11-30-2016, 01:07 AM
I have really appreciated Nick's columns here recently, he's really found his calling. I love hearing the stories of how some of these techniques have helped people.
I have undertaken the task of teaching a new rider the basics. First off will be the training course offered by CMSP here in CA. Then begins a long process of details and just plain "self-discovery" because there is so much to be learned about riding that has to be done first-hand.
So many of these things I do automatically, I have forgotten where I learned them. Some I am sure I just picked up by trial and error, but I know many of them, I read about in the better columns or books that were available. Many I learned from the riding school binge I was on, and from getting my novice racing license. Dirt riding teaches a lot of skills, too, but for older riders that's really not a good option past a certain stage of health.
These new bikes are getting SO good and with the traction control and ABS systems coming along, that will be a great help, but they can't prevent every scenario.
[url=http://www.sportrider.com/riding-with-traction-control-riding-skills-series]Andrew Trevitt over at Sport Rider discusses how traction control is still no substitute for proper throttle control; like ABS, in certain ways it can help, but that old ham-handedness can still get a rider into trouble.
I have a couple of bikes with TC, it's great fun once you figure out how it works and learn to trust it, but it'll still allow some wheelspin and sometimes in unexpected ways.
Smooth is best. Freddie Spencer always taught "the fastest rider has the slowest hands."
I have undertaken the task of teaching a new rider the basics. First off will be the training course offered by CMSP here in CA. Then begins a long process of details and just plain "self-discovery" because there is so much to be learned about riding that has to be done first-hand.
So many of these things I do automatically, I have forgotten where I learned them. Some I am sure I just picked up by trial and error, but I know many of them, I read about in the better columns or books that were available. Many I learned from the riding school binge I was on, and from getting my novice racing license. Dirt riding teaches a lot of skills, too, but for older riders that's really not a good option past a certain stage of health.
These new bikes are getting SO good and with the traction control and ABS systems coming along, that will be a great help, but they can't prevent every scenario.
[url=http://www.sportrider.com/riding-with-traction-control-riding-skills-series]Andrew Trevitt over at Sport Rider discusses how traction control is still no substitute for proper throttle control; like ABS, in certain ways it can help, but that old ham-handedness can still get a rider into trouble.
I have a couple of bikes with TC, it's great fun once you figure out how it works and learn to trust it, but it'll still allow some wheelspin and sometimes in unexpected ways.
Smooth is best. Freddie Spencer always taught "the fastest rider has the slowest hands."