Sunday, December 28, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Ride Report - Clarens
So I thought it would be good to ride to Clarens with Pieman on the trip he organised for Saturday 27 December, after all, I was only on 300kms and I needed to get to 1000 in order to have run in the bike and get my first service over with.
This morning I woke up at 5:30 all ready to go, and excited about my first trip. I knew that there was giong to be one other person riding in a bike so I knew that at least I would not be the only slow one.
Some of us were going to meet at the Van Buuren off ramp, and then to meet the rest at the Block House Engen. I met the first few at Van Buuren, and they were really friendly and I knew it was going to be a great day. I don't know many people on TB yet, and must admit that I was a bit nervous about the ride. However, all my fears were allayed and I felt right at home, immediately.
We set off towards Vredefort once we had met up with the others, and discussed the route etc.
At one point, I turned a corner too wide on the way to a petrol station, and went bundu bashing, but it was all good, and I managed to get back onto the road with no problems.
After stopping for petrol, regrouping and redistributing the order of riders (which helped a lot) we finally arrived in Golden Gate Park. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking. The sky was blue, the clouds were white, and the mountains were just beautiful. It made me feel very small and insignificant in the large scheme of things.
We rode up and down some twisty turney roads, and I got a few frights, but learned a lot about cornering, braking, and keeping my head up, not looking directly at and into the *&^%$#@ pot holes.
My bike has now done her 1000 "riding in" kilometres, and is going very well. I am happy with how she handled, and how I handled myself on her. I still have a lot to learn (specially after TWO wide turns and treks in the bundu as a result), but have more confidence after today's 800 plus kms.
It was an absolutely fabulous ride, with fabulous people. I believe there are gentlemen out there still, as well as ladies in the true old-fashioned sense.
It was FUN FUN FUN, and I can't wait to do it again... Jsut as soon as I have had my first service.
This morning I woke up at 5:30 all ready to go, and excited about my first trip. I knew that there was giong to be one other person riding in a bike so I knew that at least I would not be the only slow one.
Some of us were going to meet at the Van Buuren off ramp, and then to meet the rest at the Block House Engen. I met the first few at Van Buuren, and they were really friendly and I knew it was going to be a great day. I don't know many people on TB yet, and must admit that I was a bit nervous about the ride. However, all my fears were allayed and I felt right at home, immediately.
We set off towards Vredefort once we had met up with the others, and discussed the route etc.
At one point, I turned a corner too wide on the way to a petrol station, and went bundu bashing, but it was all good, and I managed to get back onto the road with no problems.
After stopping for petrol, regrouping and redistributing the order of riders (which helped a lot) we finally arrived in Golden Gate Park. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking. The sky was blue, the clouds were white, and the mountains were just beautiful. It made me feel very small and insignificant in the large scheme of things.
We rode up and down some twisty turney roads, and I got a few frights, but learned a lot about cornering, braking, and keeping my head up, not looking directly at and into the *&^%$#@ pot holes.
My bike has now done her 1000 "riding in" kilometres, and is going very well. I am happy with how she handled, and how I handled myself on her. I still have a lot to learn (specially after TWO wide turns and treks in the bundu as a result), but have more confidence after today's 800 plus kms.
It was an absolutely fabulous ride, with fabulous people. I believe there are gentlemen out there still, as well as ladies in the true old-fashioned sense.
It was FUN FUN FUN, and I can't wait to do it again... Jsut as soon as I have had my first service.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Ride report - day 3
So this morning I woke up at 6am and decided to take out my bike.
First thing I do is try turn her round in the car port. Instead of turning her on and using the engine to help me, I tried to push her and managed to drop her again, wedging myself between the wall of the house and the bike. Very eina. I finally manage to get out, and lift my bike using the leverage technique, and take a few minutes weighing up the options of going back to sleep versus sucking it up and going on the ride.
The road won, and I took her out.
A few hundred meters out of the complex (have not stalled yet) and there is a car behind me at the red robot. Nervous, I open the throttle a bit too much, lift the front wheel off the ground and scare the CR@P out of myself, but manage to keep it under control.
I head straight for a parking lot to practise my pull offs, and after about half an hour I decided to teach my bike the way to Sasol Pine Haven to see if there were any bikers there today.
Many bikes passed me on the way since I am riding her in and am keeping it under 4000 revs. I got there about 7:20 only to find that I just missed the group ride, but I did chat to a bunch of fellow bikers who meet there every weekend. I am sure you all knew that, but I didn't.
I stayed a bit, then got back on my bike, and came home the long way round.
My gear shifting is much smoother, and I didn't stall once today. :)
I am getting more confidence, although I still need much more time at low speeds.
I am just loving my bike, and am feeling more and more like part of the family since I am noticing more and more bikers waving and nodding at me.
I am working this week until 12 on Wednesday, but will go on my bike. I plan to complete my first 1000 kms before the end of December. That is the plan. I am sure I can make it. I am looking forward to more saddle time, but my back hurts from the fall t his morning, so I may not go out again this afternoon. I will have to see. I suspect a hardened biker would simply do it, but I don't want to risk being weaker and dropping her again. Sigh.
Anyway, thanks for all the encouragement. :)
First thing I do is try turn her round in the car port. Instead of turning her on and using the engine to help me, I tried to push her and managed to drop her again, wedging myself between the wall of the house and the bike. Very eina. I finally manage to get out, and lift my bike using the leverage technique, and take a few minutes weighing up the options of going back to sleep versus sucking it up and going on the ride.
The road won, and I took her out.
A few hundred meters out of the complex (have not stalled yet) and there is a car behind me at the red robot. Nervous, I open the throttle a bit too much, lift the front wheel off the ground and scare the CR@P out of myself, but manage to keep it under control.
I head straight for a parking lot to practise my pull offs, and after about half an hour I decided to teach my bike the way to Sasol Pine Haven to see if there were any bikers there today.
Many bikes passed me on the way since I am riding her in and am keeping it under 4000 revs. I got there about 7:20 only to find that I just missed the group ride, but I did chat to a bunch of fellow bikers who meet there every weekend. I am sure you all knew that, but I didn't.
I stayed a bit, then got back on my bike, and came home the long way round.
My gear shifting is much smoother, and I didn't stall once today. :)
I am getting more confidence, although I still need much more time at low speeds.
I am just loving my bike, and am feeling more and more like part of the family since I am noticing more and more bikers waving and nodding at me.
I am working this week until 12 on Wednesday, but will go on my bike. I plan to complete my first 1000 kms before the end of December. That is the plan. I am sure I can make it. I am looking forward to more saddle time, but my back hurts from the fall t his morning, so I may not go out again this afternoon. I will have to see. I suspect a hardened biker would simply do it, but I don't want to risk being weaker and dropping her again. Sigh.
Anyway, thanks for all the encouragement. :)
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Difference between my scooter and my new F 650 GS
A few interesting things surprise me in the differences between my scooter (which I am sad to say I no longer have), and my new bike.
Apart from the the most obvious thing which is the acceleration, I have found that I feel much steadier (except at slow speeds when I am not yet as confident as I was on my scooter). I find it easier to take corners, and the braking is also better since I can use the gears to change down.
I like the fact that I am almost "holding" the bike with my legs instead of just sitting on the seat as I was on the scooter, and all in all, I feel safer with a bike that is able to give me much more when I open the throttle. I went on the highway, and was pleased to be able to accelerate up the hill instead of having to move over and hope against all odds that the cars would not bump me out of the way because I was only doing 75 up the hill.
Scooters are really lovely, and I am not sorry I started on mine. I loved her, and was sad to have to sell her, but it is time. I am pleased to have upgraded, and find that although I have a lot to learn, and need a lot of practise, I am loving every second of riding. I definately made the right choice.
I am also glad that I bought the most expensive ATGATT I could afford when I was scooting so that I don't have to buy anything new or replace anything now. It is all suitable for faster / harder / longer riding, and the plus side is while the bike is shiny and new I don't like a complete noob (except when i am stalling or dropping the bike ) since my gear has some houding.
Apart from the the most obvious thing which is the acceleration, I have found that I feel much steadier (except at slow speeds when I am not yet as confident as I was on my scooter). I find it easier to take corners, and the braking is also better since I can use the gears to change down.
I like the fact that I am almost "holding" the bike with my legs instead of just sitting on the seat as I was on the scooter, and all in all, I feel safer with a bike that is able to give me much more when I open the throttle. I went on the highway, and was pleased to be able to accelerate up the hill instead of having to move over and hope against all odds that the cars would not bump me out of the way because I was only doing 75 up the hill.
Scooters are really lovely, and I am not sorry I started on mine. I loved her, and was sad to have to sell her, but it is time. I am pleased to have upgraded, and find that although I have a lot to learn, and need a lot of practise, I am loving every second of riding. I definately made the right choice.
I am also glad that I bought the most expensive ATGATT I could afford when I was scooting so that I don't have to buy anything new or replace anything now. It is all suitable for faster / harder / longer riding, and the plus side is while the bike is shiny and new I don't like a complete noob (except when i am stalling or dropping the bike ) since my gear has some houding.
Proof
Here is my new pride and joy - my new baby.
thanks to my Dad, here is a vid of me stalling...Ha ha ha
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3952338594407892826&hl=en
thanks to my Dad, here is a vid of me stalling...Ha ha ha
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3952338594407892826&hl=en
Ride report - Day 2
Well, I have to keep riding if I am to get better, don't I?
Today I set off to Full Throttle. When I got there, I noticed that everyone was parking backwards, or perhaps the right way round, and I had arrived and wanted to turn my bike around. I rode up onto the pavement and proceeded to nearly put my bike down right at the front door!!
Three gentlemen helped me to catch the bike and turn her round, and I do thank them for that. I guess it was a little to much to try that at that stage...
After I left there i went to see Skinny at her shop. Then I just rode around and went to see my parents in Randburg.
I managed to do several pull offs quite smoothly, and only stalled twice today. :D
I am gaining confidence slowly, and will need a LOT of practise and time in the saddle, but the main thing is that i am having fun.
I rode 150kms today. I plan to do antoher 150 tomorrow.
Thanks to all those who gave me advice about the aprking lot, pulling off practise and straight line driving. I plan to do that tomorrow as well, and a lot this week coming (I finish work on Wednesday).
Yaay.
Catch you all on the flip side.
Today I set off to Full Throttle. When I got there, I noticed that everyone was parking backwards, or perhaps the right way round, and I had arrived and wanted to turn my bike around. I rode up onto the pavement and proceeded to nearly put my bike down right at the front door!!
Three gentlemen helped me to catch the bike and turn her round, and I do thank them for that. I guess it was a little to much to try that at that stage...
After I left there i went to see Skinny at her shop. Then I just rode around and went to see my parents in Randburg.
I managed to do several pull offs quite smoothly, and only stalled twice today. :D
I am gaining confidence slowly, and will need a LOT of practise and time in the saddle, but the main thing is that i am having fun.
I rode 150kms today. I plan to do antoher 150 tomorrow.
Thanks to all those who gave me advice about the aprking lot, pulling off practise and straight line driving. I plan to do that tomorrow as well, and a lot this week coming (I finish work on Wednesday).
Yaay.
Catch you all on the flip side.
Friday, December 19, 2008
my new bike!
WOOHOO
So I picked up my new bike this afternoon - a BMW F650 GS. It is beautiful, and all shiny and new.
Since I am used to riding a scooter, and have only once ridden a bike with gears for about 5 minutes, I knew it was going to be a challenge getting used to the whole thing of pulling off, changing gears, operating the back break with my foot, and so on - not to mention the fact that it is about 1- times as heavy and twice as tall as my scooter was.
After stalling about 7 times , I finally managed to get the pull off going, and then a car drove in front of me out of nowhere (yes I know it was my fault for not looking) and I stalled. I was leaning a bit too much to the right, and was not able to hold the bike up for more than a few seconds as it was just past the point fo balance and my leg was at the wrong angle. Boom. I dropped the bike, but luckily not from too high.
Then I tried the walking backwards trick to pick up the bike, but by this stage my nerves are shot and I am sweating like a mine worker in my full gear, and my strentgh seems to have desrted me, so I can't pick it up. Not no how. Thankfully a helpful security guard who had been watching and laughing at me (good naturedly) came and helped me.
So I have already got a scratch on my bike, and the process has begun. Sigh.
I then decided to just take the bike out on the road and practise more and get comfortable with the feeling of hte bike, and rodea few round trips of Midrand.
I must say - she rides like a dream, and accelerates WAY better than my scoot.
I hope to ride again tomorrow all over the show, and go visit some friends who live as far away as possible. :)
Stay tuned for the next episode, and possibly some gear testing if I fall off... D'oh!
So I picked up my new bike this afternoon - a BMW F650 GS. It is beautiful, and all shiny and new.
Since I am used to riding a scooter, and have only once ridden a bike with gears for about 5 minutes, I knew it was going to be a challenge getting used to the whole thing of pulling off, changing gears, operating the back break with my foot, and so on - not to mention the fact that it is about 1- times as heavy and twice as tall as my scooter was.
After stalling about 7 times , I finally managed to get the pull off going, and then a car drove in front of me out of nowhere (yes I know it was my fault for not looking) and I stalled. I was leaning a bit too much to the right, and was not able to hold the bike up for more than a few seconds as it was just past the point fo balance and my leg was at the wrong angle. Boom. I dropped the bike, but luckily not from too high.
Then I tried the walking backwards trick to pick up the bike, but by this stage my nerves are shot and I am sweating like a mine worker in my full gear, and my strentgh seems to have desrted me, so I can't pick it up. Not no how. Thankfully a helpful security guard who had been watching and laughing at me (good naturedly) came and helped me.
So I have already got a scratch on my bike, and the process has begun. Sigh.
I then decided to just take the bike out on the road and practise more and get comfortable with the feeling of hte bike, and rodea few round trips of Midrand.
I must say - she rides like a dream, and accelerates WAY better than my scoot.
I hope to ride again tomorrow all over the show, and go visit some friends who live as far away as possible. :)
Stay tuned for the next episode, and possibly some gear testing if I fall off... D'oh!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)