Track video - RS at ECR 2012-09-23

The weekend of September 22 and 23 RideSmart took over ECR. Even though I'm a member I signed up to get some help. On Sunday I was working with Jim who got me sorted back out. I managed to pull out a personal best of 2:10.21.
RideSmart ran an impressive track day this past weekend. Level 2 on Saturday had no crashes and one minor low side on Sunday. Level 1 was also really safe and sane. Level 3 seemed to be the problem child. However even so -- EMS spent the weekend napping like they should.
Because I was not sure of my pace (best time lately had been a 2:15) I signed up for level 2. Level 2 w/ RideSmart requires that passes be made on the outside which really jacks with your line. Further being on a slow 2007 ZX-6 I was actually one of the slower bikes. You can see most bikes pulling me all the way down the back straight. I have to make passes on the brakes. Further, RS (and myself) require at least 6' between the bikes during a pass. You can actually see in several instances where I could have made a pass on a slower rider but I check up to give him the track b/c I had not really completed the pass before he was tipping in.

[jake-watkins]

Thank you! I so wish you had tracked us down and pointed it out.

[jake-watkins]

Believe me –the faster riders will make a safe clean pass. I’m the slowest ECR member and the other guys have no trouble blowing by me wherever they choose. As it happens though, on this particular weekend in level 2 I wasn’t the slow rider. In several of the sessions I lapped the entire field. Something that is quite new to me. Next time out will be level 3 so it’ll be back to playing slow moving chicane.

[jake-watkins]

I was in middle of deploying some stuff for a client when I uploaded this, it was late, I was tired and as such didnt put anything in the description. So there are some details you might not be aware of. I'll do that now. It might not satisfy but at least you'll have some additional details to judge what is going on with.

[jake-watkins]

Third and probably most important: there was a much faster rider on my ass the entire time – Jim was coaching me. Also the guys in the orange vests were all coaches and any of them have at least 10 seconds a lap on me. Any of them would have pulled me off if they thought what I was doing was unsafe in anyway. Something that did not happen.

[jake-watkins]

sorry for all of the comments - 500 char limit. Not going off, but there are a few details about this you may or may not be aware that I wanted to clear up. I also see a few places where I'm holding an outside line through the corner, but there is a slower rider on the inside. Drop by my garage (#25) next open bike day. I'd like to meet you in person.

[rkfaithfulblade]

Sometimes on corner entry you'll be a little inside of the normal line, and you toss it back over to the outside at the last moment. Imagine if you were a following rider and were trying to pass on the outside at the time. Again, I don't mean to pick on you or anything tweek, believe me you are better than a LOT of riders I have seen, but I know you're a member out there and spend a lot of time at ECR, and I know that we all make mistakes, but many don't realize them until pointed out.

[jake-watkins]

Several things may not be completely apparent in the video. First, had there been somebody in level 2 going faster than me they would have shown me a wheel somewhere and I would have given them the track on the next corner by not accelerating hard and trying to drag race them (something everybody was doing to me). Next if I was holding up other riders the corner workers would have given me a blue flag which means to let the faster riders around.

[rkfaithfulblade]

It's not that you were slow, or taking the wrong lines, and I actually talked with Jim about you, I believe, on Sunday (he mentioned you in passing, not a full conversation or anything. He did tell me you set your new personal best though, and congrats on that) Sorry, I was in a rush when I wrote that first comment, and made it sound a lot worse than what it was, lol. The only part of your riding that I was talking about was sometimes on corner entry... *next comment*

[jake-watkins]

Next time you're jonesing hit me up. I always have extra guest passes - but it has to be a member day. Can't use them on open bike days. :(

And you're comment really wasnt rude. I could tell you were trying to provide actual feedback and not just trolling.

[rkfaithfulblade]

I'm always jonesing ;) Bike is torn down right now, I'm going to attempt to get it ready for the race this weekend. If it doesn't rain... Don't want my first race to be in the rain, lol. Call me any time, if the bike is ready I'll come out for sure. I'm only 20 minutes away from the track. Just messaged you my #

[rkfaithfulblade]

On a side note, I'll definitely come talk with you next open day. That or if I can get in with a friend on a member day I'll check if you're there. You're a software dev. as well, right? Or am I mixing you up with someone else. If you are, I figure we'll have a lot to talk about :)

[jake-watkins]

gonna finish inline (stupid 500 limit): In regard to the ‘unpredictability’ of my line and a faster rider trying to get around safely: It is the responsibility of the faster rider to make a safe pass. The End.

[rkfaithfulblade]

Oh, and if you like I could coach you a little bit on an open day, or, if you can bring guests with your membership, any day you want. Again, sorry about that first comment. I feel like an ass when I read it now lol. I made it sound like you were doing it the whole time when it was only one corner every few laps

[rkfaithfulblade]

Hey tweek, don't mean to be rude, but just wanted to bring to your attention how unpredictable you were being in this video... any faster rider trying to pass you would be in danger..

[jake-watkins]

Several things may not be completely apparent in the video. First, had there been somebody in level 2 going faster than me they would have shown me a wheel somewhere and I would have given them the track on the next corner by not accelerating hard and trying to drag race them (something everybody was doing to me). Next if I was holding up other riders the corner workers would have given me a blue flag which means to let the faster riders around.