Tuesday, February 27, 2024

20 years of riding - a retrospect

 Thought I write this down as it might benefit to someone.

So as of this year I would have ridden for 20 years in Australia. As a new sportsbike rider at that time I did what most riders do. Trying to ride fast, went wide, and crashing. This happened within 2 months of owning the bike. My recollection of how I ride would be something like:

- Opening up the throttle on the straights, fast. 

- Entering corners fast

- Braking as cornering ("trail brake" ?)

- Excessive, unnatural body positioning 

- Running wide and blame the decreasing corners, seeing sand etc.


These days my riding is a very different and quite the opposite

- Limit throttle on straight roads

- Throttle while turning a corner "like a dirtbike"

- This is done by taking a wide entry (late apex)
All braking and slowing down (if necessary at all) done before the corner
Once late apex is identified, open up throttle as much as possible!

- Slow down again when exiting the corner, hence maintaining a "constant pace"

- There is no need for specific body position. Just ride naturally.

- Repeat

What I have observed is this kind of riding actually makes a great pace. I do not feel riding "fast" in fact just very relaxed and hence safe. I could see incoming danger such as cars or gravel on the road and act accordingly.  As I am cornering with throttle the bike is stable and gravel simply powered on.

Thanks for reading and hope this is useful.


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