July 1st, 2017, 10:02 PM | #1 |
The Violet Vixen
Name: Yakaru
Location: Issaquah, WA & Las Vegas, NV
Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): Perigee (250), Hotaru (250), Saturn (300), Pearl (300), Zero (S1000RR), Chibi (Z125), Xellos ('18 HP4R) Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jun '16
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Trackday @ The Ridge: July 1 2017
Went in for another round... Just over a week before I see @Misti and I hope to have myself in decent shape so she can make something of my time!
Had 7 sessions, with some interesting occurrences: Session 1: Followed J, one my new 'pit buddies', to help her analyze her habits and give advice. I focused on wide view -- generally a good starter but interesting and valuable to do while tailing. Don't let myself get sucked into what J's doing, but analyze the whole situation. Session 2-4: Gave some advice to J and went over some bike theory. Under the 'one thing at a time' mantra we went out and I would demo the improvement to her to start the session and then we swapped by having her pass me on the straight towards the end. We worked on turning points, reference points, and line analysis. I also spent some time working on my own throttle control and body position a little. I love teaching, and by the end of session 4 J was a completely different rider. She even dragged knee for the first time while following me (which means my student beat me to the punch, as I still haven't!) and then did it again later in the day. Session 5-6: I went through my old CSS notes from last year and decided I wanted to work on 'looking early' for my 3 step. This started to feel more natural and I was definitely glad I spent more time on it. Session 7: After 6 one of the local riders gave some advice on body positioning to J and I. It sounded a bit different than I'd heard before and seemed worth at least trying to see how it felt compared to what I'd been doing. I don't want to try describing it [badly] here, but I may try to if/when I do a BP update next week. I decided to back my pace /way/ down for the session since it was different enough to take a lot of my budget. I definitely see what he was getting at but I also feel really off my game using it -- more than once my line went wonky in a way I wasn't expecting, usually wide; which made me glad I was giving myself the margin. I scribbled some notes down to talk with CSS next week; BP was already on my hit list but this gives me more questions. Interesting lessons: * I love teaching. I knew this already, but seeing the improvement of my "student" as the day went on was one of the most amazing track experiences I've had. * leading a slower rider on a track is an interesting challenge. I don't have coms or mirrors so I have to sort of infer the right pace. Stack the vast difference in bikes and it gets even harder (I'm on my rev-limited S1000, J's on a 600cc sport bike). * Working on relaxing. I'm getting okay, I think, at not carrying weight in my arms but my thighs/hip-flexors are definitely feeling the burn -- don't know if that's good or a sign I'm fighting things too much. Next week I'll be at the Ridge with California Superbike on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. There may also be a 'bonus' track day to top it off at the end but my body may not have it in me after 4 days of focused school. I'm really hoping I have gotten myself in a good position to improve.
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"most folks racing this bike get it in a competitive state of being with much less invested than you've already put in Saturn." - Alex |
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
July 7th, 2017, 09:03 AM | #2 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Misti
Location: Vancouver, BC
Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): currently: Yamaha YZF 250 dirt/motard Posts: 787
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Quote:
I'm curious to know what body position suggestions you were trying and a little bit more about how that affected your riding. Why don't we discuss here before you hit the track?
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"Leap and the net will appear!" superbikeschool.com www.motomom.ca |
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July 8th, 2017, 07:52 AM | #3 | |
The Violet Vixen
Name: Yakaru
Location: Issaquah, WA & Las Vegas, NV
Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): Perigee (250), Hotaru (250), Saturn (300), Pearl (300), Zero (S1000RR), Chibi (Z125), Xellos ('18 HP4R) Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jun '16
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Quote:
This is the closest Youtube I could find to his advice. Now first off, this youtube has a lot of things wrong with it, but it does have the points I was trying in it too.
Link to original page on YouTube.
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"most folks racing this bike get it in a competitive state of being with much less invested than you've already put in Saturn." - Alex |
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July 8th, 2017, 10:14 AM | #4 |
Track Clown
Name: Chris
Location: Kingman, AZ
Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): '08 250R, 21 MV F3 800, Kawasaki 400 build Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Sep '15
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one thing to consider about body position: It evolves with Unregistered. You have to go with is right for you at the moment. If you are getting tight muscles (quads or calves) then you are no longer being efficient on the motorcycle. Ive done a fast lap in an uncomfortable position, but thats all it was is 1 lap and then everything was tight.
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July 22nd, 2017, 08:01 PM | #5 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Misti
Location: Vancouver, BC
Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): currently: Yamaha YZF 250 dirt/motard Posts: 787
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Quote:
Your body position has evolved so much and so well over the course of your time at the school. It has been something that has been difficult for you to undue (you had some bad habits) but you have progressed and this latest school was the best I had seen it. There were still things to work on (as you found out with the suggestion LYLE gave you on the last day) but there were more important things I wanted to focus on first. So, you mention trying to kiss your elbow and that to me is just too much work and movement. when you watch me ride, or any of the coaches at the school the thing is that we don't move around on the bike very much. This guy in the video is telling people to basically stand up and huck your body over to the side WAY far. Imagine doing that all day and how tired you'd be after the first session, not to mention how unnecessary that is. He doesn't mention anything about having a stable lower body in order to remain connected to the motorcycle so you'd end up using your arms to hold the bars and drag yourself across.....if you try and kiss your elbow you end up too low and then all you have to do is move over farther when you switch directions. It's TOO MUCH WORK. It's silly (not to mention the fact that he thinks the throttle makes the bike run wide) ugh. seriously. Just get your head over to the inside of the bike as if you were kissing your hand or the mirror, not the freekin ground.... 2. Arm up? again, no. Inside arm relaxed, elbow pointed to the ground, "jazz hands" on the bars. Less work, no tension...you know this stuff. Just continue to work on stabilizing your lower body, knee to knee and hip flick to get you across the bike quickly. Setting up early and pinching the tank with your knees. As LYLE said, point your hips into the turn, you've progressed so much. and stop watching silly youtube videos
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"Leap and the net will appear!" superbikeschool.com www.motomom.ca |
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July 22nd, 2017, 08:17 PM | #6 |
The Violet Vixen
Name: Yakaru
Location: Issaquah, WA & Las Vegas, NV
Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): Perigee (250), Hotaru (250), Saturn (300), Pearl (300), Zero (S1000RR), Chibi (Z125), Xellos ('18 HP4R) Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jun '16
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LOL Thanks Misti
No, this video was HORRIBLE I agree (and apologize for your time being spent on it!) -- I only found it trying to find anyone else suggesting what I was advised at the track (which I already found suspicious) and this is what I came upon. The awkwardness with which I rode when experimenting with it and the fact that every other piece of it was something I already knew was wrong mostly cemented in my head that it wasn't the way to go. The tiny gain of getting farther down with "elbow up" didn't make up for the incredible awkwardness. Your help/advice on keeping my hipflick/knee-to-knee from disrupting the bike combined with Lyle helping me figure out that I needed to 'arc' my hips around a bit into the corner did more for my BP than any track rider advice has ever approached -- and that's just from last week! I won't deny I've had (and have) bad habits and such, but it's why I'm glad I started my track with school instead of just doing track days.
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"most folks racing this bike get it in a competitive state of being with much less invested than you've already put in Saturn." - Alex |
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July 22nd, 2017, 08:23 PM | #7 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Misti
Location: Vancouver, BC
Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): currently: Yamaha YZF 250 dirt/motard Posts: 787
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Quote:
Well done on the last series of schools. In case you didn't get the full emphasis when I told you (I was kinda tired). You did a GREAT JOB and your riding was WAY WAY WAY better than anything i'd seen from you before and you have the lap times to prove it.
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"Leap and the net will appear!" superbikeschool.com www.motomom.ca |
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1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
July 22nd, 2017, 08:24 PM | #8 | |
The Violet Vixen
Name: Yakaru
Location: Issaquah, WA & Las Vegas, NV
Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): Perigee (250), Hotaru (250), Saturn (300), Pearl (300), Zero (S1000RR), Chibi (Z125), Xellos ('18 HP4R) Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jun '16
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Quote:
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"most folks racing this bike get it in a competitive state of being with much less invested than you've already put in Saturn." - Alex |
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July 22nd, 2017, 08:31 PM | #9 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Misti
Location: Vancouver, BC
Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): currently: Yamaha YZF 250 dirt/motard Posts: 787
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Quote:
All good, you rocked out there!
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"Leap and the net will appear!" superbikeschool.com www.motomom.ca |
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1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
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