Any decent rider training school will ( Phoenix Barnsley springs to mind ) take you on a back to riding/advanced day , I've just had a bloke come through on our rider plus day on a diavel , he's not ridden for 13 years so I took him right back to basics and built from there.....covering all aspects of road riding , positioning , roundabout work , forward planning , slow control...etc etc etc ... We had a cracking day buzzing Round Yorkshire gradually building confidence and speed ( never above 70 ) for the simple reason that anyone can go banzai , but save it for the track .... Sod it ride for yourself not to keep up ...to spend the next 6months in traction or worse
Another thing you can do is actually go somewhere on your bike. I mean, use it as transport for a good long trip, like going to stay with a far away friend. You'll find that (a) you're spending longer in the saddle - which is good practice (b) you're less concerned about going quickly because you've got to get somewhere - i.e., you have nothing to prove. I think that sometimes when we go out for a blast, we are too concerned with the speed, instead of just soaking up the travel experience. Navigation and enjoying the adventure get you more relaxed about the riding, and it's probably being tense and nervous that is slowing you down. When you stop worrying about it (which is perhaps what you are doing in the latter part of your rides) it all comes together. I used to be a bit tense about going out to ride the Alpine passes, as if I had to live up to something (particularly having a very fast, expensive and noticeable Ducati), but with practice it all became second nature.
Both very good points guys. I need to chill the f**k out methinks. Just booked a bikesafe course for next month. Going to just ride and enjoy myself till then.
Often going wide - (well with me) is due to simply being too tense. As you take the curve/roundabout I bet you're increasing your grip? As you do this you will be gripping harder with your left hand and actually be pulling (counter steering) the bike the opposite direction/back up. As I tell people in the gym...Technique before weight (speed).... The rest will follow padawan....
Most of going wide is all about not having chosen the right line in the first place. In fact, most of going fast and smoothly safely is all about lines. You really notice it when following people who are using the wrong ones.
I get tense and anxious when approaching roundabouts, its become an issue. Had a bump in a car a while back on a roundabout which might have something to do with it. The more I get it wrong the more I tense up so yes - need to think about relaxing my grip. I'm trying to change my cornering behaviour, I think I mentioned it before but getting the right line (for me) is all about forward planning, chosing the right turn point (I tend to steer too soon, then spend the rest of the time correcting) and looking as far ahead as possible. Also if I enter too quick or mis-time the turn I react by shortening my gaze and looking at the road that's closest to the bike. You can't react quick enough when you do that so that sets up a positive feedback loop of poor steering, braking, tensing on the bars etc. Some corners you simply can't see far enough ahead due to hedges etc. in those instances is it more about having confidence that the bike will do what you want of it?
It's all natural fight or flight stuff. Training and practice helps overcome. 'Lines' aren't really important on the road, just reading far enough ahead and giving yourself time to react of needed. Eg if I'm bored or in my own I often narrow every corner, poor road positioning just to see what it's like if I need to. Helps break 'arggghg' auto reactions
Yeah, I should reread flick of the wrist as it's all about overcoming 'SRs' as he puts it (survival reactions). Sounds like you're well in control of yours bradders if you're actively trying to elicit them Would like to be at that stage of the game.
Don't agree at all. Starting your right hander near the verge and your left handers somewhere near the middle of the road (or on the other side of it if you have the visibility) ensures the correct tip in point and that you won't run into on-coming traffic/ run out of road on the exit and maximises visibility. It's the same system as on the track, but just far less extreme (as you don't have much road width to play with).
it's refreshing to read your open comments redsail and some I can identify with as my confidence starts to waiver with age. Main thing is you are on the right track, slowly and methodically fettling away at the things you can improve and not being tempted to try and keep up with (apparently) faster riders.
On roundabouts yes, but the upride riding position doesn't amplify steering errors as much on that bike. On the 848 you're so arse up that slowing down puts pressure on the bars. Don't want to start blaming my tools but in this instance I think maybe some tank grips might help so I can use my knees to grip the bike and take pressure off the bars. OR just go faster round!!
find a mate and do this Rapid Training I keep promising myself then spend the money on carbon which is STOOOPID
Are you moving your weight around a bit? On a Ducati sports bike, if you just sit there and try and steer it round, it's not going to happen (easily).
I do shift my weight around but don't on a roundabout - I've never seen anyone else do that either. It certainly helps in fast cornering but despite wanting to understand how much lean the bike can do I have no ambition to get my knee down or get rid of my chicken strips while road riding. It's just about overcoming my own survivial reactions and improving my skill. Why? Because I think it will increase my riding enjoyment and reduce risk. My two main problem areas are roundabouts and very fast, sweeping corners. The guys I couldn't catch were doing 110+ on dual carriageway corners at about 35 degrees of lean - they were not hanging off, that's just way beyond my ability and fear levels. I'm actually OK in the twisties - that's when I get on the footpegs and shift about and get into it but I doubt I'm particularly fast.
relax, dont try to keep up with people, if you ride over your ability you'll end up in a ditch or the wrong side of the white line
