riding

What is a Track Day?

Submitted by shawn on Thu, 07/30/2009 - 09:28

Ever wondered what a "Track Day" is? Ever dreamed about running your ride on the same asphalt as professional racers? Do you want to increase your skill level but not your risk?

Well, Track Days may be the thing for you. On this YBL, I talk to Ken Condon, the Chief Instructor at Tony's Track Days.

Ken talks about what a Track Day is and isn't, what you'll learn and what you'll experience.

Bottom line is - do a Track Day! You won't regret it.

33:50 minutes (7.79 MB)

Should You Ride a Motorcycle?

Submitted by shawn on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 12:06

riding

Source:

Motorcycle.com

Since the invention of the motorcycle, people have been drawn to them for a variety of reasons.

They are fun, fast, and give feelings of freedom and power. You can aggressively lean into corners, or just kick back. The experience is an open-air ride no car can come close to offering.

Riding can be a great activity – but it is not for everybody. Some people, if they in a moment of inner clarity would self evaluate, really ought to just say, “no thanks,” and forget motorcycling altogether.

This is according to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), which in May published a Quick Tip sheet, titled “Should You Ride a Motorcycle?”

(Shawn's Comment: What do you think? is riding for "everyone" or should some people just not throw a leg over?)

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First Time for Everything...

Submitted by shawn on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 13:30

riding
tires

Had every intention of heading out today to go riding - maybe to the Catskills, maybe MA...who knows....life sometimes require you just get the hell out of the house and away from The Crazy.

Left the house around 11am and was immediately uncomfortable on the bike. Usually, I get on the bike and feel great right off the bat and enjoy myself immensely. This was the first time I wasn't even a little comfortable.

And to make it worse, it was all mental. I couldn't get into the "riding mind set". I was thinking about too many other things (basically, my life is going to hell in a handbasket) and wasn't focusing on the bike and my technique.

Rode around for a few miles and even tried to force myself into riding well by heading into a couple of turns hot. I could feel the wheels, front and back, really sliding around - and not in a good way.

I just happened to be passing by a high school and there were a bunch of kids doing a car wash. I love taking my bike to these things because the kids love washing the bike (even though they usually do a really crappy job) and I love supporting their efforts.

While they were washing the bike, I took a look at the tires:

Oh oh....that ain't good....

Another first time - I'd never worn out a tire like that before. The front still had some life to it but I wasn't about to ride around any more with a bad mental attitude *and* a bad rear tire.

So now I'm trapped in the house until I can get new rubber....