Relaxing in the corners

lilredridingliz · 03-24-2008

We went for a relatively short ride on Saturday (50 miles round trip), but this was the first time I felt really comfortable riding through the corners. As many of you know we live on the coast of California, and all the roads here are curvy. Riding curves have been the one part of riding that has made me nervous.

For the past few weeks I have been replaying the cornering portion of the MSF course in my brain, really visualizing what it means to corner and in trusting both my bike and my tires. During Saturday's ride, I payed close attention to my body and to the places I was holding tension, especially when coming up to a curvy stretch of road. I would consciously relax those areas (calves, shoulders, wrists, etc.) and then I would focus on looking through the curve and using the whole lane (outside, inside, outside). My cornering was much smoother, and it was noticeable to my bf who was riding behind me. This gave me a boost of confidence in my riding ability!

fretbuzz · 03-24-2008

Sweet, Liz. You will continue to grow as a skilled rider even when you become less conscious of it.

What a lucky guy he is to have a woman that will ride with him.

CheriAnn · 03-24-2008

That's great Liz!!!!

I know how much that means to you!!!! I kept replaying in my head over and over again...."The bike was made to do this!" Once I started trusting myself and the bike, the curves and swerves became a blast!!!! Good for you!!!!!

lilredridingliz · 03-24-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheriAnn

That's great Liz!!!!

I know how much that means to you!!!! I kept replaying in my head over and over again...."The bike was made to do this!" Once I started trusting myself and the bike, the curves and swerves became a blast!!!! Good for you!!!!!

Yes, both those things are SO important (trusting self and bike!).

cmptrmn.1 · 03-24-2008

Good for you Liz. It keeps getting more and more natural. Your body just becomes one with the bike. (Lucky Bike)

lilredridingliz · 03-24-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmptrmn.1

Good for you Liz. It keeps getting more and more natural. Your body just becomes one with the bike. (Lucky Bike)

heehee…

It's funny. When I drive some of our roads, I now try to think about how I would ride that section of road on my bike. I think all that visualization helps.

NCDave · 03-24-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilredridingliz

We went for a relatively short ride on Saturday (50 miles round trip), but this was the first time I felt really comfortable riding through the corners. As many of you know we live on the coast of California, and all the roads here are curvy. Riding curves have been the one part of riding that has made me nervous.

For the past few weeks I have been replaying the cornering portion of the MSF course in my brain, really visualizing what it means to corner and in trusting both my bike and my tires. During Saturday's ride, I payed close attention to my body and to the places I was holding tension, especially when coming up to a curvy stretch of road. I would consciously relax those areas (calves, shoulders, wrists, etc.) and then I would focus on looking through the curve and using the whole lane (outside, inside, outside). My cornering was much smoother, and it was noticeable to my bf who was riding behind me. This gave me a boost of confidence in my riding ability!

Good for you, Liz! Just remember, practice makes perfect!

NCDave · 03-24-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilredridingliz

...I think all that visualization helps.

Is that anything like visualizing whirled peas??????

daemon · 03-24-2008

cool beans liz!!
won't be long and i'll be remarking your lean angle on some of your videos.

keep up the good practice.
i wouldn't near as good as i am if it weren't for some of the local riders telling me where i was going wrong.
they were a great help to me once i moved out here.

Alf · 03-24-2008

Yay Liz congrats.

lilredridingliz · 03-25-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by daemon

cool beans liz!!
won't be long and i'll be remarking your lean angle on some of your videos.

keep up the good practice.
i wouldn't near as good as i am if it weren't for some of the local riders telling me where i was going wrong.
they were a great help to me once i moved out here.

I hope you're right, Michael!

Really, I don't have any need to "fly" through the corners, but keeping at or above speed is pretty important. At one point last year, a Harley caught up with us because I was so slow in the corners!

I decided I needed to become more proficient. It seems that the persistence of riding more often, as well as the other things I mentioned, is really paying off for me. Thanks to you all for recommending "practice, practice, and more practice!"

RichLockyer · 03-25-2008

Now look up "Delayed Apex" on Google.

CheriAnn · 03-25-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Now look up "Delayed Apex" on Google.

What a wealth of knowledge you have Rich!!!!!

I had never heard of this before!!!

The delayed apex (sometimes called a “late” apex) provides a better view ahead, conserves traction during the last half of the turn, keeps you away from those “sideswipe zones,” and points the bike more around the curve. A delayed apex line is a good idea for riding public roads where anything can happen.

A2rider · 03-25-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Now look up "Delayed Apex" on Google.

Every rider has to teach themselves this. It's much easier to follow someone that knows how to do this. I was fortunate to be able to follow a good rider and see how I should be taking "the lines" around corners. Made a huge difference in cornering, confidence and safety. Keep going, Liz, you'll be riding one handed eventually.

lilredridingliz · 03-25-2008

Hehe, I ride one-handed on the straights already, Tina.

That's a great idea, Tina, to follow someone. I have tried doing that with Tony, but, you're right in saying that each rider has to find their own way.

I know about apexes and lines from my autocross training, but thus far have followed a traditional outside-inside-outside line when cornering. The delayed apex makes so much sense on a bike. I have seen people do this in their sports cars, but it hasn't been my "line of choice" when driving.

Thank you Rich and Cheri for the inspiration and the explanation!

A2rider · 03-25-2008

It's hard for someone "showing" you to slow down and kind of exaggerate the lines, but that's the best way I can learn.

Where we use to live, there was a great set of twisties, about 8 miles long. I would go up and down them, over and over, until I got tired. But each time my line improved a little bit.

And I have no idea why I would do this, being I was on a 600 Shadow. I wasn't ever going to keep up with any sportbikes, that's for sure. I think I did it just to make myself happy, to be a better rider.

V2K_CCTX · 03-25-2008

Good job liz, its just like.....well riding a bike

CheriAnn · 03-25-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilredridingliz

That's a great idea, Tina, to follow someone. I have tried doing that with Tony, but, you're right in saying that each rider has to find their own way.

Boy, this caused some problems for me last year!!!! I know the newbie rider should be in the front, but I always felt anxious leading, and insisted on following behind Chaz. The curves became easier with time and tons of fun, until the day Chaz made me lead on a twisty country road!!!!

I suddenly felt like a brand, "go too slow" newbie again and did NOT feel confident in my choice of lines!!! I realized that I had grown very comfortable in just following Chaz and his lines in all the turns.

So, we have a road near the house with some curves and bends that I am riding on whenever I get the chance to feel more confident on my own.

Seadog1967 · 03-25-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheriAnn

That's great Liz!!!!

I kept replaying in my head over and over again

Ya Ya Cheri. We know what you kept replaying over and over in your head.

Wgirl · 03-25-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheriAnn

Boy, this caused some problems for me last year!!!! I know the newbie rider should be in the front, but I always felt anxious leading, and insisted on following behind Chaz. The curves became easier with time and tons of fun, until the day Chaz made me lead on a twisty country road!!!!

I suddenly felt like a brand, "go too slow" newbie again and did NOT feel confident in my choice of lines!!! I realized that I had grown very comfortable in just following Chaz and his lines in all the turns.

So, we have a road near the house with some curves and bends that I am riding on whenever I get the chance to feel more confident on my own.

I know exactly what you mean. I can't have hubby follow me, he has to be in front of me. Even now that I have gotten much better at cornering.

Liz, congratulations. I've been reading "proficient motorcycling" by David Hough. It helped me to corner better, although I still need lots of practice. Wish I could quit my job and ride all day

03-24-2008	#1 (permalink)
lilredridingliz Addicted to riding… Forum Supporter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern California coast Posts: 1,531	Relaxing in the corners We went for a relatively short ride on Saturday (50 miles round trip), but this was the first time I felt really comfortable riding through the corners. As many of you know we live on the coast of California, and all the roads here are curvy. Riding curves have been the one part of riding that has made me nervous. For the past few weeks I have been replaying the cornering portion of the MSF course in my brain, really visualizing what it means to corner and in trusting both my bike and my tires. During Saturday's ride, I payed close attention to my body and to the places I was holding tension, especially when coming up to a curvy stretch of road. I would consciously relax those areas (calves, shoulders, wrists, etc.) and then I would focus on looking through the curve and using the whole lane (outside, inside, outside). My cornering was much smoother, and it was noticeable to my bf who was riding behind me. This gave me a boost of confidence in my riding ability! __________________ Live to live, ride as often as you can. http://www.myspace.com/rx7babe

03-24-2008	#2 (permalink)
fretbuzz Non Omnis Moriar BTK Expert Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Heart o' Texas Posts: 7,785	Sweet, Liz. You will continue to grow as a skilled rider even when you become less conscious of it. What a lucky guy he is to have a woman that will ride with him. __________________ I'd rather you offend me with the truth than appease me with a lie.

03-24-2008	#5 (permalink)
cmptrmn.1 MaNaMaNa DoDoDoDoDo Forum Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Longview, Wa Posts: 3,056	Good for you Liz. It keeps getting more and more natural. Your body just becomes one with the bike. (Lucky Bike) __________________ John 2007 Vulcan 900 1983 Xj650 66 Fairlane GTA Conv.

03-24-2008	#9 (permalink)
daemon devil in god's country BTK Expert Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: greeley,colorado Posts: 10,857	cool beans liz!! won't be long and i'll be remarking your lean angle on some of your videos. keep up the good practice. i wouldn't near as good as i am if it weren't for some of the local riders telling me where i was going wrong. they were a great help to me once i moved out here. __________________ my_vids litany_of_fear

03-24-2008	#10 (permalink)
Alf Alf not Elf BTK Expert Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,724	Yay Liz congrats. __________________ When arguing with a idiot make sure he isn't... My bike 900 LT Red/Black.

03-24-2008	#3 (permalink)
CheriAnn October MOM 07 Forum Supporter Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 12,369	That's great Liz!!!! I know how much that means to you!!!! I kept replaying in my head over and over again...."The bike was made to do this!" Once I started trusting myself and the bike, the curves and swerves became a blast!!!! Good for you!!!!!

03-25-2008	#12 (permalink)
RichLockyer Patriot Guardian Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: May 2006 Location: Chino, CA Posts: 20,074	Now look up "Delayed Apex" on Google. __________________ - Rich 2006 1600 Classic Member CORVA, BRC Patriot Guard Rider

03-25-2008	#15 (permalink)
lilredridingliz Addicted to riding… Forum Supporter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern California coast Posts: 1,531	Hehe, I ride one-handed on the straights already, Tina. That's a great idea, Tina, to follow someone. I have tried doing that with Tony, but, you're right in saying that each rider has to find their own way. I know about apexes and lines from my autocross training, but thus far have followed a traditional outside-inside-outside line when cornering. The delayed apex makes so much sense on a bike. I have seen people do this in their sports cars, but it hasn't been my "line of choice" when driving. Thank you Rich and Cheri for the inspiration and the explanation! __________________ Live to live, ride as often as you can. http://www.myspace.com/rx7babe

03-25-2008	#16 (permalink)
A2rider Banned BTK Expert Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: KCK Posts: 19,729	It's hard for someone "showing" you to slow down and kind of exaggerate the lines, but that's the best way I can learn. Where we use to live, there was a great set of twisties, about 8 miles long. I would go up and down them, over and over, until I got tired. But each time my line improved a little bit. And I have no idea why I would do this, being I was on a 600 Shadow. I wasn't ever going to keep up with any sportbikes, that's for sure. I think I did it just to make myself happy, to be a better rider.

03-25-2008	#17 (permalink)
V2K_CCTX RIDING LIKE I STOLE IT BTK Expert Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 3,816	Good job liz, its just like.....well riding a bike __________________ 07 ZX-14 BLACK 07 VN2000LT White/Ti 07 GV-650 BLUE http://www.myspace.com/peacethrufirepower