Riding rituals, quirks and other weirdness..

Im bored and im a drink or two in. I was just in the garage getting something and my hands were cold. So i grabbed my gloves that were on the GSA and put them on while i was down there. I noticed i ALWAYS put my left glove on first, then the right. If i grab the right glove first, ill put it down and grab the left one. Its not so much an thought, but more like a instinct.

That got me thinking....sorta...

What's your pre/during/post ride ritual, quirks, process..etc?

The top three in my semi inebriated head are:

Gloves: left first, right second
Boots: left first, right second
Quirk: keep the heel of my right boot on the swingarm while riding to feel the road

Go

Always put my left glove on before my right, as with you, if I grab the right glove first I'll put it down on the tail of the bike and then grab the left one. Left glove / Left glove strap / Right glove / Right glove strap. What else... I always get on the bike from the kickstand side, and when I switch my high beams on or off, I'll tap the toggle 3 more times with my thumb. Don't know how the hell that thing got started. Other weirdness? Hmm. Guess a couple odd things are I'll usually coast no handed to stops, instead of doing the riding with the left hand on the hip thing I usually just lay my left forearm over and across the tank (think "the thinker") to support myself that way, and I don't do the one finger down wave I'll usually point at you or give you the peace sign up high. Oh, I'll also stand while riding to wave to you if I can't see you that well over the traffic or if I'm coming up behind you and pass you without you knowing I was there, I'll turn around and throw a peace sign at you. Think that's pretty much it.

Originally Posted by 05RavenR6

hmm...Im not sure about this...Um, I only get on the bike on the kickstand side and I usually always have the clip ons locked to the left. When I am hitting my brakes, I usually flash the levers multiple times and never just hold em down. I only use two fingers on the clutch and brake levers. I do the peace down when passing riders on the road. I also do the left forearm on the tank to prop myself up if Im on long rides and I get tired. I usually find myself singing verses to recent songs I listened to out loud inside my helmet

Same here..! Always kickstand side. My dad taught me that. I always use just two fingers on the clutch lever.. I do the little peace sign thing to other riders.. I'll prop myself up on long rides, or just kinda scootch back into the seat and lean forward.. I always rest my right heel on the plate that covers the exhaust.. I always use the little strap on the passenger seat cover to assist when I push my bike out of parking spots or the garage. (I'm not tall enough to walk it out, especially backwards!) I always try to use my rear brake first, and then the front when slowing down..

Except I listen to music.. no thinking of songs in my head, I just have that shit playing!

Originally Posted by 11secFOX

^ Riding with a bad ass set of Skullcandy plugged deep into your ears serves as both great resistance to wind noise, and the providing of the sweet vocal trance tunes. I personally can no longer ride without them. Riding while not jamming to music is just not possible for me anymore. It is as important as the lid.

werd. I use my etymotics for music.. we always ride with music. Wouldnt have it any other way. I can't focus without it on, actually. Even at the track, I won't ride unless Im wearing headphones and have my music playing. Many will disagree.

Other habits.. when I park my bike, I always turn the handlebars all the way to the left (like you need to do when you lock them..) Ummmm.. I cant think of my glove ritual.. I dont think I have one.

Good lord I NEVER use my rear brake. Front 100%. Only time I ever used the rear the tire locked and I slid about 20 feet before getting traction again. I nearly shit my heart out.

And yes many disagree about the whole riding to music thing. Especially Mom. I just laugh and tell her hey if I do go down, I'd like to jamming something good while I'm either dying or lying in wait.

But seriously, the music helps me focus so much more. I Only really listen to vocal trance when I ride. Really love the Skullcandy ear buds. Read killer reviews on them and finally said fuck it and snagged a pair from the local Target for like 20 bucks. Always had a prob finding a good earphone that was comfortable to wear IN a helmet. The Skullcandy's go completely in your ear like an ear plug. You don't even feel them in your head, let alone in your lid. I was instantly blown away. The simulated surround is unreal, amazing bass, and they actually drown out the bike. On a scale of 100 being how loud my bike is at WOT I'd say I can only hear it about 15% with the SK's in my ears. I hear only a slight humm and the crystal clear music, zero wind or booming in my lid as well. Despite the music, it's really quiet, if that makes any sense... And I trust my sight FAR more than I trust my ears, I don't need my ears when I ride. Always scanning, NEVER trust my mirrors or assume how close something might be to me, ALWAYS head checks for EVERYTHING. Anyways, LOVE riding to music.

Skullcandy "Ink'd": They go into your ear all the way past the " ribbed rubber ring". If it wasn't for the thin cord coming out of your ear holes, you'd never know someone was wearing them.

^+1

I never could ride with music going on. I tried it a few times and couldn't stand it. It's seemed to be too much of a distraction and I couldn't hear what the bike was doing. Not mention whats going on around me. I much rather listen to the bike and hear all it's noises like the clutch chatter, rpms without looking, any suspension squeaks or any "other" noises that might end up with me oPening up my wallet.

Originally Posted by 05RavenR6

I never have ridden with music...I dunno but I feel like it would be a distraction to me. I like to hear everything going on and I feel like I would go into slight tunnel vision while listening to music

Each person is different.. having bike and car noise around me makes me start focusing on others instead of what I'm doing. I am more alert than ever with music on.

Originally Posted by NocR6

^+1

I never could ride with music going on. I tried it a few times and couldn't stand it. It's seemed to be too much of a distraction and I couldn't hear what the bike was doing. Not mention whats going on around me. I much rather listen to the bike and hear all it's noises like the clutch chatter, rpms without looking, any suspension squeaks or any "other" noises that might end up with me oPening up my wallet.

Yeah to each their own. Everyone focuses differently! I can feel a lot of the bike issues, and I know when something's wrong just by how it feels, but yeah, I know what you're saying.

Then again, we ride like 5 times a year now.. hah. We really need to just rent out the track for ourselves one of these days!

right before left...back protector, suit, boots, gloves, ear-plugs

always pick any straggling eye-boogers before i put on my helmet. Then twist & rotate my neck around to loosen up. Squat down, push my knees apart to stretch the groin-age area. Check and adjust my pucks while in stretch mode.

Pull warmers off, take bike off stands and hop on. Pick out any murfs/wedges while i head over to the pit exit.