New rider lessons learned
68 yrs with a new Bonnie t100 and no senior experienced riders to mentor me I spent 6 mo everyday riding only in my immediate neighborhood along with extensive practice just being with the bike on the driveway.
I've had 5 drops so far w/only 1 moving more than 1 or 2 mph.---------$400 in parts to date.
I took the STARS course right away(hadn't even cranked my new bike)
Since I was a terror on bicycles in 1950's I wanted what few tips they might have.
!!!SURPRISE!!!!
I failed----best thing that ever happened and probably saved my life a few times over.
I learned what I didn't know and which skills I didn't posess.
Below are a few simplist bits of knowledge they didn't teach---but what can you include in a weekend of combined classroom / course time.
I knew afterwards what elements I needed to accomplish but performing those requires the info below.
When one can accomplish all the elements in the course and / or the Triumph owners training manual
without even thinking, without damaging yourself or the bike you somehow / some way will have to have learned the following stupidly simple processes. If you don't develop these simple skills your knees and ankles will eventually hate you and punish you-punish you chronically.
1.)coming to stop stay off the front brake at least in the final or the front wheel will go left or right and the bike will lean. you will be continually using a foot to stop the lean and stop the fall.
It isn't because you are naturally weak; but those particular arm / shoulder muscles require developing--Still get off the front brake early.
####by-the-way--stopping fast is easy; it's the slow, normal, easing up at he stop light that will get you.############
2.)stopping while turning---definitely depend on the rear brake-it's like magic how it straightens up the bike-if you don't the ankles and knees won't last too long; that is if you survive the crashes.
3.)moving the bike out of the garage, or any off machine manuever.
moving forward be careful not to scrape the kickstand or tip it with your foot--when you let it go, expecting it to rest on the stand the stand won't be there and your knee will automatically jump out at the expense of your outside knee tendons.
It's easy to do on my bonnie because it is so silent as it slips back.
4.) practicing slow turning make sure no obstacles are to close to the arc--any accelleration--repeat any acceleration widens your arc and you wind up in the hedges or busting up neighbor's garbage cans. I seemed to have an automatic reastion when surprised....crank the throttle and straight ahead....
After you are good you will automatically shove that handlebar, go into the lean and crank the throttle in one smooth motion. Throw gravel like Steve Mcqeen.
5.)weaving requires different arm/shoulder muscles--practice-practice-practice to develop them.
And..........Even practicing slow weeves--look at the spot the front tire needs to cross halfway between the cones.
When you cross it look at the next crossing.
6.)going over a dip of any magnitude--move on thru and over. My driveway is slightly uphill with a gutter at the curb.
Stopping in that move...surprise! your foot reaches for the ground and it ain't there---oh well!!!!!!!!another $130
And DAMN!!! I was getting really good and cocky.
7.) For slow manuevers dragging the rear brake is your best friend.
Slipping the clutch combined with a bit of throttle is a close #2
8.) you don't need to look where your intend to go normally so, ------------why practice?
If you get surprised by any obstacle, without one helluv a lot of practice you will focus on that obstacle like an eagle on a field mouse---and I can assure you you will hit what you focus on.
You may learn to overcome this tendency thru practice but I don't really believe you ever get rid of that natural, automatically reactive, response to a sudden, major surprise. The scarier the surprise; the less mental discipline one has.
9.)Any stop or rapid slowing involving lean, as in a turn----get off the throttle and ---rear brake--rear brake---rear brake to ""straighten up"""".
Accelleration will straighten you up too but your arc will get much wider darn immediately. So you better have a clear path in that new direction.
In ""avoidance manuevers"" that certainly could be appropriate but be prepared for immediate straighten-up and continuing in the precise direction the front wheel is pointing.
Lastly, these skills involved in riding are cumulative.
I think repetitive sessions contribute more than longer sessions. Accept that!
I have a stack of fiber board scraps that I use for markers .(sub for cones)
Get your owners manual and mark off a training course for particular element, plop down your markers and run thru that manuever pretty regular
Then pick them up. Practice any manuever for 15 or 20 minutes a day or 2 days or ?????
Vary the manuever regularly and, in my opinion, never quit; the frequency may stretch out but you may only need a certain skill once in this lifetime----
Go figure the result of needing to do it "NOW" and he skill needing polishing first.
Large church parking lots make good practice arenas for the wider ranging manuevers.
We raised a daughter; now 30 yrs of age. That process changes a man.
I see boys hardly out of their teens raceing around on powerful crotch-rockets with some unsuspecting teenage girl clutched to his back. He knows where the brake and the throttle is and despite his youthful natural abilities, couldn't do a 15mph weave between 10 cones in a row, much less have the developed instincts necessary to avoid a major obstacle surprise.
If that assumption is correct and I suspect it too often is; It infuriates me. She has no idea how much danger he has her in.
So, there you have it; some valuable knowledge that I've paid dear cash learning ---plus---a little commentary too boot.
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