From: sjgarnie
Subject: Re: TestAndRCR 
To: tridod@cog.att.net
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 10:25:19 -0400 (EDT)

Martyn wrote:
>The Lard of the Fries says (I hope to the list, with his alias I can't tell):

Yes, it was to the list.

>>To be honest, I would've been just as comfortable riding a quicker pace
>>than I ended up using.  I had intended on riding a slower pace, but *felt*
>>that the riders in our group prefered an increased pace, particularly after
>>surveying many of the faces at certain brief stops.  I saw only smiles.
>>Sorry about misinterpreting your wishes, Martyn.  I guess I wasn't
>>listening when you mentioned the headshakes.  Of course, my speedo could
>>be way off, but I never went above 65 mph in the straights.
>
>No, you didn't go much over 65 on the straights, but the *style* of
>the pace was such that it never slowed down for those who passed
>rolling roadblocks to catch up.  I'd have liked a reduced pace at the
>front once there was enough room for others to move into, until
>everyone was around.

Actually, I did slow down in the straights, but not until I made certain
that there was a *LARGE* amount of room between myself and the cage behind
me.  Many times I slowed to 50 on the straights; on the downhill straights,
I may have slowed to only 60, and that may be what you're talking about.  I
don't like to use engine braking on downhill slopes, and I like to keep my
brakes cool for the upcoming turns.

>That's really my only objection, other than I would have liked to go
>faster in the twisties. :-)  Well, Jean and I had opportunity to
>rectify that... :-) :-)

But I didn't slow down in the twisties.  Like Hesh, I realize that the way
to make time is just to lean, hang-off, and rarely slow down.  And I never 
came anywhere close to scraping any hard parts, so I know that I wasn't 
pushing _my_ pace.  Usually, when I see a curve advisory sign that suggests 
a 45 mph speed, that tells me that I can handle the curve comfortably and
lazily at 65, without hanging-off.  With hanging-off and sliding the rear 
a bit, I can take the turn at perhaps 85-90 or faster, but I would *never* 
do that with out excellent knowledge of the road, and I most certainly would 
never do that in a group ride, because I'm not interested in getting those 
trying to keep up with me killed.

>My preference on a "pace" ride, which this basically was (intended a
>compliment to all involved), is not to exceed 60 or so on the
>straights, and hang together more as a group while passing.  I don't
>know how you rode the really twisty section, of course, but the
>calibre of the riders was such that spreading out would have been
>best.  The Guzzi has a definite optimal cornering technique that
>demands the rider be committed (cue one-liner :-) ), and coming up on
>another bike mid-corner is readily survivable but *is* a pucker moment
>(*love* those linked brakes!).

Let me get this straight.  You want me to accelerate as I pass a slower
moving vehicle, then leave a very large window for others to pass, and
then slow down in the straights to maintain a tighter group formation,
and then you want me to speed up in the straights before entering a curve 
in order to spread the group?  It is safer to simply maintain the spread 
and let individuals pass slower vehicles on their own, than to let them 
try to accelerate with me into a corner.  After all, it is safer to enter 
a corner relatively slowly and then roll on the throttle once the corner 
has been assessed.  If anything, the gap going into the twisties needs to 
be large enough to allow for safely running up behind the forward bike, 
and still small enough for the follower to learn from the leader's line.  
In essence, it is the responsibility of all riders in the group to give 
surrounding riders the courtesy of a properly sized maneuver envelope.

Maybe we're agreeing on the same things here, but it's hard to tell with
ASCII limitations.

>Oh yeah, I suppose those frantic waves when you bypassed the centre of
>Shepherdstown was taken as a "OK, go ahead and turn left" rather than
>"For god's sake, man, the coffee's the *other* way!!!". ;-)

No, my waving was meant to convey the following message: "WHERE in HELL 
is that _DAMN_ *COFFEE* SHOP?  WILL SOMEBODY TELL ME?"  I wanted that ice 
coffee so bad I could *taste* it.  I rarely remember locations by name; I 
remember them by some recognizable geometry.  It's hard enough for me to 
remember road names/numbers; instead I remember the *road* in far greater 
detail than most people.  During our return to Shepherdstown, we used a
different road than when we initially went through it.  During my mirror 
checks, I didn't see anyone trying to get my attention, nor trying to 
overtake me, so I assumed we hadn't yet reached the destination.  As soon 
as we got onto 34, I began to suspect that something was wrong, but nobody 
came forth.  For those who wanted coffee and knew where it was, I wish 
y'all had turned when you knew the turn was at hand.  I would've turned 
around very quickly and rejoined you.  Hell, I would've *thanked* you.  
I _lusted_ for a few gallons of ice coffee.

>>This brings up another point.  Martyn, I've had a bias against fork/
>>handlebar mounted windscreens for a *long* time, and you experienced the
>>reason why.  You might not want this advice, but IMO, you should replace
>>that windscreen with something you can fasten to the frame.  The frequency
>>of headshake occurrence plummets when you decouple the forces on the
>>windscreen from the steering control.
>
>I just won't ride that fast.  It's not a bad thing for me to have an
>upper limit on speed.  Anyway, even a *major* headshake is easily
>handled on the Callie if the rider is calm and relaxed.

At what speed did the headshake(s) occur?  And how will the Calli handle
riding through chaotic storm winds or truck bow-shocks on narrow roads?  
I've ridden near tornados in IL...I even had my bike and I briefly lifted 
off the ground while it was raining horizontally.  I won't own a bike with 
a bar/fork-mounted windscreen, but I realize that this is getting into 
religion, and that there are indeed different strokes for different folks.

Steve
DoD #00000005
KotFlame
Lard of the Fries