How to hang off the bike

[ceo012384]

Originally Posted by No Worries

I haven't been on a racetrack since 1984. And the only time I was in New Hampshire was in 1975 or so for a Geology field camp.

But let me describe a turn, or actually multiple curves on my favorite road. It's a steep, two-lane road with no shoulders. The first curve is blind. It goes around a nose of the mountain. Surprise, it's also a decreasing radius. So you have to lean even more. The road is immediately in a small valley and turns in the opposite direction. Depending on your speed, you have between 1/2 and 1 second to lean the bike fully from one direction to the other.

Picture doing a tight figure-eight at maximum speed and lean. The transition from leaning fully from left to right, and vice-versa has to be done very quickly. Actually, the bike is still leaned over in the direction of the first curve, while the rider has to begin leaning in the opposite direction.

The Total Control class made us practice figure-eights, in both directions, while looking at each instructor in each center of the figure-eight. Only about 25mph, but it was tight. Once you master the figure-eight, mountain and canyon riding are much easier.

After riding on a tight track like loudon, your body positioning becomes second nature and you can switch back and forth VERY quickly.

Also, I find that you can do things with the bike/controls to help to flip the bike and yourself over faster... for example start to decrease lean angle and use that to toss yourself over while you give the bike a little bit of gas, allowing your other side's countersteer to really snap the bike around. You can see me doing (not a great job at) that in the vid I posted in my last TD thread in the chicane of turn 12 which is right before the main straight.

[zortness]

Here's an image for some visual references relating to my earlier post. This is me coming up behind Danny in turn 7 at LVMS. Danny's not slow, he's running 1:28's at LVMS, which is pretty quick for a non-racer.

Here's what's going on in the picture: I'm coming up behind Danny. I actually passed him coming out of this corner. It's a double-apex corner decreasing radius corner, I'm just past the point where I use the most lean, so this is the exit half of the corner (I'm already off the brakes and on the gas). Danny's on a good line, but I'm carrying about 5mph more than him.

Here's what I see: Danny's hunting for the track with his knee, so instead of rotating around the tank, he's moving directly off to the left. This is forcing his upper body to stay more over the tank. It's also pushing his toes out further on his inside foot, which takes away some of his usable lean angle. His arms also look tense in this picture, to me anyway. Also, Danny's looking at the curbing, I'm looking at the next corner (a right hander that's not more than 200ft past this curb). My form is not perfect either, my head should be lower as I exit the corner.

[DLIT]

Weird, Danny usually doesn't have form like that. I think he musta been trying something new.

[ceo012384]

Originally Posted by zortness

Here's what I see: Danny's hunting for the track with his knee, so instead of rotating around the tank, he's moving directly off to the left. This is forcing his upper body to stay more over the tank. It's also pushing his toes out further on his inside foot, which takes away some of his usable lean angle. His arms also look tense in this picture, to me anyway. Also, Danny's looking at the curbing, I'm looking at the next corner (a right hander that's not more than 200ft past this curb). My form is not perfect either, my head should be lower as I exit the corner.

That's a great picture Zort. Shows contrast and such.

Danny at first looks more aggressive... but you look closer and can tell he's putting a lot more effort into what he's doing, and looks tensed up because of it.

Although like DLIT said, it's easy to catch someone at a point when they're not doing things their best, maybe he doesn't ride like this picture at all times.

[DLIT]

Originally Posted by ceo012384

That's a great picture Zort. Shows contrast and such.

Danny at first looks more aggressive... but you look closer and can tell he's putting a lot more effort into what he's doing, and looks tensed up because of it.

Although like DLIT said, it's easy to catch someone at a point when they're not doing things their best, maybe he doesn't ride like this picture at all times.

He doesn't ride like that all the time. I think he's frustrated because he's stuck at 1:28 and he was trying new stuff. Danny and I like to battle on the track. We're about the same pace. He's just got a barrier to get passed. I think he was on a 211GP rear and a 2CT front that day, too. We gotta get him on here, Kurt.

[OneSickPsycho]

\
Edwards has good form.

[DLIT]

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

\
Edwards has good form.

Hahahahaha. That was a shitty race for him. One corner away from sealing a victory and off he goes. Got back up to finish 8th. Woulda been sweet to see him win that, instead it went to Hayden. Hayden's only other win in '06.

[Country Boy 22]

This is some good reading material...very helpful info. You guys know of any more places to get info like this?

[OneSickPsycho]

I just realized what that picture is behind Edwards..

[pickle.of.doom]

Originally Posted by Country Boy 22

This is some good reading material...very helpful info. You guys know of any more places to get info like this?

Twist of the Wrist II by Keith Code, Sport Riding Techniques by Nick Ienastch, Total Control by Lee Parks. All 3 great books with tons of info. Everything these guys are spitting out bits and pieces of are covered in full detail in these books.