A New Adventure

Some weeks back I attended a trackway with my friend Christy. Actually it was meant to be two but I bottled out of day one. I had meant to go on my trick RnineT but a problem with the now compulsory brake lever guard meant that I brought the GSA. I had thought this would be ok, I have taken it round Cadwell before on a BMW track day but this was different. The paddock was wall to wall track bikes complete with gazebos, alternative wheels, generator powered tyre warmers. I had one thing that made my bike unique – a number plate.

Christy’s beautiful, new, tricked up S1000RR was at home: I was not. That said, I think the presence of the track bikes gave me an excuse. I didn’t want to expose myself on track and so I could justify heading on to the beautiful Lincolnshire Roads on what was a glorious day. Lunch in Lincoln and some riding passed a lovely day – though the presence of some antivaxers with their Facebook ‘Facts’ made me choke.

Anyway, on my way back to our excellent digs I had a change of heart, rode back to Cadwell and uncanceled myself. If I was slow then that could be other peoples’ issue. I would ride my ride.

The next day started early – we had to be signed in and sound checked by 7.30am. A cold ride across a waking Lincolnshire and there we were. Any hope that a Monday would bring a more diverse client group was dashed within minutes. Granted there were another couple of road bikes in the mix but one of them was trailered the owner having recently sold his trackway bike and kit.

As a member of the lower group I had time as the two faster groups did their 20 minutes sighting laps and first sessions. Then it was our turn. My surprise was that the two bikes in front were very much holding me up and once we were off the leash I did my overtakes and set off only being caught on the last lap.

Christy and I sat session 2 out and `I went in to my next session full of confidence – and got creamed. I was lapped and could have been lapped again. More than that, I had a couple of close passes and that, again, gave me the reason to put my arm in the air and close my session.

My immediate response was to decide speed was not for me. I am a cautious rider and the track is not my natural environment – though I love `Cadwell.

Some time later I decided to challenge that thinking and to challenge the underlying assumptions and limits I am applying to myself.

So, I have committed to a journey. I am going to send next year unlearning some routines, challenging my thinking and developing new skills. There will be track days and coaching, My goal is the middle group at a track day but more significantly my own estimationof having made significant progress. Lets see how this goes..