Savage Librarian wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:I've gone down in turns before (offroad!), and each occasion had something in common. I was using my rear brake in the curve. I've gone faster, on slicker surfaces, with the same bike and tires, but never slid out on a curve...except when using the brake.
The only time I slid out on a curve when not using the brake, it was because the groud I was riding on fell away form under me, and I went down the hill. You don't ride on soft dirt too often on the road though.
In any case, I've become a firm believer of the MSF method...and have the scars to show why.
There you go. I taught myself how to ride starting at age 16. Due to my subborn, trial by fire techniques, I fell quite a few times over the years, too. Sometimes it was due to speed or braking or both, but I somehow survived to become an "expert".
Then a few years ago, I bought my Savage and talked my spouse into her first bike, as well. And then the "expert" began her training. I trained her hard, too. The first 15 miles were in a packed sand lot area for horses. She went around and around, doing figure 8s, and through all the obstacles and cones, that I could arrange, for hours. I even had my car in there too.
Here she is on her brand new GZ250, and she learned control before she ever got on pavement...and everyone knows that sand ain't easy.
However, when I got her on the road, she worried the "expert". I kept seeing my own training in action and began to think that maybe she needed more. I remembered all my own past spills and just knew that if she pulled one of my stupid mistakes, that our biking partnership might come to an end. Couldn't have that...
So, as soon as an opening was available with the MSF, we both enrolled....and the next 2 1/2 days were a blast. We had different bikes, and we sort of had our own little "competition thing" going too. After all, she knew that she was riding with the "expert" of 30+ years, and she liked that challenge.
Bottom line? We both graduated with the
same score of - 2 points. I don't know if she lost points for my bad influences or her inexperience, but I know that I lost points for my over-confidence. She lost her points for not doing the stopping test well enough. I lost points for doing the "slow, look, lean, roll" technique in the curve test....they use a stop watch for that test and said I was going too fast.....the "expert" was humbled.
....What can I say? Might be long winded, but it is still on topic 8)
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