When in doubt, accelerate

Hey, things on this blog seem awfully quiet, and I wanted to say that everyday, I belive more heartily in the work we're doing in the world.

There's a great book called "Twist of the Wrist 2: The Basics of High-Performance Motorcycle Racing", in which racer Keith Code very simply explains the physics of a gyro in motion combined with braking forces and traction dynamics, and suggests that all our gut reactions are wrong — fear based — when we think we're going to die in a firery speeding crash. Keith says doing the opposite of the fear reaction is the best policy, all physics concerned. His suggestions? See if they seem useful improvisational tools for life..

1. When in doubt, accelerate. The bike is most stable when the throttle is cracked open a bit, accelerating, especially useful in scary turns and unstable conditions. Bike is least stable while braking.Brake + turn = disaster.

2. When the road gets rough, let go. Bumpy road means bumpy bike means use your body as a shock absorber - squat rather than sit, and loosen on the bars. Relax your hands arms and shoulders.

3. Pick a line in a turn and hold it. Correcting course mid-intitaitive curve creates a moment of extreme instability in a gyro. Momentum is lost as accelaration drops.

4. Look where you want the bike to go. If there's a haybale or truck in the way suddenly, look at the space between obstacles while hurtling forwards, not at the truck. The bike will follow your balance & focus.

5. Counter-steering: push where you want to go, don't pull. To turn a bicycle or motorcycle to the right at speed, you push right and pull left. Its just true. The gyro again, somehow. But push seems building, while pull to get what you want feels limiting.

Doing this stuff makes it possible to go really fast on a motorcycle, but of course then the point becomes to find the edge where your speed exceeds your skills, and then its really not safe.

Keith suggests racing at 85% to your edge. His skills applied to life can make a difference. Experiment, and send me post cards....

Posted by Denzil Meyers on July 28, 2005 01:37 AM in About AIN
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