If the reaper was standing at every curve perhaps fewer riders would find their way off the road or into the path of an oncoming vehicle. At least that’s what I was thinking when I saw this reaper around Halloween. On smooth, dry, pavement the tires feel stuck to the road and any maneuver seems possible, reasonable. More experience on two wheels seems to be followed by more throttle and all wrapped up in feelings of perfect skill and perfect lines. I wonder if it is during these moments of perfect thinking that riders find their way towards oblivion? Or maybe it’s something much simpler and direct, a patch of gravel or a distracting thought. Whatever it is curves sing a siren song to riders and there isn’t a mast to tie yourself to on a scooter or motorcycle.
Skill development works best when you practice. It is important though to have some basic understanding of the nature of the machine and how best to apply some fundamental techniques. I don’t know about you but I’m no expert and require ongoing thought and practice to keep my skills at the level necessary to manage risk on the road. And even the things I think I have learned I seem to forget or ignore at times so ongoing reminders are in order. With the Web it is pretty easy to find information and I have found a few pieces that I revisit from time to time. You may know of others.
For me, there is no better source of serious writing on skill development and application than through some of the thoughtful posts on Musings of an Intrepid Commuter by Dan Bateman. Dan is a motorcycle safety instructor with Team Oregon, a national leader in motorcycle safety training, and a fine writer and teacher via his blog. And if you follow for very long you’ll realize he is not your average rider.
As I looked at this picture for the past couple weeks I started thinking about riding in curves, training, practice, and all those things it is easy to overlook or check off as “done”. And then I thought about Dan’s posts that I reread and reread and thought I would share them here for anyone interested in keeping the learning curve moving upwards. If the weather is slowing your time on two wheels it may be the right time to pay Dan a visit!
Riding in Curves
Part One
Part Two
Keeping Your Head Up and Eyes Looking Out While Riding
How Good is Good Enough?
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Steve:
what kind of camera do you travel with when you’re out scootering?
I have a nice Canon Rebel XTi, but I’m scared to travel with it. I do landscape photography and love the fact that I can stop “anywhere” with my scooter to shoot stuff, but I’m new to scoooters and havent’ figured out a good way to enjoy both hobbies.
While the terminology may be different, what Dan talks about isn’t much different from what they teach at Skip Barber Racing School. They distill it to “slow in, fast out,” but it’s the same drill: prepare for the corner before you enter it, and look where you want to go as you reach the apex (the point where you stop entering and start exiting) and pass it.
While in Bend, Ore. for a job, I found it interesting that every single Monday morning the local newspaper and Central Oregon’s NewsChannel 21® would have a story about some motorcyclist (generally on a Harley, occasionally on a crotch rocket) offing themselves by failing to negotiate a curve. This is a place undergoing what someone called “Aspenization,” a rural form of gentrification. Lots of expensive vehicles run around, and it’s apparent most of their owners don’t know how to drive them…
__Orin
Scootin’ Old-skool
Thanks for helping to keep the skills message alive. By the way, I’m blushing under my helmet!
thanks Steve for redirecting me back again to Dan’s weblog. I found it very interesting, and think that I had been wondering about posting an article on cornering for the last couple of weeks…!
funny coincidences.
Ale-
L’Insetto Scoppiettante
Last August I attended a seminar hosted by David Hough on cornering dynamics and traction control. It was very informative as he is an elegant speaker and had lots of pictures up on the projector. He has also written a couple of books on this subject. You are never too old to learn or re-inforce your riding techniques
scooterguy40: Most of my pictures are taken with a Canon G9 pocket camera. Occassionally I will take along a Nikon D200, Leica M6, or Mamiya 7 if I have something specific in mind. But the Canon does the bulk of my pictures.
You say you’re scared to travel with the Canon Rebel XTi. I’m wondering what your concerns are?
Orin: Slow in and fast out is a simple, good way to remember it.
Unfortunately we have a lot of motorcycle accidents here where new and older riders alike leave the road in curves. Same old story — too fast, too little experience, or both.
irondad: Glad to point people your direction for training and information!
Ale: Dan is the master!
bobskoot: I think I am getting too old to learn anymore. My brain is full and things are dropping all over the place…