Some footage from Deckers four years ago this weekend - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdt5rdKyuiw
Some footage from Deckers four years ago this weekend - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdt5rdKyuiw
I don't consider myself experience rider but from the years I rode so far I notice another element of risk – some days you are not mentally capable of riding. Every once in a blue moon i go for a ride and I notice that I make stupid mistakes that I will never do normally. Instead of fighting it and forcing myself to bad situations I take it easy, make a coffee stop to reboot my brain or just go home.
'03 YZF600R
Excellent point. I've noticed that myself on occasion. Sometimes you're just not mentally/physiologically there, and that's when you need to back down and save it for a day when you're 100%. KNOWING when you're not 100% is crucial, and that typically comes with experience.Originally Posted by G35CO
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"...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
-Theodore Roosevelt 1907
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Blu/Wht '01 Gixxer 1K, '91 KX500
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Tokin' SortaTalian
(Pronounced: Kind-A-Dago)
This.
Important point that none of us should ever forget.
89 EX500 RIP
06 R6S RIP
03 R6
+2 I had just that experience Monday, I was heading from Morrison to Evergreen and every time I cranked up the speed I started making stupid mistakes so I just backed off and cruised.
Yeah, and this is especially problematic in group rides where people feel like they must keep up with the group and they must ride the full ride or else everyone will undoubtedly point and laugh and bitch about you behind your back--the truth is, if you're not feeling up to riding, don't ride.
Even if it means you have to lag in the back and/or just take off and head for home--do it. Everyone would rather you ride safely, at your pace, and if that's not enough, then just go home. It's not worth pushing yourself if you're not "fit" for the day...there'll be other days...
Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.
~Hunter S. Thompson
Exactly why that is the first and foremost thing that should be impressed upon a n00b.
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"...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
-Theodore Roosevelt 1907
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Blu/Wht '01 Gixxer 1K, '91 KX500
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Tokin' SortaTalian
(Pronounced: Kind-A-Dago)
Jim, you and I have ridden deckers for years. Simply because it IS one of the best rides in Colorado. We have seen it all over the years. Yet we have never had any problems what so ever.
What do you suppose the difference is?
Bash too!
That was where I was going orig. when I posted this. Given Jim's experience and given some of you being Instructors now..What advice would you give...given your expierence and pointers that you know from riding that route many times...
Regardless I thought most of this discussion was good. I was primarily doing it for others as there are alot of newbs out there..who may use advice given..or as Bueller said..Just wanted peeps to be little more open eyed given the fatalities and deaths as of late.
07 GSXR 750
07 GSXR 600 (RIP)
First of all, we do have a lot of experience riding Deckers. Prob since the late 90's. However we weren't always fast. It took years and a lot of miles.
The best advice, and it is said again and again. Go at your own pace. It is not a race. No trophy at the top! As you learn- you get faster. It is not as you go faster - you get faster.
Jim and I know the Deckers ride as good as any race track. The difference is, conditions change, so ride with some reserve to adjust.
Take as many classes you can! American supercamp, track days,race schools,books, dvd's.
As you get better you can run at a higher pace still with some reserve.
The reality is that sportbikes are made to be ridden aggressive. That may be some of the attraction. But one should learn all they can before riding one aggressive.
One might say that riding aggressive in the canyons is stupid. And they are right! But there can be a huge difference in what stupid is, just by an experience standpoint.
Bottom line is, it is your personal choice and it is suppose to be fun!
Ride fast, take chances, be safe.
The perfect mix
If you can do all three
Good on you!
I will never forget the first time I rode Decker's. It was on my '81 XS650 Special spring of '82. It is a great motorcycling route that has quick access from the front range. I have seen to many accidents to count over the decades and the one thing that stands out to me as a leading indicator for accidents is rider error, for whatever reason. My one and only accident in the same time period was on Decker's, and my own fault. I didn't read the conditions and lost traction in the 2" of hail that was present that suddenly appeared. I hydoplaned and biffed it, but walked away without a scratch, due to me wearing all my gear. One accident in 30 years is and acceptable risk ratio for me.
It is easy to twist the throttle and go fast, the key to surviving many years of riding, is knowing when to close the throttle and slow down.
* Bash, Bashasaurus, Ms Bash, his neighbors or friends are not responsible for any incidents, accidents, or accusations, that might result from you being squidish, squid like, squirting ink, or waving your non-covered tentacles about in a squidy fashion. Nor is he or his associates responsible for any citations as a result of you hanging with SoCo. Any attempt to coerce, blame, question, or pin your loser-riffic behavior on any of us, or those who are considered us for the night, as well as people we like, to include Salma Hayek and Nicky Hayden, among others, will result in a profanity stricken series of post that mock and taunt you incessantly, as well as many of us adding such insults to our signature lines. Avoid taking SoCo before bedtime. Do not use if you experience faintness, dizziness, inverness, difficulty urinating or blotchy skin. If I steal a line, quote, avatar or image from a post you make on the internet, you're not getting credit.*
tear... Hahaha. Well said!
Remember Yesterday. Plan For Tomorrow. Live For Today.
Current Stable:
'o5 SuzukiGSX-1oooR (Custom Street Fighter).
'o6 Pitster Pro 50cc Pit Bike (125cc Big Bore Kit).
It is nice to have a "core" group to trust and ride with.
I have had a great core group over the years.
If you would like to ride with us tomorrow.
PM Me
Full leathers - is part of this core.
8 am departure
You know what would be cool....? A ride that paired an experienced canyon rider with someone that know how to ride but is looking to get better in the canyons. Something like 5 groups of 2 going off in 5-10 intervals. I have a fair amount of canyon experience but would totally jump at the opportunity to be critiqued, might be the only way I would hear about something I am doing wrong or could be doing better.
Im sure it would take a lot for some of the boards better canyon riders to "donate" a morning but I think the opportunity to share some of the great pointers you have collected over the years would be awesome! Im sure lunch could be worked in there as well.
Dont want to jack the thread but I think its a really proactive approach to the original concern.
So lets just start a list of the 5 canyon experts and go from there..LOL
I consider myself an above average rider with several track days and a couple of races under my belt. But being new to Denver Im finding the canyons more challenging than I expected. Id spring for lunch for an ego-free guided tour.You know what would be cool....? A ride that paired an experienced canyon rider with someone that know how to ride but is looking to get better in the canyons
Im sure it would take a lot for some of the boards better canyon riders to "donate" a morning but I think the opportunity to share some of the great pointers you have collected over the years would be awesome! Im sure lunch could be worked in there as well
Dont want to jack the thread but I think its a really proactive approach to the original concern.
So lets just start a list of the 5 canyon experts and go from there..LOL
New thread?
Its not how fast you go, its how little you slow down.
I've been riding sportbikes before they were even called sportbikes (since 1973) and have to agree with just about everything being said in this thread. Here's my two cents worth.
First of all, I try to think of EVERY ride as a practice ride, always evaluating my technique and striving for improvement. When I taught my son how to drive several years ago I suggested a "point" system to track errors, which I now use everyday on the bike. I know that some days I ride better than others, depending on god knows what. So I find that having an objective measure of how things are going is useful. I assign points for each error I make and if they get above 2.5, I know I'm in trouble. Here are a few examples.
Half point errors:
Forgot to signal or cancel a signal.
Stopping in a gear other than first.
Daydreaming at a light and didn't notice it change.
1 point errors:
Poor line in a curve at moderate speed.
Wrong gear choice for the curve.
Where did that car behind me come from?
2 point errors:
Poor line in a curve at high speed.
How did I get so close to that guy in front of me and who told him to stop?
Uh oh, I may be a little too fast in this curve, let's just hit the brakes.
3 point errors:
I'll never be able to navigate around that debris in the road, so I'll just ride straight through it.
Oops, I really wasn't expecting this curve to tighten up, so I'll just go wide, nobody's coming.
5 point error:
Speeding ticket
10 point error:
Crash
Feel free to add your own pet mistakes to the list. The good news is that you don't have to tell anyone how many screw-ups you're making and there's always tomorrow.
Also, if I ever got up the nerve to tape some motivational reminders on the inside of my windscreen, here is what they might say.
"I know I can pass this group of 6 cars in the no passing zone, but I won't."
"I know I can go flat out in this straightaway and not get caught, but I won't."
"Surely I can catch up to that guy in front of me, but I won't."
And the most important of all, "Look up."
The ride in and out of Deckers is a great run. Some say it's non-technical, others say its treacherous. Either way, it can and usually does present challenges to all of us, especially if you ride it enough times.
'10 ZX-14
The need for speed is a sickness, but one you can learn to live with.
I think my core of riders have mostly quit riding, but I definitely agree with the sentiment.
A group of riders is either a "Group Ride" or mostly strangers, or simply a "ride" with friends--and I don't necessarily mean BFF, but someone who's at least a good, solid, reliable riding buddy that you can trust.
Developing and grooming a good, solid Core is definitely not easy, and too often it's overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
Edit:
Maybe we should start something similar to the Rider/Mentor thread, but as more of a Rider 4 Rider thing to pair up with like-minded and similar-paced and similar-schedule riders?
Last edited by Ghost; Mon Jul 11th, 2011 at 04:09 PM.
Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.
~Hunter S. Thompson
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