Cobie Fair

i live in hawaii, so none of them are hometown. willows will probably be the closest, n i've already been invited by friends. but my goal is to get a good foundation that i can use on any track. cobie, what's the big advantage of having the elevations changes, or is it just more fun? i think i'd like to try out the slide bike. would be really disappointed if i my choice of track made it so i couldn't play w/ it. Slide bike normally runs at Level 4. At the 2-day camp, can sometimes get it done sooner, but not always, rider has to be ready, have his foundation skills in good order. Willow Springs has about the best skid pad, and the best weather, so that's a good bet. Best, CF

Hi Two, Regarding the slide bike: normally one has to make it to Level 4 to ride the slide bike, if he were attending the single day schools. But, if all going well at the 2 day camp, and the student is ready for it, we will work with them on it. The steps before this have to be in place for the slide bike to get the correct result. First one rides it as the Lean bike. Then, we need to make sure the skills taught in Level 1 and 2 are in order, and the rider is ready. Some are, some aren't, the new slide bike procedure is very thorough, takes a bit to really do it, but we are getting excellent results. Re the traction modes of the S1000, don't know exactly yet. The bike we rode was pre-production, didn't have all the modes on it, so we have some experimenting to do, see what will get the best result with the training. Maybe we'll just suggest which mode and let them decide? Best, CF

Did you guys have to drive to that?????? Really glad he's back in the saddle CF

Hi Jane, Glad you posted, if you want, go ahead and introduce yourself in the newbie section. Best, cobie ps--you are quite correct, applies to more than just riding, doesn't it?

Hi Overrev, Good use of an older base! When is the new/longer version of the track supposed to be done? Also, is there much racing there? Best, Cobie

Hi JT, 3 days in a row can be too much (some hard core guys do 4!), but if you can put a few days in between, that should be fine. There are pluses and minus of riding your bike or ours. The training is the same, and will apply to any bike. With ours, it will be set up and handle well, you know the tires will be in good shape, and you will be on the same bike as your coach. This format has worked well, really takes any questions of bike/tire out of the equation. Also, tire wear is pretty severe on a track, you could save the cost of doing the school by tire wear. A couple of other factors,related: some riders just never feel like they can cut loose on their bike and "worry" a bit about it while on track. With our bike, the most you would ever pay would be the damage deposit, and it doesn't usually go to the full amount. Parts are at a discount, and there is no labor cost. When I have asked, students usually say they are used to our bikes in 1-2 sessions. The plus of ridng your bike is you know it, and we can also often help you with pointers on it: tires, suspension, etc. Many do a cocktail: ride our bike 1-2 days, then ride your own. Let us know if any other questions, or call the office any time. Best, Cobie

HI Jeff, Stuman is right, we have covered it elsewhere, but here is a short answer anyway: 2-day camp, less than half the students, 2 coaches per student, only 2 groups. You are basically on the track, or in a briefing, very little in the way of breaks. Also, more time (if you like) on the off-track bikes. Laguna has a so-so skid pad, not as good as the Streets for the off-track training, lean bike, brake bike, etc. Also, you do get the video bike (and reviews) and the brake bike only at the 2-day camps. If you can swing it, it's the way to go, and a great way to start. Let us know if you have any questions. Best, CF

Yeah, he used his elbow in that one!

Hey Adam, You know it's "Mikey" not "Mickey" or is that just the Oz guys taking the piss out of the Yanks, happens as often as I talk to you guys! Ozfireblade--really glad to hear that you had a good result with Mikey, guess you could understand his California version of English OK! Best, Cobie

HI Overrev, Welcome, and good to see pics of you on the track--what track was it? Best, Cobie

Hi Quacker, Welcome the forum, and here is some biased opinion on your questions: 1. Streets of Willow is great track, has a little bit of everything, very challenging, you get tons of laps, weather is the closest thing to a guarantee of being good, great off-track skid pad (for brake rig, lean bike, etc.). 2. There isn't much "ambience" out there, so if bringing someone, it isn't like being in Vegas. 3. Miller is a nice track, no downsdie there. Don't think we can run the slide bike, but can run all the other off track toys. 4. Vegas, should be good. Flat track (no elevation changes), track is differenent than the one we used this year, looks good. I like a little bit of elevation change personally. Come to think of it, not much elevation change at Miller either. The 2-day camp is a great way to get introduced to the track, lots of track time, tons of coaching, nice gradient steps up, time to ride the off track bikes, about as good as track riding gets. Hope this helps, if you want to talk to a live person, give us a ring. Most of the office staff ride, and know the tracks or of them. Best, Cobie

2009 has been an excellent year, but 2010 is the beginning of a new era. We are looking for coaches. Read on, fill out the application and send it to me. Here is the process: 1. Read the description below the dotted line of what we are looking for. 2. A very good riding skill level is required from our coaches. Some have met the other requirements, but had to work on their riding skill, and eventually became coaches. While riding skill is important, as or more important is ability to learn, ability to communicate and get along well with a wide variety of people, can endure hard conditions (school days are long!), and can attend enough school days in a year. 3. Please review the description and application carefully. The schedule needs to be filled out with your best estimate, try and answer for every date. 4. If you fit the description, or think you could meet the requirements soon, fill out the application that is attached and send it to me. In truth, I'd rather have you try out and let us decide if you meet the requirements, than not have you try out at all! Cobie@superbikeschool.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you can answer yes to all of the questions below then you may be just what we need. If you can't, let me know and we'll go from there. 1. Have you already taken the Superbike School (since 1995, preferably Level 1 and 2)? 2. Have you roadraced? 3. Are you already pretty fast? (don't have to be a track record holder, but can't be slow). 4. Are you friendly and personable--enjoy talking with people? 5. Do you learn new things fairly quickly? 6. Can you devote minimum 10-15 school days per year (not including travel time)? 7. Are you willing to do difficult homework, and have every aspect of your training skills scrutinized? 8. Have you read the Twist of the Wrist books? 9. Would you enjoy helping people learn how to ride better? We are very selective and everything you say or do in the application process counts. I?m not interested in squids, dopers or short term relationships. I am looking for enthusiastic individuals that want to learn how to become great coaches. If you think you have the right stuff, download the application and e-mail it to me! Best, Cobie Fair cobie@superbikeschool.com

New sponsor, maybe your's is allowed as it's blue! CF

We are getting ready for the transition over to BMW. Lots of stuff has to change, with the trailers getting wrapped with the new sponsor (many trailers are done in vinyl these days) as one large project. We are scheduled to get the new bikes in January, actually picking them up and brining them back from the dealer intro in Florida. All new coach leathers is another project, we are in process on that right now. The web page has been updated, but we need some more photos, that will happen soon . From the coaching side, there are the normal comings ang goings there, a coach's schedule will change, he can't do as many schools as the year before, or maybe he can do more, we juggle that every season. One nice thing is looks as if we will have a good amount of foriegn coaches into the school this year, that is the way it looks now, see how it turns up. More soon. Best, Cobie

This last trip to Dubai, did any more claritication happen with the whole nicknames process? Need to ask Wipes, he went over for this school.

3 sec faster (nice)? So your riding got better and the bike was more set up for that pace, is that what you are getting at? CF

Not sure, but Josh would be the one to ask, here is his e-mail: josh_galster@yahoo.com CF

H, Good questions, I'm sure some engineer could come up with some facts on this. I look at it more from the perspective of load. Tires normally give when there is too much load placed on them, for the condition (in my case, a hard tire that was not suitable for those conditions). I turned it in got to max lean (not very far over that day), and the front just kept going. My knee was out and reaching for the ground, as the front went, I kept a little pressure on it, took some load off the front, and it came back. No throttle changes. As for how much pressure, not sure how to quantify that. The thigh, pushing outwards (don't think it's that strong), and I wasn't sore or bruised at all later, I'd take a wild guess 30 lbs pressure? A tire can also go from not enough load, anyone ever had the front slide from being on the gas too hard? I have. Does this make sense from the standpoint of load? CF

OK, see here who are the real die hards: in Twist 1 DVD, see if you can find the shot of Keith holding a CBR 1000 with ( 2 fingers on the throttle only. CF

H, It isn't the full 400+ lbs of weight that one has to hold. We are talking the times a rider has saved it, when it has just gone over the edge of traction, but the tires are still in contact with the ground. How much does one have to "hold" a correctly set up bike, when it is in the turn, and the bike is moving? AND let's not forget no lean angle change (otherwise the rider would have some pressure on the bars). Any of the physics guys up here have a an idea of how to calculate this? CF

Spencer, What schools (if any) have you done? have you ridden the lean bike? CF

one of the guys here in the US used an exercise machine that worked the inner thighs--they can get worked pretty well in this. The Youtube is part of the briefing, give s a few parts but not all. CF

one would think from left to right (starting on the left that is). CF

DB, Sounds great mate! Now, this twilight year thing, you have been sold a story by some one on that! Oldest student I know that we had that came and then went to go racing, was 74. And his wife went too, on GSXR's and she was in her 60's! Hit the gym, chase your son a bit more Best, Cobie

Harnois, Didn't see the vid yet, but I have for sure had coaches save the bike on their knee. Only really happened to me once at Laguna: went into T-3, the tire was a very old hard front (real old slick), and never hooked up. I had a little pressure on my knee, the front went, I didn't do anything else (except think I was down), then it came back. CF