older riders

Uncle Phil said:
I have yet to go down that I did not separate from the motorcycle - we just seem to 'naturally' part company when it comes to that sort of stuff. ;)
Click to expand...

The going down part, is a bad habit of getting into! One I've tried to avoid, but with three get offs I totally agree!
 
DesmoRonin said:
Apologies if this is something that has already been posted, but for those who enjoy riding spiritedly down curvy roads, this is a MUST READ:

The Pace by Nick Ienatsch
Click to expand...
Timeless reading, a true rider's classic.
Also the book Sportriding Techniques, used by the MSF for their Advance Riding Course.
(What, you thought the MSF only offered the Basic RiderCourse?)
DesmoRonin said:
What is the BRG? #clueless
Click to expand...
Blue Ridge Gathering.
Annual scheduled ride for ST owners, hosted and led by our very own esteemed and beloved @Uncle Phil .
Click the "Riding" drop-down menu above, and select Events.
 
ST1100Y said:
... you get smoother, don't upset the suspension with aggressive, edgy handling, plan well ahead, choose the better line... and frequently confuse the fool out them young GSXers... :cool:
Click to expand...
Smoother... check.
Suspension... check. (shock needs replacement I think)
Anticipate better... check.
Better lines... not always, lol
Embarrass Gixxers... not yet on the ST, perhaps after sorting suspension

I like your avatar! Reminds me of the Gymkana-style police bike courses they do in Japan.
 
OldMcClelland said:
I agree, The PACE is where it's at regarding street riding. AND the bike looks like a VFR750F (which does exactly what your brain asks it to!)

Rob
Click to expand...
Yes, a 1990 (wheels look white)... probably the bike I regret selling the most. Fittingly, the only bike I ever rode on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
 
DesmoRonin said:
What is the BRG? #clueless

I'd likely get left behind. On the street, I'm at 5/or 6/10 pace. Perhaps I'm getting older than I realize... my brain/maturity has grown only incrementally, but the dangly bits have shrunk considerably.
Click to expand...
Blue Ridge Gathering I've been holding in the NC Blue Ridge Mountains - this year will be the 24th.
We ride some pretty technical stuff but I use the 'Drop and Sweep' method which helps to somewhat alleviate many 'issues' of group riding.
Not a perfect method since humans are involved, but the best one I've seen (I learned it over in the UK on one of my riding trips).
 
Uncle Phil said:
Blue Ridge Gathering I've been holding in the NC Blue Ridge Mountains - this year will be the 24th.
We ride some pretty technical stuff but I use the 'Drop and Sweep' method which helps to somewhat alleviate many 'issues' of group riding.
Not a perfect method since humans are involved, but the best one I've seen (I learned it over in the UK on one of my riding trips).
Click to expand...
Cool, sounds like fun! Getting there and back from Southern California might be a little challenging if I don't want to use up all of my PTO!

I'm not familiar with "Drop and Sweep," but I have an idea. Apologies! I didn't mean to suggest that I'd drop so far behind that I couldn't catch up. I simply slow my roll on the street through the twisties (so I can tell my sons to slow it down without being a hypocrite) and get my ego pace out on the track, when possible. Plus, my ST is still a bit of a handful through some of the tighter sections.

I'm not horrible for a (relatively) older rider, though my sons might tell you otherwise. ;) But, I wasn't kidding about needing to work on choosing better lines (2-meters away from the apex):

IMG_2455.PNG
 
Uncle Phil said:
Here's my explanation of the "Drop And Sweep'' - it is not really much like 'other' systems (and I have tried most of those at the BRG over the years) -

Click to expand...
Who is the handsome model on your page?
Nice write up UP, great system, hope to be a part of it one of these times.
 
DesmoRonin said:
Nice! On group rides (small), I'm the old, slow guy in the back and tail the new and slower riders. Most of the riders are on comms so no one ever gets lost or left behind.
Click to expand...
Well, the issue with depending on 'comms' is when you have 20-40 riders not everybody has the same 'comm set' or even has one at all.
Plus getting stretched out in the mountains of NC, the range is not sufficient.
You would be fine as the 'sweep' who always stays at the tail end and allows the 'bread crumb' to pull back in front of them.
When you have a wide range of rider skillsets in one group Drop and Sweep helps that quite a bit if folks put their egos aside.
If a rider wants to run hot, they can and pass people.
If a rider wants to take it easy, they just wave the feller around and proceed at their own pace.
No pressure to keep up or try to watch for the guy behind - you just ride til you see a 'bread crumb' and then turn or continue as they direct you.
The only issue is that if a 'bread crumb' gets impatient and moves - I guess they must think that all the riders behind them have been abducted by aliens .... :doh1:
 
At one of the Oh-STocs I was a bread crumb and waited over 30 mins at an intersection for the last riders to come thru. They must have stopped for a drink or something. I nearly gave up waiting for them.
 
DesmoRonin said:
Nice! On group rides (small), I'm the old, slow guy in the back and tail the new and slower riders.
Click to expand...
Huh?!
Normally within a formation the most experienced rider is in the lead...
Besides navigation he's distracted by checking his mirrors, has to plan/think ahead on how and were to maneuver that motorcade behind...
Any noobs or notoriously slow riders should be placed right behind the leader, as they are determining the speed...
The further back, the faster you'll have to be able to ride... anyone beyond the 3rd or 4th position has to really wring it, when they up front passed 2~3 cars you'll have to see how to keep up...
the sweeper at the end then should be technically able to pass the entire group if required for any reason... old and slow... yeah-right... :roflmao:
 
Hunters still take out more deer than cars, but we are looking at a sport that very much mirrors motorcycling in that young people are not taking it up in the numbers that older generations did. Wildlife control is going to be a real problem in another generation or so.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom