Alright, so I decided I really needed to get better at handling my bike at slow speeds. You know, like in parking lots or tight U-turns. Always felt kinda clumsy. I’d read some stuff, seen some videos, and kept hearing about drills, some folks mentioning stuff kinda related to Lee Parks’ ideas. Someone called one drill the ‘hockey’ thing, maybe ’cause you’re weaving sharp or something? Sounded like a plan.
So, first thing, I found myself a big empty parking lot on a Sunday morning. Nobody around. Perfect. Got the bike out, let it warm up a bit. Felt a bit nervous, honestly. Low speed stuff always seemed harder than just going straight.
I didn’t have fancy cones, just used some old water bottles I filled with a bit of sand. Set ’em up in a way that forced me to make tight turns, kinda like weaving back and forth. Getting started was rough. Like, really rough.
- First few tries? Almost dropped the bike.
- Stalled it once or twice being clumsy with the clutch.
- Felt super stiff, looking down at the front wheel, which I know is wrong.
Then I remembered the key things: Look where you wanna go. Seriously, head up, eyes pointed way ahead to the exit of the turn. Also, relaxing my arms, using a bit of pressure on the bars, not a death grip. And playing with that clutch and throttle, keeping the revs steady, using the clutch friction zone a lot.
Making Progress
I just kept at it. Round and round. Turn left, turn right. Focusing on looking ahead, staying loose. It was frustrating sometimes, I won’t lie. Felt like a total beginner again. But then, slowly, things started to click.
I started making the turns smoother. The bike felt less like it wanted to fall over. I could feel myself leaning the bike more underneath me, using my body position a little better. Didn’t need to put my foot down as much. It actually started to feel kinda fun, like a little dance with the machine.
It took a few sessions, not just one morning. Each time I went out, I tried to do it a bit better, a bit tighter, a bit smoother. Used those water bottles to push myself.
Now? Well, I’m not perfect, but man, what a difference. Pulling into parking spots, making U-turns on narrow streets… it just feels so much more controlled. Less panic, more confidence. That practice, whatever you call it, really paid off. Just gotta keep doing it, keep it fresh. It works.
