My Sunday ride

[j_redley]

Rite, so first off another big thankyou to T.W.R for agreeing to come out on a ride with me today, was much appreciated and I did actually learn a shit load even if my riding didn't seem to improve much through the day :-p

Took the straights out from ChCh through Halswell and although I already knew it would happen, not much I could do to stop the wind blowin me and the bike all over the road. When the wind did stop its fine, but its bloody scary being pushed around like that when your travellin at 100k. First pointer came from that too, my road position was far to close to the little white line, and some how that line probably wouldn't stop me or a lovely cage crossing it and causing some pain.

Through over the pass stopping for a brief drink and a few pointers (cheers again TWR) before carrying on over Summit Road. Again alot I knew I could learn here, and now its a case of putting it into practice. No coasting through corners, no braking in corners, and when you find neutral don't click down into first. Bit of a hairy experiance from the day, managed to find a pot hole going round a corner, gut reaction was off the gas, on the brake and unfortunatly over into the other lane before turning and giving it some gas again. Still does show Iv got alot to learn about what to do in corners, how to take corners and position myself on the road. Awesome day for it out there today and just made me want to improve my riding even more.

[Hitcher]

Halswell that ends well.

[T.W.R]

Generally you did pretty good J

Just keep thinking about where you want to be on the road & not where you are. Relaxing and being prepared for what might be around that blind corner or over the rise

We'll get you out there a few more times and you'll be suprised how things start to piece together. "got to learn to walk before you can run"

your wee moment was interesting to watch

Though seeing some of the other motorcyclists out & about made for some bizarre viewing

1) A pea brain on a CBR250 on Lincoln rd passing on the inside of vehicles then swinging through others to make a R/H turn into a side street Dick!

2) Another Darwin winner on a black sports bike near Magazine bay passing a group of cars on a rising blind L/H bend IDIOT!!!

3) The amount of bikers out in just T-shirts, shorts, no gloves & mixes of the aforementioned dumb! I rather be sweating than not having any skin to sweat through.

[j_redley]

your wee moment was interesting to watch

Shoulda tried being on the bike, though I doubt you would have reacted the same way I did. One moment I was fine going round a corner, next second the front wheel bounced through a fricken pot hole and in coming off the gas and grabing a fist ful of clutch and brake you saw where I ended up :-p

I'm gonna try and head out over those roads at least a coupla times this week, cheers for the ride again.

[trump-lady]

Oh Oh OH...... I wanna play tooooooo

I live in Halswell and really need someone who knows what theyr doing to give me pointers too. I went with the NZbikers forum to Akoroa but they way to fast for me. Lovely bunch and really nice I just felt like a wet rag cause they have to wait. I did learn alot from them......but they would pull away on the hills.........At this point Ive been riding with Harleys and the ride style is different. Im not into tooooo fast but I dont like slow and really I need to get technique before I can get speed........ Im not working and Im free to ride when ever where ever. Can you pm me next time you guys head out PWEEEEEASSSSEEEE

[T.W.R]

Shoulda tried being on the bike, though I doubt you would have reacted the same way I did. One moment I was fine going round a corner, next second the front wheel bounced through a fricken pot hole and in coming off the gas and grabing a fist ful of clutch and brake you saw where I ended up :-p

I'm gonna try and head out over those roads at least a coupla times this week, cheers for the ride again.

I've had moments like that, ole ring tighteners are moments. You remember what I told you about getting through incidents like

Just get a circuit going around there so you can learn the road & the conditions. Learn to anticipate the road & what it holds.

Best time through there is mid week, less cars & mountain bikers etc, but watch for stray dim-wits all the same

Oh Oh OH...... I wanna play tooooooo

I live in Halswell and really need someone who knows what theyr doing to give me pointers too. I went with the NZbikers forum to Akoroa but they way to fast for me. Lovely bunch and really nice I just felt like a wet rag cause they have to wait. I did learn alot from them......but they would pull away on the hills.........At this point Ive been riding with Harleys and the ride style is different. Im not into tooooo fast but I dont like slow and really I need to get technique before I can get speed........ Im not working and Im free to ride when ever where ever. Can you pm me next time you guys head out PWEEEEEASSSSEEEE

lols NZSBF crew aren't that fast for the machinery they have

That's a failing on their behalf taking off like that on you

I'm going to keep a fairly close eye on J so there'll be a few rides coming up plus there's another Kb that I want to get rolling again once he gets back from the UK DE

[trump-lady]

No I told them to go. At little river I told them I would lose them and to just go ahead......they always waited for me somewhere down the road. I was quite happy at the back and once they disapeared in the distance I concentrated on my lines....so it was all good. I would def go with them again..........

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

lols NZSBF crew aren't that fast for the machinery they have

Im not that fast... and it has nothing to do with my bike... I just have a big scooter

[T.W.R]

Im not that fast... and it has nothing to do with my bike... I just have a big scooter

I noticed

[MyGSXF:Me]

Sounds like you had a great day out J & you definately had the right man for the job leading you.. (but then I'm bias.. )

B & I rode that road last weekend.. & it's a great place to practice on!! but I found that his ZXR wasn't quite my cuppa tea in that environment.. must say.. the mist stop was pretty cool though!!

If you can get hold of a copy.. there's a great book called "The Biker's Bible".. by Graham Allardice.. NZ book for Motorcyclists. Loads of great info in there!!!

Best tool I have learnt in 15 years is.. where you look.. is where you will go.

Keep up the good work!! & have fun!!!!

Jen

[T.W.R]

Sounds like you had a great day out J & you definately had the right man for the job leading you.. (but then I'm bias.. )

B & I rode that road last weekend.. & it's a great place to practice on!! but I found that his ZXR wasn't quite my cuppa tea in that environment.. must say.. the mist stop was pretty cool though!!

lols I let J lead so i could watch him & see what he was doing

bias huh mmm


the ZXR is set-up for me so you would have found it flighty with you on board especially up the goat track

[Deviant Esq]

I'm going to keep a fairly close eye on J so there'll be a few rides coming up plus there's another Kb that I want to get rolling again once he gets back from the UK DE

*Peek*

Good to see / read that you're helping out new riders or just people looking for pointers - great stuff! The more we newbies can learn about doing things the right way, we lower the chances of coming to grief due to a newbie error. I always enjoyed riding with you mate, just a shame that most of the time when we met up, one of our bikes would be in bits! Still, have never felt the need to go too fast for my ability or to have to "keep up" either. Looking forward to getting back to New Zealand and going for more rides, so we can visit some more of the Port Hills, maybe do a run over to Akaroa or two.

I've had moments like that, ole ring tighteners are moments.

Yep. Can graphically remember going over the sign of the Takahe with you a while back. You were leading. We went around a sweeping left hander that was downhill in, uphill out. I was halfway around the corner and watching where I was going, and saw you up ahead of me looking over your shoulder watching my progress - was wondering what was up. Then suddenly straight through an invisable patch of gravel / grit on the exit of the corner, slid sideways a foot, must've looked surprised because your head bobbed as if to say "good job" and we carried on! I was just happy to keep it upright.

Cheers mate

[T.W.R]

*Peek*

Looking forward to getting back to New Zealand and going for more rides, so we can visit some more of the Port Hills, maybe do a run over to Akaroa or two.

Yep. Can graphically remember going over the sign of the Takahe with you a while back. You were leading. We went around a sweeping left hander that was downhill in, uphill out. I was halfway around the corner and watching where I was going, and saw you up ahead of me looking over your shoulder watching my progress - was wondering what was up. Then suddenly straight through an invisable patch of gravel / grit on the exit of the corner, slid sideways a foot, must've looked surprised because your head bobbed as if to say "good job" and we carried on! I was just happy to keep it upright.

Cheers mate

Got to sort you out on a new mount too at some stage and get further afield than the playground (magic that it is). worked out the other day it's 20yrs since I started beating those roads up


glorious fulton hogan & their grit though at the time of the year it was to be expected. mmm what you doing watchin me when your heading into a corner

There's still two blind corners up on the summit (sth end) that have grit strategically located to give you a thrill

[Deviant Esq]

Got to sort you out on a new mount too at some stage and get further afield than the playground (magic that it is). worked out the other day it's 20yrs since I started beating those roads up

mmm what you doing watchin me when your heading into a corner

Heading into the corner wasn't a problem, I couldn't see you because the bush on the downhill slope on the inside of the corner was blocking my view of the exit anyway. So I was just watching my way through the corner, got near the exit and because I was ready to wind it out of the corner I was looking further ahead... and saw you looking back because you'd slowed down, presumably to see if I'd make it through the grit. You had been about 50m ahead of me before that and suddenly you appeared under 20m ahead and looking concerned so I wondered what was up... and then... shit! ...wiggle... phew!

Yup, I'm looking forward to kicking some tyres and having a few test rides... and getting a new mount!
The NZ doesn't fare too well on the open road out to Rakaia... it's just not very keen to sit at ~105km/h. Although it does what it's told and will overtake if it has to, it's just in no particular hurry to do it.
Getting further afield than "the playground" will be cool too - I'm keen to have a blast through the Lewis on a good mount in nice weather... that'd be fun. Or a squirt over to the West Coast through Arthur's Pass... though there's plenty of loose gravel and shit on that road most of the times I've been through there. Or are there other roads you have in mind? Rakaia Gorge?