Riding questions and advise please (about trackday)
 

I have my second track day coming up at Brands on 3rd March. First one I came off (wet-went onto the grass and had to throw myself off before I hit the barrier!).

I have a bit of a problem getting the bike over. I have had new Z6 tyres fitted which will be well scrubbed in by the time I do it, but I know I'll still have huge chicken strips on them! My first ever set of tyres came off after 5000 miles with about 1.5 cm left on them! How can I get the confidence to get the bike over more and, more importantly, if I do it on the track won't the slippery chicken strips cause bike (and bowel) failure?

I am also after any hints you can give me. Last time I didn't make any conscious effort to watch for the cones which I now know would'v e helped a lot.

I have taken the whole of Wednesday off work to scrub in the tyres fully and practise. What should I be doing to sort me out? Where should I go? I live in Ruislip (Just inside the M25 West London).

I have searched threads and got some help but any more would be very much appreciated.

Cheers Amigo's.
:smt100

Re: Riding questions and advise please
 

Don't worry about the chicken strips. Track surface is usually much more abrasive than the road so it will scrub off pretty quickly provided you build up the lean over a few sessions. I assume you'll be taking it fairly easy as this is the first trackday after your off, no?

Also, it's a good idea to drop your tyre pressures. I run F30, R30 on a summer trackday on Diablos but drop the pressures a little at a time and look at the tyres after the session. The tyres should look a bit 'bobbled' (technical term) but not ripped to shreds.

Other than that, the usual smooth is fast, enjoy yourself, follow an instructor for a session, build up to it, etc.

Oh, and after my track crash, I found I didn't enjoy track riding as much at first. Stick with it, it might be a few days before you get comfortable with it again.

Re: Riding questions and advise please
 

Slowly, slowly catch a monkey, so to speak....

Firstly, you're there for you, nobody else, so take everything at your pace. Don't push too hard, just relax and enjoy day.

Secondly, "getting the bike over" is not the be all and end all. Concentrate on your braking points, track position and awareness of others, that will add much more confidence and the corners will come naturally.

Thirdly, at the circuit, have a chat with one of the instructors, tell them that you're a bit nervous and ask if you can have a bit of help, generally they'll lead you through a couple of laps so you get used to the lines.

And lastly, enjoy :D

.

Re: Riding questions and advise please
 

One thing to add...

You will work your tyres much harder on the track than on the road, through constant acceleration and braking. This will build up way more heat in the tyre and you may well find that they offer more grip/confidence on the track than on the road with steeper lean angles.

Re: Riding questions and advise please
 

:smt108

It's a track day not a race.

Re: Riding questions and advise please
 

:confused:

But a trackday is track riding. If you're using braking/turn-in points that you gradually decrease throughout the day you'll get faster with much less chance of either outbraking yourself or getting spooked by another rider overtaking.

Re: Riding questions and advise please
 

:winner: what jelster said. enjoy your track day.

Re: Riding questions and advise please
 

You'll make more time getting the right line through the corner rather than hard braking, and if you've got people coming past you then it's up to them to make a safe pass. So in my humble, you shouldn't be worrying about hard braking, or where other people are.

Re: Riding questions and advise please
 

Theoretically, but on the day we all know that others will be taking all sorts of line and getting in other peoples way. Best to concentrate on your line, be aware of others and keep everything smooth. Then build up speed.

My first track day I slowed down on the straights so I had a good clear line on the corners. I don't need to learn how to ride straight, but putting the bike into corners needs more confidence.

IMHO of course...

Re: Riding questions and advise please
 

Ahhh, get what you mean now. Didn't mean try to brake as hard as possible (I don't, and it's probably where I could make up the most time) but you should still have a braking point, even if it's a very conservative one.

And surely, picking a turn in point and getting the right line are pretty closely linked.