been kept free so that I can drop into Albany around 7.30 this week (May 2nd) and then on to the eatery afterwards.

What day are you heading back up Mark? Few of us still doing this http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...post1130314094 . Its mostly cancelled but a few of us are still doing it.

Still remember a few of your lessons from the last ride.

**p.dath** · 1st May 2012, 07:31

I hope the weather is good this Wednesday with MarkW coming along.

I have a good exercise I want to try that I have read about in a physchology book. I want to put something flat down, like a coaster, and get people to try riding over it (if it is too easy, we'll use more than one coaster).
We can try this in a straight line, and then in a corner.

The book I'm reading says if you look at the coaster you'll keep missing it (due to the way the brain works), and that to hit it you have to look beyond it, and only observe the coaster in your lower peripheral vision.

ps. Does anyone have some flat paper/card coasters that don't mind having some tyre marks over?

**Maha** · 1st May 2012, 07:41

Last time I looked at a Coaster he had dreads and only three teeth....or was it a she?

**nzspokes** · 1st May 2012, 07:46

Originally Posted by p.dath

I hope the weather is good this Wednesday with MarkW coming along.

I have a good exercise I want to try that I have read about in a physchology book. I want to put something flat down, like a coaster, and get people to try riding over it (if it is too easy, we'll use more than one coaster).
We can try this in a straight line, and then in a corner.

The book I'm reading says if you look at the coaster you'll keep missing it (due to the way the brain works), and that to hit it you have to look beyond it, and only observe the coaster in your lower peripheral vision.

ps. Does anyone have some flat paper/card coasters that don't mind having some tyre marks over?

Pfft, At Sass we do that with 2x4s. With nails in em. And land mines either side.