Sat: Long
Sun: Pro

Too much rain

Leaning into the uphill right hander of corner 6

We spent the August long weekend at Bogie, could there be a better way to spend time off work? Johnny got to go up early again, I made my way up Friday night, rode Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Riding a track 4 days in a row, that was a first. It wasn’t quite as tiring as I had thought, I guess after a while you start getting used to this.

Making a straight line out of 12B and 13

First time back at Calabogie with my new suit. Being able to actually move freely on the bike made such a difference. I was still having some issues with the plastic shoulder details hitting my helmet and preventing my head from turning as far into the turns as I would want to. I found that dropping my inside shoulder would help with that.

One of my favorite corners rightly named Temptation

Johnny had his new GPS Starlane lap timer so I got to use his hand-me-down AIM timer. Here I was all happy that I would finally start getting an idea of what sort of lap times I do and we couldn’t get that damn thing to work. We tried propping it up on the bike all sorts of ways, and eventually gave up. I ended up using Sandy’s unit (thank you Sandy for letting me borrow it!) so I did end up getting my lap times after all. My times were consistent at around 2:30 and dropped below that a few times. My best time of the weekend was a 2:28 which I was very happy with.

Photos from the weekend, taken by 303 Imaging

Sat Jun 27 SMP Pro
Sun Jun 28 SMP Long

The weekend had started off some what frustrating with the bike bottoming out each time coming into Allens. I felt held back, wanted to go faster, and the little voice in my head cried it’s not fair. I adjusted my style, added a lot more finess and strategy into braking and ended Saturday dragging my knee consistently through a couple corners. The sound finally didn’t evoke an automatic fear response and I learned to welcome what was once a bone chilling scraping. Took a few of the first morning sessions to get used to the feeling of the new gloves. Completely different grip and feedback compared to my old gloves. Different but better. Custom ear plugs from guy on Kennedy Rd are working like a charm! The suit.. feels like second skin! Feels so increadibly good to be on a bike in a suit I can actually move in. Some learning curve with body position, legs getting too tired, I was over working myself. Getting off the bike too much? Carying too much weight on my inside leg as opposed to letting the outside leg do some of the hanging on as well? Worked on getting my body more relaxed.

Sunday, got to walk Allens with Colin Trevor and Pi I am. Thanks Tim! Learned much about a good line through there and SMP Long #5. Corners felt a lot better and things flowed much nicer after.

Note to self, must make a track map with all markers detailed so I can make notes. Draw out all the concrete patches, wholes, bumps, Daisies, you name it.
Rain at the end of the day as weather predicted. Went out with a couple brave souls, felt very good out there. Worked on being smooth and consistently hitting the lines I wanted to be on. Was having a great time.. then the checkered flag came out, oh well it was starting to pour any ways. As I came off, I was informed I blew off a black flag aimed at me as it turns out for riding in the rain on slicks. Not intentional. Made Paul’s day got a high 5!

Made some big revelations about my suit.

Sun SMP Nelson

Bye bye KTM!

We loaded the KTM on the truck for the last time.  I didn’t ride the KTM, perhaps it was for the better.  I spent the morning watching the other riders and being a shutter bug.  I will miss that beast but at the same time I’m so relieved to finally have a more manageable bike underneath me.  A bike on which I can actually stop any where I wish to!  What a concept  

My new CRF150R

The first time out on the CRF was, well, weird.  I was so used to the long, powerful gears on the KTM every time the CRF hit the rev limiter it almost caught me by surprise.  What, it’s time to change the gear already?  But I just did that!  It also took a few laps to get used to the sheer size difference and the ease of steering the bike.  It felt like I just had to think to turn and I was already turning, this called for some riding style adjustment.  I took turns following and being followed by my friend Donovan who offered feedback and advice on my riding.  

Me on the CRF being followed by Donovan Paige

It was a fun day for all who came out.  

Getting used to the new bike

Pictures by Kevin V. :