In the Basic Rider Course, they talk about dogs. They say if you are approaching a dog, slow down as you approach the dog, and then speed up as go away from the dog. Moreover, they say don't kick the dog. I was in the class and I was wondering how did this info make the course? I'll tell you because dogs are literally everywhere!
But back to class, they ask why shouldn't you kick the dog? Someone answer animal cruelty, which seems like a good answer and would have been mine. Good answer and point, but not completely. What else? Because you can fall off the bike! So whether you like dogs or not, don't kick at them. Again, do you really need to put that in a course? It is like directions on shampoo.
As for the slow down and then speed up, that is to throw the dog off. If the dog plans an intercept course, it will estimate your current speed. By slowing down and then speeding up, the dog will arrive too late if it sprints after you.
Now that I've been driving. I think like every trip I see a one or more dogs. Sometimes on leashes, sometimes not, and sometimes on leashes so long you're like what is the point? And again sometime with or without their pet human. It is like anywhere you go, there's at least one or more dogs between here and there.
Now lucky, I've not been chased. Though I always follow the advice, slow down and then speed up. I always keep an eye on the dog as I near to see where its interest is at. Is it sniffing in the grass, chasing a squirrel, or is focused on me?
Haven't had any close dog calls. I did have one "annoying" experience. I was coming to a road by a school. I came up to the stop sign, put my turn signal on. As I get closer, I see a dog on the right of the road I was going to turn onto. Ok I think, plenty of road for this turn. Then I get closer and there's a car, stopped in the road. I think are they moving? Nope, as I come to a stop, they don't move. Now there was a little space to the right between the car and the grass and the dog. But it wasn't enough to leave me comfortable. I mean in an emergency situation I'd have used that space, but I was just trying to turn right from a stop sign. Thus, I keep rolling past the car. I debate entering on the left of the road. There's no traffic, and I have good visibility down the road. But the thought leaves me slightly uneasy. As I roll straight, looking right, I see the driver. The driver is over in the left lane of the road with... Another dog! on the other side! Well that seals it, I won't be turning on this road, so then I look over to my left and re-merge back to continue straight on the road I was trying to get off of.
And of course when I get come, it doesn't help there's 2 dogs living in my house :)
This post goes to the dogs, thanks for not chasing me... so far...
Living The Life
Friday, October 21, 2016
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Riding Gear Upgrade - Riding Boots
I have a nice pair of upscale general purpose boots from Red Wing. I've always like their boots. They stand up to a lot of wear and tear before starting to fall apart. They come up above my ankle. They are water proof and insulated. I started with those as my riding boots.
Then I went to the dealership to look at upgrading some of my riding gear. The sales lady showed me riding boots and said "All I have to do is ask someone to try these on. They sell themselves." I think I've heard that before. But she was right.
I had one of my normal boots on one foot and the other riding boot on the other. I tried skidding each of them across the floor. The riding boot would stop, excellent traction. On slippery roads, on gravel, on who knows what, that is what I want to be wearing. Also they had a much more thicker sole around the back of your foot, you could feel the extra height and thickness. And they came up higher.
The kind I ended up getting was Harley-Davidson Felix. I've been out riding in them, very happy with them. I'm still glad I started with my regular boots. After all I didn't know how this motorcycle "thing" was going to go. But now that I'm getting into it, time for even more riding gear upgrades.
Then I went to the dealership to look at upgrading some of my riding gear. The sales lady showed me riding boots and said "All I have to do is ask someone to try these on. They sell themselves." I think I've heard that before. But she was right.
I had one of my normal boots on one foot and the other riding boot on the other. I tried skidding each of them across the floor. The riding boot would stop, excellent traction. On slippery roads, on gravel, on who knows what, that is what I want to be wearing. Also they had a much more thicker sole around the back of your foot, you could feel the extra height and thickness. And they came up higher.
The kind I ended up getting was Harley-Davidson Felix. I've been out riding in them, very happy with them. I'm still glad I started with my regular boots. After all I didn't know how this motorcycle "thing" was going to go. But now that I'm getting into it, time for even more riding gear upgrades.
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Breaking 100 Miles
I've gone 100 miles now on my new bike. A lot of it was parking lot, but a lot was low speed roads.
I'm much more comfortable with the controls. I can now operate all the main controls without looking down. I can shift, throttle, brake without looking down. I still need to look at the turn signals sometimes.
Also, I feel ok riding along at 30 or even 35 mph on the bike. It takes some getting used to going that fast. The first time I was going 20 it seemed so fast. 35 still seems fast, but the more I do the more comfortable I get.
I realized other drivers would be a danger, but that's been rung home to me. There are times when I take a corner too wide or too tight. Mostly, I'm doing well though. But the main thing I'm learning is beware of other drivers. Learn the basics and get comfortable, but don't understand other people's driving dis-ability. Here's a few of my favorites:
It was daylight, two hundred feet down from a 4 way stop sign, the speed limit was 25mph, right outside a school, I had my left turn signal on, I slowed down with my brake, so my brake lights were on too. (And yes, they do work.) There was a car behind me. I knew he was there. But as I slowed to make that turn. I saw him start to move over to the opposite lane, like getting in position to pass me. I guess he had an important TV show and forgot to set the DVR. I saw him coming. I knew my exits. The right was clean, plenty of space, and open to a wide field beyond that. The left would have been good where I was intending to go, but he looked like he was considering passing me. As I slowed for the turn, I kept a tabs on him. I was ready to break off and head to the extreme right at a moment's notice. But he came to a complete stop, so I was able to complete my turn.
On another case, I was coming down the road, approaching a stop sign. There was a trunk with its headlights pointing right at me. It was stopped in the middle of the road, facing the wrong direction. I don't even mean over to the side. I mean completely in the road. The only plus was that they had come to a complete stop. I saw that truck from a way back. I rolled off the throttle and decreased speed as I came up. I weighed my options if they didn't move. I could come up and come to a complete stop. But this could be a drunk or someone who decided to keep going at any moment. I could pass them on the left, but it was right down from a 4-way intersection with some cars. Giving unpredictability to what the car might do, and if any traffic comes down the other lane, that didn't seem good. However, I could do a U-turn and go back the other way. But that may be the way they were heading. Or I could simply come to a stop a safe distance in front of them. Or off to the side of the road, which I kept in mind. Fortunately, there was a side road on the right coming up well before that car that I could turn down. I was mostly leaning to that option. I was also keeping a watch on what that car would do. At any moment, they may decide to go forward in the wrong lane right at me, switch back over to the right lane, or turn into a drive way, or who knows what. I kept my speed lower and was preparing to turn on the side road to get the hell away from them. Then they started to move. I speed up to complete my turn to the side road. But, they went one house forward and then into the drive way.
The key is whenever you are on the road. You are in danger. I never felt like I had an extremely close call. Even pass the left turn motorcycle I saw him coming. But what I do with these scenarios is I play them back in mind and think about the different outcomes and variations. What if that driver stopped had kept going straight on at me? What if the car that wanted to pass me did so when I was mid left turn? I don't do that to scare myself, and I don't dwell on it. I think of it sort of like a chess game or something. What would have been my best response if things had played out slightly different? I like that, because one day if I am where shit hits the fan, I want my response to be automatic.
Other than that, its been fun. Like I said, much more comfortable and all the controls are coming more naturally with less thought. You get connected outside in a different way. In the car, your an observer passing through. Out on the bike, your out there, part of it. Looking forward to progressing further.
I'm much more comfortable with the controls. I can now operate all the main controls without looking down. I can shift, throttle, brake without looking down. I still need to look at the turn signals sometimes.
Also, I feel ok riding along at 30 or even 35 mph on the bike. It takes some getting used to going that fast. The first time I was going 20 it seemed so fast. 35 still seems fast, but the more I do the more comfortable I get.
I realized other drivers would be a danger, but that's been rung home to me. There are times when I take a corner too wide or too tight. Mostly, I'm doing well though. But the main thing I'm learning is beware of other drivers. Learn the basics and get comfortable, but don't understand other people's driving dis-ability. Here's a few of my favorites:
It was daylight, two hundred feet down from a 4 way stop sign, the speed limit was 25mph, right outside a school, I had my left turn signal on, I slowed down with my brake, so my brake lights were on too. (And yes, they do work.) There was a car behind me. I knew he was there. But as I slowed to make that turn. I saw him start to move over to the opposite lane, like getting in position to pass me. I guess he had an important TV show and forgot to set the DVR. I saw him coming. I knew my exits. The right was clean, plenty of space, and open to a wide field beyond that. The left would have been good where I was intending to go, but he looked like he was considering passing me. As I slowed for the turn, I kept a tabs on him. I was ready to break off and head to the extreme right at a moment's notice. But he came to a complete stop, so I was able to complete my turn.
On another case, I was coming down the road, approaching a stop sign. There was a trunk with its headlights pointing right at me. It was stopped in the middle of the road, facing the wrong direction. I don't even mean over to the side. I mean completely in the road. The only plus was that they had come to a complete stop. I saw that truck from a way back. I rolled off the throttle and decreased speed as I came up. I weighed my options if they didn't move. I could come up and come to a complete stop. But this could be a drunk or someone who decided to keep going at any moment. I could pass them on the left, but it was right down from a 4-way intersection with some cars. Giving unpredictability to what the car might do, and if any traffic comes down the other lane, that didn't seem good. However, I could do a U-turn and go back the other way. But that may be the way they were heading. Or I could simply come to a stop a safe distance in front of them. Or off to the side of the road, which I kept in mind. Fortunately, there was a side road on the right coming up well before that car that I could turn down. I was mostly leaning to that option. I was also keeping a watch on what that car would do. At any moment, they may decide to go forward in the wrong lane right at me, switch back over to the right lane, or turn into a drive way, or who knows what. I kept my speed lower and was preparing to turn on the side road to get the hell away from them. Then they started to move. I speed up to complete my turn to the side road. But, they went one house forward and then into the drive way.
The key is whenever you are on the road. You are in danger. I never felt like I had an extremely close call. Even pass the left turn motorcycle I saw him coming. But what I do with these scenarios is I play them back in mind and think about the different outcomes and variations. What if that driver stopped had kept going straight on at me? What if the car that wanted to pass me did so when I was mid left turn? I don't do that to scare myself, and I don't dwell on it. I think of it sort of like a chess game or something. What would have been my best response if things had played out slightly different? I like that, because one day if I am where shit hits the fan, I want my response to be automatic.
Other than that, its been fun. Like I said, much more comfortable and all the controls are coming more naturally with less thought. You get connected outside in a different way. In the car, your an observer passing through. Out on the bike, your out there, part of it. Looking forward to progressing further.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Riding Gear Upgrade - Leather Chaps
Its been getting colder here in the evenings. Another thing is my pants always seemed long enough. When I walk, they come down to a good place at my shoes. When I sit, they come up a bit. But, on a motorcycle, that little bit they came up to seems to be above the sock and boy you really feel that cold air where your pants end. In the future, I may get my jeans a little bit longer.
Jeans feel thick when your wearing them around. But on the bike, the wind can go right through them. Plus I keep reading that jeans aren't much protection if you fall. They are more like paper than like actual protection. Given all that, I invested in a pair of Harley-Davidson Leather Chaps. I'm styling. They really add to my biker look. Plus I'm a bit safer. Kind of worried about the part they don't cover, but more research on riding gear is needed. But too, my legs aren't cold anymore when I ride. Not even on the gap where my pants come above my boots or socks. That alone makes it so worth it. Plus did I mention I'm styling? :)
Jeans feel thick when your wearing them around. But on the bike, the wind can go right through them. Plus I keep reading that jeans aren't much protection if you fall. They are more like paper than like actual protection. Given all that, I invested in a pair of Harley-Davidson Leather Chaps. I'm styling. They really add to my biker look. Plus I'm a bit safer. Kind of worried about the part they don't cover, but more research on riding gear is needed. But too, my legs aren't cold anymore when I ride. Not even on the gap where my pants come above my boots or socks. That alone makes it so worth it. Plus did I mention I'm styling? :)
Monday, October 17, 2016
First Gas Run
I've been practicing in the school parking lot and the side street. Each step of the way, I keep repeating one or twice more until I'm sure I have the hang of it. My 25mph side street goes up to 30mph the other way and down to another school and back to 25mph. That was my next step. It was a pretty quiet road. Few cars, but not many. I went back and forth between the two schools. 25mph still feels kind of fast, but 30 feels like warp speed.
What's nice about this run is that I start at stop sign, turn signal, wait for any traffic, then turning into road, shifting up, coming to a stop sign, then going straight for awhile, shifting up again, until I get to the next stop sign and go to the other school and repeat.
And the weather has continued to be nice. I feel like I'm gaining more confidence and skill. It'll still be awhile before I'm expert, but I feel like I'm doing pretty well.
Then after a few runs, my low gas light came on. I've driven just 77 miles when it went off. That was odd, I had expected to get way more miles. But, most of those miles were super slow around a parking lot. When they sold me the bike, they said the tank was full, but I didn't expect that and full could mean quarter full. Or, it could simply be because I've been running it a lot of time but not a lot of miles.
The gas station was straight down the street I was going on, just another mile or two, not very far. I paused in the parking lot and weighed my options. I could go back home and fill up from a gas can, but I've done 77 miles so far. And the gas station isn't far and is about the same condition of roads I've been on so far. I decided to go for it. Straight shot up the road and then two more turns and stop signs and even crossing a red light. Also, at the red light, I was making extra sure to pay attention to all the cars and who is going where. I paused a second once the light turned green as extra insurance.
At the gas station, I pulled in with the bike to the left. But didn't consider the front leans in to the left. It is manageable, but since it was my first time filling it up, I didn't want to get gas everywhere. The gas fills up right in front of where you sat. I made it through without a problem. I only added about three gallons, the total was less than $10. If only my car was that much to bring up to fill up.
What's nice about this run is that I start at stop sign, turn signal, wait for any traffic, then turning into road, shifting up, coming to a stop sign, then going straight for awhile, shifting up again, until I get to the next stop sign and go to the other school and repeat.
And the weather has continued to be nice. I feel like I'm gaining more confidence and skill. It'll still be awhile before I'm expert, but I feel like I'm doing pretty well.
Then after a few runs, my low gas light came on. I've driven just 77 miles when it went off. That was odd, I had expected to get way more miles. But, most of those miles were super slow around a parking lot. When they sold me the bike, they said the tank was full, but I didn't expect that and full could mean quarter full. Or, it could simply be because I've been running it a lot of time but not a lot of miles.
The gas station was straight down the street I was going on, just another mile or two, not very far. I paused in the parking lot and weighed my options. I could go back home and fill up from a gas can, but I've done 77 miles so far. And the gas station isn't far and is about the same condition of roads I've been on so far. I decided to go for it. Straight shot up the road and then two more turns and stop signs and even crossing a red light. Also, at the red light, I was making extra sure to pay attention to all the cars and who is going where. I paused a second once the light turned green as extra insurance.
At the gas station, I pulled in with the bike to the left. But didn't consider the front leans in to the left. It is manageable, but since it was my first time filling it up, I didn't want to get gas everywhere. The gas fills up right in front of where you sat. I made it through without a problem. I only added about three gallons, the total was less than $10. If only my car was that much to bring up to fill up.
Saturday, October 15, 2016
First Street Ride
My school practice zone has a subdivision running behind it. There's a main artiery road where the side rides branch off. There are some drive ways on it, but not many, most are on the side roads. And the speed limit is 25 mph, the whole way, from the school through to the subdivision, down to the end where it connects back to the main road.
This was my first real ride. Once I felt comfortable in the school parking lot, I ventured out onto that road. I waited for all the traffic to go past, then went down to one of the side streets and turned around and came back. It wasn't far, but it was enough to get me up to 20 or so mph. I did that with combination circles in the parking lot to get more comfortable.
After even more practice, I felt I was ready to go further, so I worked up to taking the road all the way down to the end. If any cars came up, I tried to get over, turn off, or otherwise evade them. They were the real danger.
I'd go down to the end and make a U-turn before the road ended before the main road. This was great too. I worked up to being able to make that U-turn without stopping or putting my foot down. I think back to the MSF class. I think I could nail that part perfectly now after doing it so many times.
Even though I was only cruising at 20 to 25, it felt so fast. A big part is just getting used to being out in the open air at that speed.
I also practiced shifting on this road. I'd work up to second gear, occasionally try out third gear. I wasn't shifting at the right RPMs, but I was getting better at just shifting. There was also a stop sign about half way down, so this provided me with a chance to down shift, practice engine braking, practice braking, and a brief pause.
I don't know how many times I went up and down that road. The 25mph never felt so fast.
The only annoying thing is other drivers. The speed limit is 25. It is a subdivision and very close to multiple schools. Still some car drivers try to barrel down that road. Again, right now, I do my best to get away from all other traffic. Though honestly, since it is a subdivision, most of them quickly turn off on to one of the side streets.
My yard, the school parking lot, and this is 25mph road. That is my practice zone, where I'm trying to get comfortable, continue learning, and get practice.
This was my first real ride. Once I felt comfortable in the school parking lot, I ventured out onto that road. I waited for all the traffic to go past, then went down to one of the side streets and turned around and came back. It wasn't far, but it was enough to get me up to 20 or so mph. I did that with combination circles in the parking lot to get more comfortable.
After even more practice, I felt I was ready to go further, so I worked up to taking the road all the way down to the end. If any cars came up, I tried to get over, turn off, or otherwise evade them. They were the real danger.
I'd go down to the end and make a U-turn before the road ended before the main road. This was great too. I worked up to being able to make that U-turn without stopping or putting my foot down. I think back to the MSF class. I think I could nail that part perfectly now after doing it so many times.
Even though I was only cruising at 20 to 25, it felt so fast. A big part is just getting used to being out in the open air at that speed.
I also practiced shifting on this road. I'd work up to second gear, occasionally try out third gear. I wasn't shifting at the right RPMs, but I was getting better at just shifting. There was also a stop sign about half way down, so this provided me with a chance to down shift, practice engine braking, practice braking, and a brief pause.
I don't know how many times I went up and down that road. The 25mph never felt so fast.
The only annoying thing is other drivers. The speed limit is 25. It is a subdivision and very close to multiple schools. Still some car drivers try to barrel down that road. Again, right now, I do my best to get away from all other traffic. Though honestly, since it is a subdivision, most of them quickly turn off on to one of the side streets.
My yard, the school parking lot, and this is 25mph road. That is my practice zone, where I'm trying to get comfortable, continue learning, and get practice.
Friday, October 14, 2016
School Parking Lot
The school in my area is out on break this week and next. Plus, I'm on vacation this week. This meant I could practice in daytime hours. Plus, the school is a very short drive my house. I live extremely close to the school. Going on the road is very minimal.
Of course, first I had to get down the gravel drive way. I took a strip of grass next to it to the end and then turn backed into it to exit. That gravel feels slippery.
The school parking lot feels perfect. The speed limit is 15 or less. Not many other people or cars. Great visibility. Plus, this school is connected to another. There were lots of little roads, multiple empty parking lots, multiple stop signs, and even some slight hills.
For many days, this was my practice. I went across to the school parking lot. I found a small empty lot and practiced going around in circles in it. I went through all the stop signs and practiced coming to a stop. I even practiced shifting up to second to get up to 15 mph in one section. This was perfect. It helped me learn the controls more, get to know the bike, and do all the basics.
The bike idles at 10 mph if the clutch is released and I don't give it throttle. Feels fast. But that's part of it, getting used to the speed and getting comfortable.
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