Was Douglas Adams a rider?

Riding home from work yesterday we had that strange situation where water
falls from the sky (here on the Qld central coast). As I left an 80 zone to
enter a 100 zone there seemed to be more than just water on the road and the
rear wheel attempted to overtake the front wheel. I suspect by the look on
the face of the cagers coming toward me they thought they would be picking
me up off the road momentarily. I thought my 20 years of riding without an
accident (at speeds above walking) was coming to an end. Then the friendly
words on the front of the hitch hikers guide to the galaxy came to mind
"Don't Panic". Now I suspect this is the sort of advice all new riders
should be given, because had I paniced and tried to rapidly stop I would
probably have had a slip and slide on the bitumen. It leaves me wondering is
the ability to not panic a natural thing or something that can be learned?
Have I learned it over 20 years of near misses or is it natural?

How have others fared in this regard?

Krazykol
ZZR 600 (Soon to be VTR1000F - when the Honda dealer gets his arse into
gear)

 

To paraphrase Rudyard Kipling:

"If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs,
then you probably don't fully understand the situation".

Therefore, ignorance could well be a sound trait for not panicking.

---
Cheers

PeterC [aka MildThing]
Most scientific discoveries are heralded by a tentative "Hmmm. That's funny..." instead of a jubilant "Eureka!"

'81 Yamaha Virago (XV) 750H (work in progress)
'01 Yamaha FJR1300

www.dmcsc.org.au
http://eladesom.com.au/ulysses/
# 37181

 

Yes but did you brown your pants??

 

I think you should read the book "Twist Of The Wrist II"
http://tinyurl.com/l6hla

In it, the author, Keith Code, speaks about the tendency to panic but he
refers it as "Survival Reactions".

He explains how bike's suspension, tyres and brakes all work together and
what happens and why, when you cock it up.

By learning the right reaction and what makes it the right reaction you feel
a lot more confident, more in control and will with practice, be able to
instinctively do the right thing without panicing.

I don't think I've explained it very well but do yourself a favour and get
the book.

 

My pet theory is that at least 90% of motorcycle prangs happens because the
rider overreacts or reacts poorly to a situation that wasn't really that
bad.....

Geoff's story of surviving Lemmings-Corner simply because he didn't wanna'
give up is a classic example to inspire riders.

 

your crashes would have been from over eating and over drinking?

 

as in GOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!!! ?



P

 

Since when has god done anything good?

 

rOn Fri, 01 Sep 2006 11:03:28 GMT, "Knobdoodle"

Who is this god person anyway?

 

"Honest Jodie.... that's perspiration marks on my undies..... and all down
the inside of my trousers!"

 

That about wraps it up for god!

 

So that's why you wear those short shorts!


G-S

 

you forgot Hatz

mh

 

Not to mention Goof Whitlam & Malcolm (Where's my Dacks) Fraser.

Boxer

 

Sounds horribly like the old "pre-planned emergency response" ... anyone
seen megawanker about recently?[1]

Cheers
Goaty
1, I was planning on changing ISPs anyhow ...
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Militant Agnostic - I don't know and you don't either