Five reasons why you should do a trackday…
If you’re unsure about booking a track day or have never considered doing one, check out our five reasons why you should book one... today.
1 Chance to learn new skills
“It’s all about finding the limit of you and your bike.” You may well hear this from friends and family when thinking about a track day – but it’s not. Finding your limit involves going past it, which in turn usually means falling off – not something you want to do – instead think of your experience as a way to try things out. Take advantage of the fact there is nothing coming the other way, the nice big run off areas and a totally smooth surface.
2 Ride iconic race tracks
Motorcycle racing is cool – so imagine the chance to ride a circuit that your racing idol has weaved their way around. It doesn’t have to be in the UK either, there are companies who offer track days around the globe. Often to get the chance to ride around the track just once is enough to tick it off your list, but if more laps are on offer then you’d be mental not to take them…
3 It’s safer than riding on the road… honest
One of the biggest fears that people have about doing a track day is falling off, but in reality, there are actually fewer hazards on the track than there are on the road. What’s better is that you will be riding the same route every lap, so you can try new things and see if they work. You’re encouraged to fold in your mirrors or tape them up, to stop the temptation of spending more time looking behind you instead of in front. Be aware of people around you but it’s their responsibility to overtake safely.
Yes, people fall off on track days but it’s often a case of them overestimating their ability. Riding out of the pitlane onto the track can make you feel like your racing hero – but don’t think that you will instantly be able to ride like them.
4 Go as fast as you like. Legally.
Riding fast is fun. Admit it, we knowyou like it, because we do too. Riding fast on the road is fraught with dangers such as vehicles coming out of entrances or across junctions, mud on the road and obviously breaking the lawisn’t something you should do. On the track, everyone is going the same way, there isn’t anything that will pull out on you and there are no speed limits to stick to – so make the most of it! Just remember to recalibrate if you’re riding home.
5 You can do it on any bike
You may think that turning up on your road bike is a mistake – it’s not. By doing a track day on your road bike, you can get to knowit better and ‘bond’. Learn what it feels like when you brake hard into a corner, lean it over so that the footpeg scraps on the floor and get used to knowing that it will be okay. Then, should you need to use it on the road, you will have the confidence in tipping it into that corner that you’ve gone into a bit hot, instead of grabbing the front brake and sitting it up straight.