Bitten?by the Track-day Bike Bug!

[Dark Angel]

I'd thought of going but I've not yert done a trackday and decided it proly wasn't the best time of year to start...

Winter is a great time of year for learning! Riding in the real world, winter teaches you about grip, real and potential hazards, the need for smooth gear changing and braking and, very importantly, the need to anticipate the actions of other road-users. However, winter (in the UK), can also drain your CONFIDENCE in your ability to CONTROL your bike in ALL conditions. This is where track-days can help.

Winter track-days can help to REAFFIRM your knowledge and experience of your own capabilities, and of those of the machine under your control. By this, I mean that (on a racetrack) you may experience the LIMITS of your own performance (although not, per se, the bike?s limitations). Unlike road-riding, however, the opportunity for uninterrupted learning and experimentation (can I go faster, and what will be the consequences of my doing so?) are available, repetitiously, to the disciplined track rider. This well-founded, hard-earned yet disciplined appreciation of variable conditions is what makes a ?true-biker?.

4 "Special Brews"...Can you tell...?

I did wonder what the track was like......... and if it's OK to use heated inner gloves on a track day!!

I?ve already described (satisfactorily, I hope!) the track conditions at Oulton Park, 13/12/05. I rode to Tarporley from Bolton/Blackburn wearing thermal inners inside my gloves. On-track, I removed the inners because I need a high level of ?feel? when de-clutching and braking ( YEAH ? I?m ?clumsy?!). Riding home ? I need to keep my hands warm, because there?s enough to think about ?out there? without being distracted by the cold.

So ? for me ? It boils down to this: On the track ? you wanna be fast. On the road - you wanna be safe?

DA

 

[R2B2]

So, just to recap........ did you enjoy this track day then DA?? :}

 

[D.S.]

Because, on the track ? you can?t kid anybody ? so it?s a waste of time trying to kid yourself.
:

Fookin brilliant DA - with your permission I shall use that in future :bow:
Good to hear you enjoyed it.
One last bit of advice. If you're proposing to do 10'ish UK track days next year - don't! Do 5/6 and put the rest of the budget to a foreign track event which you could combine with a holiday. You will get far more from spending 3/4 continious days at Jerez or Cartagena (in Spain) with almost guaranteed good weather than chancing it here in the UK. The open pit system operated at most foreign track days combined with the more relaxed atmosphere simply enhances the whole experience - for me it is biking nirvana. Go for it DA, I promise you won't be disappointed. The g/f and I are doing Jerez with Focused Events next year so if you're up for it give me a shout. Paul is just down the road in Malaga so ya never know, he might even join us.

 

[Gerrard]

Track Days

Hi DS/DA.
Sorry to jump on the thread so late, I've just got back from a few days break in Portugal...Lifes tough out here :} we even managed a bit of winter sunbathing when we got back as the weather's really good at the moment 23? and sunny.
So Joe I need directions to the circuit for your track day at Guadix as if all goes well I will pop across, it's on Saturday 17th I think you said.
Could you mail me with your Spanish mobile number too so we can find you at the track?
Paul

 

[Dark Angel]

So, just to recap........ did you enjoy this track day then DA?? :}

:neenaw: :}

 

[Dark Angel]

Fookin brilliant DA - with your permission I shall use that in future

No probs, DS!

If you're proposing to do 10'ish UK track days next year - don't! Do 5/6 and put the rest of the budget to a foreign track event which you could combine with a holiday. You will get far more from spending 3/4 continious days at Jerez or Cartagena (in Spain) with almost guaranteed good weather than chancing it here in the UK. The open pit system operated at most foreign track days combined with the more relaxed atmosphere simply enhances the whole experience - for me it is biking nirvana. Go for it DA, I promise you won't be disappointed. The g/f and I are doing Jerez with Focused Events next year so if you're up for it give me a shout. Paul is just down the road in Malaga so ya never know, he might even join us

Oh-hhhhhh, al-right, then, if you in-sist. You seem rather keen on the idea of riding in the sunshine (whatever that is?!), so I'll see what I can do!

Have a great time at Guadix - come back safe and in one piece! :beer:

DA

 

[Dark Angel]

Hey, Paul.....

....Nice to hear that you're still struggling with the weather over there, M8!