Just How Do You get your knee down

Lozzo - I meant, is that the case that shorties should also sit all the way back on the seat?

Anteater - wow, you don't even look like you're hanging off all that much... how tall are you?

Re moulding into the bike, maybe it's just a matter of getting used to it but I find my most natural position is right up against the tank, diaphragm leaning on the tank, which transfers most of the weight to the front (it feels like) and allows me to ride with relaxed and slightly bent arms. Whereas when I try riding with my butt all the way back, that's fine in a straight line but doesn't give me confidence cornering as my arms are a lot straighter, knees and thighs further away from the tank so less able to grip, and I feel less in control / more disconnected...

Maybe I just need to push through that and practise riding in the latter position a bit more?

Originally Posted by darkdreamsgal

Lozzo - I meant, is that the case that shorties should also sit all the way back on the seat?

Anteater - wow, you don't even look like you're hanging off all that much... how tall are you?

Re moulding into the bike, maybe it's just a matter of getting used to it but I find my most natural position is right up against the tank, diaphragm leaning on the tank, which transfers most of the weight to the front (it feels like) and allows me to ride with relaxed and slightly bent arms. Whereas when I try riding with my butt all the way back, that's fine in a straight line but doesn't give me confidence cornering as my arms are a lot straighter, knees and thighs further away from the tank so less able to grip, and I feel less in control / more disconnected...

Maybe I just need to push through that and practise riding in the latter position a bit more?

I'm a lofty ......... 5'8" !

Two things about your position in your avtar;

1 Your back looks stiff and not relaxed
2 Your elbows are tucked in. To get a grip of the front end, sort your arm position and stick those elbows out a bit more - it will make a difference

Back - Probably! First time on track and I think that was at the hairpin!

Elbows - Ok but could you explain how does sticking my elbows out make a difference please? I almost consciously pull my elbows in 'cos I thought sticking them out wasn't the right thing to do!

J

[fastdruid]

In comparison here's me at the old hairpin at cadwell


070808-478

Note the elbows out. Although as others have said you'll get your own personal style that 'works' for you.

Relaxing is a major part of riding a bike well, if you're tense you affect the bike in all sorts of negative ways. I (and a number of others) 'flap' their elbows occasionally to make sure they're relaxed.

Druid

+1 on the flapping, to make sure you are not tensed up, out or in who cares, do what you are comfortable with. Some of the big boys stick them out to make it harder for peeps to pass them.

any one of the larger variety find a problem with knee down, i can get right off the seat, head down past stock mirror position, ass back as far as possible, knee out (think this could be the problem area), right over on the tyre and nothing no contact i think im about 1inch away from touch down but not sure

i dont feel like i can get my legs wide enough apart to stick my knee out enough, i have been right on the edge of the tyre before with no success

[yorkie_chris]

Carl (the racing walrus) doesn't seem to have an issue with it

Stick your knee down not out, bend your inside elbow would be my advice as this seems to twist your body around and point your knee at the floor.

Originally Posted by darkdreamsgal

Back - Probably! First time on track and I think that was at the hairpin!

Elbows - Ok but could you explain how does sticking my elbows out make a difference please? I almost consciously pull my elbows in 'cos I thought sticking them out wasn't the right thing to do!

J

When riding fast (or in my case attempting to ride fast ) body position and body actions set what you will & will not achieve.

Elbows out does a few things;
draws your body and head down into the bike
lowers your c of g
gives you much better purchase over the front end
makes it easier to move your body about the bike without upsetting the bike making your body movements smoother (really important)
also puts your legs in a better position & stops you being 'wooden'
makes it easier to move backwards and forwards

have a look at this series of photos

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/for...d.php?t=260944

Photo 1 is a multiple Scottish Champion, he's about 5'6" tall so length of legs has nowt to do with it. Notice how bent his elbows are pulling his body over the front end this is good as it keeps the front tyre loaded and leaves the rear to worry about grip.

Sitting as far back as you can in the seat is good for heavy braking but not particuarly good for cornering; bent elbows help you move backwards and forwards to suit throttle, brake and lean

Photos 2&3 are also Scottish Champions, under power throttle wide sitting as far forwad as they can to keep weight over the front - moulded in with bent elbows improving control.


Photo 4 is a recent race winner & very fast lad. Notice his bike is leaned as far over as my bike was in the photo I put up yesterday (same corner); his knees are tucked in not down but unsuprisingly enough ..........check the elbows and bum position, bent & forward!

Photo 5 is err, me. Exit from a hairpin, full on the gas, forks fully extended, moulded in to the bike elbows bent and **** forward.

Photo 6 is one for TC!

8 & 9 confirm more of the same.

So elbows bent, bring your head down, sit forward once you come off the brakes (always push backwards on the brakes) mould yourself into the bike and you will be faster.

Hope that helps explain it a bit

Some great photo's there anteater! Not sure I agree with sitting back in the seat while cornering as been said previously by others, personally I like to get as much weight over the front end as possible.
Looking at the first photo in the link, the rider is clearly looking right through the corner, not directly infront of his front wheel, an important part of fast/smooth cornering.
Get the corner right speed, the body position right then the knee will go down!

[andrewsmith]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Carl (the racing walrus) doesn't seem to have an issue with it

Stick your knee down not out, bend your inside elbow would be my advice as this seems to twist your body around and point your knee at the floor.

and as said, this is going into the final left of the esses at East Fortune.



and this is into Railway Hairpin