26-08-12, 06:53 AM
harry
we all started somewhere. My first track foray was a rapid training rider skills day at cadwell back in around sept 2002.I enjoyed being on track so much it took hold of me .Then I went to castle combe in 03, and rapidly followed with about 12 more across many tracks up to 2005 when I went into touring mode, and spent next 6 yrs touring europe instead! Last years cadwell day was my first since 2005, ...but I got back into the swing quite quickly.
My advice would be to try a Bike mag road bike only trackday ( " reclaim our tracks")...a bit gimmicky but it excludes the racers.Back in 04 trackdays were actually mostly filled by pure roadbikes.And novice group had a broader mix of skills.Its not without risk though, as sometimes inexperience can lead to doing daft things...like at Castle coombe we were all briefed to ride behins the instructor for 2 laps before overtaking. A ducati rider promptly forgot / ignored this and overtook the whole group at the first bend, and promptly binned it on cold tyres ! :lol
I also have many memories of riding tracks with bikes like ST1100s and XJRs who were scraping pegs/ panniers etc...so much pure fun back then..everyone had such a grin on their faces. Contrast it now , its more like a race paddock...I also met jane omerague( I think thats her name) wobbling round donnington before she went on to present some bike shows, and craig jones on his triumph supersport race bike entertained us with how it should be done ! .
we all started somewhere. My first track foray was a rapid training rider skills day at cadwell back in around sept 2002.I enjoyed being on track so much it took hold of me .Then I went to castle combe in 03, and rapidly followed with about 12 more across many tracks up to 2005 when I went into touring mode, and spent next 6 yrs touring europe instead! Last years cadwell day was my first since 2005, ...but I got back into the swing quite quickly.
My advice would be to try a Bike mag road bike only trackday ( " reclaim our tracks")...a bit gimmicky but it excludes the racers.Back in 04 trackdays were actually mostly filled by pure roadbikes.And novice group had a broader mix of skills.Its not without risk though, as sometimes inexperience can lead to doing daft things...like at Castle coombe we were all briefed to ride behins the instructor for 2 laps before overtaking. A ducati rider promptly forgot / ignored this and overtook the whole group at the first bend, and promptly binned it on cold tyres ! :lol
I also have many memories of riding tracks with bikes like ST1100s and XJRs who were scraping pegs/ panniers etc...so much pure fun back then..everyone had such a grin on their faces. Contrast it now , its more like a race paddock...I also met jane omerague( I think thats her name) wobbling round donnington before she went on to present some bike shows, and craig jones on his triumph supersport race bike entertained us with how it should be done ! .