Stay Upright Advanced Cornering and Braking Course

Just a report from my day at the SU Cornering and Braking course at Oran
Park.

It was absolutely pissing down with rain all day, so although it wasn't the
most fun, I certainly learnt a lot about riding under adverse conditions.
The course was absolutely excellent, and I can't recommend it highly enough.
The class sizes are small and the traffic on the track is never a problem.

One opinion - if you are not a particularly skilled rider (ie, if you ride
like me), then I wouldn't bother paying the extra $50 for the days when they
offer the full GP circuit at Oran Park (as opposed to the easier Northern
Track).

My reasons for this suggestion: during these courses you are spending a lot
of time focusing on your "core" skills (gear selection, braking on the
down-change, correct body position, correct eyeline, correct approach, etc).
As a result, the last thing you need are really challenging corners such as
the ones found on the full GP track at Oran Park.

I found that I simply didn't have these core skills developed well enough to
then start thinking about the next set of decisions - the correct setup,
lines, entry, exit points etc - I needed to tackle those difficult corners
properly. Hence I basically just tootled around them until I got to some
corners which were more suited to my "weenie" skill level. I think after a
lot more practice I'd be able to tackle those types of corners, but
certainly not yet. If I had spent the day fanging around the much easier
Northern Track and concentrating on my core skills, I think I would have
gotten better value.

I'd be interested if anyone more experienced at track riding has anything to
add about this idea of sticking to easier corners for the early stages.

Manning

 

Does this mean when you go out riding you only ride down roads with easy
corners and avoid roads with challenging corners? I'd have thought a corner
is a corner is a corner, and learning to ride around a "challenging" corner
probably more important than riding around an "easy" corner.

Nev..
'03 ZX12R
'02 CBR1100XX

 

Not actually what I said, Nev, but never mind

Manning

 

he said he wanted to potter around a bit to try all the new stuff he
learned...and felt he could not do it at that particular track...whearas the
other track is suitable for pottering on
i spose if one track is 'fast', that is the corners are of larger radius, it
would be more challanging than being able to practice 'cornering technique'
at a slower speed
this is what public roads are for...they are slow, bumpy, narrow, and
equipped with all manner of hazards to enhance your riding skills so when
you do get on a race track it is so much easier to maintain a 'comfortable
touring pace'

 

For the time being, yes. Given that I have recently learnt a new set of
skills and techniques, and also given that I have not mastered them yet,
yes, I think it makes far more sense to develop these skills in a
less-challenging environment first. I think that is sound advice to anyone
attempting to learn a new skill.

I disagree. Neither is more important than the other, but learning the easy
corner MUST come first. There is no point tackling a 160 deg hairpin with a
negative camber if you can't tackle a 55km curve properly. You are only a
risk to yourself, and an annoyance to the other and more capable riders who
you are holding up. Once you are satisfied with your skill level, you should
then seek to advance to greater challenges progressively.

As for me, I've suddenly learnt that I've got old established habits to
break and new techniques to perfect. So I'm going to hold off from doing any
particularly challenging rides until I'm happy that I've broken my old
habits and properly developed these new ones. It's better for me, and
definitely better for everyone else. Once these techniques are bedded down
I'll start to take on greater challenges.

I'm really quite surprised that you think that is such a bad idea.

Manning

 

after 15 years of dirt bikes my tt600 is something completely different
and i have had to reapraise my riding style completely
good luck with the new techniques
cheers dan

 

Manning,
Only comment on track would be that there is not that much more to the full
GP circuit + 3 corners and the flip/flop LESS the long left of the Nth
circuit.

Discussion point:
What makes a corner more challenging?

I would suggest some examples:
1. Down hill or negative camber (down hill corners feel like they are
negative camber) including change of grade from up to down through the
corner
2. Blind - unable to see apex and/or exit
3. Multiple apex or late apex corners
4. High speed corners

All of these should not be affected by the core skills - just take more
care.

Greg