I need a track....

[creampuff]

You know when there is something about your riding (or anything else) which you know isn't up to the standard you want it to be and you need to improve it?

Well I need to go around bends faster and use up that last bit of chicken strip on my tyres.

So I need a track.

But I also have these other requirements:
- I don't want to have to buy leathers
- I don't want to use my own bike incase I bin it

Am I correct in thinking Ron Haslam Race School with their loan bike and loan leathers is my only option without it getting really expensive?

[Ki3r]

Pretty much what I was thinking! I want to do a track day, but don't want to buy leathers (I do have decent textiles). Not too fussed about using my own bike though.

[LoonR1]

You don't really get to push the bike on RH days. They set the pace more than you.

[Mort]

creampuff said:

....

Well I need to go around bends faster and use up that last bit of chicken strip on my tyres.

So I need a track.

But I also have these other requirements:
- I don't want to have to buy leathers
- I don't want to use my own bike incase I bin it

So, you want to get rid of the chicken strip on your tyres but you don't want to use your own bike to do it ????

[RemaL]

Mort said:

creampuff said:

....

Well I need to go around bends faster and use up that last bit of chicken strip on my tyres.

So I need a track.

But I also have these other requirements:
- I don't want to have to buy leathers
- I don't want to use my own bike incase I bin it

So, you want to get rid of the chicken strip on your tyres but you don't want to use your own bike to do it ????

And because of this I did my first TD on my own bike. Every bike is different and thus you don't ride every bike the same.
Chances of binning it on track is less than on the road.

Others may say different but I would suggest using your own bike. As for not wearing leathers I don't know.

[philz]

LoonR1 said:

You don't really get to push the bike on RH days. They set the pace more than you.

Really? I absolutely nailed it on the RH day, far more than I've dared to on my own bike on track. My instructor was brilliant, he encouraged me to go as fast as I dared, maybe the others are more conservative but the guy I had was fantastic.

[LoonR1]

philz said:

Really? I absolutely nailed it on the RH day, far more than I've dared to on my own bike on track. My instructor was brilliant, he encouraged me to go as fast as I dared, maybe the others are more conservative but the guy I had was fantastic.

I think there are varying degrees of nailing it. A few of the guys in the paddock this weekend are RH instructors and they joke about how doing this is quite dull and actually bad for their own riding as it's done at such a slow pace.

[LoonR1]

Double post

[roboxm3]

+1 for taking your own bike on a track day.

Just stick yourself in the novice group and build your pace / lean angle up throughout the day.

You'll be surprised how the fear of binning your pristine, one previous owner, low mileage, pride and joy diminishes as you eye up the next track day date.

[BigHeartedTone]

RemaL said:

Chances of binning it on track is less than on the road.

Sorry I really disagree with this. It depends on the individual of course.

[roboxm3]

BigHeartedTone said:

Sorry I really disagree with this. It depends on the individual of course.

Less chance of inconsistent surface conditions but you're right, if you overcook it, then you're off regardless.
Less chance of hitting a kerb, lamp-post, car etc. though.

[creampuff]

The chance of crashing on a track day are far, far higher than on the road. You only need to look at the typical trackday where somebody crashes to the many many road rides you do without ever seeing a crashed bike. The consequences of crashing on a track compared to the road may be lower but the crash itself is more likely to happen.

I've already taken my bike to the Nurburgring. For more track work to be beneficial to me I'd prefer a sports or naked bike and an instructor. The downside is obvs that I'd be on an unfamiliar bike, but the benefits of a bike with more ground clearance, better high speed stability and most importantly will switch off the nagging worry of "you need to ride this bike home" outweigh the downside of an unfamiliar bike.

Edited by creampuff on Tuesday 16th September 10:05

[ylovebuffalo]

LoonR1 said:

philz said:

Really? I absolutely nailed it on the RH day, far more than I've dared to on my own bike on track. My instructor was brilliant, he encouraged me to go as fast as I dared, maybe the others are more conservative but the guy I had was fantastic.

I think there are varying degrees of nailing it. A few of the guys in the paddock this weekend are RH instructors and they joke about how doing this is quite dull and actually bad for their own riding as it's done at such a slow pace.

The instructors will go as fast as you push them.

[dapearson]

ylovebuffalo said:

LoonR1 said:

philz said:

Really? I absolutely nailed it on the RH day, far more than I've dared to on my own bike on track. My instructor was brilliant, he encouraged me to go as fast as I dared, maybe the others are more conservative but the guy I had was fantastic.

I think there are varying degrees of nailing it. A few of the guys in the paddock this weekend are RH instructors and they joke about how doing this is quite dull and actually bad for their own riding as it's done at such a slow pace.

The instructors will go as fast as you push them.

I did the RH school for the same reasons. Got a nice bike i didn't want to ruin/risk, same for my gear. It was a great way to learn. Got my knees down (finally).

However the instructor did keep us back at times. I was pushing hard and he kept slowing down on the apexes. At one point i was juuuuust leaning it nicely over, steady throttle just about to accelerate out when he parked his bike right in front of me. I rolled sharply off the throttle, lost the front and that was the end of my day.

Spoke to him afterwards and he said he was trying to slow us down.

Maybe i was leaning it over too far in an attempt to get my knee down. But i definitely had to take action a few times to avoid running into the back of him.

And they use CBF1000s, which don't quite have the legs of the 600RRs down the straights.

[creampuff]

dapearson said:

I rolled sharply off the throttle, lost the front and that was the end of my day.

That's what, I was saying about tracks and not using your own bike

[dapearson]

creampuff said:

dapearson said:

I rolled sharply off the throttle, lost the front and that was the end of my day.

That's what, I was saying about tracks and not using your own bike

Yeah. Ripped leathers. And the bike was too broken to be repaired for the 3rd session. To be honest i felt a bit battered so didn't particularly fancy going out anyway.

Good value if you bin it. Obv not quite so good value if you don't!

The instruction was good though. First session i felt like i was hanging off. Quick debrief and a sit on a static bike being shown better body position. 2nd session i got me knee down on the 2nd lap and it just clicked.

I'd recommend it.

I've bought a 600RR to convert into a track bike but now i'm not so sure. Think i'm gonna stick with hiring. Maybe do the premier course at RH once more. Then maybe the fireblade one, or possibly go straight into hiring a bike and doing a regular trackday.

[LoonR1]

dapearson said:

And they use CBF1000s, which don't quite have the legs of the 600RRs down the straights.

You're taking the piss. You really think that a 600RR ridden by a novice will be able to outdrag a CBF1000 being ridden by an instructor.

I've read some crap in my time on here but that's pretty impressive. I watch one of their instructors run a 1999 R6 round a track faster than most other amateur racers can manage on a 1000cc bike from 2005 on.

[moanthebairns]

A lot has been said about this Ron day. I've looked into it and fancy it.

But when I read reports, from people on their first or second track day I start to think, hmmm.

I don't mean to come over as condescending or controversial but I read reviews and people are saying they were stiff, nervous etc.

by the end of 3 sessions they were lapping quicker, hanging off more and more relaxed.

Track time will do that....when I went to croft I made up 15 seconds from the morning to the afternoon just by learning the track myself. That sounds loads but it did take me two sessions to remember what way the fking thing went.

Am I missing something with the Ron day. Do they teach you more than just how to get around that track quicker.

[LoonR1]

No they don't. People are overstating it. They might get their knee down but it doesn't mean they're quick. They probably go from a 3:30 lap to a 3:15 lap.

[moanthebairns]

LoonR1 said:

No they don't. People are overstating it. They might get their knee down but it doesn't mean they're quick. They probably go from a 3:30 lap to a 3:15 lap.

To be fair, if you fancy a shot on track without your bike and gear I understand why people would.

After all there is thousands of experience vouchers sold for a few laps for £170