Making the Invisible , Visible.

An article from the theday.comwarrants details of a police investigation into an accident of a driver who failed to see an oncoming motorcyclist .

It is in the news every other day about a motorcycle accident, particularly boda boda motorcyclist. They fill up, many district hospital orthopedic wards.

In the article above, the driver told the police at the scene that he had slowed down his car and quickly scanned the roadway for oncoming traffic, and not seeing anything had accelerated to make a left turn. He said he saw the motorcycle “all of the sudden’ and did not have time to avoid the collision.  A driver behind the motorcyclist said it was being ridden at the speed limit.

It is a pity to say this , but accidents or near accidents such as the one above are the norm in Kenya. Cagers (drivers) simply don’t see you. You are visible and yet invisible. So the question here is , how do you increase your visibility?

Simple really …by standing out  , be seen , be easy to notice.

What color is your motorcycle? Is it a color that is pleasing to the eye, perhaps even your favorite color?

What color is your riding gear? Is it cool? Perhaps it is black from head to toe.

Motorcyclists need to stand out among the river of pleasing colors used to paint most cars that are on the road. And I applaud the recent amendments to the Kenyan traffic act which made wearing of riding with reflective strips mandatory. Personally I prefer a riding jacket and helmet  that will drive a driver crazy just by mere glimpse of it ( he he he).

Riding with your lights on  during the day  on is another way to increase your visibility on the road.  In many countries, every motorcycle‘s low beam headlamp has been wired to illuminate whenever the engine is running, either as a matter of law or of voluntary industry practice.

Head light modulators are devices that oscillate the intensity  of a motorcycle headlight making you conspicuous . They also include a light sensor that disables modulation when the ambient light level drops below a certain point. When this happens, the headlamps burn steadily. which restricts its use to only daylight hours.

Be conspicuous ……

 

Ride Safe,

Laxity!

The Thesaurus  defines laxity as – the trait of neglecting responsibilities and lacking concern.

Today on my commute to work , a boda boda rider sans a helmet ,  reflective jacket  or any protective gear and busy talking on a mobile phone zoomed past me. Over lapping a queue of cars  , passing right in front of a traffic cop. Who looked at him in indifference.

The rules are there in the amended traffic act , the enforcement is selective , reason?? Yet the fatalities , injuries and disabilities associated with motorcycle accidents are on the increase.

Please read the following post on working towards increased helmet use among boda boda riders in Uganda.

The existing Kenyan traffic laws require helmet and reflective jacket use. These products are  easily available off supermarket shelves though the quality may not be up to acceptable  international standards. Enforcement and subsequent education to instil the discipline as part of a personal practice should be a priority.

In other news Seth Godin posted his 5000th blog post today ……..wow! Go! make something happen! i will get there , yes i will.

Ride Safe

Introducing …….Inked Biker

I started this blog as a way to rediscover my passion.

I have been searching ………..and it has been a wonderful journey. Along the way i have met and interacted with many wonderful people, i have gained and lost readers, i have learn’t several valuable lessons. I have found it!

I rode my 1st motorcycle in 1994 , quite by accident i must say. my pal took me along to check up on the progress of his Yezdi 250cc ,

which was at a bike garage for service and routine maintenance. The mechanic told him it was ready and my pal simply told me to ride it to his place and left. I was perplexed, i had never rode a motorcycle before.  I quickly gathered my wits about me and asked the mechanic the only pertinent question i could think off at the moment ” what is the shift pattern of the gears?”    ” One down , Four up” ,  he said.  And off i went.

And i have never looked back . Over the years i have owned a number of bikes , and as matter of  principle i never ride anyone else’ s bikes. I ride only what i own .  But without a doubt i would say the most fun bike i have ever ridden is the Honda CBR 1000F Hurricane ,  it was love at first sight. Sadly it is no longer in production  , and if it was , as i would buy one in a heartbeat.

Well well , there in lies my passion …and i introduce to you the inked biker.  My post on gym and health and music  breaks with unique upcoming artists will still continue , albeit on the sister blog gym & music at gymandmusic. wordpress.com.

Why sudden change you might ask? Well, the change has been gradual , under the surface. I train new bikers on how to ride safely and working on training materials for seasoned riders too , as well as sourcing new or used bikes for anyone interested. So yes , the passion has been there all along.

I have a vision to make motorcycling safer and more enjoyable by providing quality training for current and prospective riders, and advocating a safer riding environment.

Ride Safe

10 Feet . Progress Report II

The Fates conspired…………..

I slipped , but i didn’t fall , i got up . It is said that the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.  Well,  am not a mouse .

Two bouts of flu  (kwani SARS is making rounds?) and a sprained wrist from an unnecessary midweek game of squash ( i wasn’t sufficiently warmed up). And poof …like magic i lost 3 weeks.

The drawback of being on a workout program is that there are no baksies , no skipping , no fast forward ..nada. Oh the agony of grinding it through the pain , the body aches , the fever . Managing 2 workouts out of  the five weight and cardio planned for the week . That doesn’t get me down …i mark the two as done and push through the other three slowly until i mark them done as well . Am committed to this.

I wasn’t very bright, i should have defined my goal in a range rather than a set figure …say 9 to 10 feet …he he he… I don’t know if i will make my goal by the set date …hmmmmm , what to do?

No worries.

I credit my progress to the awesome support i keep getting  my girlfriend Njix

And My fellow Stronglifts 5×5  gym rats Tofa and Sila , watch this space guys . Really looking forward to when i can squat 405

, Deadlift 455,

Bench 315 , Press 225 and Row 245 as you guys are currently .

SLIPPERY WHEN WET

Nervous of riding in the rain? Don’t be. The basics of riding well in the wet are the same as riding in the dry; you just need to think a little harder…

This is how a website on advanced motor riding begins its article on riding in the rain.

 I disagree.

Riding in the Kenyan weather is at times a bit like a game of chance. You take off when the sun is shining and by mid afternoon it starts to rain. So you have two choices, either wait out the rain or keep on riding in it.

Riding on wet asphalt is an acquired skill, it changes your handling as well as your braking, and it helps if you are aware of what the hazards in such weather are.

Traction – Slow down, your breaking distance increases in wet road conditions. Increase the amount of traction available to your tires by riding upright.  Most tires available on the local market have limited traction when the road becomes wet, so keep that in mind.

Turns –Corners, Round Abouts , Junctions  – reduce your speed and lean angle when at any of this spots, make the turn straight up, rather than in a lean.  Avoid unnecessary swerves.

Road Textures – Any painted line is a hazard. 

- Cabro or concrete used to pave some commercial and residential parking areas are very slick surfaces.  So ride slow and straight up.

Rail Road Tracks, Manhole Covers , Bridge crossings – These are made of steel and are particularly nasty and slippery when wet. Try and avoid making turns on them and while crossing keep the bike straight up and cross over it slowly.  

Pot Holes – In the rain , it is hard to gauge the size and depth of a pot hole . Avoid them if you can. And if you happen to realize that one is in your path and it is too late to avoid it, stand off your seat as you go through it to ease the resulting bone jarring shock wave.

Dirt , Mud and Oil – if you’re caught in the first rain remember the roads are covered with lots of oil , mud and dirt that will be lifted from the surface , or trucked in by cars in the first 30 minutes of a new rain.  Take a break if you can.  Ride slow and straight up. 

Below are Pro Tips on Wet Weather Riding From ridermagazine.com

Pro Tips
1.Choose a rain suit that incorporates a breathable membrane such as Gore-Tex, Reissa, Hipora or similar material.
2. Pack your rain suit on top, not at the bottom of your saddlebag.
3. Watch windshield wipers of oncoming cars to see if it’s raining ahead.
4. Put your rain gear on before the rain starts.
5. Wear bright colors for increased visibility to others.
6. Transfer wallet, keys, and other essentials to waterproof outside pockets.
7. Your windshield should be low enough to look over, not just through.
8. Use four-way flashers in heavy rain or fog.
9. Increase your following distance, and watch for tailgaters.
10. Avoid standing water as it can hide potholes and debris.
11. Check tire pressures periodically. Under inflated tires are more likely to hydroplane.
12. Tap rear brake in advance of normal braking distance to alert followers.
13. Gently apply brakes periodically to wipe rotors of water/mud/debris.
14. Watch out for painted lines, arrows, etc. as they can be particularly slippery.
15. After the ride, don’t pack your rain gear away until after it’s dry.

 

Ride Safe,

 

My Nothing Box

Helmet on, gloves on , turn on the ignition  and into my nothing box i go . Riding cancels out all the noise around me.  I think of absolutely nothing, no planning, no plotting, no analyzing, ……nothing!

The act of riding is a form of meditation, because the concentration that’s required to safely ride a motorcycle tends to focus the mind in a way that eliminates other mental distractions that might interfere with the mission. This creates a single-mindedness that, in effect, displaces the continuous stream of thoughts that normally flow through our consciousness.

My commutes to work for the last three years have been the return of thought , hope and therapy.  It has helped with my anger and frustration from having an utterly incompetent boss; at the end of the day, I can at least say I’ve made the day count .

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,
Strong and content I travel the open road.”

Walt Whitman, “A Song of the Open Road”

Clutch balancing – How To. ….

Stalling

….. start bike, engage the clutch, shift into second gear, stroke the clutch out slowly, slowly…..stalling.

Its frustrating learning how to ride a motorcycle.  Clutch balancing is an acquired skill over many hours of practice. I have taught two ladies so far on how to ride a motorcycle safely and i found the  Motorcycle Safety Foundation – USA as a great resource for basic rider courses, challenges, simulations, questionnaires and drills.

But then i happened to stumble upon the following drill,  which has really helped my female learners make great progress quite by accident.

Its really simple. As the images above detail . You place a wedge shaped rock on an even surface.

Have your rider ride slowly towards the rock,  taking the front wheel around it until the rock is under and in front of the rear wheel. This initial exercise is important too , helps the rider learn how to handle and maneuver the bike at a walking pace.

The next exercise is for the rider to get over the rock , without stalling , no roll backs or jerking. The skill learnt here is clutch balancing with smooth throttle control and braking.  This will aid in hill climbs, slow moving traffic as well as general handling.

One can  place several similar rocks in succession to speed up the drill.