What does it take to be a racer?

**Edbear** · 19th July 2010, 11:55

I wasn't sure if this should be in the racing threads, but as it's not a report I thought I'd stick it here and see how it goes.

There are a lot of threads about bike racing lately and I was pondering the subject last night in bed. It was the thread started by Duke Girl about female road racers that got me thinking as some were keen to have a go at it. So I got to thinking what it takes to race...

We talk about multi-tasking but really, no more critical is this quality than in racing. In normal traffic we are multi-tasking all the time, being aware of road and traffic conditions and the state of our vehicle, but racing brings with it a whole different world. Here, high-speed brain-work is essential throughout the race.

Personally I doubt I have what it takes to compete effectively in a race, although I would really enjoy a track day blasting around a race track to the limits of my abilities. Where I feel the difference lies is in the fact that you are racing others. The problem I think I would have, is in being able to cope with the traffic around me while concentrating on my racing line and trying to keep up with the bike in front without being drawn into a corner by him beyond my abilites.

When you closely watch the top echelon of racer's in action and ponder the brain-work required to catch the next guy while focussing on their own lines and defending their position from closely competing bikes around them, I know I would suffer from information overload as I doubt my conscious brain could process information quickly enough to cope. My reactions and reflexes are very fast in isolation and I have avoided accidents almost before being aware of the danger, but racing requires the same processing speed consciously and deliberately. So where I may be able to post reasonable lap times on my own, I wouldn't want to become a hazard to others in a race situation.

So what is a racer coping with simultaneously?

1/ Bike performance and condition - hearing and feeling what it is doing at all times as the race progresses, compensating for deterioration in tyre, suspension and engine performance.

2/ Being aware of surrounding bikes, where are they? Where are they heading for? How fast are they going respective to mine?

3/ My racing line, planning ahead for the next corner, that overtaking maneuver, how to avoid that slower bike ahead while maximising speed through the corner.

4/ Catching and passing that bike ahead, gaining ground without being drawn into the wrong line for the corner.

5/ Where did that cute chick in the halter top go from her vantage point on that last corner...

**Str8 Jacket** · 19th July 2010, 12:12

Sometimes I think that people should just stop thinking and just do!!!

As a slower racer myself I know that all the things that you listed above are important but to me if my head is not in the right place then I am going to have to work harder to relax. Relaxing and breathing is important while you're out there just as much as going fast and getting past the people in front of you. There is nothing more exciting and fun than the thrill of racing and for me I dont have to have the newest and flashest bike and even though I know that I will never be the best or the fastest, just the thrill of racing is enough for me. The only barrier in my mind (for me) is the lack of $$!

I reckon anyone that wants to do something bad enough will just do it. The confidence and experience comes from doing and the ability to listen and practice the advice given from people I trust!

Racing FTW!!!!

**Trudes** · 19th July 2010, 12:24

Originally Posted by Str8 Jacket

Sometimes I think that people should just stop thinking and just do!!!

As a slower racer myself I know that all the things that you listed above are important but to me if my head is not in the right place then I am going to have to work harder to relax. Relaxing and breathing is important while you're out there just as much as going fast and getting past the people in front of you. There is nothing more exciting and fun than the thrill of racing and for me I dont have to have the newest and flashest bike and even though I know that I will never be the best or the fastest, just the thrill of racing is enough for me. The only barrier in my mind (for me) is the lack of $$!

I reckon anyone that wants to do something bad enough will just do it. The confidence and experience comes from doing and the ability to listen and practice the advice given from people I trust!

Racing FTW!!!!

With you there Hels, and although I only race a bucket very slowly, I think almost as much thought goes into how best to not get in the way of and/or knocked off by the lapping riders hurtling past at twice your speed!! It's fucking scary sometimes!! (And can seriously screw up your chain of thought and any kind of race you may have been having..... no matter how insignificant to others). All good fun..... he (or she) who walks away unbroken wins as far as I'm concerned!

**Edbear** · 19th July 2010, 12:32

Originally Posted by Str8 Jacket

Sometimes I think that people should just stop thinking and just do!!!!

I think that's part of my problem at the mo. About all I can do these days in my condition is think...

You know what they say about people with too much time on their hands...

**Crasherfromwayback** · 19th July 2010, 12:33

Money. And lots of it. And the faster you wanna be...the more it'll cost ya!

**avgas** · 19th July 2010, 12:52

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

Money. And lots of it. And the faster you wanna be...the more it'll cost ya!

Seconded - this is why I am not a racer.
I am a poor son-of-a-bitch

**cowboyz** · 19th July 2010, 13:10

Originally Posted by avgas

Seconded - this is why I am not a racer.
I am a poor son-of-a-bitch

it really doesnt have to be expensive really. I am a really cheap soab and so doing clubmans on the cheap.

so far including fees, paperwork and gear and getting the bike ready (whihc I do everything myself apart from a bit of alloy welding i needed) it has cost me about $2k and 2 doz tui to enter clubmans. Its all setup though and ongoing costs should be minimal if I can get round the track without crashing. (which just quietly,... is harder than it looks)
The main cost in this was boots and a back protector which I opted out of my normal cheap fix and brought top quality stuff which turned out to be a good idea. I should have splashed out on some new tyres as well which I ended up doing today but yeah......

**avgas** · 19th July 2010, 13:18

Originally Posted by cowboyz

it has cost me about $2k and 2 doz tui to enter clubmans

I try to spend that much per year on riding a bike (minus gas of course). So racing it is out of the picture.
Plus I don't really see the point of zooming around trying not to crash my bike on a track. That sounds just as exciting as doing the same on the road........

**beyond** · 19th July 2010, 18:53

Like most things, if you do it enough and practice enough it becomes second nature, even going highspeed around a track. The brain can assimilate heaps of information and make split second decisions in the heat of the moment but it takes time and practice.

I'm not advocating I'm a seasoned track racer but have travelled at high speeds for long periods of time and the more often you do it the more information you process and know exactly how much brake and throttle to uuse for corner entry and exit etc.

This quickly becomes second nature.

Remember when you first got a bike and went on the motorway and then felt very exposed and fragile with all the cars close by. But give it a few weeks and you become used to the traffic and then you are splitting like a pro.

Same thing with any pursuit in life. You practice and the more you do it the better you get and the more aware and used to your surroundings. Instead of the being on the motorway around heaps of cars, when on the track you speed it all up 4 to 5 times or more and after a while it becomes the same except it all happeens a lot quicker.

**helenoftroy** · 19th July 2010, 21:58

Edbear I do love reading your posts but yeah time on your hands atm,some things you just have to experience!!

I had done a few Track days on my Ducati before I was offered a FXR for the day....racing on the track was the most amazing adrenaline rush,by the second corner I was hooked... I still race with a wicked grin on my face(apart from the 'oh F..." moments!)

You do have to focus totally,all your senses are on overload and you have no mirrors so have to totally concentrate on holding your own lines and committing to them.

I will never be a winner but I love it and the guys & girls I race with are a hugely supportive awesome lot

Competitive racing alongside passionate focused riders feels way safer to me than doing a Track day amongst riders trying to prove themselves....have seem some dubious,crazy,out of control riding at times

**Edbear** · 20th July 2010, 08:10

Originally Posted by helenoftroy

Edbear I do love reading your posts but yeah time on your hands atm,some things you just have to experience!!

I had done a few Track days on my Ducati before I was offered a FXR for the day....racing on the track was the most amazing adrenaline rush,by the second corner I was hooked... I still race with a wicked grin on my face(apart from the 'oh F..." moments!)

You do have to focus totally,all your senses are on overload and you have no mirrors so have to totally concentrate on holding your own lines and committing to them.

I will never be a winner but I love it and the guys & girls I race with are a hugely supportive awesome lot

Competitive racing alongside passionate focused riders feels way safer to me than doing a Track day amongst riders trying to prove themselves....have seem some dubious,crazy,out of control riding at times

You're probably quite right, HOT. And your comment about starting on an FXR is definitely spot on. Have to learn to crawl before you walk or run, after all.

I'd best begin on a moped, methinks...

I do know that I'd be unlikely to be a winner, always at the front, as I lack that "killer instinct", that final push that sees you on the ragged edge and means the difference between winning and coming second. I was never quite as fast as my mates because I had this inner caution that made me back off before reaching the limit, so while I had no chicken strips on the old T500, the others on 350 Honda's could pull away from me in the twisties.

I was similar in other sports as well, such as tennis and badminton which were my two passions. I loved pushing to the limits playing and really tried to bring out the best in my opponent, but I was, for some strange reason, happier if they won than if I did. I felt bad if I beat them. Go figure!

**rachprice** · 20th July 2010, 08:55

I agree with beyond, it takes time, and most people can train themselves to

Though there are those guys that just jump on a bike, have this natural ability and are brilliant from then on

**Edbear** · 20th July 2010, 09:06

Originally Posted by rachprice

I agree with beyond, it takes time, and most people can train themselves to

Though there are those guys that just jump on a bike, have this natural ability and are brilliant from then on

Yeah, and doncha jes' hate them...?

Oh well, I have natural abilities in other areas... I think... maybe... well....