Attention Whore 2.0

[swampduc]

Some pics from my most recent trackday (11/15/09). Critiques of form are welcome and appreciated. One thing I already knew and can see in these pics is that I need to get my upper body lower, especially on right turns, which I'm less comfortable with for some reason.

[derby]

...which I'm less comfortable with for some reason.

it's quite common for riders to favor a side.

[Cider]

Nice track bike!  Looks like fun--which track are you at?

[derby]

Nice track bike!  Looks like fun--which track are you at?

npr?

[gm2]

it's quite common for riders to favor a side.

and it's usually that side.  my theory is that's the throttle-hand side.  for sure you look more comfortable going left.  my suggestion would be to deliberately lower your chest an inch or two closer to the tank going right; you'll increase your turn angle slightly and start to be more comfortable on that side.

looks great!

[ducpainter]

npr?

I don't know, but there's more concrete and tires than NHMS.

I have to consciously remind myself to bend my elbows. It helps me with my upper body.

[swampduc]

npr?

Correct. Jebus, the man knows EVERYTHING 

gm2, that was what I was guessing (throttle side) - I think that in trying to be careful with my throttle control, I tend to keep more tension in the right arm and don't bend my elbow as much. Thanks to you and Nate.

[ducpainter]

Correct. Jebus, the man knows EVERYTHING 

scary...isn't it.

[mitt]

What is that green stuff in between and surrounding the concrete track?


mitt (locked in a never ending winter hell)

[duccarlos]

Someone gave me some advice for my upper body. Try to have your forearm as close to the tank as possible. What does that mean, if you're turning right have your left forearm touching the tank. Basically helps you lowering your upper body more towards the tank.

[Cider]

I've been to a few track schools, and I think the most common feedback that I've heard (for me and everybody else) is to get the upper body lower.  You don't look twisted though, which also seems common.  

Ken Hill always says something like "nobody is getting too low with their upper body.  I'll let you know if you get too low, so just keep working on it."

[swampduc]

I've been to a few track schools, and I think the most common feedback that I've heard (for me and everybody else) is to get the upper body lower.  You don't look twisted though, which also seems common.  

Ken Hill always says something like "nobody is getting too low with their upper body.  I'll let you know if you get too low, so just keep working on it."

Sounds like good advice. I've done 1 track school last May (Schwantz at Barber). That's about when I first started learning to really body position, and it helped immeasurably. I may try to do another school this year, dependent on money and time.

[gm2]

...aim your chin for the outside of your in-turn handlebar/clip-on.

[Spidey]

Looks good, mang.  

From the pictures, you *might* want to focus a bit on getting tighter on your apexes.  Don't worry about going fast as much as about cleaning up your lines.  Fast will come (and will come more easily and comfortably) when your lines are more dialed in.

Someone gave me some advice for my upper body. Try to have your forearm as close to the tank as possible. What does that mean, if you're turning right have your left forearm touching the tank. Basically helps you lowering your upper body more towards the tank.

This is good advice.  I often catch myself with my butt too far off and my head not far enough off.  The way I correct is I get set up for the turn and at turn in, I consciously bring my outside elbow/forearm into the tank and at the same time, try to move my head down to kiss my knuckles on the inside hand (and then move past my hand) [Edit:  gm2 just said the same thing while I was typing this post].  It's one single motion.  It also reminds me to look through the turn.  As my head goes down to my knuckles, I start ticking off my reference points.  If you really focus on getting your head down and forward, the rest of your body will follow.

Visualizing what I'm trying to do also helps.  I try not to think of it as hanging off the bike (I never liked that expression).  I think of it as standing the bike on the outside of my body/the turn.  I let it stand up out there and move around and absorb the bumps.  Meanwhile, my body is tucked on the inside of the turn, and I'm focusing on where I want to go.    

FWIW, I'm much more comfy on my right turns than my left.  

[duccarlos]

This is good advice.  I often catch myself with my butt too far off and my head not far enough off.  The way I correct is I get set up for the turn and at turn in, I consciously bring my outside elbow/forearm into the tank and at the same time, try to move my head down to kiss my knuckles on the inside hand (and then move past my hand) [Edit:  gm2 just said the same thing while I was typing this post].  It's one single motion.  It also reminds me to look through the turn.  As my head goes down to my knuckles, I start ticking off my reference points.  If you really focus on getting your head down and forward, the rest of your body will follow.

I'm going to definitely try the "kiss the knuckles" technic. Thanks Spidey!