Well, I think I should write up a little ride report for this one, as there were a few things that happened beyond the great weather and the good roads.
Please read through because there's a lesson to be learned from this ride.
We fired off out of Kingston at 10:00am and followed Taylor Kidd down to the waterfront, where we followed through down to the Prince Edward County ferry. During the trip, I had a chance to really get on the throttle of the Sprint to see what it was made of. I'm very impressed to say the least.
A pleasant and uneventful (except for me getting a little turned around at Consecon, easily remedied) ride out of the County took us through to #2 highway where we went through Brighton, Cobourg and Port Hope. While it was a nice ride, the city riding and the traffic would make me reconsider that route in the future. I think I'd go up 62 to Stirling and back more or less the way we returned.
Through the route to Bewdley, we weathered the following:
- old woman who walked across the road in front of us to get mail & gave us an evil stare
- car tried to pass another car and slowly pulled in as we approached with our brakes on
- cars at exactly the speed limit everywhere... insurance companies and cops to blame?
- SUV with left flasher sat there while we came from almost a kilometer away... creepy
- lots of sand at almost every intersection
We had a tasty chicken wing lunch (rollingstone can pack in those wings) and headed back, with a few little navigation problems going east towards Hastings, Campbellford and Stirling, but made out fine. We came back down the 62 from Stirling and stopped at Grumpy's for gas, then took a circuitous route through Demorestville and back to Talbot road, where we took the Ridge Road to West Lake. From there, we followed through the Sandbanks Park with a stop at Lakeshore Lodge (worth seeing at least once for 1920's "flapper" nostalgia), and then tripped down through Milford to South Bay past the Black River Cheese factory and into Waupoos. Waupoos road is still a little sandy but quite ridable, but unfortunately we met with some adveristy here. One of the riders took a run off the road and fortunately was unhurt, but gave us all (especially him) a good scare. I won't go into too many details about it or provide a name for obvious reaons but I will break into a little speech here.
<speech>
Whenever you find yourself going a bit too hot into a corner, whatever you do, do not grab a handful of front brake and straight-arm the bars. This practice practically guarantees that you will go off the road.
What you should do is squeeze the brake hard but not so hard that the bike stays stood up, shift your body weight to the inside of the curve and trail the brakes in to the apex of the curve, gradually releasing force as you lean the bike over to navigate the curve. At the apex, you should no longer be braking but doing everything you can to convince the bike to navigate the curve. If you lay the bike down on the pavement at this point, you will hardly slide unless you were really, really, really overcooking the corner, because you will have scrubbed off most of your speed. The bike will also clear the way for you if you really can't save it at that point.
Regarding your line, stay out to the outside of the corner until you are into the corner and then turn in, which may be a bit later than you are used to. The reason for this is not to square off the corner, actually (select a better line if you have the mindset to do it) but to stop yourself from turning in too early, which is another learner's mistake. Going a little late allows you more time hard on the brakes, as well. Early in means early out, usually out the other side of the corner into the shrubbery. Instead of panicing, teach yourself a calmness as you ride that lets you say "this is bad but I've been through worse, and I've got to do what it takes to get through this corner." Act cool, act collected, this is no time for panic, it's time to ride the bike as best you can.
Chances are, if you follow this procedure, you'll find yourself working to not steer off the inside of the turn. My experience is that the bike can usually do more than we think it can, and panic is the real enemy. Please remember this and be safe.
</speech off>
Bear in mind this is not a club or anything and you are free to disagree with me here. Please do, if you feel I'm off-base. The more rider knowledge we all have, the better we are off.
To be a little more clear on this particular corner on Waupoos road, it's on the "lake" side coming down out of the higher regions along the road. Approaching the corner from the East (towards Lake on the Mountain/Ferry), you come down a hill and before you is a 60km/h signed corner which looks tighter than it is - there is a paved laneway to the right of this corner, just as you tip into it. With dedication, you
can take this corner at speed but I would recommend against it as the road surface is polished chip'n'tar and can be slippery in a panic situation. A bit of prudence is called for.
Anyway, it was a great ride followed by an unfortunate accident (I am not discouraged by it). It was nice to see some CMG Online folk again (
http://www.cmgonline.com/) including Shakin' which I see has joined the forum here this weekend. I look forward to lots more rides more or less like it this year.
