5/13 Trackday Report: Enzo n 'Belle (the 13th is unlucky)

[rafa]

http://gotbluemilk.com/web090513/101/index.html    the belle's pic's. Heather you look very fast Glad Evan is OK.

[mostrobelle]

Just goes to show you, seeing isn't always believing, but thanks!    I was one of the slowest people in our group that day.  Generally I'm more in the middle.  Everyone riding out there with me looked really good--rrrreally good.  I think there were 2 or 3 people out of the entire group that I'd pass on a regular basis.  I set up my bicycle Garmin on the trackbike and am going to see if that worked as a laptimer.  It's the first time I've used that function on it, so we'll see how it went for me.  I was working on a couple of turns and trying different lines in the second half of the day. 

[mostrobelle]

I used the little Garmin/GPS from my bicycle on the track.  Still struggling with getting it worked out, and it's not nearly as accurate as a real lap timer... I think one of my better times was around 2:06.  Enzo thinks he was closer to 2:00 so it sounds about right.  My top speed was 90 or 95 mph.  The cool part is that it recorded my exact route on every lap I did.  You can see where I passed people, my out laps, where I played with different lines.  I'll try to post up the "map" it recorded later. 

[remy]

That would be awesome to see. I have a Zumo 450. Which are you using?

[remy]

So I tend to have my outer knee kind of poking up like this, too. I have ideas on how to correct for this, but what do others recommend? Should we be on tippy-toes? Rotate that foot more inwards?
(I don't mean to go too off-topic but since Belle does this too I'm hoping it's still appropriate to post here)

[Spidey]

I struggled with the same question for a while.  Then I realized it's fine.  Don't do anything.  You'd probably have to seriously screw with the ergos of your bike to change it up.  As long you're locked off with your inner thigh and your foot placement is solid.  Even the motogp guys do it. 



Lorenzo's knee is way off

[somegirl]

Lorenzo's knee is way off

[mostrobelle]

That would be awesome to see. I have a Zumo 450. Which are you using?

I have a Garmin 205. 

[mostrobelle]

So I tend to have my outer knee kind of poking up like this, too. I have ideas on how to correct for this, but what do others recommend? Should we be on tippy-toes? Rotate that foot more inwards?
(I don't mean to go too off-topic but since Belle does this too I'm hoping it's still appropriate to post here)

I probably could be better about this.  Good on ya for noticing.     My bigger issue is that my toe drags whenever my knee does--like every time.  And I'm starting to get a knee down once in a while.  And if my toe is dragging my peg isn't far off.  Not good.  And I don't know how to fix that. 

[DanTheMan]

I probably could be better about this.  Good on ya for noticing.     My bigger issue is that my toe drags whenever my knee does--like every time.  And I'm starting to get a knee down once in a while.  And if my toe is dragging my peg isn't far off.  Not good.  And I don't know how to fix that. 

Get off the bike more. Your not hanging off enough. or you just need some rearsets.

Look how far my outside knee sticks out, you could have made a pass through there. Ive noticed that a while back and worked with different body positions to try and fix but always went back to what was comfortable. If you scoot all the way back in your seat you can get it to close up on the tank. Its going to take a lot more leg strength to hold yourself in position with only your knee touching the tank. A lot less work to brace your inner thigh on the tank to hold you where you need to be.  I think the 250 makes it look a little exaggerated. Pictures of me on other bikes don't look that far out.

[tigre]

Didn't Warren try that once?

Look how far my outside knee sticks out, you could have made a pass through there.

[DanTheMan]

Didn't Warren try that once?

he sure as hell tried.

[remy]

So it seems to me like having your outer knee out on the outside is pretty dependent on the bike you're riding. With the MotoGP guys a small exception, I've started noticing people on more upright bikes like the Streetfighter, baby Ninja, and Monster tend to have riders donig this, while pure sportbikes tend to show riders hanging on with the knee moreso than the upper thigh.

I was just hoping this would help me point my inside knee out more. In some picture my outside knee sticks further out than the inside! 

Anyway, thanks for responses everyone. It sounds like it's not something to worry too much about.

Hey Belle, have you ridden your little 400 in B or A group? If you have (or anyone else who has done so on a smaller displacement bike) do you just get used to being passed up on the straights and find that other riders don't mind you getting in the way of their 1000's? I'm imagining moving up to B at some point and am wondering what to expect.
As long as you're lapping at an acceptable pace for the group do you just get used to passing and being passed by the same riders?

(Just kick me out if I'm veering too far off topic. It's a track post and I'm just finding myself more and more involved in track thoughts these days  [moto] )

[Spidey]

Riding a small bike in the B or A group, you just get used to being passed on the straights.  Big bikes don't care if they have to pass you on the straights.  At all.  It's easy and you're just another person to pass.  You need to get out of your head the notion that you might inconvenience others on the track.  Just ride your pace, ride consistently and let others worry about how to get around you. 

The biggest problem with the A and B groups are that 'normal' sized bikes misjudge your speed and cut in front of you and almost take your front tire out.  Happens all the time.  Or they pass you back right before a turn and then park it.  You go around them in the turn, then they blast on the straight and park it again.   It gets frustrating.  I just used to pull into the pits and look for clear track.

You're also more likely to have some guy get the red mist if you go around him.  It wasn't unusual in the B group for someone to crash because they *have* to pass me after I got by them.  In fact, PTT told riders in the riders' meeting that if they get passed by a 250 they were pussies.  Thanks, Michael Ernest.   

The move to B seems scary, but it isn't.  You'll find it refreshing that people are more predictable.  And the passing/getting passed is no big deal.

[DanTheMan]

Just ride your line and be predictable. Expect to get your doors blown off in the straight and don't be spooked by it. Don't look back and try to move out of their way, cause they have already set you up for the pass before you know they are there.