Overanalysing your riding

**Bob** · 22nd October 2004, 00:28

Now I think it is a Good Thing to look at your riding technique, see if there are areas of weakness that could be improved, good things that could be reinforced to make them even better etc.

But are we in danger of overanalysing our riding?

It was a post in here recently that got me thinking about this. Someone had asked a question - and got lots of good answers - so they followed up with "So how far over should you lean a bike to get round a 140 degree bend?"

Simple answer - as far as you need to.

But it struck me that we're being force-fed so many tips, so much advice etc that we're in danger of messing up what we do by worrying too much about how we do it!

Open any bike magazine and there will be riding tips. Likewise TV shows, forums and just about anywhere biking crops up... there will be an "Improve your riding" feature.

This HAS to be why I see people on sportsbikes (just an example) bent right over the bike in a race-crouch, leaning so far off they're barely on the bike... when they're running at cruising speeds.

Lets face it, the position you ride should be dictated by the ride you are riding... but we're pummeled with so many - often conflicting - points of view that people don't know what to take on board.

So are we overanalysing our riding? Or should we at least try out all the hints, tips and suggestions to see what works best for us?

**bluninja** · 22nd October 2004, 00:45

I tend to go with what's comfortable. I got into hanging off (at least moving about) and now find I don't feel comfortable sitting bolt upright....even if going really slow on a sportsbike. I even just to hang off a bit on the 600 cc Eliminator.

Sure riders can over analyse.....after I did an advanced riding course it screwed up my riding for a few months as I tried to use everything I'd learned. I then went back to what I had been doing and added things in one at a time until they were comfortable before adding the next.

**Artifice** · 22nd October 2004, 00:47

personally i feel i spend too much time analyzing my riding, not enjoying it. but as to advice, i only try out what makes sence to me, i have to understand the theory behind the action. then again theres a lot i dont do cos im just too lazy to practice it. like braking practice. i.e. how much grip is too much for this front tyre before it lets go. heh guess thats why my arm gives me the odd niggle. darn nancy nails.

**scumdog** · 22nd October 2004, 00:55

I got one of those problems where I feel that left hand corners are easier to get 'round than right hand ones, had advice from others on this site but by hell it don't seem to make it any easier!!

**bluninja** · 22nd October 2004, 01:22

SD, thought that was just the camber of the road helping and hindering. I prefer lefts too, even though I 'know' that a loss of grip would put me into any oncoming traffic as opposed to into the verge. I guess from the centre line I feel I have 2 bits of road I can use as escape routes rather than on or off road. Shit I'm over analysing already

**scumdog** · 22nd October 2004, 01:29

Originally Posted by bluninja

SD, thought that was just the camber of the road helping and hindering. I prefer lefts too, even though I 'know' that a loss of grip would put me into any oncoming traffic as opposed to into the verge. I guess from the centre line I feel I have 2 bits of road I can use as escape routes rather than on or off road. Shit I'm over analysing already

Yeah, I guess that the left bends give a false impression that you have a bunch of tar seal out to your right to utilise as opposede to the nearby gravel etc when you go 'round a right turn.
However I'm sure my old H-D was 'warped' and REALLY was like that!

**bluninja** · 22nd October 2004, 05:47

Originally Posted by scumdog

Yeah, I guess that the left bends give a false impression that you have a bunch of tar seal out to your right to utilise as opposede to the nearby gravel etc when you go 'round a right turn.
However I'm sure my old H-D was 'warped' and REALLY was like that!

Must have been warped....I'm told they don't like any corners much

**FROSTY:Me** · 22nd October 2004, 06:09

I tend to listen/read /view every bit of advise offered and then go out and try it.
Lately its racetrack specific so I can practice in a safe enviroment.

**Ms Piggy** · 22nd October 2004, 06:39

Being a new rider I tend to listen to all advice given, try it out (if I can) and see if I feel comfortable with it. This site and those within have helped me a lot.

**riffer** · 22nd October 2004, 07:06

Yup. I try everything I hear.

Some works for me, some doesn't.

**Motu** · 22nd October 2004, 08:24

Seeing as my riding is so varied I get to apply different techniques to different types of riding,I listen to all and check them out.At my age my memory is a bit erratic - so suddenly I may remember something Don DeSoto said in 1972 and find...hey,it still works!

**vifferman** · 22nd October 2004, 08:57

While I think we need to know what we are doing, and apply it, I have a theory that a lot of things we do are actually hampered by thinking too much while we're doing them. When you're "in the groove", when things just seem to flow and feel really good, you're actually operating using mostly the right side of your brain. As soon as you begin to rationalise things, the left side kicks in and starts to dominate proceedings, and it all becomes more awkward and mechanical.

This applies to all sorts of things: skiing, riding, dancing, playing a musical instrument, drawing/painting, etc.

So the trick is to ingrain the techniques by repetition, then stop thinking as much as possible, then things seem to be smooth and more enjoyable. Doesn't mean you have to switch your brain off, but if you find you're thinking with words or talking to yourself, it's a sure sign that you're rationalising and over-thinking things.

**Posh Tourer :P** · 22nd October 2004, 09:09

Seconded firestormer - I find that what I tend to do most of the time is ride away happily. When I find that I could be doing something wrong - it doesnt feel right, or I'm particularly slow, or rough, I mention it to someone, and get advice back. Then I'll try it out next time I ride.

While I'm happy riding most of the time, I know when I could be doing something better, and I try and improve those things. Sometimes it takes ages, like I always used to slow down too much for corners that were blind-ish, until I saw WT's comment about watching the vanishing point, and I thought ah, click, that'll fix my problem.... so i started doing it, and it's fixed the issue.

**Hoon** · 22nd October 2004, 09:23

I guess I over analyze because I am a theory type of person - I read everything I can find and try to make an attempt to apply it or try it at least once. Its not enough for me to know HOW to do something, I also need to know WHY! This allows me to look at the bigger picture and make a more informed decision on whether its better for me or not.

I'm also guilty of making lots of changes to my riding. For example this year two areas I'm working on are smoother brake/throttle control and minimising how far I hang off (no more than one arse cheek). This might make me slower for now but in the long run it will reap rewards. To me racing is a battle of self improvement. I get much satisfaction out of identifying my weaknesses and smashing them into oblivion!

I guess you have to think carefully about taking on advice instead of accepting it blindly. Also if it doesn't work on the first attempt, it doesn't necessarily mean its bad advice - it might just need more work. I am both sceptical and very open when it comes to advice as one thing I've learnt is that the solution to a problem can often be the exact opposite to what you thought it would be.