Cobie Fair
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Posts posted by Cobie Fair
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Pretty sure it is the GP Tech glove.
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Hotfeet,
Yeah, they also have replacement liners (they come out very easily too), easy to adjust the inside if needed.
CF
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Hi All,
The boys are back from Miller, turned out to be an excellent, and interesting trip. The normal course we use is the East course, a bit more technical, we like that. It was "recovering" from a dirt event, and well--it was dirty. So the guys used the West course on the first day, that went well, and then switched on the 2nd day to the East and that went well too.
2 more no crash days in the books (really do love hearing that phrase, "No Crash Day".
Some of you know, some might not, but one thing that we have taken to doing at the 2-day camps is run the 2nd day in the oppostite direction. We can do this at some tracks, but not all are appropriate for it (can't do it at Laguna for example).
Really gives the rider 2 tracks instead of one to work on, see how well they can use their new found (or fine tuned) skills.
That or we are just mean.
CF
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All exceptional riders for sure. I think I already wrote my King Kenny story somewhere up here, but how about Wayne? That guy could turn the bike so aggressively, really impressive.
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106--
For sure nothing is going to equal the track, for many reasons, won't cover them here.
For street riding, one factor is tire temp. I remember when I was being taught how to ride, we used to get off the freeway, and the curvey road we road had "a bit dirt at the bottom turns". How come it didn't feel the same on the way back? Because we had warmed the tires of course, duh. Back then, I didn't eaven really know about what/how to warm the tires. So, that's one factor to consider.
Most of the "fast guys" I know, don't even hang off when street riding.
One thing you mentioined sounded like hte Pick Up Drill, from Level 2, am I correct in that? For sure a good thing to practice while street riding! (OK, within some kind of reason).
CF
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Yep Fossil, heard the same from a few, Stomp is bit much for street riding, but works well at the track. Tech Spec is a pretty decent alternative, and way better for the street.
CF
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5 skills taught:
throttle control
Turn points
Quick turn
Rider input (relax)
2-step
Twist 2 is the best "reminder" of these, lots of data about each skill and what is being gone over (for example, there 5 chapters on Throttle Control alone, and the different aspects of it).
CF
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Fossil cracks me up with his reasons for rear brake use (I wouldn't personally do #4, don't like to move my feet, and got a better sense of my finger pressure). I hadn't thought of #5 at all, silly me!
Now Crosby, what is to be gained by using the rear while also on the gas...and when exactly are you talking about using it, parking lot speeds, or in real turns?
CF
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I was just thinking about John, and hadn't heard what he was up to, anyone know what he's doing? He was pretty impressive racing 250's here in the US, and then when he went to Europe the first year and won the world title.
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Yeah, that's what happened to Lorenzo on at least 2 of the high sides I watched, he was adding both!
Guess I need to keep that in mind going forward. As I said before: I'm having a great time right now. Everything is just working.
I'm planning on doing another weekend with you guys next summer. Think I'd like to visit a different track this time. Probably come out to Willow springs. Maybe I can make the coaches actually earn their money chasing me around the track by then.
Now we're talking, they love that
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A recent road test happened at the Streets of Willow Springs and our hero exceeded the tractiom limit of the tires, not fully up to temp. Fairly slow speed turn, 40-50, but the nice thing was, after inspection and finding blue marks on the pavement (initially thought to be fairing), it was discovered it was the plastic armor on the Alpinestar gloves. Anyway, the point of the story is all the gear worked flawlessly, our hero had not a scratch (literally) and not even sore or bruised (at all!). The gear worked from head to foot perfectly, and looks lightly scuffed. Unsolicited testimony!
Best,
CF
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Hi Itux,
As RM said, there is a bit of technique to the body, and how it relates to both steering (maximizing what you do on the bike) as well as hanging off, how that effects the bike and you.
I think the full answer could be a few pieces for you: first, it would be ideal to get you on the NO B/S bike, so you could see very clearly what the bars do (I know you have a good idea on this, but that bike is a real eye opener).
Next, a question (you might have guessed that was coming!):
Will it be better to be braced when you put the effort into the bars, or floating above the seat?
CF
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Good stuff, nice thread to read what you guys think.
CF
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Kai,
Pretty good description!
I also liked the comment "get professional help" above, cracked me up!
CF
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Yeah, that's what happened to Lorenzo on at least 2 of the high sides I watched, he was adding both!
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In 30+ years of riding, I have actually never experienced a tankslapper. I have experienced plenty of weaves, though, where the bike feels like it has a hinge in the middle, which I presume stems from insufficient suspension damping and/or a chassis that twists itself only to unwind in a snappy fashion.
Eirik,
I think you had posted elsewhere about riding older bikes (and they did/do wobble a bit when you let go of the bars). It happened on my old FZ-750, with a 16 inch front tire, never really did like that bike, partly due to that. I did put a dampter on it, it helped, but think the geometry wasn't quite right. I wasn't paying that much attention to mechanical aspects back then, alignment could have been off, tires, frame not straight, etc.
I still never did like any bike I rode with a 16 inch front though!
CF
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Hello fellow riders,
I'm heading to VIR for a school this fall (YAY!!) and I've never been there. It was recommended to me to fly into Greensboro airport, but the flight options aren't that great. I can get a much better schedule and fare if I fly into Raleigh-Durham instead. Looking at a map, it looks like it's only slightly farther to drive; any advice on this? Is there any reason NOT to just fly into Raleigh?
Thanks in advance for advice or ideas.
Hottie,
Fly into Bakersfield, easy commute.
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Reading the responses I realized something: there are a number of pieces of this, more than I expected to be honest.
I don't even know the biggest piece, but there is an art to this. This is on a few levels. I watched the recent Misano WSB race, and watching the field go through a series of turns, wow, it was simply stunning visually. Watching the best guys put the bikes right to their knee, then stabilize it there, and doing this in a crowd! Superb skill required to do this.
Then there is the art that one feels when a turn, or series of turns is done very well. The bike is precisely ridden, put on a very exact line, the bike is balanced on it's suspension, nice roll on at the exit, with excellent coordination of the body movement. This does not come easily, getting to that skill level. I've been a "student" since 1978, when I got my first street bike, and I'm still constantly learning. I wouldn't say I was a natural at this either, I have to work at it, for me this all adds to the "art" of it. If it were easy to attaint this, why bother?
That's one of the most personal pieces I've written publicly, hope you all don't mind.
CF
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Doesn't seem like the names have totally stuck, but in the same token, not totally vanished either. Pete introduced himself at the staff intro in the morning as the "other good looking blond". He's dreaming.
Jon get's referred to as "Gramps" now and again, pretty fun when he and Little Joe room together, about a 42 year difference in ages I think.
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Hi Razor,
For sure I'll be there, come say hello. The problem with changing GP shift on the school bikes is it takes a seperate kit, and about 45 minutes to do (due to the BMW shift assist). Short version is we don't have any GP shift bikes available for students. It's not ideal for sure, we get students that like to ride GP. One trick I've learned when I have to ride a students bike at the track is make sure I put my foot in the position that will make the upshift, this has keep me out of making a large mistake
.Best,
CF
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Hey Fossil,
Outstanding!!!!
Best,
CF
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Wow, you guys covered a lot of ground!
How about we narrow this down some and tackle one thing at a time?
One comment I'll make Tweek: the one real minus of adding lean angle to "find your knee" is that it can happen while the rider is also bringing a little throttle on. That's the deadly combo, adding the 2 together (throttle and lean).
Make sense on that point?
Best,
CF
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Hi Oz,
Eirik hasn't been to the school, so hasn't been exposed to the training Keith is doing currently. This whole subject is covered in detail at the school, and also in Twist 2, you could check out Chapter 11.
Here is a quick note, I may have put this up here already: one of my coaches was riding over a pretty fast bumpy turn at Barber (turn 3). The thing tankslapped so hard on him he decided to get off the bike. Pretty fast turn, scary! He let go of both bars, was going to bail off the back. The bike instantly corrected and stabilized. He ended up putting his hands back on the bars before running off track.
Tank slappers are caused by the rider, and perpetuated by same. Some bikes for sure can use and need steering dampers, but the rider can still mess things up, even with them.
CF
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Good responses, I can see how this for some had different answers (good for training was one).
I'd heard the question for years, and didn't really have a favorite. I like the Streets of Willow Springs for training, no doubt. No time limits, lots of places to cut across, you can see much of the track from almost any where on it, nothing to hit, about the best weather (windy at times, but dry!) lots of pluses. And it is also a very technical track: if you don't have your key fundamentals in order, you cannot go fast there, won't happen.
Like Steve, some places have an emotional response connected to them, like the old track in Aspen, Colorado. Not much of a track, but amazing scenery and site of my first endurance race.
I'll think about this some more (but have to say, like Rainman I have enjoyed Mid-Ohio a lot over the years).
CF
Favorite Track For Coaching Or Training
in School Questions/General Discussion
Posted
Good thread KHP!
Like to hear more of what guys think on this, so chime in.
The tracks that have a turn and then straight, turn and then straight are in some ways easier, they are a bit simpler (like Laguna) for the newer and medium speed riders. This can be good and very easy to see exactly what the skills are doing, a turn at a time. But also Laguna has a few things that grab guys attention, the Corkscrew, Turn 2 and Turn 11.
As one gets more skilled and faster, the tracks that have series of turns get very challenging.
CF