When You're Hot

[XP@]

deciding NOT TO CRASH is a good start.
Then look where you really want to go and invoke counter steering 101.

once you have survived you need to slow down for a minute, remove any brown deposits in your pants and decide to ride your own ride.

Your more experienced friends in front will probably be flying in to the distance but forget about them for now.
Compose yourself first.
The next bend you come across enter real slowly and try and get the corner right, then slowly up the ante until you are at a comfortable pace, don't go much faster than comfortable and don't try and catch up.

If you are following a rider who has just screwed up corner then give them a bit of space and don't pass them, if they need to stop then stop with them they will really appreciate it.

[madboy]

...This was my technique back in the days of XC MTB riding... though the potential for damage of course a lot less...

That said you can still hurt yourself pretty bad coming off a MTB, local guy broke his neck at Woodhill coupla weeks back. Few months ago somone died it woodhill (wonder why they removed all of the structures over 1mr high?)

I work in disability claims so I've seen the medical reports on the end results, and spoken to the survivors.

I get far more claims for MTBs than motorcycles, but in saying that MTBs are ridden by a higher % of the population. MTBs - it's just you and whatever you hit/slide down/get hit by with only a bit of lycra in between. And as you'll know, 70k+ is not unheard of on a MTB. At 70k into a tree, I'd prefer to be doing it in m/cycle gear thanks.

M/cycles most sensible people are geared up with kevlar and CE armour to protect between you and the other object/surface. Just that m/c are usually going much faster. Often MUCH faster.

Either way they're both a fairly dangerous activity. And that's why we love 'em!!

[mstriumph]

Cheers for the most interesting thread on the go at the moment - each post an addition to the overall mosaic of 'getting it right' ...... really useful stuff, so thanks!

[bugjuice]

http://www.sportrider.com/ride/RSS/146_0306_rss/
choice bike in the article too..

[FROSTY:Me]

Thought provoking stuff isn't it? From a racers prospective I can practice and practice a series of corners-and still not get em right.
I've talked to experienced riders then followed them round the track at my pace watching their braking/turn in points . It has always helped me immensly.
But please note the important point---AT MY PACE------
They were prepared to slow down so I could learn the corner/corners
When Im learning a road or a bit of track I dont go out flat chat as fast as I can. I know darned well I will learn nothing.Ill pull my speed down to well inside my comfort zone.
The funny thing is I've seen guys (on the track) who were quite frankly slow BUT willing to learn beat guys who were heaps faster simply because the "slow" guys were open to being shown the track.

[justsomeguy]

Really great tips CaN.

One thing I have a problem with is right hand corners and the fact that I happen to be naturally stupid and can never apply what I've been taught........ despite all the lectures on the proper lines and riding techniques.

One thing I've been advised to do is to apply some pressure with the inside edge of my right ankle and push into the bike making up for the lack of countersteering I can do with my right hand. I have found that this does stabilise the bike .... this really helps me feel more stable on corners.

Another thing that the guys at BRONZ kept repeating was to keep a constant speed through the corner.

Much easier said than done as shabby riders like me keep making slight adjustments rolling on and off the throttle and braking and accelerating- this is especially a problem on long sweepers (more on right hand ones) which 1) Screw up the line 2) Make the bike less stable as it changes line. 3) Takes my attention away from the vanising point as I concentrate on these adjustments........

What I find works for me now is to ride slow and only commit myself to what I can see - or read from the road signs (trees, electric pole wires, etc).

The biggest problems for newbies like me is believing you can actually tip it lower......:spudwhat:

[SlowHand]

pleeese dont go off the power lines - they can be very decieving sometimes. I have bugger all experience on bikes, but ive been caught out in cages, and thats how possum bournes co-driver Roger Freeth died I think. Powerlines went straight, the road didnt.

edit: Im sure you know not to fully commit, but i thought it deserved a mention either way

[justsomeguy]

pleeese dont go off the power lines - they can be very decieving sometimes. I have bugger all experience on bikes, but ive been caught out in cages, and thats how possum bournes co-driver Roger Freeth died I think. Powerlines went straight, the road didnt.

Oh my you are right!!!

- I also try to use the tree formations..... But about the lines I know they can go accross a farm but never conciously registered the fact.......

Cheers for the advice

[justsomeguy]

This reminds me of an I could be dead moment I had before.....

I was following the road which seemed to go straight ahead - was doing the usual $1.00+change ....... and continued on.... only to realise that the actual road dissappeared around a completely decieving corner (there was a building there) and the road which continued was actually an equally wide off road ...... meaning I shot accross a main road completely blind and only realised it as I was crossing it - luckily there was no traffic at that point

[FROSTY:Me]

I'd suggest JSG that part of your particular problem is you think TOO MUCH
you are thinking about the gravel ,the car coming over the brow of the hill
What if what id what if ohhh gosh she might....... Not a bad thing normally but for you at the moment its making your riding errattic.
If you're so worried ya feel the need to stand up mid corner then SLOW DOWN to a speed ya dont feel that need.
If you have overthought or underconfidenced a corner and done it in a series of wobbly bites then if youre on ya own go back and ride that corner -oir series of corners again. better still go back and stop--think out what you did and what you should have done and then try again.
Matey I've been riding for longer than you've been alive_I'm a reasonably fast rider -I still fuck up -for that matter if every fast rider on here is totally honest--and most of em usually are -they have all done dumb stuff
I think the difference is When I fuck up I have the experience to make it look like it was deliberate -or I just plumb say--Ohh shit I fucked up -I'll do it diffferent next time.
JSG am I having a go at ya--FUCKEN OATS I am
Why?
Ya remind me of a bloke I admired a hell of a lot--Roger Freeth
couldnt ride for shit -Knew it and set out to be one of the best friggen bike racers in New Zealand He did it as many from my generation will attest to.
he did it by having a positive attitude to tuition and advise from more experienced guys. He practiced and wiped the smirks off a shit load of guys faces in doing it.

[SPman]

If you're going into a corner too hot, and you aren't dragging the pegs and have half decent tyres, lean the f**kin bike some more and give it more throttle! It works!(myself and several newbies!) Spear off the corner or , possibly lowside , but probably get around the corner! If you hit the brakes or try and slow down, chances are, you will stand the bike up, or increase your turning radius, and its, goodnight nurse![eg - Ducati 996 following Sam, outside Kopu!]
Most bikes have got more in them, than the average rider - so - bury your survival instincts, dont think too much, have a hardwired "fuck me" plan and just do it, if it all looks like turning to shit!
And, JSG, heard of slow in, fast out! If you aren't sure of a corner, theres no shame in backing right off, until you see which way it goes, then choosing your line and powering through! Better than coming in blind and hot and erratic!
Its a road - no one to impress but yourself by your wise choices - everyone elses opinion means shit if you're dead or in hospital!

[Phenoix]

Im still liestening here.
I think you do learn from your crashes, cos it does take u down a peg or two and you learn from your mistakes.
Im ok, but got a call from the docs telling me to come back in. They took another look at the Xrays and think i've now broken something.
So no riding for me for a while
That and I have no running bike or proper saftey now.
All I can say is, Invest in your safteys. Mine my be dead now, but Im now

[Gremlin]

Its not so much taking you down a peg or two, but its being able to prove what others have said to you. Once you know exactly what will happen if you do x, then you are able to do what was advised, and once you have done that, you always use it and prevent more of the same, which is best really...

Although, after the two offs in 3 days, my next ride was really weird. Kept having visions of spearing of in a corner, running wide and flipping off the bike

but yeah, its just time and if you are lucky, having the more experienced guys watch you and tell you your good/bad points.

eg, CaN said that if I used a bit of throttle in the middle and exit of a corner it would settle the suspension. Which it did. Obviously you can't be on the limit already tho...

[Sensei]

I always look for a way of riding out of trouble . Not into . If you ride Focused you'll be a better rider for it . If you ride on the road then you'll have to be more aware than on a Track . Fast riding isn't a Gift it comes with Decades of learning . Use your time wisely when out there as it may just save your life one day

[Right Charlie]

Over taking Today

Knew the road went up the hill, on the crest was a turn off to the right, past the turn off was a left hand sweeper.

I Decided to be a cheeky bugger and whip past the truck on the way up the hill, i knew id be able to snap back in by the time the turnoff was behind me.

Baaah, Braaaaah, Braaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh (Thats 3 down changes)

Pull out, moving up behind him, strange.. OH SHIT car waiting to turn to the right over the centre lane a little bit.

Heres me bout 120k, by the drivers door of this truck, car where i was intending to cross back over the centre line.

Braking NOT an option.

CHanging back into my lane NOT an option.

By the luck of the gods there is some oncoming traffic so the guy waiting to turn right doesnt.

SO i buzz between him and 3 cars coming the other way.

Put the shits up me to no end.