100km without getting my arse off the bike

**bosslady** · 4th January 2013, 21:00

Originally Posted by The End

Not sure if this has been posted, but if you have the time, definitely give this a watch. There is something to learn from it for sure, even though it is styled around supersport bikes/track riding, the principles in it are important.

Twist of the Wrist II:

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v20959402F...of+the+Wrist+2

ta for the link I'll watch it sometime this weekend.

On other matters, had a ride tonight, second time I've ridden at night now but I'm of course aided by an abundance of street lights! Was good, went out with my flatty who just got a motard had a hoon around Albany. Anyway I'd been wondering what this sound was on my bike, especially yesterday and today... turns out the chain was sagging so much that it was rubbing on my centre stand! oops... fixed before my ride out tonight...

**bosslady** · 6th January 2013, 14:21

Trip out to supercheap auto to pick up some degreaser and chain lube so I can clean my chain today. Get there, get what I need, hop on bike, go to get on main road, stall not once, but twice. Wtf? I barely ever stall anymore? but whatever finally set off, decided to go to cycletreads see what they had in the way of back protectors to fit inside my jacket. On the way there, stop at set of lights, go to take off STALL, by this time im feeling like an effing muppet and wondering whats wrong with me today? Anyway got to cycletreads, only insert back protector they had was an RST contour plus back protector, $40, was gonna get it but decided to do some more research first...

Get out of cycletreads ok, great. Decide to go to my local super and head up the top of archers(?) road, steep hill, slow towards the top but for some reason run out of steam when I'm not quite there, change to first though and get up to the top with the stop sign, all good. On the way to the super, stop at the intersection of onewa and glenfield road for a red light, I'm at the front. Green, go to take off, in first of course, STALL. Fark ok, turn on, let clutch out, bit of throttle at the same time, no different to any other time i do it, STALL, try again, STALL, now the cars are beeping. Try one more time and off she goes, phew! By this time my confidence is getting a right good knocking and I'm feeling like a dunce and wondering why all of a sudden my progress has disappeared! Pull into the super carpark, have a look at my bike, don't see anything untoward so go and do my shopping.

Back on, I've had enough, feel frustrated and tired, going home. It's at this point on my way home going down small hill I start noticing small jerking in my bike, small enough you could almost miss it but enough for me to notice now I've been on it for awhile. This feels like something that's happened to me before... Pull into the gas station 100m up the road, sure enough she's almost empty, pretty much almost to reserve, which I hadn't turned on cause I didn't realise the problem was fuel. Topped her up and I'm off on my merry way.

Lessons learnt;

1. Trust my instincts, if something doesn't feel quite right, it probably isn't
2. I shouldn't have blamed my riding skills (or lack thereof) and knocked my confidence which in turn distracted me, I should've followed point 1!
3. Don't ride when you're tired, even just a little bit but especially if you're a newbie. If I wasn't so tired I think I would've thought it through better, pulled over as soon as something didn't feel right and had I THOUGHT about it I probably would have picked up what the problem was and had been able to fix it straight away.

I've pushed myself too much lately, going to have a rest and use the cage today and tomorrow and most importantly make sure I rest up and get to bed at a decent hour!

**FJRider** · 6th January 2013, 14:34

Originally Posted by bosslady

Lessons learnt;

1. Trust my instincts, if something doesn't feel quite right, it probably isn't
2. I shouldn't have blamed my riding skills (or lack thereof) and knocked my confidence which in turn distracted me, I should've followed point 1!
3. Don't ride when you're tired, even just a little bit but especially if you're a newbie. If I wasn't so tired I think I would've thought it through better, pulled over as soon as something didn't feel right and had I THOUGHT about it I probably would have picked up what the problem was and had been able to fix it straight away.

Fuel issues when in an inner city commute are often difficult to pick. You know most of the warning signs now ... and I doubt if you will forget them the next time.

Lessons are only learned if you remember ...

Rest up ... and talk your flattie into help fitting that pack rack.

**unstuck** · 6th January 2013, 15:13

Dont stress the small stuff, its all small stuff.

**bosslady** · 6th January 2013, 17:45

definitely is, but stressful when you're a newbie

**FJRider** · 6th January 2013, 18:26

Originally Posted by bosslady

definitely is, but stressful when you're a newbie

Any bikers greatest fear ... is the fire going out.

Stress levels go through the roof when that happens ... anywhere ...

**bosslady** · 7th January 2013, 21:51

Any excuse to get on the bike as usual, needed a new L plate to fit to my pack rack, trip to the warewhare was in order. Good Lord was it windy out on the motorway! onewa to oteha valley rd so not too far but I darn near got blown out of my lane, twice! scary, but braved it and getting more experience under the belt. Lost the L plate that I ripped off my sissy somewhere, when i got on the mway i guess and the stupid warehouse didn't have the rigid L plate that I wanted, grr, just some shit that sticks to windscreens. Bike works now after the hiccup with the bolt, yippy for me

**FJRider** · 7th January 2013, 21:54

Originally Posted by bosslady

Any excuse to get on the bike as usual, needed a new L plate to fit to my pack rack, trip to the warewhare was in order. Good Lord was it windy out on the motorway! onewa to oteha valley rd so not too far but I darn near got blown out of my lane, twice! scary, but braved it and getting more experience under the belt. Lost the L plate that I ripped off my sissy somewhere, when i got on the mway i guess and the stupid warehouse didn't have the rigid L plate that I wanted, grr, just some shit that sticks to windscreens. Bike works now after the hiccup with the bolt, yippy for me

Paper Plus have good quality ones at a reasonable price.

**bosslady** · 7th January 2013, 22:03

Originally Posted by FJRider

Paper Plus have good quality ones at a reasonable price.

the aa is around the corner from work maybe I can try them, no paper plus nearby I don't think

**FJRider** · 7th January 2013, 22:10

Originally Posted by bosslady

the aa is around the corner from work maybe I can try them, no paper plus nearby I don't think

Supermarkets often have them ... Supercheap should have them ... (or the AA

)

**Maha** · 8th January 2013, 06:03

I got one here, I have no idea why I have kept it, never been used.

**bosslady** · 8th January 2013, 10:03

Originally Posted by Maha

I got one here, I have no idea why I have kept it, never been used.

Oh yeah? Would be great if I could grab it if you wouldn't mind, is it a rigid one?

**Maha** · 8th January 2013, 10:07

Originally Posted by bosslady

Oh yeah? Would be great if I could grab it if you wouldn't mind, is it a rigid one?

Indeed it is...I will be down your way later today, picking Anne up from work at Oteha @ 5:15pm..want me to bring it down?
We are heading for Takapuna.

**bosslady** · 8th January 2013, 10:19

Originally Posted by Maha

Indeed it is...I will be down your way later today, picking Anne up from work at Oteha @ 5:15pm..want me to bring it down?
We are heading for Takapuna.

That would be surperb thank you! I will PM you shortly