Riding lines on track. Why it is so important
Riding lines on track. For one, it is the most standard thing in the world. For others, not so much. That became obvious once more during our latest trip to Circuito d’Alcarras. When you are A novice track rider – and you are a smart person – you start by riding in the instruction group, where riding lines is the main priority.
Instructors will remind you over and over again. “Ride the right lines”, “Learn to ride lines” and “Learn to choose a different line and stick to it”. That’s where riding on track starts. Finding the right lines to ride, and then learn how to choose a different line for a different purpose. For example, to pass someone safely.
FRUSTRATION ON TRACK
STUNT PILOTS
I had two amazing weeks riding on track at Alcarras circuit with Racecracks. Six days of nothing but racing underneath the Spanish sun. A little piece of Heaven on Earth.
The weather was great, the ambiance was cosy and energetic as always and the track was brilliant. I enjoyed the heck out of it. But still, I got home slightly frustrated. I caught those frustrated feelings on track, thanks to some – of frankly, too many – stunt pilots. I loved to get rid of that frustration, so I decided to write about it. Because like many will know; writing truly clears your mind.
Hence this ‘rant’ about riding lines on track, and the ultimate goal; to impart why riding lines on track is so important.
HOW THE FRUSTRATION ABOUT RIDING LINES BEGAN
THE MIXED GROUP
Let me provide you some context. I don’t ride really fast (yet), but I am not slow either. A typical ‘border case’, which means I often end up in the lowest free-riding group. Just two seconds above the two minute line at Circuito d’Alcarras and 5 seconds above that magic 2 minute line at Assen. I will change that, this year. But for now, these are my current lap time records.
THE MIXED GROUP ISSUE
RIDING LINES
The slowest free-riding group is a tricky one. Why? Because it is a mixed group of:
A) Semi-novice track riders like me, who have ridden the requisite hours in the instruction groups and are now free-riding and picking up their pace. These riders know that riding lines is important. So they ride lines in a clean and repetitive manner. Think lap times around the 2-minute mark, or slightly above it.
B) Slower novice free-riding riders who have also had instruction and know how to ride line. However, they struggle a bit with their pace and therefore, ride slower lap times.
C) Faster semi-novice track riders who know what they’re doing. They ride lines, and are quite a bit quicker than most other riders in the slowest free-riding group. Thus have to go around everything and everyone.
and finally
D) Faster novice track riders who never joined the instruction group, but simply wanted to ride on track. And thus register directly in the slowest free-riding group. They have no fear of hitting the throttle, but also have no idea what the principe of ‘riding lines’ entails or means.
Those D-type riders.. those are – in my not so immodest opinion – the stunt pilots who make this group such a mess. And therefore also the source of my accumulated frustration on track.
RANTING ABOUT
RIDING LINES
Why it becomes such a mess on track, with those type D riders? Because they ride fast, but they don’t ride lines. There are two, maybe even three drawbacks to that.
1. They are difficult to pass for faster riders who do know what they are doing. Think of riders who are just a bit faster, without a huge difference in speed. So you want to start building up your overtaking maneuver, because just sticking that front wheel next to them with a big speed difference is out of the question.
Normally, you do so by riding behind someone for a few turns, gauging what lines they ride and then build up your momentum to pass them. Whether that’s at corner entry or exit, or on the straight by out-braking them.
However, type D riders are unpredictable. Because they don’t ride lines. So it’s a bit of surprise where they will go. They often turn in too early, or much too late. Of they choose a line without being sure of it. So they pick the bike back up mid corner and choose a different line.
This makes them hugely unpredictable. So it costs much more time for a faster rider to pass them in a clean and safe way.
#3BCARNAGE
CHAOS EVERYWHERE
2. It is also pretty chaotic for semi-fast riders (I count myself among them) to have a type D rider riding in front of you. In rare occasions, you can use them as a reference. But most times, they are like lost butterflies, flying all over the track. They take turn 5 in six different ways, or just swerve through it.
There is no rhythm or consistency to it, which can be very distracting. If he or she rides around the same pace as you, there is almost no opportunity to pass them safely. Unless you get your balls together and just put the bike next to them with slight kamikaze vibes. But that can be quite scary as a semi-novice track rider. You could also choose to ride through pit lane. But still. It is annoying.
3. Type D riders over make dangerous overtaking maneuvers. And this.. this causes the biggest frustration for me.
WHY RIDING LINES IS SO IMPORTANT
ALSO DURING OVERTAKING MANEUVERS
Type D riders hardly ever started in the instruction group. They might not see the need to, or think they can figure it out on their own. Some can, but most can’t. So they are often not aware of certain ‘unwritten’ rules, lines, and respect you use or have whenever you want to pass someone.
Being unaware of it all, people just do whatever they feel is right. I get the fact that it is annoying to get stuck behind a slightly or much slower rider for a long time. I really get that. But you pass them with respect.
And that is what’s lacking. Overtaking with respect. Sometimes it is ignorance, other times it is an actual lack of respect or realization of how dangerous such rash overtaking can be.
For example, one overtakes on the outside. This can be done in a longer turn, especially if the difference in speed is big enough to pass someone before that slower rider gets to the outside. However, in 9 out of 10 times, the pace difference is not that big. So you quickly get into trouble when you pass someone like that. In that case, overtaking by going around the outside is always a bad idea.
THE RISKS
OF SLOPPY OVERTAKING MANEUVERS
Overtaking on the outside in a tight turn before you hit the start finish straight (or another straight) is almost always a bad idea. After all, you only provide the slower rider with one option. And that is to brake, hard. This creates two risks.
Risk 1: The slower rider does not brake hard enough and rides into the type D rider, who tried to go around the outside. In best case scenario, only the type D rider ends up on the asphalt.
Risk 2: Both riders end up on the tarmac, because the slower rider can’t make the braking maneuver stick and while going down, he or she takes the type D rider with him or her.
NO BUENO, MY FRIENDS
BE RESPECTFUL
No, NO bueno. That’s why you do not overtake on the outside in such a case. The slower rider – if he or she sticks to the ideal lines – will be on the outside. This means that there are many meters of tarmac on the inside for you, that are free to use. And that is exactly where the type D rider should be. On the inside. Put the bike alongside, show that front wheel and then turn into the corner. When you overtake like that, you leave the slower rider with two options, instead of one:
Option 1: Run wide, pick a wider line and steer back into the turn. Perhaps apply some braking to avoid the gravel.
Option 2: Brake hard, then revisit your original line and get going again.
At least, you are given two options as a slower rider. And by doing so, overtaking maneuvers are no problem or issue at all, with minimum risks.
RIDING LINES ON TRACK
WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT
Riding lines not only gives flow to a session. It also allows every rider out there to find their own pace. And also to increase that pace. If we are all flying around the track like unruly monkeys, you can’t find that pace without taking risks.
And please, let’s agree that this sport already carries enough risks as it is. Let’s not add unnecessary risks to it.
Riding lines makes overtaking easier and safer. Because you can prepare that action based on the information the rider in front of you gives you. You know where he or she will go, so you can execute your maneuver in a calculated manner.
Of course, this sport will never be risk-free. But this way, we minimize them as much as possible. And we can all do our own thing, have a blast and be happy, both on and off track.
WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS..
Get proper instruction, even if you are a fast rider on the roads. Have you never ridden on track before? Or not in a very long time? Of only on smaller track? Then register yourself into the instruction group before signing up for the free-riding group. Learn how to ride lines, and how to pass someone respectfully.
Not being scared to hit the throttle or the brakes is one thing. Braking late is a second. And a high corner speed is a third. But honestly, it all starts with something else. And that is riding lines.
