Learner Rider

a newbie’s motorcycle diaries

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Rain again and I’m itchin’ to go for a ride (day 37)

January 21st, 2008 · No Comments

More squalls of rain came through today, as they did over the weekend during practically every moment I had the time to look outside at my lonely bike under its cover on the street. I’m absolutely itching to get out for another decent ride, or even just a few turns around an empty carpark to swot up on u-turns for the Motorcycle Operator Skill Test.

As yet, though, not being a commuter I have no desire to buy up some rain protection gear and burn around on the slippery roads just for some wheel-time. So I just watch the radar screens of the Bureau of Meteorology (tha BOM!), watching for a good gap in the rain and some wind to dry the roads in time for a spare moment.

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→ No CommentsTags: Not riding :-( · Rain

Clutching at perfection (day 32)

January 15th, 2008 · No Comments

Ahhhh, what a pleasure to be more consistently achieving smooth clutching and gear changes!

The satisfaction of smoothly meshing revs into the next gear, either up or down, or even some other unusual circumstances (like going up a gear after coming through an urban corner, yet easing off acceleration in preparation for slow traffic ahead - trust me it’s a possibility when you don’t want the hard braking power of 2nd).

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→ No CommentsTags: Clutch control · Gears