Koi's Parking Lot Practice 8/7 Napa DMV

So, I have not only been asked by some of the "Misfits" but have also been approached by a MSF instructor to hold another Parking Lot Practice day.

The goal is to spend a day doing 5mph instead of 50 and practice some of those slow speed skills that give the most people the most problems.

After some hashing of details. August 7th, we're going to hold it once again.

We will again take over the DMV parking lot in Napa on Sunday.

2550 Napa Valley Corporate Way, Napa CA

I am confirming time's but we'll probably do a similar schedule and invite those who would like some one on one time w/ the coach out early and then those who just want some practice out afterwards... Time will be posted soon but it will probably be early to try and avoid the heat.

I've got another gracious offer from a MSF coach to come out and help us run some practice drills...

Last time we had a few different things that were wanted practice:

SF Hill preperation (Riding the clutch)
(Not) Panic Braking
Parking and Reversing
Slow Speed traffic and parking lot situations
Clutch/Gas modulation
Riding the rear brake

If anyone has anything else please throw it out there and our coach will try and develop a plan/drill to help.

I am hoping that this time we can do some more hill practice but we'll see what the "Group" would like to practice.

And my person addition for a drill that I am going to ask for, is swerving.... Had a couple pot hole's and one deer recently that I probably could have avoided better if I knew how to properly swerve.

I'm going to go ahead and rip off FoolishMortal's requirement's from the last PLP...

We would simply set up some MSF-style exercises based on what the group wants to practice, then coach specific techniques to help achieve the goals. If we can get people to do the following (consistently), it will be a success:

- Chin up and ahead
- Elbows loose
- Knees in
- Smooooth inputs

Everything else is just practice.

Our requirements for involvement are simple:

- Safety first, which means full gear when on the bike
- No squirrelly behavior - we focus on what we're working on
- Everybody agrees to try the techniques to the best of his/her ability
- If the Coach says "stop", everybody stops (see the first point - it's a safety thing)

Please drink lots of water the day before in case it's a scorcher, don't need heat exhaustion on top of physical/mental exhaustion. Remember after 2 hours everyone was starting to show signs of being tired and needing a break.

I've already got one confirmed for the one on one time..... ME!!! since my bike is running and it WILL continue to do so. Let me know if you would like/need some time w/ the coach.

I am not going to overload the coach so am going to again limit the one on one time to those that would really "need" it compared to those that just want to practice or hang out, unless he says all are welcome, like I said, still hashing out the time

If you have dropped your bike recently... You really should think about getting the one on one time.

If you just bought your first bike, have 0 riding experience, no gear and want to learn how to ride, please consider a MSF class, this is definitely NOT what I am organizing. This is merely a day for BARFers to practice slow speed maneuvers instead of spending a day at speed. We are lucky to have a MSF Coach to come out on his own time and help us practice. I don't think I need to but just in case, this is not a MSF approved/organized event, this is just a bunch of people getting together, some with lots of experience, and some with a little, for the greater good.

If you've dropped your bike on one of my rides.... You really need to do it, not just think about it... And I don't want to hear "I just did something stupid" That's a big Duhhhhhhh, that's what practicing something does, is help you not do the same stupid thing again. Last time we had a very experienced rider join in and they didn't realize that 2 hours had flown by, so they was obviously having fun, and learning... Don't believe me??? See the pics here!!

So please let me know if you will be attending, it is open to all and free of cost.

Please let me know if you want/need some one on one with an instructor and what problems you are having as best as you can describe.

Please also post up if you have any thing you would like to work on specifically that we did not do last time or that I did not mention above

Let's Ride!!!!!

Very good Koi I might just drop by to have fun.

I'm 50/50 on doing this. I only have 2700 miles under my belt in 3 years and I believe I would benefit from this.

Let me know, I'll hold a spot if you'd like or you can just come out and practice whenever, anyone can benefit from this

yodaisgod said:

I'm 50/50 on doing this. I only have 2700 miles under my belt in 3 years and I believe I would benefit from this.

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Posting on Barf makes you a better ride!

out on this one....the guy who needs the most practice & the "slowestpilipino"

but still loves to ride....

I am in for the one on one with MSF and Patty J is too..I think I twisted her arm hard enough tonight..right Patty?? yes? You better!!

Yes Patty J you need it

i_am_the_koi said:

Let me know, I'll hold a spot if you'd like or you can just come out and practice whenever, anyone can benefit from this

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I'll be there.

So far I've got 5 confirmed for the morning session 8am
Still one more spot open if anyone feels they could really benefit from some coaching

I've got another 3 that are coming out at 10am and the coach might be hanging out so let me know if you'd like to come out

So I was wondering if you needed permission from DMV for this? Participants sign waivers? I have a local DMV and would like to practice by myself on weekends and was wondering what the hoops were I needed to go through.

thx

Officially the DMV is state property and CHP or security can ask you to leave, and have you arrested if you refuse to do so....

when I got my permit the guy at the Napa DMV said I was more then welcome to use the parking lot when the DMV was close in order to practice for my riding test

I asked some other local Leo's, they all basically said "officially it's CHP's jurisdiction. You can be asked to leave.... That being said, if I were to pull up and see a group practicing in the parking lot while being responsible and wearing gear... I'd have no problem with it"

As for the waivers.... I would hope your participants would not be sue happy type people, that if they dropped their bike while practicing slow speed stuff.... wouldn't then sue the DMV for making their parking lot out of asphalt. Or more importantly, sue you for organizing the event.

Suggest people have gear, their M1, and that the event is not for people that have never ridden and want to learn... it's for people with less experience to get together with those w/ more experience and practice practice practice!

hi Koi, I'll be there, not sure if i will do the drills since I am going on a long ride the day before. I will be there to take pics and observe! Maybe i can borrow your camera while you do drills and take pictures for you while you do the drills?

Sushilover said:

hi Koi, I'll be there, not sure if i will do the drills since I am going on a long ride the day before. I will be there to take pics and observe! Maybe i can borrow your camera while you do drills and take pictures for you while you do the drills?

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Of course you can,,, but I do require a deposit in case you drop it... keys to your bike should be plenty

i_am_the_koi said:

Of course you can,,, but I do require a deposit in case you drop it... keys to your bike should be plenty

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HAHAHA maybe I shouldn't handle the camera! Hopefully i'll drop it less than my bike jk... sorta

Sushilover said:

HAHAHA maybe I shouldn't handle the camera! Hopefully i'll drop it less than my bike jk... sorta

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Yeah You just got demoted to holding the tripod while I'm not using it

And maybe if your dropping the bike.... sorta......you should be riding instead of bystanding...

Anybody planning on caging it that I can bribe into stopping by early and picking up some chairs... ice chest, waters, and maybe stop and pick up a box o starbucks???

Cup of starbucks in it for ya!!!

I am home now Koi. I know pattyA called you. AAA got me home ok and Rod babaysitted me. Thanks for you concern.

No worries Joanne


Back to the PLP

I've got wot I believe is 4 spots for the morning

and 5 for the 2nd session...

Patty A, J, Sam, and Myself at 8am

Joanne, Andre (Sushi), Derrik, and Jeff (yoda) are all at 10am.


Let me know if this is correct, I lost my record sheet and am trying to remember who all is coming and when