Anyone done Donington circuit based training?

[fastdruid]

Originally Posted by specialone

If i did try and keep up with the others on rideouts i would bin it guaranteed but tbh i happy bimbling along, just always feel gulity about slowing the tecs down and making their ride boring.

Nah, don't try and keep up, *always* ride at your pace. Many a rider has come a cropper trying to keep up with a faster rider.

As for slowing down the faster riders I'm always fine to play catch up/stop for a bit/bimble on some sections. Doesn't bother me[1].

Druid

[1] Only thing that does bother me is slacking on the overtakes.

Originally Posted by fastdruid

Nah, don't try and keep up, *always* ride at your pace. Many a rider has come a cropper trying to keep up with a faster rider.

As for slowing down the faster riders I'm always fine to play catch up/stop for a bit/bimble on some sections. Doesn't bother me[1].

Druid

[1] Only thing that does bother me is slacking on the overtakes.

Not too bad on the overtakes except on corners, wont do that tbh even if was good at cornering, or solid whites

[fastdruid]

Originally Posted by specialone

Not too bad on the overtakes except on corners, wont do that tbh even if was good at cornering, or solid whites

Depends on the corner[1] but totally with you there.

As for solid whites just remember that they're not no-overtaking, you're just not allowed to cross them.

Druid

[1] Slow car, nice open r/h bend with good visibility for example.

Originally Posted by fastdruid

Depends on the corner[1] but totally with you there.

As for solid whites just remember that they're not no-overtaking, you're just not allowed to cross them.

Druid

[1] Slow car, nice open r/h bend with good visibility for example.

Oh yeah, wide bends with good visibility are ok, its the tight ones i dont like.

On wide roads a lot of car drivers will move left and let you pass anyway, my attitude to solid whites is, wait 20 seconds or so and there will be another place for an overtake so dont really worry too much about getting past right there.

I was filtering today past stationary traffic by stratford on a wideish road a34, 2 cars flashed me coming the other way even though i was pulling in before they got to me, some people

Originally Posted by specialone

Thanks for those words Col, they mean a lot.
I am technically lacking though, i know that, just a bit of professional training would help me im sure.
If i did try and keep up with the others on rideouts i would bin it guaranteed but tbh im happy bimbling along, just always feel gulity about slowing the tecs down and making their ride boring.

Professional training on a track would probably do a lot to help any road rider who has never done it or doesn't have track day experience TBH. I often come out of a corner thinking (usually where there is no visible limit point), "I could easily have been a lot quicker though there, I slowed it down too much".

In terms of the technical stuff, there's not an awful lot to it. You don't need to be hanging your **** completely off the bike with you knee out ala your avatar! Just road positioning, a little bit of repositioning body weight, get all your braking done before the corner, slightly positive throttle, weight to the inside, shift your bum to the inside a bit, inside shoulder forward and head position so you are looking over your inside mirror, with a good positive counter steer, and carve through the bend.

Most importantly, be happy with your dry clean road surface and trust in the bike! Following another SV can help with that, because you think, "well if his SV can do it, on that road surface, then so can mine" and it gives you a bit more confidence.

Don't try and do it all at once, practice your road positioning, braking and positive throttle and countersteering for at least a month, try not lean to the outside of the bend, but otherwise forget weight distribution and keep your bum still (though you may find your shoulder and head starts to fall into line naturally because of your countersteer).

Then later in the summer once you've got quicker with that add in your weight distribution, shoulder & head position and a bit more speed.

Roundabouts are a great place to gain confidence as they are a constant radius never ending bend. If you get an empty one, lap it a few times gradually adding more throttle and lean angle in small incremental steps as you go round.

Practice and get confident and soon you'll be countersteering with both hands to get into tighter bends, push on the inside bar, while you pull with the outside, and you'll be amazed how fast the bike turns in and whips round the corner.

I know what to do, just not very good at putting into practice

I have bought that twist of the wrist 2 DVD which is quite good cos it explains and shows you the rights and wrongs and why a lot of theories and tips you here on forums and the like dont actually work.
Just need to watch it and absorb the info.

When im on my DRZ i feel so much more confident while cornering even though the tyres are half the width of the sv, i lean that over way more than i'd dare on the sv, also when i hit some loose stuff it just laps it up and dont even bother me half the time.

Thanks for your tips Col

[christopher]

I'm not a quick rider I know, but I'll tell you what helped me quite a lot... following Mike (Luckypants) on a couple of occasions!

Instead of engaging autopilot and dropping to the back of the group, get yourself up near the front when setting off.

You'll soon be overtaken by those who really want to get past when moving, but by being mixed in with the group you get to watch other peoples lines, other peoples movements, and other peoples mistakes. With common sense you can pick out what the good and bad things others are doing, and use the good things yourself.

If you have a decent quiet stretch of road you know and enjoy, push yourself a little bit more each time you ride it. Don't race or go faster than your comfortable with, there's no point, but gradually increase your speed on that nice long bend and tip the bike over more.

Oh and gravel... avoid it

Just my thoughts after riding with you a couple of times and TEC'ing for a short stint on NW6.

Fair comment Chris, i actually dont mind letting everyone go past me quicker, i prefer to follow than be followed.
Im realistic im never gonna be part of the front pack, but somewhere in between would be good.
But im not doing this for this reason alone, i want to feel more comfortable and relaxed on the bike and confident in my ability.
I was quicker the first time we met on Daryls elan valley rideout last september, i kept up with the pack that day no probs, but since i binned it i have lost it.
I have been out with DMC and Ralph a few times following them and learnt a lot.