It's very personal

[dpex]

I've been thinking about track-days and races.

When someone says to you, "Jeez, but I have a sore thumb." You sympathize or empathize with the someone, but you can't actually experience his/her pain.

When you say, to even another trackie, "Man but I really nailed T4 during that round." Your audience will relate his/her experiences with T4 and many other turns, nod, knowingly, but in no way able to feel what you felt....which was actually what you wanted to transmit.

That's what makes biking a unique experience...because the only person who can ever truly remember you doing T4 with panache! is you.

And of course, so it is with every forward step in any direction a man takes. Each step is a unique experience; to be properly shared with nobody.

But why do you go after this unique opportunity to pit yourself against yourself, then others', then life itself?

[AlBundy]

Isn't motorcycling like that in general?

One mans dash up a certain road isn't the same as another. We all enjoy and experience the riding differently...

Ultimately though, we can still associate with what is being said, if we've done the same road/track.

Why? Why do you want to have sex?

Same thing... Because it's fun, that's why....

[R6_kid]

Becuase I like to think im the next Rossi, and going to the track reminds me that im not.

Still enjoy it though.

[puddytat]

But why do you go after this unique opportunity to pit yourself against yourself, then others', then life itself?

To see if my nads are as large as I think they, & to show others that theyre much larger than what they think....
Plus Ive some mates who are insanely quick on the road,who cant understand that Im not prepared to play russian roulette on the road any longer & who say Im no fun to ride with any more ("take yer blouse off ya girl")....But theyve had to suck a real big one when I kick there sorry arses on the track & oh the excuses!
Its a control thing I reckon....being in control of your actions & destiny, pushing harder than you'd normally, with a rather heavy penalty if you stuff up...a bit like Base jumping. Humans are the only "animal" on the planet I reckon who routinely put themselves in harms way for a "buzz"... is this because we have a sense of "self" as opposed to the dumdb animal herd thing? I think so, & because we're "intelligent"<_< & realise that our time on this planet is limited,we play with risk & death as we realise its going to beat us one day for sure....

[dpex]

To see if my nads are as large as I think they, & to show others that theyre much larger than what they think....
Plus Ive some mates who are insanely quick on the road,who cant understand that Im not prepared to play russian roulette on the road any longer & who say Im no fun to ride with any more ("take yer blouse off ya girl")....But theyve had to suck a real big one when I kick there sorry arses on the track & oh the excuses!
Its a control thing I reckon....being in control of your actions & destiny, pushing harder than you'd normally, with a rather heavy penalty if you stuff up...a bit like Base jumping. Humans are the only "animal" on the planet I reckon who routinely put themselves in harms way for a "buzz"... is this because we have a sense of "self" as opposed to the dumdb animal herd thing? I think so, & because we're "intelligent"<_< & realise that our time on this planet is limited,we play with risk & death as we realise its going to beat us one day for sure....

You're right Puddy. The orad offers so many variables that going fast is just not an option, if living is what you wish. But the track is a whole different place.

I used to be right into group-rides, and solos, canning it everywhere. Now, I'd probably enjoy a 'soft' group ride to some destination which offered good food, or good something. But canning it to get there? Nar! Too many variables which I can't control.

In past posts I've burbled on about this road and that, but the fact is, they're roads, with other drivers of dubious ability....and me with dubious ability. Bad combination.

Fuck, but I'm coming up sixty and i hate having to grow up, but track-days and racing are making that happen.

I mean, on the road I'd never be doing 170/180 into a chicane, braking hard enough to have the arse start to lift and feel my mortality...on the road.

But on the track? Oh yes. That's a whole different equation, even at my abysmal level.

[racerhead]

Ive only started riding road bikes in the last year and have done 3 trackdays so far. I thought I was going pretty quick on the road until I realised how much was actually left in reserve and the way I learned that was by pushing the limits on track and thats what keeps bringing me back.
On the track you can just push your braking a couple of metres further each lap until you run wide and there's no penalty apart from losing a bit of time on your lap, do that on the road and theres goin to be a ditch, armco, wall, car of something else that will hurt you alot. That and Ive just had so much fun at trackdays in between the sessions between chatting to people and slagging other people about mistakes. I do be smiling from start to finish any time Im near the track:done:

[erik]

Sitting here safe at my computer in my room, the racetrack seems like a world away. Physical, mental, technical, mechanical, social.
No artificial speed limits. By doing my best, I get a little praise and recognition.

[FROSTY]

Mostly Its to see how badly I ride.
No matter how fast I go I ALWAYS know I can go faster.
I Know That series of corners could be taken a bit smoother. I could brake a tadd later I could get on the gas a bit faster. Change my line and get better drive here or there.
Its that drive to acheive as near to the perfect lap as i can humanly achieve.
Occasionally I feel in the "zone' and I know on that day I'm going as fast as I can Thats one in every 100 laps
Mostly I'm my own worst critic

[PeteJ]

A little tangent - this is really useful info for us as training day organisers, too. Thanks heaps.

PJ

[slowpoke]

A little tangent - this is really useful info for us as training day organisers, too. Thanks heaps.

PJ

For what it's worth I reckon their is a real niche in the market for genuine "go faster" tuition. I'd definitely be prepared to pay more for a trackday if I was to receive informed feedback or good instruction rather than just the generic stuff you see targeting new riders.

[PeteJ]

For what it's worth I reckon their is a real niche in the market for genuine "go faster" tuition. I'd definitely be prepared to pay more for a trackday if I was to receive informed feedback or good instruction rather than just the generic stuff you see targeting new riders.

Yep, and that's what our planning is heading towards - a series of levels of instruction, more targeted, and more individual. Different theory sessions and different track sessions for each relatively small group.

The next question, of course, is price. It's the other end of the scale from, "If you have a $10 head wear a $10 helmet". I'd be interested in some views on price. For the levels of tuition that I have in mind, I am aware that in the USA people happily pay hundreds of dollars each per course.

PS I do my best even now to provide feedback to every rider that I see and that I think could do with it - and of course if you come asking, it's even easier (in the present set-up; I want us to get better and better all the time).