noob question about lines on track days when in novice group

[colin1]

If I were to do a trackday, I would want to try all sorts of different lines through corners to get a feel for things. However I guess its easier, if you follow the same line as everyone else in case someone behind you ends up hitting you.

What do you lot think ?

Now I know Siggi recently did his first track day and was fine taking his own lines, but he has a lot of experience going fast on the road.

I am slow to moderate on the road so Im interested in advice for that sort of rider with less experience and less sure of themselves.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Kickstart]

Hi

If a true novice group then you should be fine. Maybe aim for one of the Hotrax pace days, as that way any of the heros booking into the novice group just to make themselves look fast will not be near you.

All the best

Keith
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[Bendy]

Wear a vest if you anticipate doing odd things. Anyone with any sense gives vest wearers a very wide berth.

[veeeffarr]

Or you could just shit your pants while riding and force everyone to take a different line to avoid the shitty stench.

[G]

Following people can often be a bad idea.
Especially in the novice group where how fast people go is often determined by how brave you rather than what lines you are taking.

Often trackday instructors go on about getting the right lines - but until you're starting to lose traction, the issues is often that if you want to go faster, you need to turn the throttle more.

It's unlikely everyone will be taking the same line by a long shot, so it's not like you can follow 'everyone else.

More so than in racing, it's definitely the perogative of the person behind to overtake safely. That means giving you plenty of space.
If people are getting too close, mention it to an instructor or organiser.

[michael j]

I've only done 2 trackdays and was a nervous wreck at the beginning of each day. On the first session you get led round by the instructors(and the start of the 2nd session) who'll show you the lines you should be taking. After that you can go and grab an instructor for some one on one tuition.
One of the most exciting things I've ever done
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[Adam_P]

You'll more than likely find that it will naturally sort itself out as you go round. That anyone faster will come past you anyway and anyone slower you'll pass on the brakes or on the straights. You're in a novice group, so no one is going to be going that fast and if they are, they'll be moved groups.

Alternatively, buy a 98 R1 as your track day bike and you won't have the problem of being passed by anyone else. Apart from other 98 R1 riders, obiously.
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[Black Knight]

Dont worry about it, just ride.

There may well be markers out showing turn in points, just use them if you're unsure
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[Cillit-BANG]

There is a cone for your entry point, and a cone for the corner apex. There should be no reason why you should want to do anything other if your a novice and haven't done the track hundreds of times and have your own prefered line if different from the above.

It couldn't be simpler really. There isn't any great variations that you can really take that will be of any benefit to you regards getting round said corner.

Wear a yellow vest and just get out there and do it. Being slow matters not one bit, everyone rides for themselves, not to see how fast/slow others are. By the end of the day you will have done each corner between 40-90 times, so you will be more than confident as the day progresses.

[feef]

if you want an easy, friendly ttrackday, with a novice group where lines dont matter, then gimme a shout. There's one in August that i'm going to, and we're short on slow/novice riders.

more info:
https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=86455

a
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[colin1]

id probably prefer to go to a circuit nearer me, but i may well leave doing a trackday until next year when Im a bit more experienced.

good link tho, and good for other people no doubt
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[Gazdaman]

When you get called for the first session, get out there first behind the instructor. Follow his lines.

Bendy told me that at my first trackday, and I've done it at everyone since.

Gaz

[colin1]

[G]

If they have cones, they will be for turn in, mid apex and 'exit' points.
They are useful, but not always totally correct - ie they may have got blown about a bit, knocked or just set wrong.

Braking can be massively different on different bikes - ie an MZ might run into a corner with no brakes, while a tuned litre bike may need to loose 100mph first!

[Dark]