Newbie's first 300+km ride and track day

[bosslady]

You can see some mountains - and when you get to know them, they are helpful! The river is another good one - if you come to a bridge and your destination in not on the other side, you know you've missed a turn!

Bosslady: Sounds like you were taking SH 1B. There is are bits where it crosses other roads, or splits off from the 'main' road that can confuse. Depending on where you came in you could have missed the turn off after Gordonton, or perhaps where it crosses morrinsville road.

I'm glad you enjoyed the training. I really want to go to one, but find around 200 KM's is my limit sitting on the bike (300km round trip, plus the track time) Next Hampton Downs and I'm in. I did a local training course, and I found it great to be able to practice unfamiliar techniques (emergency braking) under controlled conditions, with someone to tell me what I could do better

Just to clarify, there was no training involved. I mean sure I guess I was training myself... and the lines(wo)men were there to help you find the lines etc. but not a training day, just a fun day learning I suppose, but at my own pace. You could always do an overnighter if you wanted... make it an adventure like I did!

Well done bosslady, it's never easy hopping on a bike and heading off for far away places on your own, without the time in and experience that only comes from "doing it"
To have completed a full on Taupo track day as well, well that's just bloody awesome.
Good moving trailering back under the circumstances, no sense in doing too much at once.
Have enjoyed reading your posts, reminds me we must get on and get some more track time, the wife and I both, Hampden Downs was her first a year or so ago.

I'm definitely happy with my personal achievement, hopefully some newbies can learn a little too...

[bosslady]

But these are the best pictures out of a series of pictures of me looking like a total retard... I'll put the rest in my albums later if anyone wants to have a laugh...

[Corse1]

I thought it was great to see you two girls on your ginny's at the track! Well done and apart from a small amount of rain in the middle of the day it turned out a good day.

Well done!

[bosslady]

I thought it was great to see you two girls on your ginny's at the track! Well done and apart from a small amount of rain in the middle of the day it turned out a good day.

Well done!

Did we talk to you? I don't remember.. talked to so many people and I'm no good for remembering bikes, locations, names, what I had for dinner etc....

[Corse1]

Did we talk to you? I don't remember.. talked to so many people and I'm no good for remembering bikes, locations, names, what I had for dinner etc....

No I only turned up for the arvo. Will say hello next time:-)

[bosslady]

No I only turned up for the arvo. Will say hello next time:-)

ahhh a stalker then, lol

[Subike]

those pics look good girl, you are exercising the first rule of riding, LOOK where you are going.
You look like you have good control over the bike, you angles of attack at the corner look good.
Thats not a series of pic of a noob...rater someone who is listening and doing well

as for looking Fat, no way, look like you would get a few whistles if it was not classed as sexual harassment

[bosslady]

those pics look good girl, you are exercising the first rule of riding, LOOK where you are going.
You look like you have good control over the bike, you angles of attack at the corner look good.
Thats not a series of pic of a noob...rater someone who is listening and doing well

as for looking Fat, no way, look like you would get a few whistles if it was not classed as sexual harassment

Thank you Subike... at least I can see that I need to work on my posture and I'm already starting to think about what bike I will move to next maybe in a years time or something when I have some cash money. I don't look very "cool" on that bike and I can see how no one would, it looks so... stupid... haha but hey it got me to Taupo safely. Shhh don't tell ginny I don't want to hurt her feelings...

[GrayWolf]

it's bad enough I have a big L plate on my bIke, like I'm going to admit I'm a retard too? lol



Hmm I'm not sure I'd totally agree with that statement. Kind of yes, kind of no? I didn't go to make myself a better rider on the street. I wanted to know how far I could take my bike in a controlled environment I.e. if I had to, how fast I could take a corner, how far my bike can lean etc., I don't want to "practice" that on the road I might hurt myself or even worse. Of course I didn't reach the bikes limitation or even mine, but I'm probably a little better off confidence wise and knowing my bike can go a little further then I thought and it was marvellous practice for "looking where you go". I just didn't want to get to a "real life" situation and panic (which I can do) because I didn't know how far my bike could go etc.



what makes an absolute newbie? I've been riding just over 4 weeks now a lot of people would still consider me a total newbie, I just think I'm a newbie. I'm no super woman, I'm far from awesome and I have. heaps to learn but I really make an effort to get time on the saddle, pretty much mostly all solo.

Good on you for doing a long ride and exploring your bike and yourself..... I've attached a couple of youtube clips The BIkesafe one, at 5mins 10, they do an observed ride with a commentary which might be useful.... And I'll say it again, the track doesnt throw at you the type of unexpected 'obstacles/impediments' that need to be accounted for on the road.... as you realised with the trucks you needed to deal with, etc.

The second one is an Advanced Instructor going for a ride,,,, compared to so many of the 'sprotty' riders.... notice how smooth his lines are, how little he brakes or accelerates heavily during the ride... and the road position through each bend!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L180bhYy_1g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3niqkN4u22I


This one?/Gotta love the typical comment to the video " HurricaneMtnRoad 1 week ago

The rider is a real criminal, eh? He hurt no one and stole nothing. So the cops endanger everyone by launching a Volvo bark-o-lounger into traffic at triple digits. England is a lousy socialist nanny state. They can keep it. I can't believe anyone would want to live there. Speed doesn't kill, unskilled application of speed (more often by cops) kills." Yet the cops comment to the rider was, your skills are'nt all that! Oh BTW the 'poor hard done by rider' was doing 180 in a 100 limit (110mph in a 60mph limit)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8msQmLzwkrg

[bosslady]

And I'll say it again, the track doesnt throw at you the type of unexpected 'obstacles/impediments' that need to be accounted for on the road.... as you realised with the trucks you needed to deal with, etc.

Yea course not, don't think I encountered any intersections, roundabouts, traffic or cages pulling out in front of me

Will try and have a look at those video's now.

[bluninja]

Almost expected you to ask, does my arse look big in this?

All looks good to me.....feet on pegs, body in line with bike, forearms parallel with ground and nicely bent (your elbows, not your forearms ), looking where you are going.

Looking fat is when you sit on a GN and look like a drum on a pea, you look fine, it's just the bulky clothing.

[bosslady]

Almost expected you to ask, does my arse look big in this?

Well, does it?

All looks good to me.....feet on pegs, body in line with bike, forearms parallel with ground and nicely bent (your elbows, not your forearms ), looking where you are going.

Looking fat is when you sit on a GN and look like a drum on a pea, you look fine, it's just the bulky clothing.

Where else would my feet be if not on the pegs? as for body in line with the bike, forearms parallel with ground and how they're bent etc, I've never heard of any of this type of stuff but I presume there is a "right" way? I don't think I was "taught" about that now that I think about it.

Yea... it's the bulky clothing *sucks her stomach in* haha, maybe this means I need to get a bigger bike to make ME look smaller?!

[Corse1]

ahhh a stalker then, lol

Nah I'm just shy around pretty girls!

It was great to see the lines riders taking the time to show you the way around. I wasn't riding just supporting a mate on his first trackday. Guy on the RSV4 in your group. He is now well and truly hooked.

[bosslady]

Nah I'm just shy around pretty girls!

It was great to see the lines riders taking the time to show you the way around. I wasn't riding just supporting a mate on his first trackday. Guy on the RSV4 in your group. He is now well and truly hooked.

pretty? pfft had our helmets on! lol

Dunno what an rsv4 is... lol, apart from that it's a motorbike I used the lineslady on the first two laps of the first session then took off and did my own thing when we hit the back straight the 2nd time.

[bluninja]

Well, does it?



Where else would my feet be if not on the pegs? as for body in line with the bike, forearms parallel with ground and how they're bent etc, I've never heard of any of this type of stuff but I presume there is a "right" way? I don't think I was "taught" about that now that I think about it.

Yea... it's the bulky clothing *sucks her stomach in* haha, maybe this means I need to get a bigger bike to make ME look smaller?!

Body in line with the bike.....a lot better than leaning the bike over into the corner and leaning the other way
Forearms parallel with the ground.....much easier to move the bars and less likely to lean your weight onto them.
Elbows bent helps to keep things supple and relaxed as opposed to stiff arms making things feel crap and reducing control.

If you haven't read them, both Twist of the Wrist books cover this stuff.

Does it? Hard to see from the front