Is crashing the only way to become a better racer?

**JayRacer37** · 12th April 2007, 18:16

Originally Posted by cjade1

Wow Jay, that is the best profile pic ive seen here..
your rep preceeds you

Thanks mate

It's one of my favorites too
Thanks to Lynda Blair for standing out in the driving rain to snap it for me

**Ivan** · 12th April 2007, 19:23

Yip definatly a cranker

Like that Mick Doohan shot

**Steve_R6R** · 12th April 2007, 23:06

Thankfully crashing is not the ONLY way to become a better racer, practice, coaching, fitness etc are much better value for money. But if you want too push your bondaries and try and run with the big boys crashing comes with the teritory. Coaching god Keith Code has abit about it on this video, he says to help practice for a crash, clear an area around you with softsh flooring (ie on carpet not concrete). Stand in the centre close your eyes and relax your body from the ankle up, colapsing to the floor. If you do it right and totaly relax, it won't hurt at all, if you try to resist, or break you fall well.... you have to just practice it. Do it a few times, it is kind of fun when perfected, (I still do it a little) and people think your nuts. The idea is when you have lost control of your bike and are sliding down the track relaxing you body will spread the load on the leathers, and you will be flexible to take any impact.
Another way to practice for crashing (this is my favourite) is get a cheap shitty bike you don't like too much, and crash it, old leathers, and a bit of gravel road or metal pit or where ever is safe and won't attrack too much attention, start with little lowsides and work into it see how many crashes you can get in before you or the bike get over it.

**Ivan** · 13th April 2007, 12:32

Yeah I could agree with that,

I have practiced falling over a few times Bmx is fun especially In a big rugby field with that wet dewy fround with bald tires which are like slicks pedal hard out and try and turn you lose the front end and slide relax and you get used to it.

Im currently getting used to holding onto a push bike at full noise sideways down the gravel I do it speedway style as well no brakes RG100!! has seen it pedal get some speed go in gravel glide foot over gravel and turn handel bars left so that the front loses grip then use foot to keep it stable really works

I can tell you I had a few crashes at the start I have even high sided a BMX and smashed my collar bone to pieces

I can tell you one thing

Even if you dont race were godgear IE leathers helmet boots etcwhen you crash this is whats saving you from your skin being a permernant mark on the trakc

**Flyno** · 19th April 2007, 21:06

Ivan speedyway styles, IS COMPLETELY diff to wot road is, road is ten times faster and alot more speed involved!

**CM2005** · 23rd April 2007, 20:47

i'm not a good rider, but i fall off. hopefully this will make me good?

**JayRacer37** · 23rd April 2007, 23:09

Originally Posted by CM2005

i'm not a good rider, but i fall off. hopefully this will make me good?

Is worth a shot.......

**Tim 39** · 24th April 2007, 21:27

practising crashing sounds strange, personally id rather practice staying on the bike, but I never realy thought of the fact that I have more chance at being a decent crasher than a decent rider!

**CM2005** · 25th April 2007, 08:05

i put some bloody holes in the knee of my lovely zebra leathers.. shite! i got to practice hanging off...

**R1madness** · 25th April 2007, 08:40

Experiance tells me that a race track crash is going to happen at some time but there are ways to learn with out crashing your brains out.
Learn to feel a slide in the front by finding an empty car park and do 1st gear figure 8s with your knee down.
Then try them with a little more throttle and a little less lean to get the feel of the rear.
Yes you may crash doing this but it will be so slow it will not hurt (much) and the damage will be minimal.

**R1madness** · 25th April 2007, 08:48

SteveR6R you idea of crash practice is a good one. I have a good crash technique that has saved me several broken bones over the years (no i didn't crash much just BIG). The relax thing is important but if you keep your arms tucked in to your chest with your hands holding your head and your feet slightly off the ground your bits will not flail around ( its the flailing and twisting that brakes bones on impact).
Oh yea also buy the best gear you can afford. I can personally recommend Sidi Race boots and HJC helmets as life and limb savers.

**roogazza** · 25th April 2007, 10:34

I know two brothers , Dave and Nev Hiscock who came from two extremes , Dave , super fast and smooth and rarely crashed, a real thinker. Nev, all guts and on his day just as fast. Nev's first thought was pull in the clutch and keep the motor running, I saw this many times. His nick name was 'near miss Nev' ! He finally ran out of luck at Kyalami poor bugger, we all thought he was bullet proof ? Great guy.... Gaz.

**DEATH_INC.** · 25th April 2007, 11:03

Originally Posted by JayRacer37

I have never said "crashing is needed to learn". Pushing the limits is needed to understand them, and advance them. Occasionally, when doing this, falls will happen. I'm not talking jumping of once a session, once a day, once a series even. And it's deifnitly NOT a case of, "if you don't crash, your not going fast enough". I'm not advocating crashing on a regular basis at all, just that when you do crash, cause occasinally you will, that is all but inevitable, LEARN something from it. take something away from it, ponder it, and IMPROVE.

You really 18

This is one of the most intellegent posts I've ever seen on KB.