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Look through the curve.
Position yourself in the road where you can see as far
into the curve as possible. Get into the right posture. Focus your attention
on the vanishing point, the bike will follow you there. Don't look at
the road right in front of you, it will distract you from your target.
Don't let immediate problems and unexpected changes
distract you from a long range objective. Keep that objective in view.
Try to see obstacles well in advance, and correct your course before you
reach them.
Lean with the bike.
The fundamental physics of the bike's steering geometry
are that it must lean to corner, and the rider must lean with the bike,
both to augment those physical forces and to be in a position to maintain
control. This is counterintuitive; we must learn to trust the machine
and relax into the laws of physics that make it work.
We cannot maintain a rigid posture, change will be demanded of us.
Those who anticipate their own need for change and can do so gracefully
are more in control of their destiny. Staying relaxed helps us navigate
around small problems.
Roll on the throttle.
The bike gains traction and cornering control with increasing
speed. As speed declines, the bike loses traction and also tries to "stand
up" (come out of its lean) thus reducing its ability to corner. When
the bike is leaned over, it is traveling on that part of the tire that
has a smaller diameter than the center, therefore, just leaning the bike
over has the net effect of reducing speed, even if you hold the throttle
constant. (No, your speedometer is not accurate when you're in a lean.)
When leaning the bike, you must increase the throttle slightly just to
maintain the same forward speed, and a bit more if you want to increase
speed and therefore cornering control.
Changes and problems demand increased energy be focused on our long
term goals. Being distracted from those goals, and therefore being "slowed
down" in our efforts to reach them, only increases the likelihood
that we will veer off course.
Dr. Deadman
Ken Van Dyke - US-MI-Grand Rapids
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" A bend
in the road isn't the end of the road,
unless you fail to make the turn."
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