Anyone can learn…
Jul 31st, 2009 by Leo
Anyone can learn to ride…anyone. And anyone can learn to ride better than they already do. One of the most encouraging things that you’ll ever hear in an advanced riding class or a track school is, once you’re able to do a corner “right” – no one can do that corner (on that bike, under those conditions) better. Not even Rossi or Stoner or Ben Spies… Of course, the difference between the professional racers and you is, they will be able to hit that turn point, get the entry speed, and drop down on one knee perfectly every time…whereas for me I might get it once every 50 tries… (that’s after I have someone tell me the best turn points).
So what do you need to learn to ride or learn to ride better? Whether your goal is to commute to work safely, go on a cross country ride, or get around a track quicker, there’s a simple equation:
(Proper training + proper equipment/gear + desire to learn) x Practice Time
That’s all it comes down to. For people who love to ride and actively want to improve it’s just a matter of getting the right training, whether it’s books or videos, track schools, plus practice time. So here’s the question: What are you working to improve (these days), and what are you looking to for training?
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I’m working to improve by body positioning. I mean I know basic things like using my knees against the tank, being easy on handle bars, slide to the back of the seat when accelerating. But it gets more complicated when riding, especially in the city, because different situations require different body position techniques. I struggle being consistent, sometimes under pressure I make mistakes. City riding so unpredictable, I mean one moment you’re on the gas, but then emergency braking, then swerve, sharp turn and accelerate – just this example requires so many body positioning changes. If I ever would take an advanced class, I would definitely spend time on this topic.