csmith12

The screwdriver grip on the throttle side is harder on the right than on the left. Having access to the controls is priority, but governed by confidence. What I mean is... If you feel you need access to the brakes at a moment's notice, it will be much harder to grip the controls side like my pic below (above average aggressive bp). Getting the turn in point, line and entry speed right is paramount for confidence to adjust the grip! Before you even go as far as riding, you should sit on your bike and get the ergos as close as possible. Wrists in line with the levers and levers + bars at comfortable angles for example. Bumm back from the tank but not too far back to get a good lock on the bike is the secret sauce to being light on the bars enough to grip them as you see fit. How is your seating position helpful or hurtful to your lock on the bike and grip on the bars?

Perhaps that awkward look you feel you have is being tense, rigid or generally tight on the bars. Maybe try to relax more. How far do you need to hang off the bike? 1 butt cheek off is normally enough and your spine should be fairly close to being inline with the bike. Also, at some point, you will have to hang off a lot or start to rotate around the tank a bit. To help you figure out why.. go have a seat on your bike, get in your normal hang off position and then try to touch the chin of your helmet to your grip. What hits first? Which would also lead us to the next step... How do you know you hang off too much? Cool pics too!

^^^ nice thinking

@Hotfoot, I followed Subisti for a few laps. He was doing great! You know... sometimes riders are their own worst critics. Sure, he needs to have faith in his equipment, bike bits and himself, but riders can do amazing things. I personally felt the lever action and it wasn't to my liking but wasn't super terrible either. @Subisti - I am glad you found me or Mike to get you into A for a session or two. You are ready from the riding point of view, but rider makes their own choice unless there is a safety concern. It was my pleasure to help you in any way I could and hope to ride with you again. And fyi... we all were trying to figure out a new apex point for turn 7 after the tarmac changes. It made for an interesting couple of days.

Bingo! Let's also make sure there is nothing mechanically wrong with your machine, so there is nothing there holding you back.

Subisti, the back straight at Mid-O is pretty long. To think your not going to have "ANY" weight on your arms when still pinned at a 150+ at a 375ft braking marker for turn 7 is just plain silly. You will need olympic leg strength to keep "ALL" the weight off your arms. Let's face it, that level of fitness is rare. So you going to have to mitigate it in some way by adjusting something. Entry speed maybe? Turn in point change? I will throw you a hint before we meet up. It's near impossible to build a 100% confident, hard, deep braking marker until your turn in point, line and entry speed is worked out and solid. If you're coasting at any time, then you still need to work on that part. So, my question to you is; what does your turn in point have to do with your braking marker?

I also did a one day, the perception is wrong. They tell you to ride at 75% and CSS MEANS IT! Level 1 doesn't mean go novice speeds. I ran A pace at VIR for my level 1 but played nice with traffic. Work with your CSS coach for any issues and don't hold back without good reason, it's the #1 mistake imho.... The drills and coaching are best based off your 75% skill. Unless the coaches know where you're at, your experience is less than what it could be. This goes for CSS as well as any other school. But yes, Twist of the wrist 2 movie or book. See you on Sunday for some fun!

Aint that the truth! $$$ is always a factor. Honestly though, a CSS school on "your" bike is about the same as 2 mid-o days. Travel is another thing altogether though, I went for VIR when I did the school. So you got some new vesrah pads!! Awesome, did you clean and prep the rotors? Maybe you have some glazing. I will have my tools and such with me, we can check out your brakes. Your homework before Mid-O, watch the twist2 movie if you can or read chap. 24 and "Steering, the key to speed" if you only have the book. I will show you how to connect those two dots, so they work to your advantage. The rest... you will have to learn from CSS. lol

Come find me Subisti! I am almost always at Mid-O when they are running PTRs. In fact, I will be there this Sun. Mon. & Tues., I will also be there the 2 dates in Oct. There isn't much better than doing a CSS school and I highly recommend it (yes, I have done it myself), but I will do my best to help you out until then. Ask for "coach Chris", I am normally in garage 12/12a or 14, riding a black and yellow r6. As far as your question goes; Let's cover some basics... When do you get your bumm off the seat? If you bumm is off the seat, do you have to have your knee out or can it still be griping the tank? What do you do with your leg(s) when you're off the seat? As far as your hands going numb, let check to ensure your gloves fit properly and your bar ergos are ok. Then we can address being tight on the bars and relaxing while riding. Isn't braking for turn 7 super fun?!?!?!?!?

I will be kinda blunt here... You charge a lot of corners. You want some throttle roll in the corners when the steering is complete. You trail very, very deep in the corners. Your crash looks pretty easy to diagnose. Charged corner, didn't get entry speed set properly (in time), rolled off gas, overloaded the front. Subtle but I will ask. You were chasing down a rider. Was you looking at him at the time? For a hint, check the same corner a lap before. Bummer too, hope you fared well, heal up quick and any repairs don't hurt even worse.

Lol, friends had some fun with this photo, here are some of the comments/captions; Damn head lice... God this itches!!!!!! knock wood 7 or 11... c'mon, baby needs a new pair of shoes..... (rattle rattle) Did i put the the oil cap back on ... let me think a second One guy said he was gunna photoshop a shake weight in my hand. lol We all had a good laugh when I posted this one.

Nice 4erramses! Since I am here I guess I will give an update since my lvl 1 that is not the normal lean angle, drag knee photo. Coaches don't share what they do on camera very often. Who can guess the hand signal?

636!!!

Did you use the vibration damper that looks like a nose plug? It's normally white and comes with the mounts.

My turn in points are slightly different with the cups vs the q3's but that is about it, I do not ride any different.

Pointy... love them.

Oh yea... hahahah forgot about that little nugget. CSS = California Superbike School. Notice the "school" part, The only performance specs that matter are the "rider's".

lampstax - I am a rider than has taken their own bike to css. During my day there were a good number of other riders who brought their own bike, so I didn't feel out of place. While the schedule is tight and lends itself to having a prepared and ready bike when you get out of class, you can feel good about bringing your own if there are no emanate problems with your machine. If you run into mechanical issues, your gunna be missing things like class time, an on track drill or your resting time will be narrowed. As far as 1 day vs 2 day? This is no different than any other track org that runs back to back days. Basically, you have to check their policy on such matters and accept it or... buy 1 day at a time and hope there is an open spot the day of (expensive). Also, you do understand what riding within your limits and riding at 75% of your skill really means right? Staying in that zone reduces your risk level tremendously and makes committing to a two day event much more inviting. While any track time is good, some of the best days are the 2nd day. Your comfy with the track layout and can focus on YOU vs. YOU and the track.

Well... having a quick look at the pics, would it help if you sat farther back in the saddle? Would it help you in other ways too?

Solid stuff Duck! Enjoy your posts. Chasing down a position will make you faster due to pushing your boundaries, it's a product of the competitive spirit but the trick is to base it on the fundamentals and tried & true skills instead vs instinct. Sometimes we just have a great race and recollect at the end of the day. Fair is fair and real life always wins. Sometimes the best laps are at the end because we are tired and finally "really" relax. Keep it up and puttin in werk!

Yes sir... 88yrs old. I am 41 and he has been racing longer than I have been alive. lol

A buddy of mine puts some tape on his nose to stop the glasses from sliding down. Maybe a sport strap to keep them pulled back and riding high on the nose?

I also don't hang off much while coaching with the exception of coaching body position or when specifically asked too. I race with a 88yr young gent by the Name of Bill Bloom. He rides very boldly upright and never moves from the center of the seat, just like a pendulum. He isn't the fastest, but far from the slowest. He scares the ###### outta me how fast he goes riding like that, he even rides like that in the WET!

While you don't have to be as aggressive as I am in the below pic, you do need to use what you learned at the school to get more of your upper body mass on the inside of the bike while cornering. It all starts with a good spot on the seat and getting a good lock on the bike. Next would be to address what is holding you back? Perhaps your knee down problem isn't so much a physical or lean problem, perhaps it's a vision issue. Do you have any reservations about getting your head closer to the tarmac? How far ahead are you looking? Are you really comfortable with the 2 step, quick turn combo?