Trackday depression - Help please

[Mr Speirs]

Originally Posted by N8te rider

Im using valuable concentration thinking about other riders instead of my ride, which now I think about it is a daft thing to do

I think you have nailed down the reason why you aren't enjoying it.
You shouldn't be thinking about anybody else at all unless you are going for an overtake.

Don't watch other people and start asking yourself why aren't you that quick or more importantly why am I so slow!! There will be people faster than you and it's best to admire their ability than envy it.

The track is yours...there other people on it but it is yours, hopefully anybody that is faster than you will overtake you without you without affecting your riding. If you are worried that you are holding people up through a corner, then don't be...if they are that much quicker than you then they will take you on the outside rather than sit behind you grumbling.

I think as you say a lack in self condfidence is putting imaginary voices of the other riders in your head. If you can let go of that I think you'll start enjoying it.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

How do you feel when you ride on the road? Is it just a physiological barrier that hits you when you get on a track, or do you sometimes feel like that with your road riding too?

Feel fine on the road. Riding in groups is also great fun. TD feels different. I realise in my head ive got the wrong idea about it.
Some great advice from you all and Im very grateful

[G]

Originally Posted by N8te rider

Feel fine on the road. Riding in groups is also great fun. TD feels different. I realise in my head ive got the wrong idea about it.
Some great advice from you all and Im very grateful

You need a cheap rat bike, and your memory wiped before going out.

I never think about anything other than my own riding, Binky has lapped me twice before, and then made a point of pointing it out... I hadn't even noticed, but I had a good day oblivious to the world me.

[sv4me]

Why don't you save your money up and get a trackday bike. Thats what im planning and it shouldnt set you back too much either. I'm not after an R1 or anything, i've been told by a few part time racers that 1000s are wasted on most British tracks, youre much better on a 600, K4/5 GSXR750 or alike.

Im thinking even smaller or an ex minitwin bike, something that wont put too much pressure on me to perform or put a bullseye on my back. But you can really give it some stick and mix it up with the big boys

Oh and always take your mirrors off or fold them in, I made that mistake 1st time I stepped upto the inters and was too busy looking to see if I was holding anyone up to concentrate on the entry to the next corner

Track bike? Maybe one day

One of the greatest feelings on earth (even better than a sky dive) was passing my bike test. Fighting self doubt and what others might say if I failed caused me to fail 3 times, by the 4th I didn't care anymore and decided it takes as long as it takes so just relax and fail with a smile, then I passed. Since then I've tried not to give up on things, the feeling you get when you succeed is amazing. getting through the mental barrier is a tough one though

Originally Posted by N8te rider

One of the greatest feelings on earth (even better than a sky dive) was passing my bike test. Fighting self doubt and what others might say if I failed caused me to fail 3 times, by the 4th I didn't care anymore and decided it takes as long as it takes so just relax and fail with a smile, then I passed. Since then I've tried not to give up on things, the feeling you get when you succeed is amazing. getting through the mental barrier is a tough one though

It took me three attempts, i still feel crap about it. :-/
Got there in the end though!!

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by pookie

So will going faster and trashing your bike make it more enjoyable?

Yes, yes it will.



Look, stop being a fanny with the confidence issues, the track is no place for social workers and other yoghurt knitting types. Learn to ride the bloody bike

I'd say an old SV with some minor suspension mods is a better track tool to learn on than your shiny R6, you won't care too much about falling off as they're much much cheaper to bodge back together with cable ties and black nasty. Or even an older carbed 600.

Then read a twist of the wrist, repeatedly... then it's just a case of applying it and slowly pushing one boundary at a time... but from reading, if you're overtaking people* then you probably aren't even that slow to need to worry about it.



*Another reason I think SV's are great on track... if you're passing people you must be doing alright as there's no way you're passing much on the straights!

as is well documented on here im a cack rider, ive done 2 trackdays and binned it once (at over a ton) and tbh the best day i had was at the 3 sisters track, its a cart track so its small and you dont get to a million mph ,there are only 4 people allowed on track at once, you get 7 laps for a tenner, and it teaches you bike control not balls out speed, try there and i think your mind set would be different
yc has also done this track (would you agree with this yc) and he is fast but enjoyed it, im slow and loved it,
aslo when i went to lemming (and binned it ) i took 15 secs off my lap time when berlin told me how to take 1 corner properly, i mention this to suggest doing a small track with a knowledgeable orger who wont "abandon you" and you will learn a shed load ,i did

to recap in context
4 people on track at a time so less worry about others
7 laps at a time so no tiredness
smaller track so less speed more tecneque (sp)
£10 a go cheap as chips
have your designated orger watch your lap and give advice which will help
and its after every 7 laps so it constant bit by bit advice

hth
dave

Don't see track days on the Three Sisters website DP. Is this £10 a go a regular thing or something you arranged for a group?