Mental pr3eperation for a meeting./road riding

[That Guy]

Not sure about the road bike part - I've wondered if that is a help or a hinderance riding during the week before race weekend too. Some top racers won't go near road bikes; but others do so I guess it's something you have to work out for youself.

For me I like to have everything organised so I can just chill out on race day and be relaxed....in fact I know I'm prepared when I feel like having a nap. Dunno why. I like to turn up to the dummy grid early 'cause being late winds me up. Just the kind of anal geek I am I guess. I do know that in practice I try to keep going faster until I overshoot at least one apex so I know I am getting my brain up to speed before the race.

However others (like you Frosty by the sound of it) like a bit of chaos on the morning which might not be a bad thing - you don't get the chance to think about the race 'casue you're too busy getting the gear box/fork springs/whatever in, so you don't get the chance to psych yourself out - suddenly you're on the line and the flag drops and you beat everyone to the first corner anyway 'cause they were all over analysing things too much.

Think about other sports you may have played - what was best? For me I also used to play a lot of rugby and again I played best when I was well prepared and could think quietly in the corner. Others would arrive late; scream around trying to find gear, have Megadeath screaming out of their walkman; and then play a blinder.

Something you have to work out for youself.

[JohnBoy]

my best advice is to relax... i/ we have been known to have a few quites before an event (trackday or otherwise), this normally has me quite relaxed the morning after a good semi intoxicated sleep. however riding fast hung over is not cool.... i learnt that one the hard way

[bugjuice]

could always try what boxers do when they're in training - no sex or sexual activity for a month or so prior to a match. Builds up your boy-mones.. gets you all moody n tense, then you let it rip out there on the track. Might not be for everyone, but I've noticed my riding style differs slightly from being a tad deprived compared to havin me wicked way

[TwoSeven]

[QUOTE=FROSTY]Doug and i have been trying to work out why it takes me QUOTE]

You dont say if its the first couple of laps giving you grief, or the first race of the day - or just the odd race here and there.

If its the former, then perhaps getting a good set of tire warmers and pre-heating the tires properly often helps (need the kind that does soft compound as well).

But for the other, i'd say it comes down to fitness followed by mental conditioning (you cant have the latter without the former).

Back in my pushbike enthusasm days, i'd knock off a 50 mile ride in about an hour without sitting down on the bike - wouldnt even be breathing heavy at the end. Mind you, training involved finding a small european country and riding round it - nothing like a 3000 mile ride to get the blood circulating properly.

What it does tho is condition all the muscles in the body to work the way you want them to, that and the long hours means that riding becomes so second nature, you aint aware your on the machine - its no different from running or walking. Just about every professional sport does this, so its not unique for motorcycles.

So for a 25 min motorcycle race, i'd say you should be able to do 1 pressup every 3 secs for 25 mins and 1 squat (lower body) every 3 secs for 25 mins for the actual physical side - also you should be able to spend 10 hours on the track and not feel tired the next day (or even at the end of the day). So kind of means you also need to work on heart and lungs too. Ever wonder why so many racers own pushbikes.

Once you take away any need to focus on the physical side by getting fit, you just need to work on the mental side. Its not agression that you want - no point in trying to psych yourself up like that - you'll go backwards because the adrenalin will take the finesse out of your muscles and kill your concentration. You just need to break the focus and remove the nerves - thats what the hooaahh thing is soildiers and sports folk do is for.

Next you need to visualise the circuit, individual corners, tactics etc. I do that quite often, but especially so for the 2 hours before an important ride (while sipping water). Thats pre-conditioning responses - again, means you dont have to think about things when its important. If you get too relaxed with the visualisation you can get entrenched in it and not be able to snap out - again it makes you lethargic and can make you slow down.

What you want to do is change your attitude. Its fairly easy - just stand on one leg, stick your finger in your ear and hop around calling yourself a silly name (I sing the wombling song - or the lil teapot song). It changes your mental attidue to a positive one from a lethargic one (works great for pre-interview/dating nerves as well). - Dont believe me on this - watch the motogp riders routines (rossi does a little prayer to the bike). It also gets rid of the focus stare that some people get stuck in when they do the visualisation thing - that can also slow you down. If you still dont believe me - give it a go now - at least everyone else in the room will enjoy it

Once you are happy and not so nervous then you can get on the bike and ride it quick. Also helps if you have somone prep it for you and get it off the center stand. If you really want to be fussy, have someone take it up on to the grid for you so you just need to get on it.


Just my thoughts.