Riding God/riding numpty

Depends on your viewpoint....

So, this morning I had to take the Cat for its MoT - I haven't ridden it in.... ahem.... months and it was cold and wet outside, not my usual riding weather.

Anyway I togged up for the short journey into town, started it up, threw my leg over and off we went into the teeth of the storm. Around 400 yards after leaving my house is a downhill, residential road from which I have to make a fairly sharp right turn into a side road. It was raining, the road was wet and cold and the tyres were stone cold - there was no traffic around, I sensed the opportunity to back it in to the corner - I braked with the front and feathered the back brake - the back end locked up nicely and swung out to the left, leaving me a perfect entry line to the right hand turn, as I tipped in and rode through it. That certainly lifted my spirits.....

...OR...

I battled my way into my waterproof riding gear, went in and out of the house three times to pick up the things I had forgotten, like phone, wallet, bike key etc, started it up, slithered onto the wet saddle and pulled away into the grey drizzle. Around 400 yards after leaving my house is a downhill, residential road from which I have to make a fairly sharp right turn into a side road. It was raining, the road was wet and cold and the tyres were stone cold. I thought cleverly to myself "I could use this opportunity to test the back brake, seeing as I'm taking it for an MoT and all". I was on the front brake anyway so dabbed the rear and....WHOA FECK ME WHA' THE FECK??! My heavy right foot, combined with the low gear, locked the back up and away she went to the left. I released the rear brake but the engine had stalled and the compression of the engine kept the rear wheel locked for a second or two. Eventually the rear tyre bit and bumped the engine back to life, at which point I wobbled into the right hand turn and rode the rest of the way to the workshop leaving the rear well alone. That certainly got the heart going!

Moral? Either...
(a) take it easy out there, especially if you're a fair weather rider like me.

...or...

(b) there are two sides to every story. You choose.

Well done for not capsizing :(

Prefer your first account of events but my reality sounds like the second.

Take it the MOT was plain sailing after that?

And what did you do about the nip marks in the seat?

Oh boy.
Glad you saved it Paul and nice of you to share it too.

Reminds me of my recent brand new tyre incident.

Knew fine well to take it very easy on new tyres but forgot all about it and went into autopilot 30 mins after re-fitting the back wheel.

Got all of about 25m (end of drive) and then tipped it over and half a donut later I was picking myself and the bike up.
I proudly wore the 'what a plonker' when I got to surf & turf.

See if I can get away without getting a numpty point.
Thank goodness for crash bungs.

Well, the good news is that it sailed through the MoT and didn't need the rear wheel bearings I thought it did (just an over-tight, dry chain needed sorting).

I'm sure the slide looked a lot less dramatic than it felt. I should've known better.

That was an amusing read. Glad you kept it upright

weasley wrote:there are two sides to every story. You choose.

The level of detail in the second account leads me to believe it to be the more likely one The forgetting of keys etc is a give away...

I'm no good in the wet either. And it's all in the head, I know it. Once I've got myself calmed down and used to the conditions then I'm a bit better... but not much!

My reactions are pretty slow fortunately. So on the occasions I've had incidents, rear lock ups or front wheel slips, it's all over and done and the bike has righted itself before I've even registered what's happened! I'm left with a feeling of 'woh, what happened there!!!' and a pounding heart rate!

I actually like riding in the wet - I remember a very enjoyable ride home from Welshpool 2003 in a biblical downpour, as well as a wet first session at the Thundercat Rockingham track day. I find it requires a certain level of concentration, awareness and finesse to feel 'right' rather than scary.

On this occasion though, I was just not switched on - it was a chore to have to get the MoT done so I wasn't really in 'riding' mode. I count myself lucky rather than skilful to have kept it upright.

weasley wrote:Welshpool 2003

I was there for that one!

I find it requires a certain level of concentration, awareness and finesse to feel 'right' rather than scary.

Indeed. And confidence in your tyres, that's the one I find difficult. Everything else, I can keep mentally in check and feel right about. I keep telling myself the tyres will be fine (and they will be) but I just never feel that confident. I really ought do more wet weather riding just to work on that confidence!

Great post to read,

I have ridden in all sorts of weather Storms, High Winds (one of which was over the severn bridge where me and two of my biking mates had to take control of all three lanes to enable either one of us to be blown from one lane to the other, and it happened!), I believe that confidence in the tyres you have fitted is a must! I like plenty of feel from my tyres so I know when they are about to give me trouble or not. Also a lot of forward planning when riding in conditions like this and a good throttle control. This has served me well.

Also the more you ride in these conditions the more convident you become with machine and the tyres you have fitted. If you are not happy with the feel from the tyres and you are expecting to ride in said conditions then change the tyres so you are happy they are giving you the feedback you want.

Sorry to go on and this is only my humble opinion.