[mel80]

• Where: Rock Store
  
• When: SAT Oct 29
  
• Experience Level: all
  

Taking my first trip to the Rock Store, just want to enjoy the weekends before it starts pouring rain. Is this an OK trip to take solo or is it the kind of place that if you get lost your outta luck if you run out of gas? If a group is recommended, anyone feel like going on Saturday?

[mattwood1221]

But I would join you if I wasn't. I haven't been down that way yet, but I'll definitely have to someday since it looks like a lot of good curves down there. Not having been down that way, I can't really say how busy it is and such, but since you are pretty close to the city, I wouldn't think it would be a problem. Do you have a smartphone or GPS? If nothing else, stow it in your pocket and if you get lost stop at the side of the road and take it out. Have fun and let us know how it goes!

[AJinNoHills]

But make sure that you don't go past it. Unless you're really confident. "The Snake" portion of mulholland is just past the rock store, and it's a very tight technical section. Add to that the fact that as it gets later in the day, the road is more heavily trafficked, and by some people who think that area is their personal race track.

If you're going that way, I'd suggest going early. I've gone through as late as 9 - 9:30 with no problems. Seems most folk don't ride that early. I also happen to be going that way Saturday, on my way to a much longer ride. And I'll probably be through there somewhere around that time, weather permitting.

[mel80]

yes I have GPS on my android, but I dont think i'll need it, i was studying google maps and all the way south hits Peperdine, and all the way east hits the valley so its not like Angeles Crest that goes on forever where you can end up stranded with no gas. While on the smartphone topic, any of you know of an app that records your miles, speed, and lean angle? I thought i saw this on the app store once but I cant seem to find it anymore.

[AJinNoHills]

I'll probably hit "the lookout" somewhere around 930 ish. That's the overlook spot on the other side of the snake. Look for this bike (only with a red shock spring and a Yosh pipe):

[mel80]

i'm going through around the same time. look for this bike and helmet. I may hang out just to look at bikes at the Rock Store too.

[mel80]

So when I got to the Rockstore I couldn't help but wonder the big deal about the snake. So i decided to head up hill from the RockStore. Those hairpins are no joke, I had to significantly slow down and constantly felt my boots scrape the ground. I saw photographers camped out before the Rockstore and at The Snake. this is one of the shots one of the photographers caught of me. I was hoping the female photographer up the lookout point caught a shot of me going through the hairpins but no such luck. I am definitely going back, although hopefully i'll have full leathers and knee pucks by then. Anyone planning a trip up there, let me know. I'd love to come back.

[mattwood1221]

You shouldn't be going near that fast or leaning that far off, especially in an area like that. Go to the track...

Also, are you on the balls of your feet? Your pegs should scrape before your boots in a normal riding position, though again you shouldn't be leaned over enough to scrape anything.

[mel80]

I was not really going that fast, the corners are just really that tight so I really have to lean the bike or else I will runoff the road or into the other lane. I may be scraping my boots because my toes are pointed too low(see pic)? or maybe parts of the snake is really sloped. maybe I should scoot back on the seat? but i feel like I should be pressed up against the gas tank. And your right, i found an alternative to the pucks, i'm getting tri tex pants with knee armor instead in case of a lowside, much cheaper than leathers.

[mattwood1221]

I can't tell for sure by the picture, but it looks like you are resting your feet on the pegs right where the ridge to the heel is. You should have the balls of your feet on the pegs for numerous reasons, including that you can easily scrape your toes if they are forward. I think your seat position is fine, you just need to move your feet back. As always, the FAQ has the info you need -

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Scraping_Pegs

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Dragging_a_knee

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Riding_The_Pace

I'm definitely not against leathers, as they are certainly the most protection, but I just meant that you shouldn't need knee pucks on the street because you shouldn't be dragging knee anywhere other than a track

[chrisk]

[AJinNoHills]

Here's a pic from (probably) the same corner last time I went through there:



I always put my toes on the pegs in corners. And in that seciton I don't hang off simply because I don't carry enough speed to warrant it.

[mel80]

Thanks, been riding for years and still always have new stuff to learn. Question, if your resting the balls of your feet on the pegs, does that mean you only use the front brake in case you need to brake while going through a corner?

[AJinNoHills]

That's a bad subject, and I will only go so far as to say when you're new, you should not be braking in corners. It can be done, but it is also very easy to get horribly wrong, reuslting in you tumbling and the bike sliding across traffic.

Generally spekaing, my braking is all done before I go into a corner, allowing me to put the balls of my feet back on the peg, but I do use my rear brakes. In fact, I'm one of those who always use both brakes in most circumstances - other people "never" use their rear brake. However, even with my foot on the brake lever, either using it or covering it, it is not in a position to scrape on the ground.