Bad form, Artist!

[Cdogman]

Grasshopper......

Admitting it is a bad day is half the battle

Surviving it is the other half

Be at peace.. Less in-tuned folks would have never even noticed they were having a bad day and not learned a thing

 

[rockwells]

Duezzer,

Splendid advice! That may very well have saved me my last two meetings w/ Mister Blacktop! I'll be sure to keep it in mind.

 

[dcarver]

Artist and SkiBum,

Let me addle the waters a bit.

When racing MX I've had days that everything felt off; timing, balance, coordination, bike control, etc. only to find out I'd just put in my fastest *ever* lap time. Other days feel smooth, in control, with slow or regular results.

I've had the same experience riding street; apexes aren't where they should be, braking too hard with resultant nose dive, the rear stepping out, the bike being twitchy, and apparent misjudging of cornering speed. Never out of control, drifting the lane, or running wide into the mountain, but just feeling 'awkward' - only to find I've left my best and fastest riding partner behind on a section he routinely cleans mine (and everyone else's) clock.

Interestingly enough, the symptoms Artist describes are very similar to ones that *sometimes* describe riding at, for me, advanced performance levels.

Then again there are times where I have simply pulled off the track or rode 'quietly' home because the day was just too 'off'.

Hope this makes no sense to you at all, otherwise you too have the curse.

 

[sonicspeed]

as much as i hate to admit it, i have zoned out many times while driving. i will arrive someplace and can't even rember how i got there. it gets scary at times but so far while i am on the motorcycle this has not occurred. i think that i am concentr.....................

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ummmm what was i talking about??

:huh:

 

[artistonFJR]

Uh, Sonic, you aren't by chance a Trailways bus driver, are you? Ha! Actually I have some x-country drives (auto) that could be placed into Project Blue Book, as they seem to have happened without any memory and the hours of time behind the wheel just vanished. I have gotten out and looked back as though the place I left 4 hours ago might actually still be in view. Never happens on the bike though, seems every minute is accounted for and important.

Interesting note, I am a trail/mountain runner. As such I have to constantly scan my terrain and adjust rapidly and continuously, while also keeping an eye open for my heading, my upcoming terrain, deer, treebranches, etc, etc. Road runners have a more hypnotic "hundred mile stare" that works for that type of fairly-obstacle-free running, where the horizon is more important than the ten foot radius. I ride like I run, always flitting from near to far, visually, to accept all of my future ground purchase. Every sparkle on the road is a hazard, every pothole is a free chance to get airborne... I find the running helps my road concentration. Running is alot cheaper though, and the farkle is lighter.

C

 

[sonicspeed]

i could never be a runner cause an igloo full of beer is too heavy to run with

 

[exskibum]

Artist and SkiBum,
Let me addle the waters a bit.

When racing MX I've had days that everything felt off; timing, balance, coordination, bike control, etc. only to find out I'd just put in my fastest *ever* lap time. Other days feel smooth, in control, with slow or regular results.

I've had the same experience riding street; apexes aren't where they should be, braking too hard with resultant nose dive, the rear stepping out, the bike being twitchy, and apparent misjudging of cornering speed. Never out of control, drifting the lane, or running wide into the mountain, but just feeling 'awkward' - only to find I've left my best and fastest riding partner behind on a section he routinely cleans mine (and everyone else's) clock.

Interestingly enough, the symptoms Artist describes are very similar to ones that *sometimes* describe riding at, for me, advanced performance levels.

Then again there are times where I have simply pulled off the track or rode 'quietly' home because the day was just too 'off'.

Hope this makes no sense to you at all, otherwise you too have the curse.

HA -- I've never measured performance (or had a way to) in either skiing or motorcycle riding on one of the my "off" days (or the kind you describe). But what you described has happened to me on a couple occasions in golf and baseball/softball. maybe not so much feeling awkward, but more like almost "not paying attention" or feeling physically uncomfortable. I'll happily take whatever gets me into the "zone", though. Had one softball game right after an event ("Big Mac Feed" in Tahoe City), stuffing myself with elk, venison, boar and mackinaw. I was so full that all I wanted to do was lay down and almost didn't think I could play, but hit 3 home runs and a line drive double off the top of the fence in 4 at bats. WTF?!? I guess those kind of things come as a surprise to me, and I don't trust it enough to take it out on the road.

All of which reminds me of Tom Lehman shooting 67-67-67-67 to win Nicklaus' Memorial tournament 10 or 12 years ago -- with the flu so bad that he was puking his guts out (off camera) during the first three rounds, while only feeling weak during the last round. But have you ever had to puke with a full face helmet on??

 

[Duezzer]

I think it was brought up in this thread that a light snack sometimes helps also

If I do have some munchies with me - (fruit / trail mix / granola bar are usually in the tank bag) I will have a snack while I am trying to figure out where my brain has gone. This has also been a real help - I also always have H2O with me

I was riding last year in the Smokie Mtns and had a day that I felt I was a complete morron behind the bars. At one pit stop to try to get my head back my buddy I was riding with asked me what was up? I explained what was going on and he gave me this blank stair. Then asked me why I was riding so fast then? Then I gave him a blank stair back and said "WHAT???" he said "are we in a rush?" So we talked a bit more and I notice I was feeling really ansi a little on edge and had all this energy to burn.

[SIZE=12pt]Then I remembered[/SIZE]. That morning I think I had way to much syrup on my pancakes and the 3rd cup of coffee was not needed nor the bottle of Pepsi I had downed the pit stop we took 40 min before hand.

We took a 1/2 hr break and all seemed to get back to normal

Food may be fuel to the body but sugar is like NOS

 

[MojaveFJR]

One of the things our MSF instructor told us, "if you find your self 2 or 3 miles down the road and you don't know how you got there, turn her around and put it back in the garage cause your head ain't in the game." Have turned around several times in the last 5 yrs of street riding. Just not worth it.

Good that you recognized it and got back in the game.

 

[MikeYork5]

Do not let yourself become complacent or inattentive on your bike. I did on Nov 4 and just returned to work this past Monday, walking with a cane and many long hours of therapy still lie ahead. I'm not sure when I will be able to ride again. This after 40 years on a bike and hundreds of thousands of miles. One moment of distraction (totally my fault) = many months (in my case) of recovery. is that why they call them accidents?

 

[kiteman11]

Great thread. Love the 2 rule. This has happened to every rider at some point. Glad to hear the suggestions and advice. Food for thought.