Getting extremely bored in Beginner group (6th time) and feeling held back at my last track day :cry: (**** was not a lot of help). How did you move up into Intermediate or Advanced? Is it a track lap time or did you just find an excellent coach?
Make sure you're in group 1 or 2 and talk to your coach in the morning let them know you want to bump up to intermediate. It's not about time just safe predictable riding and lines. You need a decent pace too I guess but nothing fast.
Yes get in group 1 or 2. At grattan and i think gingerman too. they started doing an advance novice thing for groups 1 and 2. No classes. More time with the coach. I was lucky enough to get in I think maybe the first one on my six track day. By the end of the day i was in intermediate.
Yes, definitely talk to a coach. I assure you there is nothing more enjoyable for me at the track than to be asked to do an eval and find out the rider is definitely ready to move up. Just please keep in mind that while you may be ready to move up, there will likely still be things you could work on to make yourself a safer/better/faster rider. Going to intermediate just gives you the space and pace to work on those things. If you have any questions I believe I speak for all of us when I say feel free to ask. Good luck! Hope to see you out there again soon.
Getting a bump up involves being smooth on the bike, consistent lines, and being very predictable with them. Passing courtesy and good judgement also plays a very big part of the overall evaluation. One thing we will not do is to bump someone up if there is any doubt about those factors just mentioned. Get with a coach and tell them that you would like to be evaluated for the next level and then go out and ride your normal ride. Sometimes, when doing an evaluation, I see folks trying way too hard and trying to push beyond their skill set.....just to show a coach how fast they are. Trust me, we would much rather see someone ride their own pace, be smooth, consistent, and predictable that to see someone pushing it to the point that they are out of control. Relax out there and just ride in your own comfort level.
I would think that if you asked to be bumped and didn't get it, it's probably because whoever evaluated you didn't think it would be safe for you or the other riders in I group. I'm not saying this to be negative at all so please don't take it that way. I don't know who Chad is but if you feel like you're ready to bump, grab a different coach next time and get a second opinion. When you do get the bump, remember to ride your own ride and keep your lines predictable, that's more important than your pace. You won't be the fastest or slowest rider out there and it doesn't matter. Having fun and being safe is the name of the game! Good luck....
What he said. One thing I like to do is start an evaluation ride in the middle of the pack so I can see how patient and safe the rider is with passing.
Take some advanced riding classes, like the Pridmore star school or other similar to that. After a few of those, Look into racing. You don't have to wait for a bump and hope a CR advances you. You advance yourself and there's no chance you will be bored. This may not be a popular opinion around here, but the fact is if you are getting bored at a track day, the org and CR's have failed to do their job.
Keep in mind too I is called the "meat grinder" for a reason. Most crashes happen in I because people are pushing way harder then their skill set and there is also a huge gap in skill and speed. Not only do you need to worry about yourself in I I feel you need to watch others around you as well. Passing in the corners adds a new dynamic to the equation. There is also a reason people consider advanced the safest group. Being predictable,smooth, as well as being able to be flexible to run different lines is what it is about and riders in advanced do that very well hence less crashes. Moral of the story don't take being in novice as a hinderance take it as an opportunity to perfect your skills so when you do get bumped you have the ability to be safe and keep others safe around you.
Saying you are being held up in Beginner doesn't mean you are ready for "I." You need to be smooth and consistent with predictable lines and tight apexes. Smart passes require patience and understanding. Staying in Beginner can be a blessing in disguise to practice these important elements. Sent from my HTC Desire 510 using Tapatalk
Does it help to say, when you make it to Advanced you will feel bad for holding everyone else up? LOL Or, when you finally make it to Advanved, some of the MA/AMA boys and girls pass you and make you want to go back down to Novice? LOL
I agree with if you not picking up speed to look at an advanced riding school. The control riders help provide a safe environment for everyone and most do a very good job of this (STT coaches). Like other says consistence in lines, braking points and temper management are all key factors . If you get your feelings hurt when someone passes you and you crash them in the next corner trying to out brake them it's unsafe for everyone. Same applies when you get stuck you can stuff someone or pit out. I am not saying the OP is in this situation I'm just pointing out reasons to consider. The race schools aka pro days before the wera rounds are normally one on one coaching which maybe more beneficial for you
got passed by i believe it was jake holden on an ebr my very first A day at autobahn south, i thought i was brakin late til he slides past me sideways into the turn and takes off like no1's business ... then at barber jason disalvo passed me out of a turn doing a wheelie then slid into the next turn sideways ... i felt like a noob again
from your avatar, I am guessing you were at grattan with Chad. I have known Chad for a looong time, he is a good coach, patient, willing to work with people, open minded, and easy going as they come. the big question is, did you ask Chad to evaluate you for the bump to I? if you didn't, that is on you, not him. yes, coach's see people that are ready to go, and work with them, and bump them. but, they also have their other students to consider, and cant give everyone their undivided attention at all times. if you didn't ask for help, or ask to be evaluated, in novice when you have more coaches, and class time.... that is the same thing as in intermediate, not asking for help to progess into the advanced group when you need skill set help, when the coaches are their to help you. again, this would be on the rider, not the coaching staff. you only are going to get out of this, what you are willing to put in. and throwing a good coach under the bus, due to your frustration, is not a good situation for anyone. your results may vary. Ski
If your at any other northern events other than Grattan come find me in my pit. I'll make your day fun. We can go over not just riding techniques, but get you thinking about things like mindset, what bike feel (not a typo) you should be looking for at different points of the track, what it takes to ride at a higher level, and bike ergonomics. I can't promise a bump, but I can help you with the skills needed for that to happen.
This org is a racket; bribery works well!! J/K. I have nothing to add as most have covered it well! I am in A but I now have a new bike and will be at new tracks moving forward so I may go into I for my first few TD's and work with a coach who know's the track(s)
I'm sorry I was not a lot of help to you. I suppose I should've ridden the bike for you and bumped you up to Intermediate. If I recall we were in group 3 and there was some juggling done in the morning between groups as usual because there was a large disparity of skill/desire among participants. I believe you started in group 4 with Jeff and we bumped you to group 3 with me while moving two more people to another group. This left us with a gentleman on a Ducati, one on a BMW, and you on your CBR. Multiple times between sessions we discussed turn in points, lines, features on the track etc. Also between each session I asked if there were any points of concern that anyone had on the track and anything they were having trouble with or wanted help with. When it came to body position I believe that I stated that your position looked good and maybe to lead more with the head on left turns. I do recall encouraging you to brake later at certain points like turn 1 and the bus stop because you seemed to be over braking and killing your drive thru those corners. Throughout the day there were several times that my group was getting "stretched out" between turns 2 and the hump and I had to slow down the pace to regroup. I do not recall where your specific location in the group was during those times so I do not know if you were feeling "held back". At no point throughout the day were we running at Novice group 1 pace. When we cut the group loose at the end of the day to ride on your own, were you running a pace to justify a move to Intermediate?...You might survive in "I" maybe...but you weren't setting the word on fire that's for darn sure! At any point in time in the afternoon did you approach me and ask if I could evaluate you for Intermediate? Nope you didn't. You did mention in the early morning sessions that you wanted to move Intermediate... perhaps I lost sight of that throughout the day...but I didn't see anything stand out that made me think, "That guy needs to move up!" I usually don't get into internet drama, but when you call me out on the board because you feel as though if you had a good coach you'd be in Intermediate...well it kind of rubs me the wrong way. I try to help every rider that I can in my groups. It is not as easy as you might think...dealing with all types of personalities, skill levels, desires for improvement, capabilities for learning, etc. I'm sorry you feel I let you down and I'm the reason you aren't in the "I" group, so flame me on the forum if you want. Perhaps you can get a better coach next season and get the bump to Intermediate that you feel you greatly deserve. :thumb:
I've known Chad for many years, he is an excellent coach. He is passionate about teaching, and cares very much about providing good information to the student; actually all the coaches fit this criteria, but I've known Chad the longest... If you asked Chad for help and he was not helpful from your perspective - there may have been a reason... As was said a few times - speak with a coach first thing and let them know your intentions or goals for the day. Be ready for open and honest dialog and above all - don't take it personally if the comments are not what you think they should be... Sending you home at the end of the day in one piece, happy and tired is what's important.