Author Topic: On living in the country.......... (Read 14214 times)

jbrough7 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 06, 2006, 07:18:38 AM »

...living in the country....you often have relatives show up who come unannounced, after me and me woman have gone off too neverland (about 9 pm these days).....got up this a.m. buck naked and headed out of the bedroom, noticing all the lights were on in the living room. We have teenagers with short arms so the lights are often left on all night, and didn't think anything of it.

Walk out heading for the john to do my morning ritual and my sister-in-law is sitting there reading in the corner of the room. I have my little whatsit in my hand by this time, already looking forward to the loo. She peers over her glasses at me.

"Oops," she says.

I blink and say, "Hey. I didn't realize you were here." Then I walk off to the bathroom, dickie still in hand and do my thing. Wrapped towels around self for the exit afterward.

One question: How the hell was she able to control herself??

Jim

jbrough7 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 15, 2006, 12:53:00 PM »

Riding in the country gives you fantastic journies into work each day! Had a great trip in this am. It was cool at 9C above but I wore my new leathers so didn't feel the cold.

Still am invisible to cops so that is pretty cool. Passed one and I was doing 86 in a 60 - nothing! Then I figured that's all I would see for the day but I passed another and he coulda had me at 78 in a 50 (kilometres). Not
even a finger wagging!! Cool!

Then I hit a nice straight stretch and for some reason just wanted to rev the snot out of her. Had her in fourth at about 120 km/her and nailed her and she really took off! Gotta love the power of the 650 - can't even imagine if I was on a 1200 what that would feel like!

The new leather pants are fantastic! I feel a lot more comfortable going quickly and with all the built in design thingies for sitting down, everything feels great.

Had a thought when I was flying along...can you imagine the Bandits sitting in the factory in Japan? What would they be saying to each other?

(Another Bike):'Hey - I'm heading got a little old grannie in Texas - she weighs 100 lbs. and the weather is great all year round! Can hardly wait!"

(My Bike): Crap! I'm heading to Canada! It's going to be freezing up there! My choke is going to be worn out after two weeks! And my buyer is some porky yahoo that weighs 225 lbs!! I hear he gets off on revving bikes up in the stratosphere! Why ME?? Why MEE???(starts to leak brake fluid at this point.)

jim

Sven · « **Reply #17 on:** May 15, 2006, 01:04:32 PM »

Quote from: jbrough7

...living in the country....you often have relatives show up who come unannounced, after me and me woman have gone off too neverland...

I don't know what living in the country has to do with people coming into your home without warning...this seems to be a family thing that some families do and others don't...it always reminds me of TV sitcoms. I suspect our families are very different, since I don't know parents who wander around naked once thier kids get past a certain age...the kids just don't want to SEE IT!

It's like the use of towels/sheets. Some people change them daily, some weekly, some every couple weeks. Or toilets: Some people flush at night, others wait until whoever is first up in the AM. Watever you were raised doing seems normal to you.

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #18 on:** May 15, 2006, 01:30:15 PM »

OK, Jim, bro, I've signed you up for the next semester of Appropriate Storytelling 101.

jbrough7 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 16, 2006, 04:57:01 PM »

Holy Crap! This country living sucks, sometimes...I have to go through a small town to work and this a.m. it was raining pretty heavy. A car pulled out in front of me (as in cut me off and never even looked my way!) so I had to jump on the brakes. Hit the rear right off and not the front! Back wheel immediately locked up and she started to skid. I was only doing 30 mph so that helped and I got her under control. Had to pull over for a couple of minutes and get my heart out of my mouth!

Shoulda hit the front brake? Both? Opinions/comments?

jim

stormi · « **Reply #20 on:** May 16, 2006, 05:21:25 PM »

Quote

Hit the rear right off and not the front! Back wheel immediately locked up and she started to skid. I was only doing 30 mph so that helped and I got her under control. Had to pull over for a couple of minutes and get my heart out of my mouth!

Shoulda hit the front brake? Both? Opinions/comments?

I used to use my rear brake exclusively, until I had a situation almost identical to yours. I actually had my rear tire begin to pass my front,... twice.

I mentioned it to the other half (who's been riding dirtbikes since he could walk, I think), and he said use your front brake as your main brake, and rear to stabilize.

That said, as I understand it, in a panic brake situation, both brakes should be applied with gradually more and more pressure, but evenly. Having practiced in the dirt, it seems that this is all true. So far, I've only had to brake hard, not come to a stop (since that first scare), and have always managed without having to threshold brake.

This link should be helpful:
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/advanced_braking/

jbrough7 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 17, 2006, 09:46:11 AM »

Thanks for the reply, Stormi.

You know what's freaky is I am always practicing panic stops out on the lonely country roads but NEVER IN THE WET!! This is incredibly stupid because that's when you need the technique the most!

The gentle approach really does work in the wet as I don't usually have a problem but the panic stuff made me throw all that 'finesse' stuff right out the window (or off the seat??)

I'm just surprised I grabbed the rear brake right away...I have a ton of gravel on the pavement rightat the end of my drive and have to stop on that every day. If I use the front, I'll go down for sure, so I always use the rear. Maybe that got me into a bad habit??

jim

Sven · « **Reply #22 on:** May 17, 2006, 12:11:59 PM »

I thought it was bad practise to use only the rear brake on street situations. I'm not talking about unpaved gravel roads, or purposefully skidding on the track, but just street conditions.

jbrough7 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 17, 2006, 12:48:43 PM »

You're right, it is.

Going home after work I wanted to see how I was after swallowing my heart and it was no problemo - didn't even think about the near accident a few hours before...quite a change from when I wiped out as a young guffer and then was too scared to go near the things for years!

jim

stormi · « **Reply #24 on:** May 17, 2006, 12:49:26 PM »

Quote

You know what's freaky is I am always practicing panic stops out on the lonely country roads but NEVER IN THE WET!! This is incredibly stupid because that's when you need the technique the most!

The gentle approach really does work in the wet as I don't usually have a problem but the panic stuff made me throw all that 'finesse' stuff right out the window (or off the seat??)

I'm just surprised I grabbed the rear brake right away...I have a ton of gravel on the pavement rightat the end of my drive and have to stop on that every day. If I use the front, I'll go down for sure, so I always use the rear. Maybe that got me into a bad habit??

Well, the wet scares the best rider until they learn to deal with it. It does provide a different set of rules. Or at least a modified set. Now that you now, I'm guessing you'll be practicing.

Same as I do. Since as much as I'd like to be one of the best,... I have a LONG way to go. I might make it by the time I turn 90,... if I practice every day.

The good part about all of this is that now you know what you're programmed response is, and that you have to re-program. And you did it with no permanant damage.

Why do you say if you use your front brake on gravel you'll go down for sure? I use my front brake for all of my stops, and rear to bring the bike to a faster stop, or to stabilize the bike. (Often I use the rear with the front out of habit) In the dirt, I use almost exclusively the front brake. one notable exception is to "slow myself" down when going down a steep sand dune that I have to make a sharp left at the bottom of, or else free fall for another 100ft. Then there's a lot of rear brake and a little front.

It's all about moderation.

jbrough7 · « **Reply #25 on:** May 17, 2006, 05:59:38 PM »

The town 'paved' the twenty feet at the end of our drive (it's about four hundred feet of gravel for the rest) so whenever we drive over it onto the gravel, we spew some of the rocks onto the pavement. It's on an incline, and when I get there in the morning and I have to stop to check traffic. If I touch the front brake on the gravel on top of the pavement - she's gone! Started using my rear brake and that's okay! Scared the crap out of me the first time.

jim

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #26 on:** May 17, 2006, 07:26:52 PM »

Quote from: jbrough7

The town 'paved' the twenty feet at the end of our drive (it's about four hundred feet of gravel for the rest) so whenever we drive over it onto the gravel, we spew some of the rocks onto the pavement. It's on an incline, and when I get there in the morning and I have to stop to check traffic. If I touch the front brake on the gravel on top of the pavement - she's gone! Started using my rear brake and that's okay! Scared the crap out of me the first time.

jim

I suppose asphalting that drive is out of the question? I did that with our gravel drive at one time. Sure was nice. It was 150 to 200 feet max. Plus you can roller skate, skateboard, and so forth. Just don't use the motorbike's kickstand without a footprint enhancer! If you can catch a crew redoing the road you can work out a much better cash deal with the foreman. Trust me!

jbrough7 · « **Reply #27 on:** May 19, 2006, 11:03:09 PM »

It sure could be done and I'd love to do it. Actually, they'll be putting a street in beside my property soon (no more peeing off the front porch!

) and maybe I could get a deal then. I'd like to do the paving stones or bricks, but I found they come out as expensive as asphalt plus you have a lot more work.
Neat look though.

jim

Sven · « **Reply #28 on:** May 20, 2006, 12:23:29 AM »

Quote from: jbrough7

I'd like to do the paving stones or bricks, but I found they come out as expensive as asphalt plus you have a lot more work.
Neat look though.

Pavers are more expensive to lay, but have no cost in the out years. If one cracks, you just pull it up and replace it. It they get unlevel, you pull a couple up and throw some sand under them. Better traction when wet or icy. Water flows off better because of the cracks between them. Etc.

On the other hand, my driveway is washed gravel (or peastone) and that seems to crumble quickly and has to be redone as the land settles. Cheap on the front end, a pain in the @ss for years to come.

Sven · « **Reply #29 on:** May 20, 2006, 12:25:05 AM »

Quote from: jbrough7

they'll be putting a street in beside my property soon (no more peeing off the front porch!

Put some holly along the foundation and it'll screen ya (unless your monster is THAT big!).