tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20666162.post5130116788445379993..comments2024-01-30T22:53:34.269-08:00Comments on Musings of an Intrepid Commuter: irondadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17821323482397075170noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20666162.post-16170985191154745382007-07-24T08:46:00.000-07:002007-07-24T08:46:00.000-07:00Dan, Allen M pointed me at your site, and this is ...Dan, Allen M pointed me at your site, and this is one of the first posts I read... it's an excellent story well told with a good lesson.... and "ride your own ride" fits for many situations in life, not 'just' time in the saddle.Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18006392231667016999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20666162.post-12460504012286830882007-07-12T07:10:00.000-07:002007-07-12T07:10:00.000-07:00Dan,Track temperature was around 131 degrees (f). ...Dan,<BR/>Track temperature was around 131 degrees (f). We were literally cooking!<BR/><BR/>Steve,<BR/><BR/>Somehow I could picture that. You probably could have given them a run for their money, I'm sure.<BR/><BR/>Krysta,<BR/><BR/>Good question. I don't mean to imply that a rider can't look anywhere other than the direction of the turn. Normally a rider should point their nose at the target. Your scenario is not the usual cornering experience. The key is not to fixate somewhere else. Quick glances are in order.<BR/><BR/>Think of it this way. If you're turning left but need to check something to the right, your head turn should be long enough to say "Hi!" but not "Hello". It may take two or three glances but keep them quick.<BR/><BR/>A turn is a lean. The lean is initiated by a press on the handgrip in the direction a rider wants to go. A rider will find that they subtly press in the direction they're looking. So if you look right you need to concentrate on separating what your head and your hands are doing.<BR/><BR/>In the scenario you mention, the biggest hazard will be too much throttle. You might catch a glimpse of a car coming at you and be tempted to "hurry up!". When you're turning like that the lean angles are surprisingly steep. It's easy to break the rear wheel loose if there's a bit of debris on the road. Be judicious.<BR/><BR/>Michael,<BR/>You are correct in that the instructor had good boots. The break was down inside the area covered by the boot. I have since learned that the break wasn't caused by the bike falling on his leg. His left foot slipped off the peg, hit the ground and stuck, then got twisted.<BR/><BR/>In a higher speed get-off a rider usually doesn't have much control of how they come off the bike. It's more of a matter in how you land. The advice to officers to keep their feet on the pegs is applicable to lower speed manuevers. This is on the bikes like the Kawasaki's that have floor boards. One would not want their foot trapped under the boards. <BR/><BR/>The new BMW's don't have floorboards. <BR/><BR/>The last thing we want to do as motorcycle safety professionals is to have to teach how to fall off in a crash. After all, our efforts are focused on not crashing in the first place, right? However, things happen. If possible, a rider should try to get off on the high side of a bike. I.E. if the bike is falling right, push off to the left.<BR/><BR/>Biker Betty,<BR/>I would be happy to spend days riding in the Colorado mountains!!<BR/>Our goal is to keep the cops as safe as possible while equipping them to do their jobs.<BR/><BR/>Joe,<BR/>Thanks for making this a stop. Hope it's worth your while.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Danirondadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17821323482397075170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20666162.post-9399490784216720052007-07-12T03:56:00.000-07:002007-07-12T03:56:00.000-07:00"ride your own ride." That's what I told my wife o..."ride your own ride." That's what I told my wife off the get go as she's learning to ride. Good post, your site is one I come by on a regular basis.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14955078574626461009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20666162.post-12124012412329395742007-07-10T22:19:00.000-07:002007-07-10T22:19:00.000-07:00Wow, I know I would be exhausted after a day of ri...Wow, I know I would be exhausted after a day of riding like that. But my riding skills are nowhere near yours and a days ride in the Colorado mountains will suit me fine.<BR/><BR/>Sorry to hear about the spill and hope the officer heals fast. I, for one, appreciate all they go thru to keep our roads safe. We have quite a few motorcycle cops in my city and they seem to keep busy.<BR/><BR/>Ride Safe,<BR/>Biker Betty :)Biker Bettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17994597212491993059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20666162.post-37527654110859881002007-07-10T19:22:00.000-07:002007-07-10T19:22:00.000-07:00Another great post today. But riding home tonight...Another great post today. <BR/>But riding home tonight I kept thinking about the crasher. Lessee, compound fracture Just above the ankle. Suffered by an instructor yet, so probably in the best gear available. <BR/><BR/>I would have expected a good pair of boots to leave him in better shape that that. Remember the guy who commented here how his racing boot was pinned under the bike with no harm? <BR/>Maybe we can learn from that & think about positioning ourselves during a crash. I know, you might remind us what your Grandad said... "Think about ridin, not fallin"! But still... <BR/>What would you tell us about positioning ourselves during a crash? I think you once said the cops were trained to stay with the bike? Better on it than under it! <BR/>Anyway please give your friend our best wishes, & remind him the best pain relief is always a fresh cup of coffee. [Perco-Dan] :)<BR/><BR/>-Michael Bird (forgot my google pwd)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20666162.post-16111986226032367742007-07-10T13:36:00.000-07:002007-07-10T13:36:00.000-07:00Question about looking one way & turning the other...Question about looking one way & turning the other... Generally a bad idea, as that one officer found out, but sometimes necessary (or at least expeditious). So how to do it safely? <BR/><BR/>As an example: My preferred route to Karl's house takes me to the end of the next block from my house, then turning left across a divided road. I make sure there's nobody coming from the left, and check traffic from the right to see anyone w/ a turn signal coming my way, before I start across. <BR/><BR/>I can stop in the middle, between grassy islands (they call it a boulevard here) if there's traffic from the right, but prefer to keep moving & look right for traffic as I get to that point, which leaves me looking right but starting to lean left. <BR/><BR/>Feels a little odd, but has never been a problem. How to do it more safely, or what should I be feeling for, to catch a problem before it dumps me on the pavement?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20666162.post-50988524453165011332007-07-09T19:53:00.000-07:002007-07-09T19:53:00.000-07:00Wow! That is some intense riding. On the track a...Wow! That is some intense riding. On the track and the commute on top of it all. To have it too good!<BR/><BR/>On my Vespa I would slow down and then ride in little circles around them.<BR/><BR/>Steve Williams<BR/><A HREF="http://vespalx150.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">Scooter in the Sticks</A>Steve Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04540977884513559091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20666162.post-51830012566248398122007-07-09T18:32:00.000-07:002007-07-09T18:32:00.000-07:00That tire must have gotten hot as hell! Reading up...That tire must have gotten hot as hell! <BR/><BR/>Reading up on my bike it seems that the FI VTEC hondas like my VFR run lean so they meet CARB standards. If I was running it that hard on a racetrack I wouldn't be surprised if it backfired a few times. I'm no engine whiz but I remember that lean carburation can be a cause of backfiring.<BR/><BR/>--DanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com