I'm still relatively new to trackdays and have taken the opportunity to get an instructor's feedback each time. So far the common theme is that I'm smooth and have good pace, with practice more pace will come. Yesterday at Oulton Park the instructor who followed me for a few laps said that I'm using the balls of my feet when I should be on my toes. This photo backs this up, although in this shot it's not quite the ball: So on my last few sessions I tried to make sure that I was on my toes, it felt wrong. Tow issues I found a) had to move my left foot forward to change gear (a lot) b) I didn't feel as stable. Based on other peoples experience who do you ride and should I be more on my toes?
I use my toes, rather than the balls of my feet. Doesn't make me any faster though, just more comfortable :smile:
Toes for me. like a racer innit, and don't forget the mandatory Rossi airbrake into the local roundabouts!
Thats what I'm not so convinced about. Not doubting the instructors feedback but it just feels wrong and I cannot see how it's efficient when changing gear etc. Guess its down to feel and what works for one may not for another.
Just move your foot to change gear, I often don't even have my foot on the peg when I change, its one of the reasons I run race shift as its easier
Sorry, but how can this make a difference unless you are on the limit of the bikes capabilities? Balls, toes? Well as may use my knob... We are not all Rossi or Marquez! Don't get this at all...
Riding on track is all about co-ordination and confidence. For what its worth I try to keep my toes on the pegs, moving my right foot for gear changes etc. IMO there's nothing wrong with your foot position in the first photo
You've got better control of the bike with your toes, regarding steering. I ride on my toes and that's what the CSS teach. It wasn't an issue for me riding on my toes on the diablos in DD, with the pace we were running on those little bikes, but now I'm on an 848 on slicks I'm finding that in some right hand corners I want to actually have the heel of my boot hooked onto the peg, outside (gear shift) foot only, inside foot on my toes. There's a couple of corners at Eastern Creek where I'm still leaned over a fair way and winding on the gas pretty hard (I love slicks btw!) and I don't want to unsettle the bike by lifting my outside foot off the peg - I want to be pushing down, weight through the peg in that situation and my knee in the tank is also anchoring my body on as I'm still leaning off the bike. So the only way to change up is to have the outside foot hooked in with your heel so your toe can reach the shift lever without lifting your foot off the peg and unsettling the bike. You really need to run race shift to pull it off. It messes with your footpeg position too, and therefore your shift lever position. I had to buy new rearsets and I'm still messing around with them to try and get it right and feel comfortable pushing and doing it. It's good fun innit!
Thanks all for your comments and feedback. I understand and sort of agree with your point radiheadr6, when I was younger I did a lot of sprinting where getting your tequinque right helps with your starts and therefore you overall speed. Riding fast on track I see as being very similar, nail your tequinque and the pace will come.
