Keeping up!

[ducatilover]

Would do a track day but don’t want to bin my new bike!

Just do one, at your own pace. great place to learn

[Banditbandit]

Personally, I don't mind sending the odd bike down the road.

Faaark .. I've always put so much love and attention and the bikes are just part of me .. and I've worked hard in the past just to own one (now I'm a top tax bracket earner price is not such a problem - but still ...) I hate sending one down the road ... I hate even watching it fall over ...


But in gerenal terms - Too much testosterone ... of course no one has to keep up ... and everyone needs to ride their own speed ... but the bullshit macho thing kicks in and people push it too hard ...

Then people sit in the pub afterwards telling bullshit stories .. and newer riders don't want to be left out ... so they push it too hard ... and no-one looks after each other on the road ... at least the 1% crews do that ... look after newer riders ... riding as slow as the slowest rider ... and some groups, such as Ulysses, have an officla mentor scheme - so there is someone sitting with new riders to make sure they are OK ...

So don't just leave new riders to fend for themselves ... in the testosterone-fuelled bullshit they will push too hard ...

Heh, anyone got a link to the Darwin awards?

http://www.darwinawards.com/

[chasio]

Having bought a new bike recently I’ve come to realise what sh*t rider I am. I don’t even know how to rev the nuts off it and change up smoothly – it’s all so “new”. Counter steering feels completely different (waaaaaay smoother). I have no real appreciation of the capability of my new brakes. This morning on the motorway I accidentally went way over the speed limit.

Much to learn – at my own pace.

Would do a track day but don’t want to bin my new bike!

Do you mean a track day or a rider training day? Given what you say, the former would be a bad idea IMO. But a well run rider training day may be a good plan.

Something like this may be $20 extremely well spent (not that I have personally used Roadsafe - others may be able to comment on them). I found that link on rideforever.co.nz and they have providers offering subsidised training across NZ.

[neels]

I just ride at a pace that suits me to the next meeting point, and if people object to waiting for me they shouldn't invite me in the first place, or send me a text so I'll see when I stop that I took too long and they got bored so carried on.

Recent experience wit n00bs has taught me that following them is better than leading them. It's hard to think for twp people when your leading.

A couple of people suggested this was wrong when I did this with my son, I found it much easier to let him lead at his pace rather than constantly looking in the mirrors, and I could see what he was doing. Made more sense than trying to guess at what was going to work for him.

[Banditbandit]

Some of us, even in our older more mature state still dont like to be left behind... or "come second" (my wife once said to me on a road trip in the car.. do you have to pass everyone! - response, well.. I dont like coming second)

Yeah ... but then ... we have all learnt (I hope) that there is always a faster bike or rider otut here .. so at some point we are all going to come second.

I see people putting themselves in jeopardy all the time.

Yes .. and we need to be sure that we are not contributing to that ...

I had a bike come up behind me a coupe of weeks ago - so of course I opened the throttle ... I'll play with other bikes ay time at all ...

But two corners later he/she wasn't there ... so I backed off .. and was relieved to see the bike come round the corner ... I was worried they had pushed too hard to keep up ... I did stay in front - at about 120 klicks .. rahtrer than the 140 klicks I had been up to when I dropped them off ..

[Zedder]

This will get some red rep for sure.

Lots of us like to go quite quick on the road. I have done something resembling growing up, and calmed down a lot these days, but there is still a desire to get some pace on. Lots of young guys have a similar mind set, and get to where I am by trying to keep up and pushing themselves.

There are safer ways to do it sure, but not as convenient most the time.

I post this to present what is going through the minds of those who cannot be talked out of trying to keep up.

That's certainly not cause for a red repping. Things usually go pear shaped in groups and it's not just with bikers either.

Egos, testosterone, Type A personalities etc are the problem but it's great to see some positive responses and solutions coming through this thread.

[superjackal]

Do you mean a track day or a rider training day? Given what you say, the former would be a bad idea IMO. But a well run rider training day may be a good plan.

Something like this may be $20 extremely well spent (not that I have personally used Roadsafe - others may be able to comment on them). I found that link on rideforever.co.nz and they have providers offering subsidised training across NZ.

Track day or riding training. Have been planning to do the rider training. Track days have never appealed to me.

[oneofsix]

Track day or riding training. Have been planning to do the rider training. Track days have never appealed to me.

I'm with you. I have done rider training and it does teach you the limits to your bike but road related. Also talk of road hazards. Not bagging track days, I'm sure they are great for the right rider, but personally think they would more suit riders with track intentions.

[Maha]

Do you mean a track day or a rider training day? Given what you say, the former would be a bad idea IMO. But a well run rider training day may be a good plan.

Something like this may be $20 extremely well spent (not that I have personally used Roadsafe - others may be able to comment on them). I found that link on rideforever.co.nz and they have providers offering subsidised training across NZ.

Rider training... learners who use the term 'track day' is all very nice n' all, but the reality is, there is nothing to be learned from a 'track day' by someone on an L plate, its just a bit of fun.
You get out there in the slow group and do as many laps as you can in the alotted time.

[bluninja]

Much to learn – at my own pace.

Would do a track day but don’t want to bin my new bike!

Why would you bin riding round a track? No manhole covers, cowshit, gravel. No vehicles coming the other way. People warning you of hazards round the next corner.

As you said "Much to learn - at my own pace"

[Banditbandit]

This will get some red rep for sure.

Lots of us like to go quite quick on the road. I have done something resembling growing up, and calmed down a lot these days, but there is still a desire to get some pace on. Lots of young guys have a similar mind set, and get to where I am by trying to keep up and pushing themselves.

There are safer ways to do it sure, but not as convenient most the time.

I post this to present what is going through the minds of those who cannot be talked out of trying to keep up.

I'm with Drew ... I thought I'd get slower when I got older ... I didn't ... I still like to get some pace on ... some riders try to keep up with me ... other riders I just wave bye bye and let them go - there's no way I will keep up with them ...

And sometimes I just open the throttle until the other bike starts disappearing backwards ... last time I did that was across the Desert Road after passing a patched member of some 1%er crew ... on a Hinkey Triumph ... He started to disapear backwards when my speedo got to around 190 ...

But I try not to be the one who causes the shit by having other riders try to keep up ... if they are clearly struggling I'll back off ..

[slofox]

If I ride with a group where most of the riders go like hell off up the road, I tend to go slower than I would on my own. Not sure why. Maybe I don't want the embarrassment of arsing off in front of everybody...or behind everybody.

[bosslady]

Rider training... learners who use the term 'track day' is all very nice n' all, but the reality is, there is nothing to be learned from a 'track day' by someone on an L plate, its just a bit of fun.
You get out there in the slow group and do as many laps as you can in the alotted time.

For me, I found a track day good for learning to look around the corner without the distraction of traffic etc. But no, for someone wanting to learn I certainly wouldn't advocate it because no, you don't really learn that much, it's for fun. Money would be better spent on "proper" training.

[TheTengTheory]

For me, I found a track day good for learning to look around the corner without the distraction of traffic etc. But no, for someone wanting to learn I certainly wouldn't advocate it because no, you don't really learn that much, it's for fun. Money would be better spent on "proper" training.

Thats an interesting skill that I'm still tyring to get better at. I look through the corner when I ride but on those long tight bends where you can see the whole bend and beyond I find it slightly nerve wracking to look so far ahead and lose vision of where your bike is actually going....Theoretically because you've already seen the patch of road it should be fine but in practise.....Ass clenching at times.

Looking too far ahead? or just needa man up and practise more?

[bosslady]

Thats an interesting skill that I'm still tyring to get better at. I look through the corner when I ride but on those long tight bends where you can see the whole bend and beyond I find it slightly nerve wracking to look so far ahead and lose vision of where your bike is actually going....Theoretically because you've already seen the patch of road it should be fine but in practise.....Ass clenching at times.

Looking too far ahead? or just needa man up and practise more?

No idea. I don't actually know anything but I just know what's helped with me, sometimes... But yes it's an odd kind of thing looking where you're going whilst not looking where you are actually going.. IYKWIM