Re: You call that a lean?

On Thu, 30 Aug 2007 23:12:37 -0400, David Steuber
<david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I've never been under the illusion that I'm a fast rider. But I was
under the illusion that I get some respectable lean angles in some of
the tighter radius turns (marked 25 mph or 15 mph). That illusion was
dispelled today.

I was analyzing some video I took of a ride where I had the camera
mounted down on the left side of the mud guard and bottom of the
fork. I corrected the video to adjust for the fact that the camera
was not parallel to the plane of the front wheel by doing a 6.5 degree
rotation. I added a reticle to the video, allowing me to measure lean
angles using various reference points in the video.

In the section of video I used, I never exceeded 10 degrees of lean.

I felt like I was leaning a lot more than that. I guess that would
explain why I have 10-12mm of pristine tire (chicken strips) on the
rear. My bike is capable of about 52 degrees of lean before bottoming
out. I should be able to do 45 degree leans rather casually.
Needless to say, I'm rather disappointed with my current level of
skill.

I would like to fix this but I'm not sure how. I can't budget the
time and money for going to some racing school at the present time.
And I'm pretty sure I am underestimating how fast I can enter a turn.
But I have a tendency to slow way down when there are all sorts of
scary things just off the side of the road and the road is turning
sharply away from them.

Does anyone have any ideas that may be useful to me? Right now, I
would be happy if I was doing 30 degree leans.

I guess I would answer your question with a question.

Are you having fun riding as you are?

Maybe two questions.

Are you now riding safe?

I mean you got off to a very rough start. Quite frankly I am surprised
you are still here and able to post stuff.

If you are having fun and riding safe, who cares if you scrub that
last 10 - 12 mm off your rear tire.

That's not to say you don't continue to hone your riding skills. If
you ride much you will always be improving your riding technique.

I thought you had picked up the Ride Like a Pro DVD. If yes, are you
still practicing? If not, why not.

The Motorman has several really useful practice routines you can
easily do on your own or with a friend. Spend and hour or so once a
week for the rest of the summer and I'd bet you see a marked
improvement in your bike handling.

All that said, if you are having fun and riding safe who cares about
the chicken strip.


--
Remember

It is the VETERAN , not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN , not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

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who has given us freedom of speech.

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who has given us freedom to assemble.

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who has given us the right to a fair trial.

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Who has given us the right to vote.
.

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