Riding rituals, quirks and other weirdness..

I mount from the left side, usually have my Bose in Ears on during riding or ear plugs. I always throw my leg forward before putting it my foot back on the rear set after leaving a stop. Um...I dunno there's a ton of small things. Oh and when I get bored I will start to go back and forth across the lane like I am scrubbing in my tires because of boredom.

in my first year, i'd do the sign of the cross right before getting on a ramp. lol.

Left glove first even though i am right handed. Two fingers on the clutch/front brake. Mount bike from kickstand side always, feels awkward mounting from the other side. Always blip the throttle leaving from a stop before letting out the clutch, and always when down shifting. When coming to a stop, would use the left foot to hold myself up or both feet, never just the right. Turn handle bars to the left when parking but never locked it in place. Always gave it just a sliver of throttle while slowing down from a high RPM so that it wouldn't do the 'lean backfire' first gen R6' were famous for. Always busted out at least one wheelie and did double the posted limit at some point on every ride.

No specific order for gloves or boots. With the Sidi Vortices it's pretty much a seance putting those on. Once I get all the tension straps tightened initially, I'll give it a few in the pits walking around then tighten them again. When racing, I'll stretch before goin out. I have custom fitted ear plugs, and even though some people think it's gross, I lick them before I stick them in my ears. Learned this from others at the track, and it helps keep them seated when they're in your ears.

For those not using custom ear plugs, they're a fuckin godsend. I used to use Hearos ear plugs from back in my music days because they cut out the most volume without killing the sound. Problem was as soon as I'd slide my lid over my head, one or both would dislodge and be like half way in my ear. Sometmies when riding, they'd completely fall out.

I have rituals for packing my gear in my bag, so that way it's always in the same place every time and if it ain't there I know it's missing. Cross the arms and legs of the leathers, fold them in half, and put them in the bottom of the bag. Put my ear plugs in their case, put that in my helmet, put the helmet in its Shoei bag, put that in my Scorpion helmet bag. I keep a spare shield in the outside pocket of the helmet case, helmet case goes in on top of my leathers. Boots stack together in an L7 formation in one side pocket, gloves and UnderArmour go in the other side pocket. Back protector is built into my suit so I ain't gotta worry about that no more.

On the bike, only ritual I really have is the general tech inspection / tire pressure check before I go ride. I always blow the wife a kiss when I head out too.

Oh and another one that's usually done when racing if I got D there bein my pit bitch; When I hop on the bike and he pulls it off the warmers and stands before I roll, I usually get a pretty solid smack on the back of my helmet to wake me the fuck up and snap me out of my nervousness.

Originally Posted by DangerDog

No specific order for gloves or boots. With the Sidi Vortices it's pretty much a seance putting those on. Once I get all the tension straps tightened initially, I'll give it a few in the pits walking around then tighten them again. When racing, I'll stretch before goin out. I have custom fitted ear plugs, and even though some people think it's gross, I lick them before I stick them in my ears. Learned this from others at the track, and it helps keep them seated when they're in your ears.

For those not using custom ear plugs, they're a fuckin godsend. I used to use Hearos ear plugs from back in my music days because they cut out the most volume without killing the sound. Problem was as soon as I'd slide my lid over my head, one or both would dislodge and be like half way in my ear. Sometmies when riding, they'd completely fall out.

Ear plugs are the most annoying thing in the world to keep in your ears. I'm definitely going to try the lick trick next time, makes perfect sense scientifically

I gotta try licking the ear plug thing too. I have a weird shaped right ear canal for some reason. I can fit the left plug on the first shot and it stays in forever. My right ear, it takes about 20 tries before it finally seats, but it usually only stays in for a half hour before it starts to fall out. I dunno.....