View Full Version : Do you ride with fear?
missyburd
23-06-12, 09:50 PM
Lol I'll go bankrupt buying levers :D I'd prefer not to practice dropping it
ah, there is an art to dropping one's bike gracefully tha knows....I've yet to break an indicator! (though I know I've said it now lol) ... broken/bent a couple of levers but nowhere near as many as I thought I would have :rolleyes:
Obviously I would prefer not either but I'm just a tad too short in the leg for my SV, slight inclines and misplaced footing on crappy surfaces and she's down like a (graceful) sack of bricks :-P
-Ralph-
23-06-12, 09:59 PM
Cant disagree with anytging Sid said, but think the way it was out across was a bit harsh. Agy hasnt decided not to ride again, so the post clearly doesnt apply to her, and lots of new riders get to feeling the way she does. Some time to gain her confidence and discover the home truths for herself, whilst the rest if us sit back and provide support and encoragement - not too much to ask IMO.
I guess i'll know when i get on my sv for the first time this week :/
daveangel
24-06-12, 02:01 PM
I always go out with the intention of enjoying myself and usually do. I would never go out if I was angry/upset as it might make me more prone to going beyond my limits which aren't that high anyway! The T-Shirt and Shorts wearing brigade, just let 'em get on with it. I only pity the paramedic that has to clear the mess up. 30 years ago my younger brother fell off a bicycle on some loose gravel, one lump went into his knee and stayed there until it was prised out, I was converted to wearing proper biking gear 6 years before I got my 125.
I ride a few of my father's old british bikes now & again, one is eligble for the Pioneer London to Brighton Run and that helps a lot, when you are on something with bicycle type brakes, you get good at reading the road ahead & I'll take any advantage it gives me on the SV.
Bordtea
24-06-12, 05:20 PM
I guess i'll know when i get on my sv for the first time this week :/
You hope
Sid Squid
24-06-12, 07:59 PM
Cant disagree with anytging Sid said
About time too!
Agy hasnt decided not to ride again, so the post clearly doesnt apply to her,
I didn't ever say it was, and having read it back I don't think it does, it was an aside and It's on a related subject that has, in similar discussions, been touched upon before.
-Ralph-
24-06-12, 09:10 PM
I didn't ever say it was
And did I say that you said it did? Or are you also working on inference and assumption sir?
Oh it would take A LOT more to put me off :D yes I was/am nervous but damn I love my bike sooooo much! I think about it and I miss it every minute of the day I'm not on it! If it ever comes to something that would put me off riding my bike then I don't know what I'd do other than die of heartbreak :(
I did get on the bike today after it rained. I thought I'll face the puddles in the sun at least so a small step. I nearly had a heart attack when I arrived at St Thomas's and saw the state of the car park.... pot hole upon pot hole, puddles, random bits of tarmac sticking out, wonky speed humps... you name it it was there! Including something that looked like an ice rink! Phew... survived! LOL
Specialone
25-06-12, 09:25 AM
Hey Agy, when you're riding slowly over rough car parks or roads etc, its not a crime to put your feet down, if the surface is really bad I'll have my feet just skimming the ground so if it does go a bit skewy, I can put a foot down to stabilise it.
Bikes can cope with a suprisingly high amount of crap on the roads, it's normally us that limits them, obviously fast cornering on loose stuff isn't gonna work too well but in a straight line without tensing up and making any sudden corrections or movements, the bike will just plough through it.
In the future I'd recommend an off road riding school day, it will get you used to rough roads and the sensation of the bike moving around under you, it will stop you panicking so much when face with not so smooth roads IMO.
-Ralph-
25-06-12, 10:09 AM
In the future I'd recommend an off road riding school day
+1, I thought this, but also thought I'd posted enough about ROSPA already.
Yeah I know... £170 tho... I'm buying new tyres this week :(
SoulKiss
25-06-12, 12:12 PM
stay behind peeps then, then lie
Thats what he does :p
I dont crash any more than anyone else, I just havent mastered the art of Stealth Crashing :p
I got myself in a pickle today. got into a place where I couldn't reverse cos i would be reversing up hill.... took me good 5 minutes to manoeuvre into a parking position. hope no one was looking :D
SoulKiss
25-06-12, 12:38 PM
Discretion is the better part of valour.
Anyway I don't think Agy would hit a cripple.
Or as I normally put it
Best Defence - No be there
SoulKiss
25-06-12, 12:39 PM
I got myself in a pickle today. got into a place where I couldn't reverse cos i would be reversing up hill.... took me good 5 minutes to manoeuvre into a parking position. hope no one was looking :D
You DID get off and push instead of trying to paddle it didn't you?
missyburd
25-06-12, 12:41 PM
I got myself in a pickle today. got into a place where I couldn't reverse cos i would be reversing up hill.... took me good 5 minutes to manoeuvre into a parking position. hope no one was looking :D
And therein lies another art, the art of spinning the bike around on its sidestand, prevents much huffing and puffing and feeling irritated :D
I was going to but as it was quite uneven I had a wobbly moment as I was taking my leg over and nearly dropped it so I put my leg back over and in little steps and lots of sweat turned it the other way round... ufff
I guess it still takes me by surprise sometimes. I forget what it weighs
Spinning the bike on its stand??? yeah i saw the bike mechanic do that! I wondered about it! how???? everywhere i seem to go there are fecking hills so whichever way i park/try to get out, i need to reverse up hill which brings tears of terror to my eyes. nothing worse than being stuck and unable to move. so embarrassing!!! :D :D
yorkie_chris
25-06-12, 12:48 PM
There is very rarely a need for that, think about it before you park it...
Balky001
25-06-12, 12:51 PM
Spinning the bike on its stand??? yeah i saw the bike mechanic do that! I wondered about it! how???? everywhere i seem to go there are fecking hills so whichever way i park/try to get out, i need to reverse up hill which brings tears of terror to my eyes. nothing worse than being stuck and unable to move. so embarrassing!!! :D :D
Move to Norfolk?
Spinning the bike on the stand isn't difficult once you get the hang of it but like YC says, you can often avoid it by a bit of forward planning.
it's london mate. sometimes you park where you can
Paul the 6th
25-06-12, 12:55 PM
it's london mate. sometimes you park where you can
http://hikinghq.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=4087&d=1338619623
granty92
25-06-12, 02:18 PM
i was going round a corner leant over but there was a big crack following the curve of the road, as i pulled out of the crack i just fell ha
Spank86
25-06-12, 04:47 PM
Park where you can but it's best to try to get your bike facing uphill from the beginning, reversing is easy when it's just clutch in and roll back.
missyburd
25-06-12, 04:53 PM
There is very rarely a need for that, think about it before you park it...
Well you could do that...but have you seen the looks on people's faces when you jump off and do it? Especially if you're a lass, it's most amusing :p
does it not damage the stand?
missyburd
25-06-12, 05:14 PM
does it not damage the stand?
aye, bends it over time depending on how much you use it but thanks to our infamously steep drive it gets far more use than the odd cheat at parking. Just replace the stand every now and again. My bike's been spun about pretty much daily over the last year, yes it leans quite heavily on it and I'm due for another soon probably but hey, for the convenience factor it's worth it :smt033
ChrisCurvyS
25-06-12, 07:53 PM
You can always just pick up the rear by the grabhandle and move it around that way. Surprisingly easy - that's what I do to get mine into position among the other half's clutter in the shed.
Beauty of having a light bike - gives me some comfort when I see how puny the SV looks next to the Blackbird and ZZR1200 it shares the company bike park with!
yorkie_chris
25-06-12, 08:38 PM
it's london mate. sometimes you park where you can
Not where you park, how you park.
Reverse downhill, it's much easier.
My XJ900 sometimes weighs well over 300kg when it's got a full tank and luggage, you think I can reverse that uphill :smt043
missyburd
25-06-12, 08:45 PM
Damn I NEED this skill!
Easier to pick up from someone else demonstrating, there's definitely a knack to it. Ask about at Soho and get someone to show ya :)
jamesymurray
27-06-12, 10:05 AM
Just my tuppence on the original post, I wouldn't say I ride with real fear, but I always ride knowing that I am more vulnerable than any other person on the road. I think the realisation of ones vulnerability is a good thing, it certainly makes me ride with more attention, alertness and sensibility.
I don't know whether it's a natural feeling, or just that I am still a newbie on two wheels and a certain degree of complacency/confidence has yet to set in...
I have a few friends that enjoy playing cat/mouse at a ton-20 on the bypasses around here. Doesn't interest me.
Specialone
27-06-12, 12:23 PM
Just my tuppence on the original post, I wouldn't say I ride with real fear, but I always ride knowing that I am more vulnerable than any other person on the road. I think the realisation of ones vulnerability is a good thing, it certainly makes me ride with more attention, alertness and sensibility.
I don't know whether it's a natural feeling, or just that I am still a newbie on two wheels and a certain degree of complacency/confidence has yet to set in...
I have a few friends that enjoy playing cat/mouse at a ton-20 on the bypasses around here. Doesn't interest me.
Thats called defensive riding, not a bad way to ride imo, assume every t**t in every other vehicle around you are trying to kill you.
Regarding your mates playing cat and mouse at 120, if they keep doing that, at the very least they will lose their license.
Just my tuppence on the original post, I wouldn't say I ride with real fear, but I always ride knowing that I am more vulnerable than any other person on the road. I think the realisation of ones vulnerability is a good thing, it certainly makes me ride with more attention, alertness and sensibility.
I don't know whether it's a natural feeling, or just that I am still a newbie on two wheels and a certain degree of complacency/confidence has yet to set in...
I have a few friends that enjoy playing cat/mouse at a ton-20 on the bypasses around here. Doesn't interest me.
I'm like you. New and cautious. I ALWAYS assume everyone else is trying to kill me LOL I like to be prepared at all times. Doesn't mean I don't enjoy the ride. I'm just super aware of anything that any idiot could potentially do
I thought I'll add I'm over my road surface/pothole paranoia! Two weeks of riding over them to reinstate the confidence back that the bike WILL cope LOL :D
Not over rain yet tho. Prob cos I haven't been riding in the rain.
Lets hope with each off, the confidence comes back quicker hahaha
I got mangled on Chiswick roundabout, 10mph filtering, nonce to my right didn't see me...so side swiped me and I bounced off another car, bike went down with me on top...broke two ribs, two knuckles, mangled a knee, battered my legs. Got back on a bike a week later and went round Chiswick roundabout again. You have absolutely no control over what is going to happen to you, you can only react in that moment and hope for the best. I don't even think about the worst, I just ride like everyone's out to get me :D
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