2bigalow
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Posts posted by 2bigalow
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Hi there again, thanks for the quick reply. It certainly made sense. It would be better first to learn basic techniques and get them right rather than correcting my own to start with-if that makes sense. Plus i would rather spend my own cash praticing what i have learnt rather than preparing myself incorrectly. sounds confusing but im sure you can understand it on some level.
Its good to know that your coaches can look out for when peolple are nearing their limits so as to give them a guiding hand to harness their skills correctly. Although as i said before i know of a few stories of people coming off their bikes doing these techniques that you teach. As each incident is due to its own particular reason its impossible to say what may of caused them but as you can understand there is always a worry that praticing these techniques may result in coming off. But.... no one said it was gonna be easy and there are always risks to riding a bike. Especially when learning new things and pushing yourself a little.
However i will be booking level one in the next couple of days, the course set up and instruction sounds great and i just want to get get better so in my opinion there is no better place to learn.
And as for riding with my friends. one silly time i tried to keep up. My own riding went to bits, looking at the bike in front of me rather than concentrating on the road and my bike and what i should be doing. all the survival reactions what Twist of the wrist 2 talks about, i was doing every one of them. Never again.
Anyway, see you all soon, looking forward to it and thanks for the warm welcome.
be safe
mike
Well I'm not gonna tell you we dont have crashes, because we do. Very few considering the amout of miles put in, but no the less. However, MOST crashes happen when students ride over their heads and not focus on the drills at a speed for which they are comfortable with. If you stay within your limits and truely focus on the drills you WILL be going faster by the end of the day with alot LESS effort. We guarantee it.
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Hey Danny,
Thanks for checking out the forum before your trackday. Dont worry about being nervous in the corners, that's what were there to teach you. I've have coached students so nervous they were visibly shaking on the bike. I suspect you are gonna have several Ah HA! moments and will be laughing at yourself at how easy it really can be with the correct info about a corner.
Jr.
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Thanks for all the kind words. And were glad you had a great time.
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Hey Rick,
31F / 30R is good for the "P" brand tire.
Similar to what we run on the DUNLOPS.One particular tire you must be careful of are the Michelin "Power Race" tires. The REAR tire pressure is ran very low. Near the low 20's to high teens. The front is normal at low 30's.
Hope this helps
JR
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Racer is right about the observation part. Without actually seeing what you're doing, it hard to correct the problem.
However, remember to get on the gas AFTER your steering imput is done. IE you've leaned the bike to the correct angle needed to make the corner at hand. And as racer said, a nice even roll on after that.
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Hey Tim,
Thanks for posting on the forum. I haven't ridden Watkins Glen personally, but I can tell you Mid Ohio is a hoot!
Here's how I look at it. If you're familiar with Watkins Glem, then you will spend less time learning the track and more time learning the drills. However, riding a new track is fun too. So basicly I'm saying it is a personal preferrence. Maybe one of the other coachs, or former students , that have ridden both could chime it. Anyone?
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Hey mike,
Glad to have you on the forum. Excellent question.
Riding your bike hard enough to catch "more experienced" riders is a disaster waiting to happen. You are wise to let them go. Crashing is expensive and can be hazarous to your health, especially on canyon roads. The best way to learn, in that respect, is to learn from someone elses mistakes.
All coaches are trained to observe and work within the student's personal limits. Your coach will push you to improve, but only within your riding abilities. Believe it or not, there are riding indicators that tell your coach how close your are to riding over your head and "binning" your bike.
ALL students start at level one. Do not confuse level one as a beginner level. Level one is the first level in the CSS program. Even top professionals atteneding the school start at level one. In fact some will return to certain drills in level one after going through the entire program. So basicly, no matter what your skill level is, the drills apply to everyone. First time track rider or a seasoned professional.
Your concern of never riding on a track should be dismissed. Most of our level one students have never been on a race track and we are aware of how nervous this can be. You will not be alone.
And to answer your question regarding a track prior to attenteding the school.
You could attend a track day prior to a school, but wouldnt you rather attend the school and use the track day improve what you learned? Not to mention smoking all your friends on the racetrack?
Hope to see you out there.
JR
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Hello,
I’m registered for the Level 1 class in August at Pocono. I plan to bring my leather suit but my jacket is fitted with a non-removable, quilted lining w/ no ventilation (regrettable design flaw) so if it’s a hot day I’ll be real uncomfortable. Does the school rent leathers in women’s sizes or only men’s? Alternatively, are good quality textile suits acceptable at CSS?
Thanks!
Sally
Yes and Yes
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I'm signed up for the 2 day camp at the upcoming Barber event. I did a search but really didn't get a good answer. I'll be flying up from orlando. I gathered that they have leathers to fit just about anyone. Is it preferable to bring any of my own gear ie. gloves, boots, helmet, or leathers? I was told everything needed will be provided. I'm pretty excited about the camp. I just want to have the best experience possible. Do I need to bring anything other than an open mind, change of clothes, and my wallet?
Bpad1,
For the 2 day camp all you need is you. Everything is provided. We have suits from very small to Very large, and I have yet seen a student that we couldnt get a suit for. If you have your own gear and prefer to wear it, that's ok too.
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Hey undrlord,
Apologies for the around. We just try not to step on the toes of the track directors when it comes to "their" facilities. We are guest of the facility just like anyone else. For example Mid Ohio ran AMA races this weekend and we were there Monday morning. If you were to "set up" early, the track director wouldn't know if you were at the races or a student with the school. If the director of Barber said it's up to the school, then it's OK. Take your stuff to the track and set it up. And dont forget your transmitter.
JR.
PS Have some fun!!!
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WOW! I had to get my tech manual out.
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Also I understand that the school uses DB Comm system for getting lap times. I have found someone that will let me use a transmitter for our XT timers, are you pretty sure that it would be ok to set this up? Is there someone that I can call, other than the main number, so I can get more precise info as opposed to the ladies in the office?
Correct on the timing system, we use DB comm. Using the XT transmitter should not be a problem. When you get to the track, ask for Trevor. He's the on track coordinator for the school. I'm sure he'll let you set up the transmitter at start / finish. When you say main number, did you call our office or Barber? Barber is the one you need to call for info on wether you can set up / unloading early. Different tracks have different rules.
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Me and a buddy of mine are attending the school at Barber on August 25 and 26. We both have been to Barber twice w/ NESBA and kinda know what to expect w/ them.
Here are my questions about this day....Can we unpack and pit in of Friday evening or can we only arrive on Saturday? I take it that we can setup EZ up tents in the pit area but will electricity be an option (we can pay for a box when we go with NESBA to power fans and such). Will there be people there taking pics of us while on track? We both have XT lap timers....are these good to use w/ the system that use?
Sorry for all of the questions but figured I would ask now and not wait until the last minute.
Thanks.....
Lance
Hey undrlord,
Unpacking is a good question.? I would call the track and specificlly ask if you can unpack on Friday. Some tracks are very accomidating, some only allow entry the day of. I would also ask about the electricity. EZup' should not be a problem.
Bob from Etech will be there taking photos of all students. He will post photos thoughout the day.
I dont think the XT lap timer will work with the school system, but I'm sure Trevor will allow you to put a transmitter if you have one. If you dont have a transmitter, school transponders are available.
Take care
Jr
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Thanks for the reply 2big. For some reason, when I can understand the engineering of things, it makes it easier for me. My bike does have a slipper, but I didn't think that it would make such a difference. I've been spending a lot of attention wondering if I was getting the technique wrong, when I may have been getting it right all along. Just once more to clarify then.
Hypothetically(just focusing on the blip technique, and minus other factors like trailbraking), if I'm coming down a fourth gear straight approaching a second gear turn, when I reach my braking point I would:
1. Roll off the gas.
2. Apply the brake.
3. Disengage clutch.
4. Blip throttle, shift down.
5. Engage clutch.
6. Disengage clutch.
7. Blip throttle, shift down.
8. Engage clutch.
9. Release brake.
10. Make steering change.
11. Roll on the throttle.
Something similar at least right?
That's it in a nut shell!!! Sounds like you were doing it right all along.
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Hey AJ20
Thought I would chime in and clear up some the mechanical info for ya.
Blipping the throttle is a technique used to "match" the speed of the motor to the speed of the rear tire when a smaller gear ratio is selected. IE a downshift.
Think of it this way. If you were to travel down a (long) staight of way, pull in the clutch and hold it (without shifting), the engine RPM would drop and go to an idle. At this point, the bike would be coasting, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE STILL IN 6TH GEAR. If you let the clutch out, the engine will rev back up to match the speed of the rear tire.
OK, if you were to do this and down shift, the transmission would give a big "clunk" because the gears are traveling a very different speeds, since 6th gear is engaged (traveling at the speed of the rear tire) and 5th gear (not yet engaged) is traveling at the speed of the motor. By blipping the throttle you are raising the RPM of the motor to help match the speed of the rear tire. The closer these two gears are in speed, the easier the bike will shift.
Now blipping the throttle in normal riding (fast paced) puts less load on the tranny, but also smooths out the transition between the two gears, which gives more control over the rear tire. IE Less chattering or rear tire lock up. Rear chatter is caused by the rear tire skipping along the roadway since it is now traveling slower than what the front tire is. Make sense? Ever see a top pro backing it in. This is what they are using to break the rear traction and "allow" the rear end to come around.
If your having trouble "feeling it" or using it, I suspect you may have a back torque limiting clutch (slipper clutch). Although a slipper clutch is a great tool, it promotes laziness and poor technique if relied on entirely.
If you dont have a slipper clutch, then you may be pulling the clutch lever in too far. Try pulling the clutch in just enough to disengage the motor, make your down shift and let the clutch back out.
JR.
If you gonna be doing level two, ask your riding coach to show you.
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Allen, sounds like you made some HUGE improvements. Congrats! I love the last line of your post "So dont go to Disneyland for your vacation go to Superbike School and experinece a real thrill ride". Sounds like Keith may have a new catch phrase.
James B. (JR)
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Hey firedog,
Level four is by far the best! First and foremost ride the SLIDEBIKE!!! It will give you a great feel for that all important throttle control. Plus you'll learn to acutually save a slide. Maybe even control one if your smooth enough.
If you race or do alot of trackdays, think about what you are struggling with.. Dont go, just thinking I want to be faster. Really sit down with yourself (and be honest) where do I suck and need improvement. Level four allows you and your riding coach to foucus on specific drills that will address each problem. Ofcourse your coach will point out some areas that could be improved, so be open minded too.
Hope to see you out there.
James B. (JR)
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That's frigin' COOL with a capital C!
Trail Braking---not That Fastest Way, But They All Do It
in Cornering and Techniques
Posted
Also, Wisquared is not one to toot his own horn but understand he is not some noob asking for advice, Just FYI he is the current WSMC #1 plate holder.
True that. Brant is a VERY fast and competent rider.
Stu is the man when it comes to talking about trail braking. He DOES understand it and DOES use it. I've had lengthy discussions with him and he can definitly put it into perspective. IE when it is appropriate and when you are wasting time and slowing in the corner by doing it.
Ahhhh, the never ending arguement continues....To Trailbrake or to not trailbrake????