Blurred lines, TWS Saturday 5/13 my "level 1" experience
Posted: Sun May 14, 2017 8:57 am
My first time at TWS, 0300 wheels rolling out of South Arlington 09 CBR1000rr on a $30 Uhaul trailer. 0550 arrive at TWS. I had heard that TWS was a "rough" track so when It was not as rough as I expected I was relieved. Not saying it was smooth, just not as rough as ECR as I remember it.
2.9 miles 15 turns. I only know the "Ridesmart" way of cornering with entry points, apexes and lines etc.,(very much more to learn have I) but RS instructor Randy's afternoon comment regarding turn 7 made me think about my perceived "written in stone by the finger of God" LINE. Randy commented, "ya the line used to just be one smooth arch around 7 into 8 but the track is a little bumpy near the outside edge so the line is now moved in... WHOA, wtf? huh?? you can just MOVE a line?
So, as an "old" dog trying to learn new tricks I watched other riders in turn 7, stopped focusing so much on absolute points marked by the "X" (marked on the track) and started to see a smoother, more relaxed but just as focused line through turn 7 with more attention on where I was going to enter the next turn.
As the day went turns 1 and 2 seemed to just get faster, turn 3 saw several bikes down but for some reason never hit my panic buttons, wheelie hill between 3 and 4 is just like is sounds if you are on the throttle! Turn 4 seemed forgiving but I never got it up to the speed I wanted. Turn 5 was for the most part frustrating as it was the set up for 6 which I just struggled with all day! Turn 7 as explained above became faster and funner all day.
Turn 8 and 9 for the most part laughed at me as struggled to not flail though them like a headless chicken. Between 9 and 10 was imo the roughest part of the track but since I was stood up in transition it didn't seem to bother me, but "fast" riders who needed to scrub a lot of speed in that MX like zone might have a different opinion. Turn 10 the "carousel" a challenging(for me) slower extreme right hand, get as close to the candy stripe as you can until, CRAP so that's what can happen when you hit it, BIKE DOWN, sad rider standing standing next to it.
Turn 11 sharp, quick left.
Turn 12, 13, and 14 form a pesky little snake that slows my roll a bit before the arc of turn 15 guides the way to the banked turn in front of the grand stands! The first few passes I was feeling it out, then a bit faster. By the last couple sessions as more riders called it a day I was getting up to 5th gear there on the front straight... not a record speed, not even close, but FUN with a capitol F!
LOVE TWS!
2.9 miles 15 turns. I only know the "Ridesmart" way of cornering with entry points, apexes and lines etc.,(very much more to learn have I) but RS instructor Randy's afternoon comment regarding turn 7 made me think about my perceived "written in stone by the finger of God" LINE. Randy commented, "ya the line used to just be one smooth arch around 7 into 8 but the track is a little bumpy near the outside edge so the line is now moved in... WHOA, wtf? huh?? you can just MOVE a line?
So, as an "old" dog trying to learn new tricks I watched other riders in turn 7, stopped focusing so much on absolute points marked by the "X" (marked on the track) and started to see a smoother, more relaxed but just as focused line through turn 7 with more attention on where I was going to enter the next turn.
As the day went turns 1 and 2 seemed to just get faster, turn 3 saw several bikes down but for some reason never hit my panic buttons, wheelie hill between 3 and 4 is just like is sounds if you are on the throttle! Turn 4 seemed forgiving but I never got it up to the speed I wanted. Turn 5 was for the most part frustrating as it was the set up for 6 which I just struggled with all day! Turn 7 as explained above became faster and funner all day.
Turn 8 and 9 for the most part laughed at me as struggled to not flail though them like a headless chicken. Between 9 and 10 was imo the roughest part of the track but since I was stood up in transition it didn't seem to bother me, but "fast" riders who needed to scrub a lot of speed in that MX like zone might have a different opinion. Turn 10 the "carousel" a challenging(for me) slower extreme right hand, get as close to the candy stripe as you can until, CRAP so that's what can happen when you hit it, BIKE DOWN, sad rider standing standing next to it.
Turn 11 sharp, quick left. Turn 12, 13, and 14 form a pesky little snake that slows my roll a bit before the arc of turn 15 guides the way to the banked turn in front of the grand stands! The first few passes I was feeling it out, then a bit faster. By the last couple sessions as more riders called it a day I was getting up to 5th gear there on the front straight... not a record speed, not even close, but FUN with a capitol F!
LOVE TWS!