Photos comfirm, I did forget how to ride my motorcycle!

["Dangerous" Dan K]

So this weekend I felt all out of shape. Managed to get in front of Alex and Josh despite a terrible start, and my lap times were only about a second off my previous PB, but I just felt wrong out there. I was attributing it to 3 things:

1) Way too long off the bike
2) First time back on bike was my first time on a wet track, on DOT's
3) Confidence issues in the brakes. Had a brake issue Sat morning, and even though I fixed it they felt different that I'm used to and I had some trouble adjusting.

However, I now that photographic evidence that what actually happened was much simpler: I forgot to ride, and I suck again. Damnit! Going to have to get some more track time in before next race weekend! On the bright side, if I was this out of form and not feeling it and still doing 32's as opposed to my PB in the 31's, I should be able to get into those 29's if I can clean up my form and stop sucking so much.

Evidence #1: Picture from a while back. Decent form, bike way over, doing it about as good as someone green as I can hope for:


Evidence #2: More of the same. Leading with the shoulder, not crossed up, generally where I expect myself to be for my current (lack of) skill.


Now, for this weekend. Evidence article 3, which clearly shows me having forgotten how to ride. Crossed up, not off the bike enough... just generally "doing it wrong".


Final article of evidence, #4. Later in the weekend (as shown by the shades rather than normal eyeglasses). This must be just after I passed Alex in PTwins. Starting to lead with the shoulder, although still not nearly enough. Not too crossed up, but not leaning in like I should be either. Better than #3, still not where I should be at all.


Everyone kept telling me 1 second off my PB wasn't bad, you can't get a PB every time out, etc. That said, I knew I was off my game... I could just feel it. These pics (and there are more to back it up) show what I thought. Guess it's time to put some work into getting back to the basics, really focusing on my form, etc. Backwards progress is not the kind of progress I'm looking to make.

For the record, I'd be ok being 1 sec off a PB if I didn't feel like I was off form doing it. Pics confirm this. So, back to basics I guess. Any of you guys been down this road?

[OreoGaborio]

Wirelessly posted (Samsung Lube.... Er, Glyde: Mozilla/5.0 440x240 Samsung SCH-U940 NetFront/3.4)

Sometmes 1 step back leads to 2 steps forward. Good luck sortin your head for next race weekend

[daviid]

Wirelessly posted (Samsung Lube.... Er, Glyde: Mozilla/5.0 440x240 Samsung SCH-U940 NetFront/3.4)

Sometmes 1 step back leads to 2 steps forward. Good luck sortin your head for next race weekend

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Thanks guys. So does my "as much track time as I can get" and "get back to the basics and work on form" sound like the right approach here? I don't know how much was just being out of practice, how much was mental block from the wet practice on the DOTs and how much was trying to get used to the new brakes, but for whatever reason there was definitely a mental step backwards that showed itself in my riding & form. I know it happens, can't always do better than last time, etc. but any specific pointers on how you guys have dealt with this situation in the past would be appreciated.

[TheIglu]

Loosen up.

When I find the natural ability to do the right thing is not coming to me at that time, I do what my old girlfriends did best: fake it.

Do the movements you know you should be doing, but at a pace that you don't think you need to do them on. Force yourself to mentally prepare for each corner early. When you are rushed, you slack off. If you find yourself planning ahead, and not mentally working on the current corner when you are already in, the entire track will seems slower and far easier to get smooth/fast on.

[scottieducati]

+1, sometimes the best thing to do is to slow everything down... including your hands. Slow on the gas, easy on the brakes, focus on getting setup early for the corners and slowly ease into it, the pace will come.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Thanks guys. I think I just had too much going on at once this weekend, and as a result I was tense as hell, and that clearly doesn't work. Guess I'll have to get back on the track and work on slowing down and focusing on form.

Clayton, I like your idea about doing the stuff even when I don't feel like I need to. When I'm "in the zone" so to speak I find myself off the bike, doing all the movements even at pit out and whatnot, kind of mentally preparing myself and looking forward to the real deal. There was none of that last weekend. Good tip, appreciate it.

[NeverlosT]

im just naturally phenominal so these problems of normal folks dont effect me.



Id say if you just came back and are only 1 sec over, you are soon to be at least 1 sec under when you get your groove back. Cool pics, good luck!

[seth399]

I attributed my not dropping more time on sunday to me being up until 3am saturday night drinking

(not doing that next race weekend)

[Ken C]

I'm a thinking rider, but sometimes you can think too much. Some weekends are better than others and being 1 second off is no big deal. You are a knowledgeable rider that just needs to take a bit more time to apply what he knows.

Strive to relax during your first two practice sessions. Monitor stress in your arms and look far ahead to slow down the landscape. Aim for relaxed precision. It will all come back soon enough.

[/QUOTE]=When I'm "in the zone" ... [/QUOTE]

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Thanks Ken! I think relaxation is key, I was way too tense and knew it but couldn't seem to get my head in the game. It's not the 1 second off that bothers me, it's the poor form. I appreciate your advice and will def. focus on relaxing in practice, watching tension in my arms and looking ahead. I feel like I normally do those things at least partially decent, I guess this was just an off weekend for me. Oh well. I'll have to get back "in the zone" for next time is all

[Ken C]

Trust me, even us veterans have to be concious of how tense we are. If my outside arm isn't resting on the fuel tank, then I know I'm carrying tension. Same with where I'm looking. I have visual targets that keep my eyes pointed far ahead, but I revert to mid-distance targets when I'm letting tension get in the way.

OF course, you must ask why you are tense. More times than not, it's self-induced, but it's still important to pay attention to what the bike and tires are telling you and investigate any potential problems. After ruling out mechanical or tire issues, then let her rip!

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Thanks again Ken! I know why I was tense, I’m pretty sure. It was a combination of a few things, only some of which are bike/track related and the other isn’t really board appropriate. I’m pretty sure it’s not the bike in any way, shape or form. Appreciate the input, I’m going to work on it next time I can get to the track.

[LowSider]

Is this a joke?



PS. Didn't think anyone would copy DB:

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...yle-check.html

[Pittenger5]

Mine was a statement of fact. Dick.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Is this a joke?



PS. Didn't think anyone would copy DB:

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...yle-check.html

No joke, and somehow I missed that DB thread. Probably for the better or I may not have posted this and I got some good info/reassurance here. OTOH I do DB, but you're not supposed to know that : It's one of the reasons I wanted to see your brothers video, to see how out of form I was at a different spot on the track. It's hard to tell body position for Kurlon's for some reason.

Mine was a statement of fact. Dick.

And mine wasn't? Went from at least acceptable form to looking like I was in my rookie race again...