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documented

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  1. Hi - what you're describing is quite "correct" though isn't it? I mean correct countersteering - whether you are using one hand OR both. During the initial push (say, right hand = wheel to the left) - then the wheel + bike WILL initially & momentarily turn to the left, which makes the bike "fall" to the right which gives you your RHS turning radius. There are a number of slo-mo videos showing just this effect on google video, youtube, metacafe, etc - such as this one which shows it very clearly - but it is so quick that you can really only see it in slow motion. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1360901// hope it helps. all the best. ian
  2. Trackbikes - I'd like to know if others have this same problem & what is it all about? Briefly - some guys, eg Rossi? - seem to be able to get on pretty much any bike & go fast - others seem to excel on one particular bike & no other eg Foggy/Lavilla/Leon Haslam on ducatis were amazing, but when they switched??...... middling. Or the other way round - Casey Stoner on that ducati...... which no-one else can get to grips with, but it works really very well for him. My point is this - over my 20 yr biking "career" I've only ever had 3 bikes that I could really "get along with" & they were - honda NC30 (VFR400), Suzuki SV650 & ducati 916. More than that - as soon as I threw a leg over each one I could tell straight away - as if there was "nothing to learn" ie just naturally "correct" from day one. = "Fit like a glove" etc. Conversely, I have a had a number of bikes that everyone else seemingly thinks are brilliant that I could just not adapt to, ie - none of them gave me any confidence, eg GSXR600, aprilia mille, R1, R6, Fireblade, RC30 (yes, I know). The Mille in particular frightened me to death - but others love 'em. My kawasaki zx6R-B1H that I have now (+NC30) is OK, but still, it is nowhere near as confidence-inspiring as the little NC...... (you need to be fully "on-it" to make the most of the zx6R)...... so why? Is it geometry, size, capacity, tyres, wheel size? what ? Or is everyone different ? I thought that if I loved the NC so much then it's bigger brother the RC30 would be the answer..... er, no ! despite the glowing reports, at full lean it always felt like it was really pushing the front - change the front tyre size is the std fix = no different. The ducati 916 IMHO is a GREAT bike in corners, but on the straights you have a job not to doze off - it really IS that boring (and slow, even with dynoed P/comm & lowered gearing). So - any ideas? everyone says that the NC is an awesome little bike (even trackday instructors) and it IS - but WHY exactly ? I'm getting bored with a 400 but rapidly running out of options. Thanks to all. Ian.
  3. Oh yeah - forgot to mention that - clutchless upshifts are a doddle & downshifts easy too with a little practice - just maybe not "practice" the downshifts on yer brand new desmosedici ian
  4. Bikerchris - Fluids + salts - OK, the longer answer ........ at mallory one time I got really bad cramp in my left forearm - but I was on a 916, which do have a notoriously heavy clutch. My arm went into a spasm & really just seized up (hilarious for bystanders, apparently ) - my brother had to put the bike back in the van & drive it back to his as I couldn't. I went to see his doctor next day who said that it was nothing to do with fluid loss, just the heavy clutch - so I basically forgot about it & the problem just seemd to go away for a while - just one or two minor issues. Then one time at cadwell (hottest day of the year @ 30 degrees !! ) & I got cramp in my left arm again, so pitted early, then next session in my right arm & right thigh as well = no way I could ride like this - it's extr painful - and obviously something "not right" here. So - just as flier, I got 2 ltrs of water with a few sachets of sugar + salt out of the canteen & downed the lot over 20 mins & after another 30 mins I was right as rain & carried on fine for the whole day. You really do need potassium as well though (ideally). Nowadays I always take rehydrating salts in a 2 ltr bottle of water & make sure I drink it all, but I do sweat like a pig & noticed that some do & some dont. So much for doctors ! ........ I guess that he was just giving me his best opinion. Nowadays I basically dont have cramps at all - but I make sure I drink it all even if I feel like I dont need to - you can buy it at any chemist "rehydrating salts" - for both sports and for diarrhoea (replacing lost fluids see). hope it helps - for me they're a "must have". all the best. ian.
  5. Hi - yes, i have 2 books + 1 video, all of which are massively useful - full of stuff that you'd never learn in a million yrs otherwise; I still find that I have to read + re-read & watch the vid otherwise I miss little gems that are in there. cadwell - yeah - I just got a reply from andy ibbott & he said that they're not doing cadwell - pity, but I'll see what else I can organise on the CSS front - I love brands as well - but only been there half a dozen times as it's so far away - but that is a definite possible for this season as my brother lives close-ish. thanks. ian
  6. Hi Kevin & Acebobby - CSS schooling would be my preferred option as well & I'm really not too proud to ask for help and I know that you sometimes come to cadwell, which is my favourite track. I didn't think that I would bore everyone else on the forum with my own "issues" - but I have M.E. - otherwise known as CFS or yuppie flu. I've had it since I was 32 & I'm 54 now. It most definitely is not a psychological ailment - it produces real physical problems.The big problem that this creates for me - as regards schooling -is that I dont know how I'm going to feel even in a few hours, so making appointments weeks in advance is a non-starter. I do book most of my trackdays in advance - got another 9 booked already at cadwell - but if, on the day, I am just "not upto it" then it's no great loss - I've been on my way back home at 10.00am before now cos I felt I was just a liability (on that particular day, I would stress). On a good day/average day, I'm just like everyone else. I've met one guy at oulton park who still does trackdays who has no left arm & no left leg (night-time collision with an unlit skip), but he's still really good - so no point feeling sorry for myself - but, as far as I can see, organised schooling of any sort is a non-starter, unless you can tell me otherwise? I do often get instruction "on the day" - but by that time, I know how I'm feeling - ie Great/Middling/Crappy all the best. ian
  7. Bikerchris - your other post about fluids & salts was inadvertantly deleted cos the moderator thought it contained spam. I answered at length - if you want the detailed answer, pls ask again. the short answer - for me - is that fluids + rehydrating salts are an essential even for trackdays - otherwise I get cramps - I do sweat though, & some dont seem to. all the best. ian
  8. Firebeast - well, lets put it this way - it had become a chore because I was doing it wrong - I just could not contemplate my life without biking....... after the missus, job, house, it's the biggest thing in my life. BTW - just been out - like 20 mins ago - on the supermoto & on the road (so only giving it maybe 80%) & concentrating on looking thru the corners & Woah ! - what a difference !! Gone from being a chore to, well, - you all know this - one of the best things EVER. Dont know if its better than sex or drugs (cos I haven't tried ALL the drugs ..... only kidding) - but it really is up there with "the best things in life". Looking thru the corner also requires correct road/track placement, which then seems to lead to consciously countersteering & correct turn-in point, on-the-gas etc etc....... so for me at least, one basic error & the whole lot came tumbling down. Correcting the first error & the others seemed to almost take care of themselves. Much happier now (about a billion percent !! ) & looking forward to my next track day next week. Thanks to all for their advice. Ian
  9. Hi Guys - I'm really impressed with the quality of the replies here & the thought that you've all been putting in to help me with this - it's very much appreciated. So to answer some of these recent questions - Fossilfuel - right, right & right again - I need a plan - the fundamental problem though was that I didn't know where the basic errors lay in order to formulate a plan. Jailbait - hmmm - yes, well observed = not much fun Cobie - no, I have never done any of the CSS - only read the books & got the vids. I would not be averse to doing them at all, but first I think I need to get right some of my more basic errors. BTW - I have since worked out where I have been going wrong, but more of that in a sec. Dissident - I think I need your motto tattooed in reverse on my forehead so when I look in the mirror it will all make sense - ie, as soon as you stop Trying to go faster & ride better then, from past experience, the speed just naturally follows......... I know this, I just somehow need to remember to actually DO IT ! agreed - knee-draggin never made anyone faster - I just luurve the sound ! So...... Quiet house - no-one around - & re-played the "video" in my head of a couple of laps round cadwell....... jeez - I'm even making a hash of it in my head ! Revelations ! - my problems had very little to do with actually falling off - I just had nothing else to "pin it on". the crux is that on corner entry I was concentrating on - (looking at ) - the turn-in point to the exclusion of all else & not looking thru the corner early enough or far enough ahead - leading to a sort-of domino effect then of not countersteering hard enough/fast enough & "Too late on the gas" . It's amazing how one simple error multiplies all the rest. Looking back on how I used to ride the same track until very recently, I can see straight away where I am now going wrong....... and sure enough, trying to ride faster isn't helping at all. The mystery for me is that it was all-so-obvious (in hindsight) - - - great thing, 20:20 hindsight. Thanks again guys & if you have any further comments on my analysis of things, I'd be glad to hear them. Ian.
  10. Thanks guys - jailbird has it in one....... ie I know what to do but have trouble applying it (where I didn't used to). It seems there are way too many things to do at once, which at one time were ingrained & "automatic". It does not "flow" any longer. The worst is that I'm not looking thru the corner early enough, but by the time this glorious revelation has dawned on me the day is over. Relax, light touch, braking markers, turn-points, countersteer hard, etc etc. = so much stuff: so little time ! I have no problem asking for help & going back to novice but actually applying it all where needed is the crux I think. Maybe a sports psychologist would be more appropriate !! durr. Hubbard - I've had no probs in the past jumping back on when I knew what the problem was (cold tyres + muppett = slow lowside & no pain). My other recent ones were - the rh peg swung round while I was at full lean and it hurt = broken collarbone/busted knee (could've sworn it was tight - obviously not) and #2 =got some boots re-soled @ the high street = NOT a good idea; resoled with teflon I reckon = foot off the OTHER peg & grasstracking @ full lean = painful again, but nothing broken. Hasn't happened since I binned them & got some nice new boots with rubber on the soles ! Steve - I get instruction whenever I can & when I feel I need it - skiing, biking. Some instructors I agree are a waste of time, but the last guy was really great - Jonny B @ N/L - patient - & he correctly identified my errors: the problem is that I know what I'm doing wrong & I can tackle one thing at a time, but relearning so many things within the space of a trackday's riding seems impossible - as soon as I get one thing sorted, the others go out the window. It may just be that @ 54 I'm too old & befuddled now Anymore input very much appreciated guys. Thanks. ian
  11. I really only do trackdays - apart from the occasional mooch about on a supermoto round the lanes. I do between 12 & 17 per season - work permitting. Track bikes are an NC30 vfr400 & ZX6R. The NC is sooooo easy to ride. I'm not & never have been the fastest on track - about half way up the intermediates is where I am at - or was until a few offs in quick succession have really dented my confidence & ability. Now I find I am seemingly going backward - have gone back to the novices - so no pressure - but still finding it v difficult to get back to where I was. It used to be knee-sliders ground to dust everywhere & now I am lucky if I can get my knee down at all; not only that - but it is as if I am waiting to fall of ( again !! ). I know that this is all in my head & I am additionally now tending to be all "stop & go". The stuff not directly related to cornering ie outbraking others & just nailing it on the straights - I am still Sh*t-hot (ha ha). Seriously - the cornering thing has gone from being my very best assest/attribute to a chore. I've gone back to basics, had tuition & can follow the instructor round, but when I am back on my own - it's a different story. So....... any ideas ? anybody else had this ? many thanks in hope. Ian.
  12. First - have you just considered the fact that some guys can go fast on pretty much ANY bike - but that they are relatively few - (eg rossi, shakey, corser, joey dunlop) - but most have a real affinity for one bike or type of bike or set-up (eg Stoner, Leon Haslam, Doohan, Foggy on a 916 etc etc)? Some guys (like me + Biaggi - Ha Ha ! ) need everything to be "just so" & others can do the best with what they are given. Some guys just CANNOT go fast on a particular bike that we KNOW is fast (eg currently melandri on that ducati ). Second - I think IMHO that > 2yrs is way too long to stick with a bike you cant get on with. I'd try something else. Third - have you thought whether it is one particular aspect that is wrong..... it is too easy to think that you're riding like ###### when it may be one part - maybe corner entry - that makes you feel that way when the rest is actually fine ? I had 2 offs in exactly the same place in very close succession last year at cadwell - barn - & that really hurt my confidence. Fourth - why not go back to the smaller bikes, get your confidence up to 100% there (maybe inc coaching if needs be) & then try out a range of big bike to see which suits ? nearly Everybody raves about R6 & R1s ( + RC30s before now) - me, I just cant get on with any of them. but 916, little NC30, ZX6R, = love em - note: these are all "planted" & "front-end" bikes & maybe that is what suits me: - I dont know, they just feel "right" & quite similar to me in a way. I dont know if this helps at all. PS - had a K5 GSXR600 & hated it !! TTFN. Ian
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