Odd visitor this morning?

[Kev Murphy]

Young lady knocked on my door...maybe 23 y/o or so?
She introduced herself as Jess, said that she had seen me riding around town, and asked if I could give her some riding tips as she was new to the two wheeled scene? Had her new little bike for just two weeks.
Why me?
She stated that she had seen me riding around town, I seemed very sensible and confident in my riding skills? (woohoo!... nice little pat on the back?)

I asked her what kind of problems she was experiencing, and she said that she seemed to be wobbling and tending to drift wide on corners and on U-turns.
So I picked up my helmet, and followed her around the block, first in right turns only, and then in the opposite direction. I spotted her wobbles, and realised her problem.... Easily fixed.

When we stopped out the front, I said to her "You are keeping your eyes directly in front all the time... when turning, look towards where you WANT to go... eg look through where you currently are, to a point where you want to be when cornering.. and on a roundabout, look at the exit point rather than directly in front of your wheel, and your cornering will be more precise.
Simple advice.
We went around the block again, and her cornering skills have improved, thru a simple few spoken words. She then practised a few u turns, and is now far more confident on her little bike. Took less than 15 minutes to correct her error.
I also taught her to 'push' on the left handlebar when cornering left, and vice-versa, to have tighter lean, and better cornering control.
I also suggested that she enrol in a bike handling course.

Nice to think that I could help in such a simple way.
 I feel good, how about you?

[StinkyPete]

Goodonya Kev.   Jess will clearly make a safer and more confident rider with some further training, and you've pointed her in the right directiion.   

[Nigel]

Goodonya Kev.   Jess will clearly make a safer and more confident rider with some further training, and you've pointed her in the right directiion.   

Interesting that the correct amount of training, just basic training is not mandatory to get your permit to ride. How dangerous is it not to have this knowledge. As a matter of interest my missus went for her learners permit at our local H.A.R.T training facility in Kilsyth last weekend.I insisted she do the 2 day course, as she had never been on a bike, and she would be trained "properly". Have to admit its rare for me to get a win but i DID and with that went through with flying colours. She managed to get through the slow ride in a time of  14.2 secs over 10 metres. !0 secs is a pass. On a scooter as well! Amazing!

It would be very safe to say what Kev has done for the girl Jess may have even altered a statistic. So well done...................................................................................................

[alans1100]

Interesting that the correct amount of training, just basic training is not mandatory to get your permit to ride. How dangerous is it not to have this knowledge.

It depends what you're calling basic training. I think anyone that has ridden a pushbike has most of it already. Those that come to motorcycles/scooters without the push bike experience might well find themselves lacking in the basics.

However I do find it somewhat contradictory that a learner rider in SA has to go through a compulsory course to get their Ls just to get n the road while a car learner doesn't need to.

[alans1100]

Goodonya Kev.   Jess will clearly make a safer and more confident rider with some further training, and you've pointed her in the right directiion.   

I think Pete said it.

[Shiney]

Awesome work Kev

[WendyL]

 

[Biggles]

Queensland introduced QRide a few years ago, and had a 250cc limit before LAMs came in.  QRide schools were granted dispensations to issue licences.  I came along at the time you could skip the 250cc limit if you did the QRide course, and I got the ST1100.  QRide is now mandatory, along with LAMs.

Well done Kev, to be smart enough to spot her fault and know the fix.
Hopefully she'll recognise it's worth the money to do a full course.  I try to do a full day once a year.
It was only $45 when the Gold Coast Council was sponsoring the HART training.

[spanner]

Kudos to you ..... you should feel good not only for teaching but for being recognised as someone trustworthy .

Big up!

[ppopeye]

Thats a big well done.


Sent from my iPad

[Shaun]

Good work for both of you. It was some good self-appraisal for her to come to the realisation she needed to improve and to seek assistance. I teach at a girls school and one thing I have noticed is that they tend to be a lot better at seeing their strengths and weaknesses than blokes are.

Good on you for taking time out to help her too. Good stuff all around :)

[sargent]

Well done