Akaroa GP rant

[T.W.R]

There would be many who rode it fast who are now in the cemetery too.

No shit Einstein....but think about it, you could say that about any piece of road anywhere in NZ so you aren't making any profound statement

[SVboy]

The days of riding the akers quickly have been gone for decades, most of the old school punters that know how to ride it fast & properly rarely venture there any more, and if so they're usually home before the johnny come latelys & wanna heros have even thought about heading out.
And its mainly due to the exact reasons this rant started....numpties riding beyond their capabilities putting themselves & their machines in positions that not only risk their own but others saftey....the road has a reputation and wannabes try to emulate stories they've heard or create new...not always with the results they expect. The akers bites fools with ease

I disagree with much of this post. The machine and tyre technology is so much more advanced that riding quickly and consistently is much easier than decades ago. Timing is important given the traffic, sun, cruise boats etc but there are plenty of opportunities for a clean run. Plenty of new riders, which is a good thing, but still a big group of regulars who have done the GP for years and years.
No doubt that the road can bite, but as a way of upskilling your riding, it is great. Hard to account for the wild cards such as the sheep, diesel, tourists parked in the middle of the road etc etc etc but only a very naive rider considers motorcycling a low risk passion.

[pritch]

[QUOTE=300weatherby;1130953913]According to the Akaroa cop, the average is one a year, which just happens to match the Isle of Man average,

TT week usually accounts for a few more than that. My reading suggests Mad Sunday usually takes a few but they don't make the news.

[awayatc]

Followed wee newish car on road to kaikoura the other day...
Young female driver cut every right hand corner by huge margins..
Every corner...wasn't even going fast.
Was her way of driving... scary

[AllanB]

TT is one week a year at extreme speeds. ATT is all year on a public road.

Shit condition road too - fucking CCC.

Don't get me started on post EQ CCC.

[RGVforme]

TT is one week a year at extreme speeds. ATT is all year on a public road.

Shit condition road too - fucking CCC.

Don't get me started on post EQ CCC.

Yes keeping in mind that the Isle of man itself has no open road speed limit and is visited by many motorcyclists year round because it is the home of the TT making the stats quoted an interesting read.

[rastuscat]

I disagree with much of this post. The machine and tyre technology is so much more advanced that riding quickly and consistently is much easier than decades ago. Timing is important given the traffic, sun, cruise boats etc but there are plenty of opportunities for a clean run. Plenty of new riders, which is a good thing, but still a big group of regulars who have done the GP for years and years.
No doubt that the road can bite, but as a way of upskilling your riding, it is great. Hard to account for the wild cards such as the sheep, diesel, tourists parked in the middle of the road etc etc etc but only a very naive rider considers motorcycling a low risk passion.

Your post kind of makes me uncomfortable.

Are you saying that SH75 is a training track?

If so, those involved need to learn to ride before venturing out onto public roads. And sharpen their skills on a track, not the roads we share.

Harrumph.

[Gremlin]

It's one reason why I haven't progressed my IAM application. The chap I was working with insisted on extreme-width lines.

I prefer and coach safety margins.

Had an interesting thought on this today. Playing devils advocate, you could easily argue:

The riders in question likely feel their riding is acceptable. According to your standards (ex Police, NZTA I endorsed etc) they aren't acceptable.
I'm sure you would say your riding is acceptable. Against the IAM standard... it sounds like it wouldn't be acceptable.

Herein lies the human element. Anyone slower than you is some stupid nana, everyone faster than you is a crazy loon. The same way I think ?you've? mentioned that surveys always show that more than 50% of the population feels their driving ability is above standard... which isn't statistically possible

So ultimately, what standard should be upheld? If most deem their riding acceptable where do you draw the line, and tell those on the wrong side that they're on the wrong side because someone said so...

Interesting conundrum and my head hurts from all the deep thinking. I think I've used up my allocation of deep thoughts for at least a few months...

[Bass]

Had an interesting thought on this today. I think I've used up my allocation of deep thoughts for at least a few months...

You have come quite a long way since the ZX10, IMHO.

[SVboy]

Your post kind of makes me uncomfortable.

Are you saying that SH75 is a training track?

If so, those involved need to learn to ride before venturing out onto public roads. And sharpen their skills on a track, not the roads we share.

Harrumph.

Not at all. It is a challenging stretch of road offering a wide range of fixed as well as changing hazards. For a rider wishing to develop aspects of the riding such as cornering, trail braking, planning and hazard recognition, it is rewarding. I am not advocating it as a place for newbies to learn their basic craft. That's your job! It's not a race track, it's a hazardous public hi way and While track skills are valuable, they certainly don't translate directly to road riding, in most instances.

[rastuscat]

Had an interesting thought on this today. Playing devils advocate, you could easily argue:

The riders in question likely feel their riding is acceptable. According to your standards (ex Police, NZTA I endorsed etc) they aren't acceptable.
I'm sure you would say your riding is acceptable. Against the IAM standard... it sounds like it wouldn't be acceptable.

Herein lies the human element. Anyone slower than you is some stupid nana, everyone faster than you is a crazy loon. The same way I think ?you've? mentioned that surveys always show that more than 50% of the population feels their driving ability is above standard... which isn't statistically possible

So ultimately, what standard should be upheld? If most deem their riding acceptable where do you draw the line, and tell those on the wrong side that they're on the wrong side because someone said so...

Interesting conundrum and my head hurts from all the deep thinking. I think I've used up my allocation of deep thoughts for at least a few months...

Certainly things like this are subjective. And I sure don't want to cause angst.

We are each entitled to our own view of what constitutes competent riding. Mine tends to err on the side of caution. Others are risk takers.

What I regard as risky, some regard as good riding. I'm conservative.

That said, I have fun throwing my 300 kg Tectonic car-with-2-wheels around corners. I just do it with safety margins.

Others appear to do it without such margin, and they can suit themselves really. Except when it's me or my whanau coming the other way, then I get prissy.

The challenge is those who corner without thinking, they just corner. I even had a guy on basic handling skills tell me he shifts his weight around on the bike coz he saw the Moto GP guys doing it. Thing is, it was during practice for his BHST. At 20 kmh.

Lots of folk are just riding. No plan, just riding. Those are either ones taking risks they don't even know they are taking. Or maybe they do, and just don't care, as they are having fun.

[rastuscat]

Not at all. It is a challenging stretch of road offering a wide range of fixed as well as changing hazards. For a rider wishing to develop aspects of the riding such as cornering, trail braking, planning and hazard recognition, it is rewarding. I am not advocating it as a place for newbies to learn their basic craft. That's your job! It's not a race track, it's a hazardous public hi way and While track skills are valuable, they certainly don't translate directly to road riding, in most instances.

Entirely agree. I'm a big proponent of trail braking, it's my go-to technique.

Nice to agree. I originally thought I'd be starting my day with a frowin.

Now I've turned that frown upside down.

Awwwww shucks

[nzspokes]

Entirely agree. I'm a big proponent of trail braking, it's my go-to technique.

Nice to agree. I originally thought I'd be starting my day with a frowin.

Now I've turned that frown upside down.

Awwwww shucks

Trail braking is a term with more than one meaning. I would suggest its one that shouldn't be used from a trainers perspective as it can cause confusion.

[rastuscat]

Trail braking is a term with more than one meaning. I would suggest its one that shouldn't be used from a trainers perspective as it can cause confusion.

Definitely. There's a few techniques I use that don't get taught on courses. We teach standards on courses, and trail braking isn't one of them.

Worry not, citizen.

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[nzspokes]

Definitely. There's a few techniques I use that don't get taught on courses. We teach standards on courses, and trail braking isn't one of them.

Worry not, citizen.

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Which trail braking don't you teach?