Jim Ford Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 The Bahamas or Broadway Last season I was with three riders who went down. Two of them were serious - bike wise. While neither rider was as much as scratched, their motorcycles were ruined. The third crash was minor, but it was something the guy said afterward that stuck with me. The first words out of his mouth, as he stood up bewildered, dusting himself off, were: "Jim, my mind was in the Bahamas." He said the Bahamas literally. I think now of it figuratively. "The Bahamas" has come to symbolize for me a dangerous mindset that can occur at precisely the wrong time while motorcycling. The wrong time is a curve. The wrong mindset is distraction. The Curve is the one place in your two wheeled life where your mind absolutely and positively cannot be anywhere but right now! Being in "the Bahamas?" What a joke. But being "on Broadway?" Consider it. Just like a Broadway stage actor, your focus in a curve must be right now - and you must know your (4) lines. A stage? Know your lines? Think of a curve as a motorcycling "stage." Your 4 lines is the simultaneous multi-tasking you have to know cold and master to get around the "stage" safely with aplomb and perhaps some virtuosity. 4 lines: 1. Upon entering the curve, stay on the throttle. 2. Initiate slight inside counter-steer. 3. Organize your body so that you can easily turn your shoulders, and point your head toward where you want your motorcycle to go. Then, use your eyes to scan your surroundings for traction and continuous situational awareness. 4. Follow through with leaning to the inside of the motorcycle: Crook your inside elbow, duck your inside shoulder, and plant your inside fanny bone and whatever else you can think of to better coax your motorcycle around the "stage." Did I already mention stay on the throttle? "On stage," practice, practice, practice, then practice some more - these 4 lines. Soon, you'll feel curve carving confidence and your inner voice will roar with applause! See you in Third Gear. Link to comment
Whip Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 I'm glad that works for you.... Link to comment
Mister Tee Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 4 lines: 1. Upon checking out those curves, hold on to your drink. 2. Initiate slight inside counter conversation. 3. Organize your body so that you can easily turn your shoulders, and point your head toward where you want your eyes to go. Then, use your eyes to scan your surroundings for other players scoping your find. 4. Follow through with leaning to the inside of her ear: Crook your inside elbow, duck your inside shoulder, and plant your inside fanny bone and whatever else you can think of to coax her out on the dance floor. I'll try it tonight at the club! Link to comment
Matts_12GS Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Is this the appropriate thread? Seems that this is a place for members to ASK questions on issues related to riding, not to openly blog/pontificate about their opinions to start a thread... Maybe I'm wrong, but... Link to comment
Joe Frickin' Friday Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Is this the appropriate thread? Seems that this is a place for members to ASK questions on issues related to riding, not to openly blog/pontificate about their opinions to start a thread... Maybe I'm wrong, but... Asking questions is good, but proffering opinions is good, too. We're here for discussion, however it may start. If you search the forum, you'll find plenty of threads that were started by people who wanted to relate a personal experience and the lessons they learned (for example, my own screwball turn in Deals Gap a year ago), or just wanted to share some wisdom they've picked up. Link to comment
Nice n Easy Rider Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Is this the appropriate thread? Seems that this is a place for members to ASK questions on issues related to riding, not to openly blog/pontificate about their opinions to start a thread... Maybe I'm wrong, but... Members can read it, not read it, agree or disagree with it, learn or not learn from it - whatever they want. Personally I like the opportunity to have all these options. Some posts I glance over, some I read, and some I read and think about. Unless someone is abusing the system (which we have moderators for) IMO the more options we have, the better. Link to comment
Mr_Ed Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Is this the appropriate thread? Seems that this is a place for members to ASK questions on issues related to riding, not to openly blog/pontificate about their opinions to start a thread... Maybe I'm wrong, but... Asking questions is good, but proffering opinions is good, too. We're here for discussion, however it may start. If you search the forum, you'll find plenty of threads that were started by people who wanted to relate a personal experience and the lessons they learned (for example, my own screwball turn in Deals Gap a year ago), or just wanted to share some wisdom they've picked up. Mitch of course is right but I too found the original post to be a little off. I honestly don't wish to offend but so far each thread started by Mr Ford has felt (to me) like a advertisement. I'm not suggesting that these sorts of posts stop but in my case I've started to ignore Mr Ford's post. Link to comment
Bernie Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Well, I kinda like them. First he prefers the same kinda roads I do, and second he trows out there some stuff that works for him. Even if it is stuff from his school. It is like a mini lecture at no charge. Link to comment
TedG Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 >I honestly don't wish to offend but so far each thread started by Mr Ford has felt (to me) like a advertisement.< I understand the sentiment, but I can point to numerous instances that could be construed as such, such as any of the numerous posts extolling Mr. Code's CSS for example. I try to learn from the experiences of other riders, and I don't get upset by the poster's affiliation, or lack thereof, with a profit making venture. 'Course, that's just me, and I happen to know and like Jim which probably influences my take on the thread. Link to comment
Jake Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Is this the appropriate thread? Seems that this is a place for members to ASK questions on issues related to riding, not to openly blog/pontificate about their opinions to start a thread... Maybe I'm wrong, but... Asking questions is good, but proffering opinions is good, too. We're here for discussion, however it may start. If you search the forum, you'll find plenty of threads that were started by people who wanted to relate a personal experience and the lessons they learned (for example, my own screwball turn in Deals Gap a year ago), or just wanted to share some wisdom they've picked up. Mitch of course is right but I too found the original post to be a little off. I honestly don't wish to offend but so far each thread started by Mr Ford has felt (to me) like a advertisement. I'm not suggesting that these sorts of posts stop but in my case I've started to ignore Mr Ford's post. I confess I'm sensitive to the marketing undertones to these posts as well. Any friend of Paul Mihalka's is a friend of mine, and Jim posts at the pleasure of the moderators, BUT (there's always a "but" isn't there?) I'd sure like to see some feedback solicited and some meaningful discussion generated. Dick Frantz, as difficult a read as he was, had plenty of learned advice to offer, and he listened, AND he wasn't standing to financially gain from generating a discussion. Simply put, he gave rather than told. To me, the tenor here is somewhat un-"Un", which until recently has been the mantra of this discussion board. Love ya Jim, but a more open ended writing style might avoid the push-back. Link to comment
Jeepster Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 i just want to say that if I didn't know Jim's affiliation, I could easily chalk up his posts to a quirky writting style. I personally enjoy his insights and perspectives. While I will never have a chance to take his (class/seminar), I welcome his posts along with anybody else who has an opinion or outlook they wish to share. And the "Ride Well" forum seems to fit the topic of his posts. As long as he doesn't openly start soliciting business i say, Keep 'em coming Jim and welcome to the board. Link to comment
bridwell52 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 New rooster in the hen house. Flame suit on David B. Link to comment
Quinn Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Jim definately comes across as having a philosophy and a message to deliver. I enjoy (and am in need of) learning; so it doesn't bother me to consider his point of view. The ego and "pontificating" I just chalk up to being self-employed. Most self-employed people try to sound self-assured; it's good for business. There are a lot of differing perspectives on this board. Some will resonate with your views and some won't. Some of us think that a chicken is just an egg's way of making more eggs. I try to understand what the person is saying and see if it's something I can incorporate into my riding. So far, Jim's doing pretty good and I appreciate his efforts. I'll be taking his class some time in the future. Link to comment
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