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When i was taken up the Cat n Fiddle yesterday. 1st time on some proper twisties
Went round them corners at 20mph, proper shitting myself, kept running wide or leaning a bit to far and getting close to the centre line.. Cant seem to hold a good line through a corner. Im ok going through town, riding to work, filtering and motorway riding. But proper twisties scared the life out of me.

any advice would be greatly received.

Cheers

I think you just need to relax by the sounds of it. I think i might go on some different roads, from what ive heard its a pretty dangerous road and heavily policed too so maybe not the best place to get to learn your bike?

cheers rob,

There were two rozzer vans parked up on the road yest. one about five mins from the start heading towards the pub/matlock and 1 just after the pub heading towards matlock. Also there were rumours that the rozzers had a light aircraft tracking bikes n toad.

Ive been thinking about getting some extra tuition from some clever/experienced riders. Gotta look into that. I really wanna do a track day, but not just yet cos i know ill bin it. As im heading into the corner i pick the left side for a right if u know what i mean, then scrub some speed, wiggle a bit left then lean into the bend with my chin up and looking up the road to where im going, but my perifaral vision kicks in and im uber aware of the edge of the road (where the kurb would be if there was one) and i start to bottle it a little/alot.

Earlier on the way to J&S to get the other half some pants, we left the expressway and went onto astmoor road. Cliclywicky this huge massive left hander that i found quite tight. Had her on the back, and had a massive lean on while doing 30mph going on it. was well bricking it, but held the line (ish)

Extra tuition is always worth it, people spend thousands on bits for thier bike to go faster yet they dont spend the money on themselves which is the biggest part of going quickly. Im looking to join ROSPA this year and get some advanced training. There should be a Bike Safe course in your local area which i can highly highly reccomend. Did mine with London police years ago and was a superb day, coming out feeling a hell of alot more confident, not just about my riding but my ability to spot things and read the road better, i should do a refresher really. It is only an introduction to advanced riding tho, not a proper course.

Its also a good chance to get away with just about anything in front of a copper . They arent there to catch you out as its a positive enforment course.

But yeah, just relax and look ahead, placing yourself in the road where you need to be to get your best view. You can even look on youtube and theres vids of advanced riding techniques.

The fact that that you're bricking it yet not coming off means you're within your limits and the bike's limits. Being tense won't help at all so just take it easy and relax.
You're not out on the TT so just ride at your speed and you'll gain confidence and naturally go quicker.

Sounds like you know what's wrong - you looking at the curb. Get that 1000yard stare on where you're going.

Also trackdays are very friendly. They're not races so you can go at your own pace. Some old guy literally went 50mph round but he no doubt learnt something.
Never push past your comfort zone. That's what it is - you're comfortable level = having fun!

Trainning sounds good. Cant beat experience but knowledge counts for a lot.

I think bricking it actually means hes near his own limit, but well away from the bikes. He will already be in a panic about trying to stay on the road and getting it right, let alone deal with something unexpected. Along the cat n fiddle i think theres even a good chance a sheep will walk out on you. Which is why i suggested a safer/quieter road.

Look at it like this, your really concentrating on something, like porn. Your sat at your desk watching it and you hear the door handle move. It scares the crap out of you, not just because it might be something that you shouldnt be doing, but also because your brain is being asked to deal with something else, you then try to switch the monitor off or close the window in a hurry, but your so paniced about the door opening you cant do it quick enough and it becomes incredibly difficult to do a really simple task. Im sure we can all relate to that in some way or another

Training will give you the tools to deal with riding the bike and being able to read the road.

Haha nice analogy Rob.
You can of course go the other way and react quick as a flash, without thinking... Trouble is you've only minimized the window! And now they're in the room!

Trainning would have taught you to cover alt+F4 to avoid such trouble!

Lol

Interestingly, there's a flash game somewhere that demonstrates panic reaction. Being scared improves your response time. But obviously doesn't mean you react correctly.

Does sound to me like your very tense on the bike, which will just make the bike feel very jerky round corners and that you can't flick it round a corner like it should. For god sake don't focus on the curb because that will not end well!!
The massive lean round that bend was probably due to her not leaning with the bike and trying to sit up right...It doesn't look a 30mph bend to me....
Just a nice relaxed grip on the bars is all it needs, and if your leant over a long way your weight should be taken on your outside leg...Try taking a road you know very well over and over just carrying a little more corner speed each time, relax and look where you're going. After all the bike is more capable than us as long as the inputs are smooth

Cheers for all the advice guys, i hope it doesnt stop there

I keep forgetting to tell her to not sit bolt upright, she is generally good in and about town, but tighter roads are a diff kettle of fish all together lol.

Im out over The Tap in eastham (for those that know it) tonight, and coming the long way back with gang. They call it a club, but its a gang and we are nails......

Should be there about 6ish if anyone is nearby.

Hope to see some-one there

you would be surprised how low your bike will go, dont be affraid to lean into the bend, but its the confidence thing i think, once you have a scare it slows you down for a while lol. been there and done that loads of times, but now i know my cbr can go as low as it does before it bins i cant wait to try it out lol.

Its seems a long time ago now but the "breakthrough" for me on smooth cornering was when someone explained the concept of the "vanishing point" and positioning the bike as far to the left (for right handers) and as far to the right (for left handers). Vanishing point moving away = get on the gas; vanishing point coming towards you = not yet!! Wathing the vanishing point and forgetting about what is going on in the immediate vicinty of the bike smooths everything out a treat

Davw wrote: Wathing the vanishing point and forgetting about what is going on in the immediate vicinty of the bike smooths everything out a treat

+1 BIG TIME!!!!

I noticed recently that I don't concentrate that much on whats ahead of me. I'll always be looking in my mirrors, or down at the speedo, or thinking about what Im having for tea. Recently, Ive been trying to get my full, undevided attention on whats coming up ahead, I have to say It really does work.

hi mate all i can say to you is relax go out on your own find a nice road.
Stop at the start just look at the rute your gonna take, feel the adrenalin pumping through your veins.
Push it dont think just push your self you will not bin your bike ,all you focus will be on the job in hand cause you're out of your confort zone.
then as you approach the end of your course you will have a massive smile and you will feel like you have just won moto GP.

good times!!!
you have tamed your bike, things dont come to those who wait they come to those who take them with both hands

haha good look !!!!

not the best road in the world in fact it was voted the most dangerous road in the uk by 5th gear or some program like that witch is bad going really ive been along it a few times and its got more pot holes on the bends its self so makes conoring even harder they have that much rain up in the hills the road erodeds away on the coners. and sheep can just go any where they like ive seen a few in the road and wouldnt fancy meeting one at any kind of speed

kwackkev22 wrote:not the best road in the world in fact it was voted the most dangerous road in the uk by 5th gear or some program like that witch is bad going really ive been along it a few times and its got more pot holes on the bends its self so makes conoring even harder they have that much rain up in the hills the road erodeds away on the coners. and sheep can just go any where they like ive seen a few in the road and wouldnt fancy meeting one at any kind of speed

I think it must have been 5th Gear because I seem to remember Tiff was driving and nearly came a cropper as he was doing the feature! I think someone pulled out on him or something?