xbacksideslider wrote:Inexplicable correlation - since I quit eating lunch and started walking 18 holes twice a week, my leathers stopped shrinking. I think that is because I was concerned that they were withering away so I "fed" the leather with Neetsfoot oil?
And Tetge, FYI, I have never ever touched a knee down, even on the race track. Can't do it, though I've tried. I do regard those knee pucks, however, as additional protection though.
Agreed regarding knee pucks. And though I can grind them down, even on the lankey-tall DRZ. But, largely I feel as I can go just as fast (if not faster) staying tucked in and hugging the machine. Hell, look at the fastest top three or so guys in our group... they are all strictly "Sit up and Beg", no lateral weight transfer or knee out, let alone down on the ground type of riders. On any variety of bikes which they own.
On the cop-bikes, even from extreme low-speed, high angle full-lock turns to high speed sweepers and transitions, I have practiced the discipline of "static form" riding. You just make up for it in different ways... a little more bar input or upper body strength to aid the snap over for example. Could I go quicker on a ST1300 knee down? Perhaps. But I also would get much more fatigued much more quickly. Thus, even in Supermoto Races I will switch up my style to preserve my energy and prolong endurance, by using different forms even in the same corner, during the same 20 minute session. Rotating the work to different parts of the body. This is important for a guy like me who was never really in prime shape, in terms of strength or cardio conditioning. I always fell back and concentrated on skill rather than achieving my ultimate best by really committing and combining both components.
It all depends on rider personal style, preference, experience 'coming up' and also each individual machine. Just like the foot out, or knee down style, I like to know I can do it (if nothing else it looks cool
) but it is always a good idea to have as many styles, or "tools in one's belt" as possible. Like a Mixed Martial Artist. Punching or Kicking or Ground fighting is just not enough by itself. You need a nice, healthy, well-rounded skill set.
So, do what feels right, and works for you, when and where it works for you.
Just like moving around on the DRZ saddle on those days long rides. I will push back to the rear for a while, crunch my nuts up on the fuel tank cap for a while, ride side saddle, rotating time between each cheek carrying my excessive girth, spreading the load out and rotating the positioning, even to the point of at what angle I tilt my head and hold my shoulders - elbows up, elbows down, chin up, chin down, etc. It all adds up. And in a real long ride or race, those fleeting positions of comfort and stamina grow increasingly difficult to find or maintain. So I have found myself at times getting pretty creative with foot / peg positioning and hand placement on the bars, as well. It may look all crazy at times, but it is a deliberate pain saving, endurance aiding set of techniques that I have learned, and have helped when things go long and hard. So to speak.
