Ollie

After spending a bit of time on clutchless downshifts I think I'm converted, well sort of. I personally don't see any advantages of it when road riding, unless you ride like a tt racer, on the other hand on track it is something I would definitely use. I had no idea you could get downchanges to be so smooth without using the clutch. With enough practice so that it becomes second nature I can see it freeing up plenty of attention to use elsewhere that would otherwise be used on the clutch + blip. Just need to get back on a track, now where did I plant that money tree? Ollie

Cheers Kai Should have really bothered to check the forum before posting that. Not sure I'm a subscriber to the clutchless downshift yet but time will tell. Ollie

Any news on the thread for clutchless shifting? I'm happy upshifting without the clutch but am having trouble getting my downshifts smooth. Ollie

Haven't done level 2 yet so excuse the ignorance. Are you not actually using a smaller patch of tyre when standing the bike up. I'm not the best at explaining myself but I think it's more to do with centrifugal force and by standing the bike up you can add more speed, without increasing the force pulling you wide, which if done when leant over would pull you off line or you'd have to increase lean and lose traction.

Would be good to hear from a coach on this. Feel free to blast me out the sky if I'm wrong but is it not very rare to get a front end wash-out at the start of a turn? normally mid to late turn (whilst still leant over) when accelerating? However I've always assumed its very possible, for instance if the front forks are bottomed out when you turn. If I'm well off please let me know as I'm always looking to learn from the forum. Ollie

Yeh level 2 will have to wait til next year unfortunately. Cheers for the help Bullet, much appreciated. Ollie

Perfect sense. Cheers Bullet So going back to my case, specifically at Stowe, I could have kept the same sugarfree speed and turned later and quicker as I was nowhere near the limit or increased my speed and turned earlier. The problem I was finding at Stowe was if I turned on the marker I was apexing too soon so then had to handrail the kerb whilst waiting to roll on the throttle. Ollie

Right here goes Our Turn Point! As in earlier! My answer of adding more lean is wrong because then we'd be asking too much of the tyre. Ollie

Haha guilty as charged, worth a shot though! -To ride in quicker but turn at the same point you'd have to increase lean angle. -No, the bike doesn't turn until counter steer is applied and the bike leans as a result. -Yes, the riders turn point will be determined by how quickly/comfortably the rider can turn. Ollie

More of an interest thing than a straight up question actually. I did level1 at Silverstone South and was just wondering if the turn points that were marked down are what you guys and racers would use when on a hot lap. I recently watched the SBK guys there but sadly paid little attention to when they turned in. I know its slightly different in a race scenario as they may have to cover passing lines e.t.c The reason I ask is that on reflection I think with the speeds I was doing at the school I could have afforded to turn in later and quicker. At the time I was paying too much attention on each drill so was glad to have a visual aid. So in short the question is were those turn points what would be used at race speed or more of a compromise due to the nature of the school having mixed abilities on mixed bikes? I hope the question isn't too confusing or outright stupid! Perhaps I'm just showing how naive a rider I am. I've you manage to make anything out of the garbage above it would be good to hear from you. Cheers Ollie

Just dropping in to say Hi. I can tell just by browsing some of the topics on here that there is no problem that cannot be solved so looking forward to making the most of it. Also a quick thank you to everyone at CSS UK for an awesome day at Silverstone, literally couldn't have been better. Learnt loads and cant wait to get back for level two. Thanks to all the coaches and staff. See you soon Ollie

What a day. I challenge anyone to go to CSS and not come back a safer, more confident and faster rider. My only regret is not doing both days, that and not booking a hotel meaning a 04:45 start. Each session switched on another lightbulb. For me the Quick Turns session along with the Steering Drill we're the most beneficial as they outlined a serious flaw in my steering technique, however the Turn Points session was a big eye opener too especially on a track as wide as Silverstone. Has anyone done level 2 and if so do you reckon its a good level to do at the Stowe circuit, Im looking at the one in Sept but if not It'll have to be next year. Cheers to "Nemo" and all the staff at CSS. Ollie