January 6th, 2017, 07:52 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Warren
Location: Eagan, MN
Join Date: Jan 2017 Motorcycle(s): None currently Posts: 11
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A Racer's Brain
Hi, I'm new to the Ninjette forums (first post). I found the site following a thread that came up when I was googling for longitudinal tire force graphs. My background is mainly in car racing, but I used to ride quit a bit in my youth, including attending the Cal Super bike School a couple of times back in the day at Laguna Seca.
Anyway, I saw the type of discussions you all have here in the Riding Skills forum, and thought I'd post links to some information that you might find interesting or useful. I've spent that last 30 years thinking about why I was fast in a race car, why so many other driver were slow, and why the slower drivers made very little or no progress regardless how how much track time or coaching they got. My thoughts, opinions, research, etc. has been compiled into what I call SpeedCraft. and I've put the information (free, with no ads) on my website www.intuitivespeed.com Much of the information on my site should be applicable to bikes because the mental processes should be pretty similar between drivers & riders. Anyway, some of the topics that are covered (in excruciating detail) are: Info about the learning process: Types of knowledge Learning Stages Learning strategies for Racers Info about Mental skills: Reducing the Sensation of Speed Confidence for Racers Concentration for Racers Staying in the Zone Memory for Racers Training techniques: Imagery Training for Racers Race Walking (described for cars, but easily adapted to bikes) Thanks, Warren Chamberlain |
7 out of 7 members found this post helpful. |
January 6th, 2017, 07:57 PM | #2 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Welcome Warren! Nice first post!
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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January 6th, 2017, 08:03 PM | #3 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Warren
Location: Eagan, MN
Join Date: Jan 2017 Motorcycle(s): None currently Posts: 11
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Thanks csmith12.
"The Corner Whisperer" Damn I wish I'd thought of that!! 8-) |
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January 6th, 2017, 08:22 PM | #4 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Kerry
Location: Ventura, CA
Join Date: Jan 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja650 Posts: A lot.
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Welcome!
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January 6th, 2017, 11:15 PM | #5 |
Private Joker
Name: Ben
Location: Towson, MD
Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): '99/'01 Ninja 250 "sketchy", '13 Ninja 300 "yoshi", '03 GSXR 600 "merlin" Posts: A lot.
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This post is huge on the mental side of the sport, a side I tend to be inconsistent in. One thing I would like to add is the addition of mindfulness meditation training. That said I haven't finished reading everything yet so don't hate me if it's already covered.
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I see you over there seeing me, do you see the me I think you see? |
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
January 7th, 2017, 06:00 AM | #6 |
sammich maker
Name: snot
Location: West Ohio - in the kitchen
Join Date: Feb 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 white 300, 09 KLX 250 SF, 09 thunder blue 250(traded) Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '15
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Welcome, thank you for all the information.
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https://www.brocksperformance.com/VZ...0035+C450.aspx |
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January 7th, 2017, 08:50 AM | #7 | |
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Quote:
I've flown jet aircraft since 1990, at this point I've logged more than 20,000 hours of flight time. Flying is all I've done for my entire adult lifetime. And in this life spent in the cockpits of various aircraft I've encountered the same thing you describe: I've found myself flying with "that guy" who is obviously very intelligent, highly motivated, ambitious, he studies hard and knows the aircraft and all the rules and regulations, BUT (and it's a huge "but") he flies like he just can't feel the aircraft or assess the aircraft's energy state or judge its momentum or successfully plan how to use that energy/momentum. This type doesn't (or can't) even taxi the aircraft smoothly on the ground. |
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1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
January 7th, 2017, 12:35 PM | #8 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Warren
Location: Eagan, MN
Join Date: Jan 2017 Motorcycle(s): None currently Posts: 11
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Thanks CaliGrrl and snot
Hi Sirref; check out the Imagery Training and Race Walking links. Race walking is essentially a moving visualization, or moving meditation technique. Hi greg737, I get what you’re saying, but I must disagree somewhat. I don’t want to make this a long post because my thoughts on the subject are already covered on my website here, but for sure, on track there has been, and always will be, a pecking order. There will be the 3-5% who perform at a magical elite level (as though they are channeling some unworldly understand & skill). There will be the 3-5% who just don’t get it, and likely never will for whatever reason (attitude problem, inability to feel instead of analyze, etc.) There will be the 5-10% who are the fast guys/gals (who perform with impressive worldly understand & skill). But what about the rest; many of whom get stuck at learning plateaus, get frustrated, and quit? Trying to help this middle group (Advanced Beginners, Competent, and Proficient performers) keep moving up the learning spiral and enjoy their racing again is why I created SpeedCraft. Here is a real world example that some in this middle group (even the lower-middle group) are not lost causes. When I put my site up in August 2016, a racer from Texas contacted me. He had been racing an SCCA Spec Racer for two seasons (a class where the cars are tightly regulated so the driver is the key ingredient for speed). He had done a private training day with a world-famous driving secrets coach/author, and a private coaching day with a World Champion 125cc shifter kart driver. Both of these netted some improvement, but near the end of his second season of racing he had progressed very little during the season and was still 4.5+/- seconds off the pace. Over a six week period we exchanged 30+/- emails, talked on the phone for an hour once, and he went to an indoor kart track a couple of times to try some training techniques I’d given him for increasing his sensitivity to energy flow, tire loads, traction and the forces acting on the car/kart. He went to his next race (the last race of his season) and took 3 seconds off of his best time, while also showing profound improvements in consistency. Most importantly, racing went from being a source of disappointment and confusion for him to being an energizing, exciting, and rewarding experience. His main problem was that he had been trying to think/analyze his way around the track instead of letting ‘himself’ (what I call his intuitive driver) do the actual driving. With the SpeedCraft information, he came to realize what was happening, and through great effort on his part, he changed the way he thought about driving, and how he processed information when driving. I believe this wrong part/process in the brain being used for a job it’s not suited to is one of the major limiting factors for many of the people in the ‘middle group’. Our society is very intellect/logic heavy, but the actual act of driving/riding is an intuitive process. When intellect inserts itself into what must be an intuitive process, the perception of speed increases, sensitivity goes away, lap times go up or don’t improve, and the potential for bad things happening escalates. |
2 out of 2 members found this post helpful. |
January 7th, 2017, 01:46 PM | #9 |
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Name: -
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You're right, this subject is a very deeply rooted, complex one. And, yes, I understand your approach, you have a product to sell.
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January 7th, 2017, 07:12 PM | #10 | |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Warren
Location: Eagan, MN
Join Date: Jan 2017 Motorcycle(s): None currently Posts: 11
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Quote:
I research and write the information because I'm fascinated by the mental processes of racing. I share the information because I love the sport and I hate to see people struggle needlessly. Also, I'm not claiming I'm 'right' about anything; what I write is true for me (and apparently at least partially true for the driver from Texas); others can decide if it resonates for them. Anyway, everything on my website is free, and worth every penny. |
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January 7th, 2017, 08:12 PM | #11 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Roger
Location: Mitchell, South Dakota
Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): 1978 Z1R, 1999 EX250 Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Oct '16
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@SpeedCraft
I haven't read all of your site, yet, but I'm sure I will. I know in my own case, the limiting factor to picking up the pace is between my ears. Thanks for sharing your notes and thoughts!
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January 9th, 2017, 04:19 PM | #12 |
Certifiable nontundrum
Name: Harper
Location: NC Milkshake stand
Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 SE NINJA 300 Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Sep '13, Sep '16
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Sweet first post!!!
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January 19th, 2017, 10:53 AM | #13 |
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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Good stuff. I look forward to reading through it when I get a chance
Thanks!!
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"Leap and the net will appear!" superbikeschool.com www.motomom.ca |
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January 19th, 2017, 11:52 AM | #14 | |
not an actual panda
Name: dan
Location: philadelphia
Join Date: Aug 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250, 2009 CBR600RR (Sold) Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
It's just that now you can afford not to be able to pick up a skill because it's a hobby. Whereas historically if you couldn't pick up a skill, like hunting or agriculture, you starved. |
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January 20th, 2017, 01:46 PM | #15 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Warren
Location: Eagan, MN
Join Date: Jan 2017 Motorcycle(s): None currently Posts: 11
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Thanks Z1R rider and JohnnyBravo!
Misti, I know there is a lot of stuff to read through on my site., but if you ever do have the time, I would be very interested in hearing your feedback. BTW, Keith Code's TOTW probably saved my life back in the early 80s. I had never ridden before, so I did the only logical thing and bought a clapped out 900cc Kawi. Took it up into the hills above Silicon Valley and scared the crap out of myself (almost became a hood ornament for a Volvo). I putted home, parked it, probably changed my underwear, and drove to the motorcycle store to buy a copy. Ahhh counter steering, that's why the damn thing wouldn't turn! Hi Panda, I agree that the requirement for adapting to new circumstances and learning new skills is not a "modern world" problem. However, to me the skill we are talking about is very specialized; requiring a balance of intuition/instinct (which does the actual vehicle control) and intellect/analysis (which manages the whole process, navigates, evaluates performance etc.). To me, the 'modern world' element of the problem is that at our current state of evolution, many societies have adopted an overwhelming bias toward Rational, Logical, Analytical (left hemisphere) brain function/use. I feel this ingrained bias is so strong that many rider cannot connect with their intuitive rider (or mistrust it so they won't give it control), which results in a rider who feels constantly overwhelmed as they try to 'think' their way around the track. |
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January 20th, 2017, 08:35 PM | #16 | |
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Name: -
Location: -
Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): - Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
It seems that you may have stopped reading (or at least comprehending what you were reading) when you got to the words "modern world" problem. If you carefully read my original post (all the way through this time) you'll see that what I meant by "modern world" problem is the same as what you (seem) to be saying when you reference the fact that "inability to adapt or learn a new skill" has plagued humanity for a long time. The only point where we (most likely) differ in our thinking is with regard to historical perspective. My historical perspective reaches back across the whole of human evolution (several million years) while most people think (or believe) in a much more limited timeframe. |
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January 23rd, 2017, 11:30 AM | #17 | |
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:
Thanks for the story and glad you didn't end up a hood ornament on a volvo!
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"Leap and the net will appear!" superbikeschool.com www.motomom.ca |
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January 27th, 2017, 09:47 AM | #18 |
Private Joker
Name: Ben
Location: Towson, MD
Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): '99/'01 Ninja 250 "sketchy", '13 Ninja 300 "yoshi", '03 GSXR 600 "merlin" Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '14
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Been trying out racewalking, a bit tricky to remember to do but it'll be second nature soon. It seems interesting. I'm combining it with my dirt bike training and am seeing some effect in how I handle the back end kicking out on exits but it hasn't quite kicked in yet
As a visualization technique it seems amazing since it's constantly accessible
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I see you over there seeing me, do you see the me I think you see? |
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January 28th, 2017, 10:57 AM | #19 | |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Warren
Location: Eagan, MN
Join Date: Jan 2017 Motorcycle(s): None currently Posts: 11
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Quote:
Since I wrote the article for drivers, I just wanted to share a couple of tweaks for riders. Instead of 'turning the wheel' I would slightly drop, and push forward, my inside shoulder to simulate counter steering and leaning into the turn.These movements can all be exaggerated or flamboyant (even accompanied by sound effects) if you are alone, or they can all be VERY subtle if you are in public. The training effect is the same. Hey, no one at the grocer store last knight knew that I was riding the shopping kart around; grabbing that metal basket thingy with my fingers to slow down, tipping it into the frozen food isle, and twisting the handle to drift the basket out of the turn and accelerated down the the Lean Cuisine section. Anyway, hopefully that makes sense; if not let me know and I'll do my best to clarify. |
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January 29th, 2017, 02:11 PM | #20 |
Nooblet
Name: Akima
Location: England
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R FI Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 5
MOTM - Oct '13
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Your site looks awesome. Thanks for taking the time to make it and post about it here.
I'm a particularly left brained person in an already left-brain-oriented society. I've noticed that riding my bikes is one of the few times where that part of my mind largely switches off and I become more grounded in the sensations of my body and the stimulus of my senses. I know I need to be in that state to ride smooth & safe. I'm not a fast-rider, but I think I can learn a bit from you
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