Release the brake to turn!
Apply the brake to turn!
It’s contradictory (laughs).
The second Saturday in late October is the 23rd.
I usually decide based on the weather forecast two weeks in advance,
but this time, there were only a few spots left three weeks in advance, so I made a reservation in a hurry.
On October 23rd, I took my fourth lesson.
The other day, while I was riding around Lake Biwa on my Monster, I noticed that
I was no longer bad at going in clockwise directions, which I had always been bad at.
That’s the result of the lessons I took here (^^).
2nd Sporty Ride Challenge 2nd
During the September lesson, I was sweating a lot
because I was wearing only a long-sleeved cool inner layer and a protector.
It got very cold that morning,
and it was 13°C in front of my house at 7am.
The weather forecast says it will rise to 20°C during the day,
so I think a heattech and polo shirt will be fine on top.
I’ll prepare a jacket just in case.
It was windy that day in Suzuka. The temperature felt a little low, but the sun was warm.
I wondered whether to put on a jacket.
The circuit is closed because the qualifying for the Sunday Road Race is being held there.
My much-anticipated lunchtime stroll will have to be put on hold.
orientation
This is a regular lesson, so the capacity is 22 people. It is fully booked on this day.
I don’t think we’ll be able to run as much as we did last time with a small group.
Well, I don’t want to get cramps, so let’s concentrate even if we don’t run as many times!
About half of the students were repeat students.
Several groups came, so the class probably filled up quickly.
This was the third time that I’d met the main instructor for this class.
I feel like it’s quite fate that I’ve taken the class four times and been taught by him three times.
During the orientation, the term “anticipatory action” came up.
I guess there are some things it has in common with skiing.
Today’s Menu
The content was the same as last time,
but the afternoon pylon slalom and course slalom had been switched.
There was a driving lesson being held on the same day, so it seems this was due to a matter of reserving spots.
Personally, I think it would be better to get used to it with pylon slalom
and then do course slalom, but…
| AM | ・Brake ・Turn |
| PM | ・Course slalom ・Pylon slalom |
The vehicle this time is the blue No. 2 CB400SF.
This time, I once again found my usual blue companion.
At the end of my last lesson, my brake pads were low, so I asked for them to be replaced.
So now I have plenty of brake pads and the braking feels good.
And while I was going to get the vehicle, something bad happened!
My helmet rolled over in the strong wind and got scratched (;_;).
(I was heartbroken.)
Warm-up running
As usual, we warmed up the bikes and riders as we went around the perimeter.
As we went around the perimeter, we tried rocking the bike from side to side and found that it went smoothly on the right side as well!
We all gathered together and were once again instructed on where to sit and how to hold the handlebars.
The explanation on how to hold the handlebars was interesting and something I’d never heard before, so I’d like to share it with you.
First, grip the handlebars firmly with both hands and apply as much force as you can to bend them inward.
Of course, the handlebars won’t bend, but from there, relax your arms and
hold the handlebars in that position.
Indeed, if you grip it with the intention of bending it, you will grip it firmly with your pinky finger,
which is like holding it from the outside, like you see in magazines.
brake
There are two braking points from approximately 40km/h and three braking points from approximately 70km/h.
I came to a perfect halt next to the target pylon,
but the purpose of this braking was to practice braking in preparation for a turn,
so I was conscious of releasing the brakes smoothly before coming to a stop.
・If you are further back than the target, you will fly out of the next corner.
・If you are too close, the front suspension that you worked so hard to compress before the corner will return to its original position, and you won’t be able to turn.
I practiced with this in mind.
It seems that I am swaying and swaying while braking (although I am not aware of it).
The advice I received was to “look further into the distance.”
It seems like I’m looking forward (not that I mean to…), so will that stop the meandering?
I wondered, so I went around again, and lo and behold, it was amazing.
Doesn’t it feel perfectly stable?
I got a “Good sign” from the instructor.
turn
This turn was an interesting course.
A big turn to the right or left followed by a small turn.
The instructor’s demonstration drive started with
shifting up to third gear,
shifting down before the first big turn and braking as he entered.
Then making a small turn.
It was interesting watching everyone drive in this situation.
Everyone drove in a different way.
Some people entered the curve at hand slowly to match the small turn at the back.
Some people slowed down too much before the curve at hand, then accelerated again to make a small turn.
You were free to change course,
so I drove about three times and then moved to the other side, repeating this process.
I felt this here too, but it really wasn’t difficult to turn right.
No advice was given for this turn.
In the end, after getting used to this course,
Pull in second gear, take your foot off the gas and enter the upcoming curve,
and while lifting the bike with the front brake,
press the front tire hard against the road,
and then release the front brake and make a tight turn.
It was.
Course Slalom
The course layout this time was easier than last time.
(It’s just that there was almost no slalom, which I’m not good at^^;)
Even during the familiarization run, I was able to drive safely without having to take shortcuts around the small turns.
However, there was a section where you have to make a 180-degree turn once on the left and once on the right,
and I couldn’t drive through it smoothly.
I had to wait patiently for a while until the turn was finished.
So it was super super slow!!
What should I do?
After driving a few times, I suddenly realized
that I wasn’t using the rear brake again…
I forget to use the rear brake. Ahhh.
Dragging the rear brake has made 180-degree turns a little better,
but there’s still a lot of waiting time left.
But now I’m getting used to the course, and it’s a lot of fun.
What do you think?
After taking a break and running a few times, the instructor came up behind me.
Instead of giving me advice, he asked me, “How was it?”
When you’re asked this kind of question,
・When there are so many problems that one piece of advice is not enough,
・When the student is doing okay and you want to teach them something that bothers them,
Either one.
Hmm, which one is it? I thought to myself, and said, “When I make a small turn, I can’t do anything but wait.”
He replied, “I’m trying to turn the bike by turning the handlebars.”
I myself thought I couldn’t turn the handlebars at all, so I was a little happy, but I thought, “I’m trying to turn the bike by turning the handlebars.”
The bike doesn’t lean, so it won’t turn?
Also, I was given the exact same advice
as I was given during the 1st and 2nd sessions.
“Don’t just move left and right,Twist so you can look behind you. Move your body 360 degrees.”
I thought I had gotten it done after the last lesson on “pointing my belly button,” but it seems I still had a long way to go…
But by “pointing my belly button” this time, I was no longer bad at making right turns,
so I must have made some progress!
After that advice, I tried running with all my might,
and I could really feel that it was definitely easier to turn around.
Even though I thought I was moving, I still wasn’t moving enough.
It’s just like skiing.
Exaggerated movements are just right.
Pylon Slalom
Pylon slalom has three types: equal interval, random, and offset.
I must have been pretty tired, because my slalom was sloppy.
The bike wouldn’t lie down or turn.
Have I forgotten how to do it?!
Offset slalom is still my favorite.
I don’t think I’m doing it well, but it’s similar to making successive turns on skis.
At this point, I’m finally starting to understand the amount of drag on the rear brake and how hard to apply pressure.
What is offset slalom?
There’s a break with 30 minutes left.
This break might actually make me tired…
There are 20 minutes left.
As I was getting tired, I decided to slow down my pace.
Slowing down was the right decision!
By slowing down, I was able to operate the bike sooner,
and because I was too tired to turn the handlebars,
I finally understood the meaning of leaning the bike with my lower body,
and my slalom movements suddenly improved.
This was probably the best slalom I’ve ever done!
It’s the same as the maneuverability of skiing.
The randomly placed slaloms,
Apply the front brake firmly and lower the front suspension firmly before turning
It was.
I got into the swing of things and tried offset slalom with firm braking and early input,
and leaning the bike over a little, and it looked like I was able to make a pretty tight turn.
Even though I’m tired, I’m starting to enjoy it.
When you’re totally exhausted and you can let go of all the unnecessary tension, it feels great.
It’s a common thing in skiing!
Shoulders are raised when turning right
With just a few minutes left in the lesson, during an offset slalom, I was warned that my shoulders were coming up when I turned right.
I thought I was twisting to the right, but maybe the left side of my body was stretching up.
I wasn’t aware of this, so I need to be conscious of it. I got too cocky ^^;
Today’s menu finished
After the lesson was over, we all lined up to refuel, and it was the lowest it had ever been.
The instructor also commented that it was low on fuel.
And that’s something that happens on motorcycles.
I touched and looked at the tires of my bike that had been ridden a lot.
I was thinking to myself, (I wonder if I’ve used all of them?)
But there was a scratch on the helmet…
Summary of this post
There are no longer any comments about it being harder to turn on the right side or any big differences between the left and right sides.
- When making a right turn, try not to raise your shoulders.
Raising your shoulders is a result, so make sure you point your belly button when making a right turn. - When going around or making a small turn, you need to be aware of twisting your body so that you’re facing backwards!
It’s a proactive movement. - Don’t forget the rear brake!
I really still don’t know how to use the rear brake.
I’ll read this blog again before the next lesson! - Slalom is like making tight turns on skis!
Is this the next assignment?
Even if you’re over 50, you can still grow.
I wonder how much you can grow?
The role of the front brake
Also, I felt that with the brakes,
especially the front brake, there is a brake that you apply to turn,
and a brake that you release to turn.
I’d like to sort this out in my own mind and write about it in my blog at a later date.
When I first started skiing, I got inspiration from the similarities between skiing and motorcycling,
but now it feels strange to be getting inspiration from the similarities between skiing and motorcycling.
I’d like to take lessons again in November,
but I’ll have to consult my wallet.
This concludes my story about the riding lessons at the Suzuka Circuit Traffic Education Center, where I felt I had improved.
