Should I ride Snetterton in the wet?
Discussion
OK, booked to in on Wednesday to ride Snetterton, managed to secure the day for £49... Chances are the weather may turn bad - would you guys still attend in the wet? I kind of think a bit of wet weather riding may give me some more confidence but, at the same time, don't fancy getting soaked / binning the bike due to lack of grip...
If you're booked in then I don't see why you wouldn't go.
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't choose a wet day although my last time at Cadwell it was wet in the morning & only 3 people went out in the 1st session. I was a bit apprehensive myself (bike is shod with SuperCorsa's) & wheels were spinning on exits of certain corners & snaking all over under braking but that was because I wasn't 'smooth' enough. As the morning went on I became smoother & more confident in the tyres/grip available & overall thoroughly enhoyed it.
Give it a go
just don't bin it
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't choose a wet day although my last time at Cadwell it was wet in the morning & only 3 people went out in the 1st session. I was a bit apprehensive myself (bike is shod with SuperCorsa's) & wheels were spinning on exits of certain corners & snaking all over under braking but that was because I wasn't 'smooth' enough. As the morning went on I became smoother & more confident in the tyres/grip available & overall thoroughly enhoyed it.
Give it a go
just don't bin it
Of course you should ... note:
1) Tyres take longer in the wet to warm up.
2) If theres standing water dont expect knee down action
3) f your running something like Racetecs or Supercorsa's take ALOT of care when on the edge of the tyre
4) Gently, smooth throttle and braking control is ESSENTIAL
5) No trail braking
6) Stay away from anything painted on the track, especially the curbs
7) If you get cold/wet come in and warm up - concentration failure is the largest cause of "offs"
Enjoy ... its a good safe(ish) track and well mannered in the wet ..
Rgds M
1) Tyres take longer in the wet to warm up.
2) If theres standing water dont expect knee down action
3) f your running something like Racetecs or Supercorsa's take ALOT of care when on the edge of the tyre
4) Gently, smooth throttle and braking control is ESSENTIAL
5) No trail braking
6) Stay away from anything painted on the track, especially the curbs
7) If you get cold/wet come in and warm up - concentration failure is the largest cause of "offs"
Enjoy ... its a good safe(ish) track and well mannered in the wet ..
Rgds M
mc101 said:
Of course you should ... note:
1) Tyres take longer in the wet to warm up.
2) If theres standing water dont expect knee down action
3) f your running something like Racetecs or Supercorsa's take ALOT of care when on the edge of the tyre
4) Gently, smooth throttle and braking control is ESSENTIAL
5) No trail braking
6) Stay away from anything painted on the track, especially the curbs
7) If you get cold/wet come in and warm up - concentration failure is the largest cause of "offs"
Enjoy ... its a good safe(ish) track and well mannered in the wet ..
Rgds M
1) Tyres take longer in the wet to warm up.
2) If theres standing water dont expect knee down action
3) f your running something like Racetecs or Supercorsa's take ALOT of care when on the edge of the tyre
4) Gently, smooth throttle and braking control is ESSENTIAL
5) No trail braking
6) Stay away from anything painted on the track, especially the curbs
7) If you get cold/wet come in and warm up - concentration failure is the largest cause of "offs"
Enjoy ... its a good safe(ish) track and well mannered in the wet ..
Rgds M
I agree with the above!
When I was racing I always found that 'wet races' were where I really learned the most! Rather than just going out on the dry and trying to blast round, take it easy and get some smooth consucutive laps in. The smoother you are the faster you will get!
Snet is great fun in the wet or the dry! Have a great day.
Cerby4.5
I did Snetterton in the wet a few weeks ago. (Well the morning it P!ssed down and was pretty much dry in the afternoon)
I have to say my TL was a bit of a handful to start with and i did go too fast to start which made me tense up. Once i slowed down, i actually sped up.. I got smoother and was much gentler on the brakes and throttle etc..
One thing though, 4 guys did bin their bikes on the first few laps so you do need care.
Avoid puddles.. if necessary take a different line to avoid them but whatever you do keep it smooth..
Once you chill out and stop trying to be too fast in the wet its not too bad.. (and the track dries up surprisingly quickly once the rain stops)
give it a go.. just remember its not a race!!!
I have to say my TL was a bit of a handful to start with and i did go too fast to start which made me tense up. Once i slowed down, i actually sped up.. I got smoother and was much gentler on the brakes and throttle etc..
One thing though, 4 guys did bin their bikes on the first few laps so you do need care.
Avoid puddles.. if necessary take a different line to avoid them but whatever you do keep it smooth..
Once you chill out and stop trying to be too fast in the wet its not too bad.. (and the track dries up surprisingly quickly once the rain stops)
give it a go.. just remember its not a race!!!
Thanks for the replies.
This will be my 3rd track day - also wondering whether to go into the intermediate group - there were two guys who managed to pass me in the beginners last time (though I reckon they joined the wrong group, not sure why as it was obvious they were way quicker), the rest held me up at every corner. I obviously don't want to join the intermediates if I'm going to be the slowest though
Is it a massive jump?
This will be my 3rd track day - also wondering whether to go into the intermediate group - there were two guys who managed to pass me in the beginners last time (though I reckon they joined the wrong group, not sure why as it was obvious they were way quicker), the rest held me up at every corner. I obviously don't want to join the intermediates if I'm going to be the slowest though
Is it a massive jump?
shot2bits said:
Is it a massive jump?
No.
As you say, some people in the beginners group are quick. This could be as a) its there 1st time on track & therefore must start in this group, or b) they just like being the fastest in the group (why, I don't know).
Its similar in the Inters. You still get very quick riders who could move up easily, but you also get slow riders who maybe should get moved down. I'm convinced these types are of the opinion "I've been riding x amount of months/years & therefore can't be a beginner".
Personally I'd give the inters a go. I had to go in the advanced on my last track day as the inters group was full (and didn't want to go into novices). Suprise suprise I was by no means the slowest in the group.
Remember. You can always ask to move group as & when you want to, that be up or down.
Have fun.
shot2bits said:
Thanks for the replies.
This will be my 3rd track day - also wondering whether to go into the intermediate group - there were two guys who managed to pass me in the beginners last time (though I reckon they joined the wrong group, not sure why as it was obvious they were way quicker), the rest held me up at every corner. I obviously don't want to join the intermediates if I'm going to be the slowest though
Is it a massive jump?
This will be my 3rd track day - also wondering whether to go into the intermediate group - there were two guys who managed to pass me in the beginners last time (though I reckon they joined the wrong group, not sure why as it was obvious they were way quicker), the rest held me up at every corner. I obviously don't want to join the intermediates if I'm going to be the slowest though
Is it a massive jump?
To be honest it depends on the track and the day.. A friend of mine is an instructor and she told me that she sees the most accidents in the Intermediate group as it can have some people who go in the intermediate instead of the advanced so they can look good. Its not always the case of course and is no doubt the minority but it does happen.
Ive been on a few track days and on the last one the beginners group had people on track-only bikes!!! I think some people see the group is fairly small so fancy going in that group. I didnt find any problems with that.. So long as you go at your own pace and dont try and keep up with someone faster than you.
If its a trackday from the same organisers or same track etc, maybe give the Intermediates a try. You never know you may be in the advanced group after a few months!
Why not?
You will learn loads about riding in the wet. (even if you plan to never take the bike out in the rain, you are bound to get caught out riding in England.)
If you have worn sticky "trackday" tires on the bike, I would swap them for somethng with a bit more tread, that will warm up more easily. Sticky tires will be a pain in the @rse on the road from now on anyway, because you will struggle to get them warm and then, as soon as you get held, up they cool down again.
Watch the tracks other bikes make in the water, you may be surprised at the shape of the curve the bike actually makes, compaired with what you think it makes. There is a pronounced sharp "kink" in the track, at the point you steer the bike into a corner, before I noticed this (on a wet track day) I always thought the bike made a smooth graceful arc.
M
You will learn loads about riding in the wet. (even if you plan to never take the bike out in the rain, you are bound to get caught out riding in England.)
If you have worn sticky "trackday" tires on the bike, I would swap them for somethng with a bit more tread, that will warm up more easily. Sticky tires will be a pain in the @rse on the road from now on anyway, because you will struggle to get them warm and then, as soon as you get held, up they cool down again.
Watch the tracks other bikes make in the water, you may be surprised at the shape of the curve the bike actually makes, compaired with what you think it makes. There is a pronounced sharp "kink" in the track, at the point you steer the bike into a corner, before I noticed this (on a wet track day) I always thought the bike made a smooth graceful arc.
M
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