2023/6/24
It’s been two months since I last came here, as I participated in DRE.
The class I participated in this time was the “3rd Technical Ride Course”.
This is my second time in the technical category.
I didn’t have a very clear goal this time, but
I think I found a way to reduce the waiting time for small turns at the end!
Orientation
This time, the class was full with 22 participants.
By this point, more than half of the class were regulars,
and even though I came alone, I was able to talk to a few people.
This was my first time with both instructors,
so I’m looking forward to seeing what the lesson will be like.
Warming up
The bike is the usual CB400SF.
I think I’ve tried other bikes, but
I don’t have the time to ride a different bike yet.
My CB400SF is pretty much the same,
so I probably wouldn’t be able to ride a different CB400SF…
Warming up begins
This warm-up started slower than last time.
Now that I think about it, this warm-up is already more twisty than the course slalom in the “1st Intermediate Touring Ride Challenge” (lol).
Braking & Turning
Last time, we were able to shift up and down to accelerate and brake while checking out the course, but this time, we won’t be able to increase the pace that much.
The instructor gave us some advice this time:
“When you want to make a sharp turn, turn the handlebars in the opposite direction and lose your balance…”
Hmm. I think I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear that.
Targeted braking
Perform targeted braking twice.
The specified speed is 80km/h.
Shift up to third gear and brake to a stop.
While blipping, shift down to first gear.
This completes without any problems.
Turn 1
I shifted down from 3rd gear, which was terrible last time, to make the turn.
This time, I didn’t drop down to 1st gear,
so I didn’t get distracted by the shift down,
and instead focused on the turn and my line of sight.
I ended up turning in 2nd gear,
but it was one less operation, so I could concentrate on the turn.
While braking, I imagined the start of the turn,
and when I dropped down to 2nd gear, I looked ahead as if I was looking straight behind me.
I couldn’t clear the turn in 1st gear,
but I think the disorganized movements have been largely resolved.
Turn 2
This time, there was another turn with a different pattern.
This completely killed my motivation.
Two more pylons were added right next to the one I had been turning around!
I couldn’t get through these new pylons at all.
That’s right.
I needed to make a straight turn, which I’m not very good at,
and I couldn’t get the timing right, so I just lazily passed through them… (;_;).
I missed the pylons several times, which was really annoying.
The morning ended like this.
Pylon Slalom
When it comes to technical rides,
everyone splits up into groups and rides the course they want to ride until the time is up.
There are two straight pylon slaloms,
two large and small offset slaloms,
and two figure eights.
You can ride all the sections in the whole circle,
but I can’t ride the narrow offset sections,
so I’ll pass on this one. I think I’ll try it next time.
Straight pylon slalom
I think it was 5m and 4.5m apart.
I think the throttle work is the problem.
The rhythm is all over the place.
To begin with, I’m not sure about the rhythm…
Offset Slalom
I don’t dislike offset slalom, but
if the gap is too narrow, the waiting time in the latter half of the turn is long,
and the other riders behind you get too close.
At this point, I asked the instructor for some advice.
What kind of image do you have?
I think I’ll attach it to the back of the pylon.
So, please enter from the outside more.
It’s further out…
I think I’m coming in from the outside.
In situations like this, first just do as you’re told!
After going around the first pylon,
imagine going in the opposite direction and swing the bike outward
to enter the next turn, and lo and behold, it’s amazing!
It ends up perfectly on the back of the pylon!
The turn itself is still big,
so this seems to be the best way to ride for now.
It seems that once I can make smaller turns,
it will change again.
After a short break,
I practiced offsetting repeatedly.
Course Slalom
It’s technical, so
there are basically pylons everywhere,
but the biggest obstacles for me on this course were
the two pylons in the middle of the S-curve course,
and the small S-curve made of pylons.
Two pylons in the middle of the S-shaped course
Last time, there was one pylon in the middle of the S-shaped course,
and I had to make a U-turn around it.
I remember hearing that the width of this S-shaped course was 5m, but it wasn’t that wide.
This time, there were two pylons.
You run around the first pylon,
and then go around it again, and then you avoid the second pylon.
During the test run, I couldn’t get through at all,
but by glaring at the second pylon
before I got around the first one, I was able to get through by just looking at it.
A small S-curve made of pylons.
In the area where sporty rides would pass through in a straight line,
there is a course like a small offset slalom, with small pylons going left and right,
and left.
This was the most difficult part for me this time.
On the first left,
I was able to gain momentum from the front and twist the front tire in,
but on the second and third lefts,
I passed them slowly and lazily.
After the final break,
the instructor chased after me and gave me some advice.
Overall, it’s a good idea to slowly tilt it down, slowly raise it up, and then accelerate…
It feels good.
Slowly, slowly I thought it was no good.
However, small turns have long waiting times.
That’s right. I don’t know what to do.
On the other hand, if you turn the steering wheel
and lay it down cleanly, there will be no waiting time.
Just a little bit. Turning it in the opposite direction…
Reverse steering…
I know I can hold back the self-steering so it doesn’t get too effective,
but I can’t imagine doing it the other way around.
After this advice, I tried reverse steering, but…. it was just scary.
Taking a short break and watching skilled riders
I was tired, so I took a short break and looked at the difficult area,
and noticed a difference between people who were turning slowly and people who were making sharp turns!
The movement of the front suspension of people who were making sharp turns was clearly larger!
So that means the accelerator and brake?
Resuming driving
Now that I have a hint, I resume driving!
In the problem section,
I apply a little acceleration and lightly apply the front brake,
and the car changes direction!
It still doesn’t turn smoothly,
but the waiting time has clearly decreased.
I’ve also learned that even in similar turns on the course,
if you push the front tire more,
it’s easier to change direction.
Summary
This morning was a bit depressing, but I think I gained a lot in the end.
Maybe in the slalom,
it would be good to visualize the movement of the front suspension a little more.
I now have a goal for next time.
bonus
On my way home from STEC, I stopped by the store for the first time in a while
and interrupted the sales person’s work,
and to my surprise, today’s sub instructor came in!
It turns out he was a customer at the same shop.
