Next step: Track tuition
Discussion
I have done a few track days now over the last 2-3 years although not a huge amount compared to some on here... I am happy enough towards the mid-front of Inters. With Cadwell Park and Oulton Park on the Agenda this Summer I'm looking for some track tuition which is a bit more intensive than of the tuition provided by some of the track operators...
Any recommendations?
Why?
Simply I don't feel my body positioning is right on the bike... I keep working on it but it just feels like I'm muscle-ing the bike around a lot rather than flowing from apex to apex. Towards the end of my last track day I was feeling the bike pivoting from side to side and therefore was much more relaxed but I want to get this sorted before pushing a little harder hence the tuition to iron out any bad habits.
Thoughts?
Any recommendations?
Why?
Simply I don't feel my body positioning is right on the bike... I keep working on it but it just feels like I'm muscle-ing the bike around a lot rather than flowing from apex to apex. Towards the end of my last track day I was feeling the bike pivoting from side to side and therefore was much more relaxed but I want to get this sorted before pushing a little harder hence the tuition to iron out any bad habits.
Thoughts?
following this with interest, I've used the chaps on PH to sort my body position and limited instruction, I took lots of little tips and its getting there, each time I go it looks better more relaxed, but I can relate to they way you describe yourself fighting the bike.
any pictures, not that I can ad anything of weight but others might, in terms of your body position.
how did your ride 200 mile ride to a track day go?
any pictures, not that I can ad anything of weight but others might, in terms of your body position.
how did your ride 200 mile ride to a track day go?
California Superbike School sounds like a safe bet, I've never heard anything less than glowing reviews, on the other hand, it's not cheap. IIRC, it's something like £500 a day, and there are 4 different levels. It's built on founder Keith Code's Twist of the Wrist books, which I found very useful for improving my riding, so I see no reason why the SBS wouldn't be great too.
From a picture I've seen of one of their days, they have a dummy bike on a tilting rig that shifts with your weight, you basically get on it and move around and they can trouble shoot your body position in real time.
If I ever get in track days, I'd probably go and do the courses, seems like money well spent.
From a picture I've seen of one of their days, they have a dummy bike on a tilting rig that shifts with your weight, you basically get on it and move around and they can trouble shoot your body position in real time.
If I ever get in track days, I'd probably go and do the courses, seems like money well spent.
Lincsblokey said:
f
k the california steybike school, Haslams pisses on that every day of the week!
Even better, for real world, non generic, one to one instruction you will not beat Mike 'Spike' Edwards
What that old GOAT doesnt know about bikes simply isnt worth knowing.
+1. I've had CSS sessions and also 1 on 1 sessions with Simon Crafar. Depending on how fast you want to go, a lot of the CSS stuff doesn't bode well, i.e. getting off the brakes before turning in, rolling the throttle on prior to the apex, etc.k the california steybike school, Haslams pisses on that every day of the week!Even better, for real world, non generic, one to one instruction you will not beat Mike 'Spike' Edwards
What that old GOAT doesnt know about bikes simply isnt worth knowing.
What ever you get make sure the coach has a way of communicating with you whilst on track, and is able to impart useful feedback after your session on track. If available, video (with analysis afterwards) is the best tool.
Are your lines currently OK, or do these need work as well?
Not sure what the obsession with body positioning is?
As long as you're comfortable, bike control and confidence is far more importaant. Trying to 'Ape' a style is far more detrimental than having the confidence to control the bike well at speed.
Getting a bike turned is the all important factor and whilst certain 'styles' may improve that, at our level it's moot.
Be confident in steering the bike, getting yourself across the bike and making the turns quickly and good throttle control. Body positioning and lines anre the last thing to worry about.
As for CSS, the mod 1 is good for making you realise some fundamentals in terms of space and time, but it's not the be all and end all.
Good USE of your body is more important than good POSITIONING.
As long as you're comfortable, bike control and confidence is far more importaant. Trying to 'Ape' a style is far more detrimental than having the confidence to control the bike well at speed.
Getting a bike turned is the all important factor and whilst certain 'styles' may improve that, at our level it's moot.
Be confident in steering the bike, getting yourself across the bike and making the turns quickly and good throttle control. Body positioning and lines anre the last thing to worry about.
As for CSS, the mod 1 is good for making you realise some fundamentals in terms of space and time, but it's not the be all and end all.
Good USE of your body is more important than good POSITIONING.
I'm with Lincsblokey on this.
CSS is a lot of money to say the least and I did one of their days a few years ago. Whilst I was good in parts, I hated the USA yeehaw bks that seemed to be the style of training.
I did the Ron Haslam School way before ever doing a trackday and enjoyed it.
I have to say that I've learned the most from site ing to those who are better than me and using the free tuition at trackdays, rather than humping a load of money I to something.
Spike Edwards seems to be at every trackday that I do doing 1-1 tuition and if I had to spend money it would be with him.
CSS is a lot of money to say the least and I did one of their days a few years ago. Whilst I was good in parts, I hated the USA yeehaw b
ks that seemed to be the style of training. I did the Ron Haslam School way before ever doing a trackday and enjoyed it.
I have to say that I've learned the most from site ing to those who are better than me and using the free tuition at trackdays, rather than humping a load of money I to something.
Spike Edwards seems to be at every trackday that I do doing 1-1 tuition and if I had to spend money it would be with him.
Some great ideas Gents... thanks.
I won't be bothering with CSS... overpriced and everyone I've spoken too who has done it felt this was the case.
I think initially I will take up Loon's offer of some Instruction at some of the NL days given it's free and see how I get on... I'm not obsessed over perfect body position but I do want to be fully relaxed on the bike. This is not the case... sometimes I am through some bends, others I feel tense and I am muscling the bike around. It just feels wrong.
Like this one
Ride to the track day went well... broke it up over three days so was all good... totalled 700 miles
I won't be bothering with CSS... overpriced and everyone I've spoken too who has done it felt this was the case.
I think initially I will take up Loon's offer of some Instruction at some of the NL days given it's free and see how I get on... I'm not obsessed over perfect body position but I do want to be fully relaxed on the bike. This is not the case... sometimes I am through some bends, others I feel tense and I am muscling the bike around. It just feels wrong.
moanthebairns said:
following this with interest, I've used the chaps on PH to sort my body position and limited instruction, I took lots of little tips and its getting there, each time I go it looks better more relaxed, but I can relate to they way you describe yourself fighting the bike.
any pictures, not that I can ad anything of weight but others might, in terms of your body position.
how did your ride 200 mile ride to a track day go?
A few pictures...any pictures, not that I can ad anything of weight but others might, in terms of your body position.
how did your ride 200 mile ride to a track day go?
Like this one
Ride to the track day went well... broke it up over three days so was all good... totalled 700 miles
Edited by Mr OCD on Wednesday 23 July 09:47
Edited by Mr OCD on Wednesday 23 July 09:50
this is just my opinion, doesn't make it right....others will know better.
being relaxed and concentrating on lines, braking and power on points matters most, work on them first. If your happy and your pace is good it will get better with time on track.
your foot on the turn in looks like its going to catch the deck if you lean more, move on to the balls of your feet.
half arse off the seat, knee out, drop your inside arm down a bit bring the outer arm in towards the tank and your head a bit more over.
it's very similar to the style I had before i worked on it, mines is quite upright, I did start to be come quicker and felt the bike wasn't as "stressed" when i got in a more suited riding position. It looks a bit twisted like mines is sometimes. bottom and top look like they are doing two different things. I suffer from this
oh and track day write up please i like reading these
being relaxed and concentrating on lines, braking and power on points matters most, work on them first. If your happy and your pace is good it will get better with time on track.
your foot on the turn in looks like its going to catch the deck if you lean more, move on to the balls of your feet.
half arse off the seat, knee out, drop your inside arm down a bit bring the outer arm in towards the tank and your head a bit more over.
it's very similar to the style I had before i worked on it, mines is quite upright, I did start to be come quicker and felt the bike wasn't as "stressed" when i got in a more suited riding position. It looks a bit twisted like mines is sometimes. bottom and top look like they are doing two different things. I suffer from this
oh and track day write up please i like reading these
Edited by moanthebairns on Wednesday 23 July 10:06
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