California Superbike School
Spent yesterday doing the level 1 training at Silverstone with the California Superbike School. They offer 4 levels, and as each builds on the lessons of the previous, you must do them in order, regardless of how bloody great you think you are. It's a long day (7am to 6pm), there's a lot to learn, but it's extremely rewarding and I strongly recommend it.
Mirrors and speedo are taped up, to avoid distractions
Level 1 is very good for noobs like myself who've never been on track. Although the focus is on track riding, much of what you learn is useful on the road. The format is a classroom session which will concentrate on a specific objective, followed by 25 minutes of track, then a short break where you can top up with water, free bananas and crisps. Finally, a school that encourages you to eat crisps! They're not meant as a treat though, you need the salt as electrolyte, while the bananas are for potassium.
Cornering is the sole objective of level 1, there's nothing about braking, gears or body positioning; they come in the later levels. The classroom session is for the entire group, which was around 21 people; higher levels have fewer. The track instructors each have 3 pupils, and they buzz around on powerful bikes observing you, demonstrating, or even calling you into the pits for a chat.
Drill 1 is throttle control and turning the bike. You're restricted to 4th gear and you're not supposed to use the brakes. The aim is to complete turning the bike with the throttle closed, then smoothly accelerate through the corner. Learning not to blur the turn and the gas was difficult, but of course being off the throttle loads the front wheel, giving a larger contact area and improving grip.
It's Silverstone, but just the diddy Stowe circuit
Drill 2 is quick turning, using that extra grip to get the bike to the correct lean angle more quickly, and so get on the gas earlier. Drill 3, and the recommended corner turn points are now marked on the track; some are obvious, others seem ludicrous but they work. You're encouraged to try turning before and after the marked points on your favourite 'problem' corner to observe the effect.
Look, it's the Wing!
Before lunch we had an off-track drill, which was counter-steering. You needed to ride at about 25mph doing lock-to-lock turns to demonstrate you understood the push-pull theory. I was already familiar with this, but it took some of the other pupils a long time to understand it. It's useful stuff but rather boring to spectate!
Drill 4 is rider input, or rather learning not to interfere with the bikes natural stability. Basically, you need a light hold of the bars to allow the bike find its way - this was explained with a techy session about trail and wheelbase changes when the suspension compresses. Finally, drill 5 has you looking at the corner rather than fixating on the turn point, because as you'll have heard a thousand times, the bike goes where you're looking.
Leeeean...
In this final session you were permitted to use all the gears and brakes you liked, but asked to ride at no more than 8/10s of your maximum pace. Unfortunately some riders spent more time going fast than paying attention, and sadly I was one of these. Missed entry points, missed apexes, wrong gears, it was pretty much a shambles. I do at least have all the components for speedy cornering now though, and just need to practice - less speed, more pace.
I did have the Drift attached for most of the sessions, but the footage is pretty boring so I just lifted some screenshots. My rear tyre is impressive though, check it out! I'm a proper big boy now. Until I fall off. Again.
