Cool, glad you liked the book as well. For me it was tips like looking at a cars tires to determine if they are going to pull out, and how to fake out dogs, lane positioning, etc, were the kinds of tips that I use all the time. Once you get some confidence in your tires it changes your enjoyment level immensely, as it sounds you're finding out. That is the great thing about bikes, nothing feels better than when you nail a turn perfectly, but if you botch it the bike will immediately let you know. Once you get proficient, riding through traffic or a twisty back road is as gracefull as a shark swimming in the ocean.
On Mon, Sep 9, 2013 at 1:09 PM, Rachel Campbell <[email protected]>wrote: > I don't mean to thread hi-jack here, but I just wanted to say that I > ordered this book and read it cover to cover (some sections three or four > times), and it really helped me out a lot! I don't have anyone else to ride > with, so it's just me out there trying to figure things out. > > I was really having trouble taking corners fast--not super fast, just at > least as fast I as I could take the same corner in my car--and there was a > section in the book that talked about gyroscopic balance, tire contact > patch, center of mass and so on, and it really helped me learn to trust > that my bike will not fall over in a turn. > > For me there was an angle at which I was leaning where I felt like if I > were to lean anymore I was going to fall. After reading the cornering > section of the book, I went out and just told myself, I'm going to go > around this corner at 20 mph and I'm going to lean past that point--and if > I fall, I fall. So, around I went, and I leaned, and I got that same > feeling you get when a plane takes off and your stomach drops (impending > doom, I believe it's called), and then I was still leaning, cornering, and > then I came out of the turn...and I was still on my bike, and it was still > on the pavement, and we were still riding! Hooray! We didn't fall! It was a > revelation. I just had to get past that point. Now, I just lean right past > it, no problem. Have yet to meet a corner I didn't like. :) > > The book also helped me with tight turns. There is a intersection in town > where I need to turn right, almost a U-turn, and it's 2 lanes, and it was > all I could do to make that turn and not find myself in the passenger seat > of the vehicle in the next lane. In the book, he said something about > lifting your butt off the seat and standing on the outside peg while > countersteering. Let the bike lean under you. Another revelation! I can > U-turn all day now! I can U-turn in my one car driveway. Well, almost. ;) > > This book, along with some YouTube videos that let me watch some of the > techniques he mentions in slow motion, has really increased my knowledge of > riding and my confidence on the bike. I have already noticed how much > better I am and how much more comfortable I feel on the bike since I > started riding. I also feel more prepared for situations I have yet to > encounter like wet pavement or gravel roads. > > I never would have even thought to look for a book about riding > techniques. Thanks for recommending it! > > > > On Wednesday, August 14, 2013 10:13:34 AM UTC-5, Allen wrote: >> >> And I can't stress reading a copy of "Proficient Motorcycling" it is >> under $10 new from amazon. They did a 2nd edition that has color pictures >> as well, and he did a second book for more advanced riders called mastering >> the ride. >> http://www.amazon.com/**Proficient-Motorcycling-** >> Ultimate-Guide-Riding/dp/**1889540536/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&** >> ie=UTF8&qid=1376492959&sr=1-2&**keywords=proficient+**motorcycling<http://www.amazon.com/Proficient-Motorcycling-Ultimate-Guide-Riding/dp/1889540536/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376492959&sr=1-2&keywords=proficient+motorcycling> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
