Today I lost my virginity...

I am no longer a wheelie virgin. I have had a great day at Paul Gower's
wheelie school.
http://www.thewheelieschool.co.uk/

Paul doesn't claim to teach any sophisticated launch techniques. His
approach is the shortest, simplest route for novices like me to get the
front wheel up. There were five of us with two bikes (1200 bandits) so
there was one group of three and one of two. I was in the two-man group,
which was really good because it meant more practice. We had five runs at a
time then swapped over. The day started with a briefing about safety and
the basics of achieving a power wheelie (on these bandits - accelerate to 30
in first and then smoothly but sharply open the throttle fairly wide). There
then followed a couple of familiarisation runs. After that it was "go for
it" with lots of helpful advice from Paul.

I must admit I was worried that I might not manage it at all but I needn't
have been concerned. I was actually the first one to get the wheel up -
about a couple of feet, followed by panic, a rapid descent and a slight
testicle/tank interface. Fortunately this didn't put me off and as the day
went on I gained skill and confidence. I can't claim to be any kind of
wheelie god but by the end of the day I was getting the front up pretty
consistently and at times keeping it there for more than just a quick
up/down sequence.

Paul is a top bloke - very supportive and helpful and with a really good
sense of humour. He also had a stint in the afternoon where he demonstrated
his own skills - very impressive! The other guys there were a good bunch and
it was a really enjoyable day. I would recommend it to anyone.

 

Fantastic, isn't it. I had a whale of a time.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Loopy

Maybe learning what an apostrophe's for?

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

I have already made the greatest contribution to the fight against climate
change that I can make: I have decided not to breed. Now quit bugging me and
go and talk to the Catholics.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Loopy

I can only teach those who want to learn.

A brain-cell or two to spare can be bloody handy too.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

I have already made the greatest contribution to the fight against climate
change that I can make: I have decided not to breed. Now quit bugging me and
go and talk to the Catholics.

 

Simultaneous breathing and punctuating not available with this model at
this specification.

 

Fortunately I am a lighthearted and frivolous motorcyclist. Being silly is
integral to my motorcycling experience. If I found myself becoming
"serious" about it I would probably pack it in.

How did you guess?

One day maybe, who knows?

 

Ha! Excellent answer. I shall remember this the next time someone
uses the phrase "serious motorcyclist". Really, is there anything
less serious than riding a bike?

 

Tickling a brick.

 

I haven't heard that expression for *years*!

 

It's an expression? Well bugger me. I was just trying to think of
something really un-serious, & tickling seemed like a good starting
point, & I'd just finished moving some bricks outside, so...

 

Need?

--
Veggie Dave
http://www.iq18films.co.uk

"To assert that the earth revolves around the sun is as erroneous as to claim
that Jesus was not born of a virgin." Cardinal Bellarmine

 

Sounds like a nice place from your report.

Distance from London?

(yes, I'm just a Dago thinking of possible hols in the UK)

 

"Riding a BMW C1"?

 

Good - and I hope you're planning to come north.

 

With the added attraction of a car boot sale on Sundays

 

I'm with the OP, I've always been someone who wants full control. And
when the front wheel starts to rise, I put it down. I don't call
myself a wuss, I have been racing sports sedans for years, I have an
aerobatic endorsement on my pilots licence, I'm a PADI dive
instructor, but I'm fucked if I can wheelstand a bike. Had a great
time with a couple of mates who are really really good at it, mainly
because the would always try to out-accelerate me on the back wheel
but none of them got past me. (Laws of physics and all that). But I
would love to do it.

 

Being back to London is the first goal, but on a pedestrian basis. Some day
I'd fancy Scotland-IOMTT-Ireland, the frozen norf would then fit.

 

It's the PADI bit that's done your head in.

It's ok to go deeper than 10m no matter what anyone says.

 

Eh? My first dive with PADI we went to 18m, third time we went below
23m, although that was not within the rules.

IOW, ITYM 20m, not 10.

 

Sorry, it's a tired old joke and I shouldn't have done it.

I was just making a feeble attempt to start up the old BSAC v PADI
wars that have been done to death over the years.