Practice

[Big Dog]

I haven't done any emergency stopping "practice" in the past few months of two-up touring. But most weekends when there's just me on the bike I'll practice a couple of high speed stops. It's easy enough on a quiet stretch of road. From 120kmh I like to get the bike stopped in about 1 and a half marker pegs, and no more than two.

If you do high mileage with the same pillion is there any reason you have not drilled with them?

It helps if they know what to do too.
Plus weight distribution / effectiveness of the brakes changes.

[Hitcher]

Yup. That's what track days are for.

Partly. Track days hone an imcomplete set of skills necessary for survival on the road. The placement of a pedestrian crossing halfway down the back straight, random jaywalkers on Higgins, a campervan and a cellphone-using kindy mum in a RAV4 going around the other way would add a more relevant reality to track days if they were intended for the purpose of road riding skills development.

[dpex]

dpex needs a new hobby.

I've got more hobbies than Hobby the hobby-horse. What really need to do is get a life.

[MarkH]

Do you take time to practice specific skills such as emergency stopping, slow cornering, fast cornering, slow-speed maneuvering, avoiding tar snakes and wet white paint on the road, looking for escape routes? Do you consciously lift your your head and look to the disappearing point in a corner.

I don't mean just being on your bike and doing what you do normally. I mean, do you take time out to consciously practice your skills?

I am commuting around Auckland every day - so yeah, I practise slow-speed manoeuvres, emergency braking, slow cornering, fast cornering and looking for escape routes every day. I only practise wet white paint on wet days though. If I didn't lift my head and look deep into the corner I would probably end up riding into another vehicle.

If you want to practise for the worst of the traffic then Auckland is the place to do it.

[DMNTD:Me]

Partly. Track days hone an imcomplete set of skills necessary for survival on the road. The placement of a pedestrian crossing halfway down the back straight, random jaywalkers on Higgins, a campervan and a cellphone-using kindy mum in a RAV4 going around the other way would add a more relevant reality to track days if they were intended for the purpose of road riding skills development.

You'd be surprised (maybe)...randoms cutting in on your line mid corner,freakish braking manoeuvres amongst a gaggle of testosterone filled riders,gravel/coolant/etc mid corner on occasion, heavy braking whilst on a lean.
Basically being fully aware of your surroundings while having a fang with others fanging their wang.

[Big Dog]

I am commuting around Auckland every day - so yeah, I practise slow-speed manoeuvres, emergency braking, slow cornering, fast cornering and looking for escape routes every day. I only practise wet white paint on wet days though. If I didn't lift my head and look deep into the corner I would probably end up riding into another vehicle.

If you want to practise for the worst of the traffic then Auckland is the place to do it.

Exactly, a typical ride to work and back includes but is not limited to:

1. 1 pedestrian or animal don't look before crossing.
2. 2 people see me but take my line anyway.
3. 3 people do not see me and take my line.
4. 4 people who make a legal pass but then slow down to slower than I was going in the first place as soon as they are past.
5. 5 cages who can't bear to let a commuter past.
6. 12 Blind corners that entry speed is the difference between making it or not.

[Goblin]

Partly. Track days hone an imcomplete set of skills necessary for survival on the road. The placement of a pedestrian crossing halfway down the back straight, random jaywalkers on Higgins, a campervan and a cellphone-using kindy mum in a RAV4 going around the other way would add a more relevant reality to track days if they were intended for the purpose of road riding skills development.

You'd be surprised (maybe)...randoms cutting in on your line mid corner,freakish braking manoeuvres amongst a gaggle of testosterone filled riders,gravel/coolant/etc mid corner on occasion, heavy braking whilst on a lean.
Basically being fully aware of your surroundings while having a fang with others fanging their wang.

What he said.


Lately I find myself getting a bit silly on the roads if I dont get out on the track. After riding on the track I slow down on the road and ride more sensibly. Feel more aware of what's going on around me. Spose that's practice.

[BarBender]

Everyday is a new day...

[BIHB@0610]

Partly. Track days hone an imcomplete set of skills necessary for survival on the road. The placement of a pedestrian crossing halfway down the back straight, random jaywalkers on Higgins, a campervan and a cellphone-using kindy mum in a RAV4 going around the other way would add a more relevant reality to track days if they were intended for the purpose of road riding skills development.

Gahhhh!

hehe been dying to find one, Hitcher

[James Deuce]

You'd be surprised (maybe)...randoms cutting in on your line mid corner,freakish braking manoeuvres amongst a gaggle of testosterone filled riders,gravel/coolant/etc mid corner on occasion, heavy braking whilst on a lean.
Basically being fully aware of your surroundings while having a fang with others fanging their wang.

You're still all going in the same direction which reduces the chances of a fatal collision many fold.

Sounds like the normal weak justification for track days as training.

I've done road oriented training on the track. It's flipping brilliant. Going round and round as fast as you can (track days in other words) does nothing but cement incorrect lines and braking markers (for a lot of people anyway, not necessarily everyone) for negotiating a track as quickly as possible.

Track days are neither fish nor fowl.