What is Proper Body Position?

Originally Posted by CephasGT

Umm, kind of yes to both. As I'm approaching a corner, after I've found my braking marker (if I'm braking, that is) I'm looking for my turn in point well before I'm in the corner. My visual references are kinda like the bunny at the dog races, always a bit ahead of where I am.

That is perfect, you always want to be a bit ahead of where you are. I like the reference to the bunny at the dog races...I often tell my students that it is like connect the dots and you want to be looking to the next dot before you actually get there.

You say that you spot your turn in marker as you are approaching the corner (after you spot your brake marker) and that is exactly what I do as well, but I'm wondering what you look at after? Once you spot your turn in marker, then what? Where are you looking after that?

Misti

I'll use T6 at Mid-Ohio (first turn after the back stretch) as an example.

Coming out of the kink, WOT and head down as far as it will go, I'm looking for the second big patch of rubber that the cars laid down the previous weekend for my brake marker. As my bike goes over that, I pop up and squeeze the brakes hard, and look for the yellowish patch of whatever it is (dead grass?) on the right side of the track. As soon as I see that, I tip in and start trailing off the brakes, looking for the red and white curbing for my apex. As soon as you can see it, you've practically apexed already, so I start looking for my exit point, which is also my turn in for T7.

For most generic corner situations, you're looking for your brake marker (if you're braking), turn in point, apex (sometimes multiple), then exit (or transition to next corner).

Originally Posted by CephasGT

I'll use T6 at Mid-Ohio (first turn after the back stretch) as an example.

Coming out of the kink, WOT and head down as far as it will go, I'm looking for the second big patch of rubber that the cars laid down the previous weekend for my brake marker. As my bike goes over that, I pop up and squeeze the brakes hard, and look for the yellowish patch of whatever it is (dead grass?) on the right side of the track. As soon as I see that, I tip in and start trailing off the brakes, looking for the red and white curbing for my apex. As soon as you can see it, you've practically apexed already, so I start looking for my exit point, which is also my turn in for T7.

For most generic corner situations, you're looking for your brake marker (if you're braking), turn in point, apex (sometimes multiple), then exit (or transition to next corner).

Sounds like you have some really specific reference points and that is excellent. The more specific you can get with your location on the track, the more comfortable you will feel and the faster you will be able to go. You also mentioned the key points that you should have in a corner, a braking marker, turn in point, apex point and exit.

Now, I'm just thinking of your explanation of turn 6 at Mid Ohio (my favorite track) and while I like how specific you are getting with the reference points, I'm a bit curious about your turn in marker. It sounds like you are using a yellowish patch of dead grass or something on the RIGHT side of the track as your turn in marker.....but you would actually be turning in from the left side of the track. From my experience, it is usually better to have a turn in marker closer to where you actually TURN the bike. I would use one of the number boards on the left side of the track as my braking marker and then I used the very last braking marker board and then the end of the curbing (I think there is a darker patch of pavement there??) on the LEFT side of the track, right where I turned the bike as my turn in point.

I would play around with the location of your turn in marker in that turn and see if moving it closer to where you actually TURN the bike, helps you in the corner...

The other thing I wanted to ask about was the timing of WHEN you look at those points. Once you spot your turn in marker, when would you say you look at your apex point??? As you are turning the bike, slightly before, well before?


Misti

That's a good point about my turn in marker. I guess I picked one on the left side of the track, since I'm already looking that direction, getting ready for the corner. Maybe it helps "slow down" the process of getting into the corner, for me. I agree that it may be more helpful to accuracy and consistency to pick something closer, though. I'll have to try that on Saturday. Well, and that patch of grass might be green again, so I'll need a new marker anyway.

As far as when I make those transitions, that's kind of a fuzzy, unconscious area, but watching my video footage and thinking through it after the fact, I think I start looking for my apex as soon as I've got the bike going into the corner. Not in the corner yet, but about half lean angle and getting off the brakes.

Man, you've given me a lot to think about for Saturday!

Originally Posted by CephasGT

That's a good point about my turn in marker. I guess I picked one on the left side of the track, since I'm already looking that direction, getting ready for the corner. Maybe it helps "slow down" the process of getting into the corner, for me. I agree that it may be more helpful to accuracy and consistency to pick something closer, though. I'll have to try that on Saturday. Well, and that patch of grass might be green again, so I'll need a new marker anyway.

As far as when I make those transitions, that's kind of a fuzzy, unconscious area, but watching my video footage and thinking through it after the fact, I think I start looking for my apex as soon as I've got the bike going into the corner. Not in the corner yet, but about half lean angle and getting off the brakes.

Man, you've given me a lot to think about for Saturday!

I like making people think about their riding technique

Let me know how finding a new turn in marker goes and it if helps out a bit. Also, take some time to really figure out when you look into the turn as the more you are able to pick apart and analyze your own riding, the easier you will be able to improve it.

Now, here is another question to think about...you said that you usually look to the apex point as you have got the bike already heading into the corner. This is what a lot of riders do and it sort of follows the "look where you want to go philosophy." However, How much information do you really have about a corner if you are looking and turning at the same time? And, do you think that looking into the corner BEFORE you actually turn the bike might make any kind of difference? Thoughts?

Misti