Horse wrote: ↑Wed Jul 10, 2024 8:56 pm
Noggin wrote: ↑Wed Jul 10, 2024 8:00 pm
I'm realising that it's, sadly, self preservation, also a bit that I'm on a borrowed bike
But, I don't want to ride too fast as I don't want to fall off
Well, actually, more to the point - I DO NOT want to damage the metal shoulder OR the 'good' shoulder!! bloody wuss!! LOL
I ride very comfortably, just not very fast
My US mate and training mentor, Garth, said that the secret is to find the mid-point between being bored and scared.
In cornering terms:
1. Are you comfortable about opening the throttle to balance the bike, then drive through?
2. Can you stop in the distance you can see is going to remain clear?
If the answer to either is 'no' then you're probably too fast.
You're not being a wuss. We all lose the fearlessness of youth. And you have the tinware to consider.
Along with that, as discussed in your thread, you're still finding out what works. Doing that enough to embed a [good] habit will take time, both days, weeks and months, and 'time' as in distance approaching each bend.
And that extra time changing body position means earlier braking so, overall, more time to travel the same distance.
But think for a moment. Are you enjoying riding? If yes, who cares? You do, you're putting yourself under pressure.
If you exit a bend and think "I could have gone faster", great. Better that than the alternatives.
Thank you. This wasn't really the thread for that post as it doesn't BMP or even wind me up, but there isn't a thread for things that "make you a little sad"!!
Also, it's not the fearlessness of youth - I didn't get my first bike till I was 32!! And kept learning to be better through till I crashed, so I can't lay that one at age (although people do use that and don't get why I don't agree!!)
I 100% know I'm slower and I know it's because I just can't afford to fuck up the metal (or the good shoulder really!). I do enjoy it still, a lot. But half the fun used to be the competitiveness and that I did so try to avoid ever being passed on the road! LOL It happened, but not often
I've just got the miseries this week! Despite riding quite a lot for me!!