Feeling rather pleased with myself

[Brettus]

Just had one of those rare moments where you notice your own progress.
I've had my SV just over 3 years now, getting progressively better on it with changes and experience, I'm happy with the amount of tyre I use and don't bother checking "chicken strips" but I hopped off after a recent ride and noticed my tyre was pretty well worn from what I expected:
http://www.brettnet.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/20110315-045315.jpg
Now yep, I know there is still rubber left but its more than I've ever used and its still comparatively early in the better weather. And yes I know it looks like I've parked the old abused machine in a barn but nope, that's our bike sheds at work. I've actually felt recently I was bordering on the edge of the tyres performance in the current conditions which I was convinced I never would get near so I'm feeling pretty good, might well be placebo but I've still improved and enjoy getting better as I go, still got a long way to go but I'm happy with my riding.

Sorry to waffle but no-one else I talk to would really appreciate it :)
Thanks for your time

[L3nny]

It's a good feeling aint it??

Get yourself on a track day and get rid of the rest of it :D

[Brettus]

Hehe tempting to do a track day sometime, but im not too bothered with pushing myself too much, hence why it's nice to notice the gradual natural progression. My bike is my only transport too so can't risk it too much on a track, I'm convinced I'd bin it so I'd like to know that im not gonna be without a bike if i do that heh.

I'm ultimately a wuss on the bike, enjoy what i do and thats all that matters, was ginna make a witty pun about driving miss daisy but when you put it in the bike context of riding it becomes a whole new genre of film! :oops:

[mister c]

I'm just totally amazed















you have tread on your tyre ;)

Nice one mate :)

[Specialone]

Don't forget Brett, some tyres side walls are different, so other tyres you might get a smaller strip.
I didn't have any last year but have about 10 mm now, but I had wife on the back for my first ride of the year last week and the roads weren't the best.

Glad your feeling confident mate, something I need to work on.

I was worried about trackdays as well tbh, but I done one at mallory on my 6 month old sprint, you go as fast as you like, build up your speed gradually.

[Brettus]

you have tread on your tyre ;)


Touché yep, somewhat of a novelty for me to post a picture of my tyre that isn't showing canvas :oops:

And good advice specialone, might have to just bite the bullet and do it sometime. Will see how the summer goes, get em when they are cheaper. Why is there no Scrooge/skinflint emote ;-)

[Bibio]

dont get to hung up about chicken strips. better to be safe than sorry.

[dizzyblonde]

haha I thought the same as Mister C looking at that pic:D!!!
Yup tiz what my tyres look like these days when I ridden them.....what is more impressive is when Pegs taken the bike out for me, and has completely wiped out any trace of chicken strip:smt080

[Jimmy2Feet]

forget the chicken strips, you need to give that bike a good old clean by the look of it!!! :) :P

[Stig]

I spent years avoiding track days as I thought I wouldn't be able to contain my enthusiasm. Reality dictates you can go round as fast or as slow as you want. The difference between road and track, is everyone is always going the same direction as you and the corners are the same each time you go round them. Never a better proving ground for gradual progression.

Get booked and get it done. :)

[Skeletor]

Looks like an awesome ride mate.
I would rather say you've reached your 650s limits now than talk about chicken strips!
Had the PilotRoad2 myself and the shape of the 160 tyre itself causes the 10mm stips. If you try to go further down, your next achievment will be a 90 degree angle ;-)
The Road2 is well known for that strips.
And stop thinking about it, anyway. Safety first.

But yeah, honestly, clean that dirty bitch of yours :-D

[Brettus]

But yeah, honestly, clean that dirty bitch of yours :-D

forget the chicken strips, you need to give that bike a good old clean by the look of it!!! :) :P
yeah but the weather can change and then it looks the same after a couple of commutes. Besides, mine ain't no show bike, it's a work horse.

dont get to hung up about chicken strips. better to be safe than sorry.

I think my post was a little ambiguous, wasn't posting to say how do I get rid of my strips, just that as an indicator I've noticed my riding has improved. But don't think I'm near the limit of the bike, it's the law of diminishing returns, the better you get the more/longer it takes to improve.

That said I don't mean to sound ungrateful I'm very appreciative for all responses, has done my confidence some good to have some reinforcement

The difference between road and track, is everyone is always going the same direction as you and the corners are the same each time you go round them. Never a better proving ground for gradual progression.

Get booked and get it done. :)
That's a good point, think i might give it a go at some stage, see if I can rope in some local orgers so i don't feel so alone ;-)

Oh and as for awesome ride, this is my commute, I get to do it twice a day, 4 times if I go home for lunch, can't complain too much :-) only 12-15 miles but that keeps it good when the weather isn't.

[yorkie_chris]

There's nob all wrong with that bike, it's healthy ish now anyway, though it was in a fookin state before I got my grubby paws on it.

Get on a track yah poof. You wouldn't be looked at funny if you had the sort of pace (in novices anyway) that would hardly get you banned at all on a decent rideout. Just don't go mental on the first corner and you'll be fine.
Worth every penny in terms of skill improvement.

[Bluepete]

The tyre profile makes alot of difference on getting rid of 'strips.

On the Tiger, the rear is used all the way to the edge, but even with a front wheel slide and near low-side, the front is nowhere near the edges of the tyre.

You can get rid of rear strips on the job bikes in the car-park at 10mph. 'Round and around we go, lower, lower... job done!

Pete ;)