Basic Riding instruction

The Captain of Motorcycle Education, or Safety Training Officer, or Motorcycle Handling Safety Administrator, 
honestly I can't remember half these new titles, so I am going to refer to him as the Road Captain...Oh Screw it...Tom.

Tom held basic motorcycle handling instruction today behind what at one time was Beit Brothers on route 32 in Montville.The turn out was rather surprisingly good. In the past when we held basic skills or Road Guard training the only ones to show up were the ones who were already involved, in other words, the Road Guards at the time. It was nice to see we have a new breed of Club member who is not afraid to admit they can use training or even refresher. Everyone can improve, always. Even professionals practice.

 Part of the problem with most motorcycle riders is the fact that they have had years and years of repetitive training " in a car", When things go wrong, stomp down with your foot.
      This doe's not work on a motorcycle, what it does is lock up the rear brake, or make the ABS make that rapid clicking noise as you either skid (non-ABS) or click click click (ABS) past the point you would have preferred to stop at.
 On a bike when you need to stop in an emergency, the front brake is the most effective, weight transference moves the center of gravity forward, so the front wheel will have the weight of the bike pressing on it, the weight of the rider and the G forces of the forward momentum, ie, it has the most tractive braking force. The weight lessens on the rear of the bike hence the skidding as the bike loses the weight on the rear tire. 

No one is as good as they think they are when the Shit hits the fan. Practicing these control moves can help replace a "Rear brake, I'm in a car" panic braking to a automatic (through practice), controlled or controllable life saving maneuver. 

Tom started with basic riding position, ie body position, arm position, leg position, then moved onto to controls use, including finger position on bars and handles. He started the riding with making a basic stop, using the rear brake to slow the bike, moving the left leg off the foot-board which informs the bike of a left turn (weight distribution), a slight turn to the right on the bars allows the bike to stay straight as it comes to a stop and allows the foot to come down in the correct position to stay in control of the bikes weight once stopped. 

He then went through slow maneuvering, emergency Braking, Braking and evading, braking in a turn. Once you get a rider to learn what the front brake is capable of they can control the bike in all situations. he instructed them on Weight displacement through rapid deceleration. he moved onto to intersection work and more.

All in all it seemed the members appreciated the time spent. 

Tom explains the difference between stopping, evading, and getting out of the way, before the little old lady in the dodge behind you, who has not seen your emergency stop plows through you. 
Stated as the difference between avoiding an unpleasant experience or ending up bloody with holes in your body.

Below are emergency stops in the box.

In other words, flying up to the spot and grabbing a fist full of front brake.