In 20 yrs of riding I've been pretty "lucky" but In the last 2 yrs I've had 3 crashes resulting in a broken back and leg both w/ lots of metal now. And now I have broken both legs from a high side @ Beaver Run last week. None of these did I feel I was riding over my head or really pushing hard, and none had warnings like small slides or bobbles. Regaurdless of how I feel about being able to walk when I'm old, crashes w/ injuries affect the poeple around me almost more than myself. I have a lot of resposibilities w/ my bussiness partner and employees and family counting on me for things and if I can't do them, my wife ends up trying to keep it all together. So if I want to keep riding I need to not crash. I know there's no garrentees but I also see people that don't seem to crash hardly ever. SO how do you do it? Is it mostly a mental thing? It seems like women and old guys don't crash as much for some reason and some of them are very smooth and pretty quick. I get the old guys probly have crashed many times in the past and have learned from it, but I think there is at least one girl in the advanced group that has never crashed? So what do I gotta do to end this little streak of "bad luck" ? Gavin
Your answer is in the question you asked... "Girls and old guys" don't crash as much because they don't have high testosterone levels (ego thing). I am not saying you do (ego), but I can honestly say that I have riden over my limits solely because of this human fault. At the time I didn't think I was riding over my head. Go back to the basics and ride "smooth" (as stated in your question). Don't worry about being fast. I promise, there will always be someone faster and someone slower than you at every track day. ENJOY a day at the track for what it is...A TRACK DAY. It is not a race. Besides, isn't there something simply wonderful about the feel of the puck on the ground? Also, the next time you are at the track get with one of us (track coaches) and have them follow you around. Maybe a pointer or two could help...See you at the track. PS Just in case...increase your medical limits :lol: :lol: :lol:
Ride an older bike or one with smaller displacement (SV 650, RS 250, etc.). It's amazing how bikes have changed... even a newer I4 600 with an upgraded exhaust and EPROM can easily make more rwhp than a full-liter twin from the late 1990's/early 2000's. And with significantly less weight... If you want to be a better rider - ride a slower bike.... Or, get a motard and have more fun than ever before!
While I undestand what you're saying, I was thinking the opposite. I ride an 03 749 and sometimes I get frustraighted when a faster bike flies by on the straight and then slows me down in the next set of turns. I alraedy know the anwser is pull in the pit road and get some clear track. I do actually do this sometimes. I'm almost 40 you would think ego and testasterone would be becoming less of a factor bu....t . This was my 5th track day in 2 wks so my confidence level (or maybe ego) was pretty high I guess. Gavin
First get a good vision test. Get checked for refocusing problems when changing between close and far objects. Head injuries, even undiagnosed, often cause issues with this. The result being a tendency to "ride the front wheel", only looking close to the front of the bike and not further ahead, resulting in poor riding, lack of smoothness and frustration. I went through this in '86 with three crashes in one year. I banged my head in the first one. Unfortuneately, the medical profession wasn't interested and I had to diagnose it myself. It took a year for it to get pretty good and five years for a complete return to normal, although some still question the normal part. After this, take a couple of track days with the idea of going slowly but accurately as in a faster version of Keith Codes no brake drill. This will impove your confidence and sense of position on the race track.
Two other points: I've never believed that a series of crashes was bad luck. There is an underlying cause. The bad news is if it is a vision problem or other brain injury, you may need to stay off the racetrack for a year or two.
Gavin, I used have a crashing problem- i ran off the track so much that Monte referred to me as "Lawn Boy". A year ago, i thoroughly reevaluated how I rode. I slowed my pace down significantly, partly because of my injuries forcing me to, partly because I couldn't afford to crash again. I returned to the fundamentals. I focused on trying to put together a string of near perfect laps- not how fast can I go, but how well can i go around the track? I stopped riding the front tire and started looking much further down the track. as a result, two things happened: I stopped crashing and I had more fun than I've ever had. It hasn't been perfect, though, last fall at Beaver Run, I found the limits of Dunlop qualifiers with 6 track days on them, lowsiding in T1 and this sunday, i had my first incident in over 20 trackdays, riding my BMW with the suspension a bit out of whack and fell into the old habit of riding the front tire as the suspension pogoed and I ran wide annd low sided in the dirt as I tried to stop @ 10 mph. Time to go back to basics again! :? Stay tuned for next month's issue of Trackdaymag.com- there will be several articles that may be helpful to you. Lance
AHH.. the old "corner camper straight away blaster" syndrome...We have all been behind the rider with this "illness" Yes, it is frustrating. I have found myself making more aggressive moves (not violating STT rules rather violating the bike rules-like gas on/off in a corner) because of this frustration. I would guess your riding abilities are pretty solid. With the extra saddle time (5 track days) you got faster and it felt good, soooo you went a little faster, and it felt good soooo you went a little faster....you see the cycle? Back the speed off a little and start over (like Lance suggested). Don't get frustrated. Do like Lance and cook some pork and beans in the smoker.... :lol:
when i don't want to crash, i just ride slower. the difference between 90% and 100% is quite large! :arrow: 8)
Gavin, I have ridden with you and I do not think you are overly aggressive or have something to prove. I do think you need to reevaluate your riding style perhaps. But more likely I believe you need to either get better suspension or if you have aftermarket suspension maybe it needs to be adjusted for your size. I had a period myself where I was crashing three times a year for three years in a row. I backed off a bit, got my suspension worked out and I think I have become not only smoother but faster. Frank
Lot's of good stuff here, Thanks. Most stuff I know but needed to be reminded of it. This seems to be an easy trap to fall into. Quetion is how to avoid it BEFORE the crash. I'm not trying to go faster, it just feels good and more speed comes naturally. very good point. I usually ride about 75-80% in the morning, and increase to 95% by mid afternoon then go "shit I better slow down" before I ruin a good day. Then I ride the last sesion or 2 at 80-85%. I can't say I've ever rode at 100% for more than a corner or 2 at a track day. I don't really plan this, it just kinda works out that way. Again the natural speed increase thing.
Hi Frank, Suspension wise I have stock Showa stuff with springs front and rear for my weight. It was originally done by Jason @ Dept. of Suspension. I plan to have it freshened up this winter and maybe talk to someone about revalving. What do you mean by "reevaluate my riding style" ? don't worry, you're not going to hurt my feelings, just not sure what you mean? Gavin
Renard, I'm running the Michelin 2ct's. @ Summit they were almost new after that I did 2 days at Mid Ohio, one of which was an LED. Before I left I asked 2 different STT tech inspectors if my tires should be changed before my next day @ Beaver. They both said there was plenty of life left in them. So after quite a bit of thought on this crash , it boils down to my own stupidity. While I didn't think the bike was giving me signs to slow down, there were plenty of other things I should have seen... 1. It was overcast and had rained earlier that morning. 2. My tires were questionable 3. I was thinkin "why is everyone going so slow? It's just a little rain
Gavin Do you have a set of tires warmers? if not you may want to look into getting a set. Tires have a heat cycle life the tread may look good but its heat cycle is used up. I got bit at summit point main (turn 8) about 6 weeks ago because my tires worn out with good looking tread. tires warmers help with heat cycles.
Gavin, I just mean maybe you need to get a little bit smoother. Maybe a little less muscling of the bike. You shouldn't have to force the bike into a turn it should be a smoother transition. This is the same thing that I had to do to become a better/smoother/faster rider. But hey it is just an opinion like everyone else. Get better soon and when you are back out on the track we can work on it together a little bit more.
Frank good point about being smooth Gavin Get better soon and see you at the track. Lets us know when you expect to return
I have surgery this Tues. so it's not very likley, but I would love to be at Beaver Run for Oct. 6&7. Just to get on the bike and ride a little before winter sets in. If not I'll shoot for Pocono in May gavin