My odyssey from cruiser style riding, to sport riding has moved on to another chapter.
Once again up to the twisties above Rockingham, NC. I don't post every time I go. I actually go quite a bit. Today was my best run ever. Everything clicked into place, with my form at it's absolute best. You know how I can tell? The way she sailed!
You know how it is, when you get it right: The bike just settles down and pulls the corner like it's sailing on the wind. It's just so smooth and so stable as you fly around that corner that it feels like you're not even on the ground.
Yep, it was that good. But, alas, some issues. I came into two turns too late, and it was only the fact I was running at about 80%, and so had room to lean even more, that saved my ass. Also, it's damn amazing how tightly the bike will turn, when you get the form right! There were several times I had to consciously come off my lean, because I was taking the corner tighter than it required.
I'm not all bunched up on the back of the bike, anymore. I figured that one out many runs ago. I'm still a little heavy on the bars. With all that body movement, while cranking on the bars, it's tough not to be heavy on them. I got it mostly right, though.
I still have to constantly think about my form, to get it right, so I can't yet concentrate on the line I'm taking, other than staying in my lane or being able to see around a corner as best I can. Outside of the basic "Cut the corner," the fastest line still mostly eludes me. I'm not worried about that, as I feel it will come with time, and it's not that critical to me. It's my form, making myself one with my machine, that I'm focused on.
I'm still fighting on loading the outside peg with my leg. I'm finding it difficult. Hanging off the inside, my outside leg is pretty stretched, and it takes a lot of my already stressed thought processes to remember to load that outside peg and not the inside.
When I got it right though! Holy frickin' cow, the way she sailed!
Once again up to the twisties above Rockingham, NC. I don't post every time I go. I actually go quite a bit. Today was my best run ever. Everything clicked into place, with my form at it's absolute best. You know how I can tell? The way she sailed!
You know how it is, when you get it right: The bike just settles down and pulls the corner like it's sailing on the wind. It's just so smooth and so stable as you fly around that corner that it feels like you're not even on the ground.
Yep, it was that good. But, alas, some issues. I came into two turns too late, and it was only the fact I was running at about 80%, and so had room to lean even more, that saved my ass. Also, it's damn amazing how tightly the bike will turn, when you get the form right! There were several times I had to consciously come off my lean, because I was taking the corner tighter than it required.
I'm not all bunched up on the back of the bike, anymore. I figured that one out many runs ago. I'm still a little heavy on the bars. With all that body movement, while cranking on the bars, it's tough not to be heavy on them. I got it mostly right, though.
I still have to constantly think about my form, to get it right, so I can't yet concentrate on the line I'm taking, other than staying in my lane or being able to see around a corner as best I can. Outside of the basic "Cut the corner," the fastest line still mostly eludes me. I'm not worried about that, as I feel it will come with time, and it's not that critical to me. It's my form, making myself one with my machine, that I'm focused on.
I'm still fighting on loading the outside peg with my leg. I'm finding it difficult. Hanging off the inside, my outside leg is pretty stretched, and it takes a lot of my already stressed thought processes to remember to load that outside peg and not the inside.
When I got it right though! Holy frickin' cow, the way she sailed!