\n\tTHE PACE by NICK IENATSCH, Motorcyclist Magazine<\/p>\n
\n\tThe Pace focuses on bike control and de-emphasizes outright speed. Fullthrottle
\n\tacceleration and last minute braking aren't part of the program,
\n\teffectively eliminating the two most common single-bike accident scenarios in
\n\tsport riding. Cornering momentum is the name of the game, stressing strong,
\n\tforceful inputs at the handlebar to place the bike correctly at the entrance
\n\tof the turn and get it flicked in with little wasted time and distance. Since the
\n\tthrottle wasn't slammed open at the exit of the last corner, the next corner
\n\tdoesn't require much, if any, braking. It isn't uncommon to ride with our group
\n\tand not see a brake light flash all morning.
\n\tIf the brakes are required, the front lever gets squeezed smoothly, quickly and
\n\twith a good deal of force to set entrance speed in minimum time. Running in on
\n\tthe brakes is tantamount to running off the road, a confession that you're
\n\tpushing too hard and not getting your entrance speed set early enough because
\n\tyou stayed on the gas too long. Running The Pace decreases your reliance on
\n\tthe throttle and brakes, the two easiest controls to abuse, and hones your ability
\n\tto judge cornering speed, which is the most thrilling aspect of performance street
\n\triding.<\/p>\n
YOUR LANE IS YOUR LIMIT<\/p>\n
Crossing the centerline at any time except during a passing maneuver is
\n\tintolerable, another sign that you're pushing too hard to keep up. Even when you
\n\thave a clean line of sight through a left-hand kink, stay to the right of the
\n\tcenterline. Staying on the right side of the centerline is much more challenging
\n\tthan simply straightening every slight corner, and when the whole group is
\n\tcommitted to this intelligent practice, the temptation to cheat is eliminated
\n\tthrough peer pressure and logic. Though street riding shouldn't be described in
\n\tracing terms, you can think of your lane as the race track. Leaving your lane is
\n\ttantamount to a crash.
\n\tExact bike control has you using every inch of your lane if the circumstances
\n\tpermit it. In corners with a clear line of sight and no oncoming traffic, enter at the
\n\tfar outside of the corner, turn the bike relatively late in the corner to get a late
\n\tapex at the far inside of your lane and accelerate out, just brushing the far
\n\toutside of your lane as your bike stands up. Steer your bike forcefully but
\n\tsmoothly to minimize the transition time. Don't hammer it down because the
\n\tchassis will bobble slightly as it settles, possibly carrying you off line. Since you
\n\thaven't charged in on the brakes, you can get the throttle on early, before the
\n\tapex, which balances and settles your bike for the drive out.
\n\tMore often than not, circumstances do not permit the full use of your lane from
\n\tyellow line to white line and back again. Blind corners, oncoming traffic and
\n\tgravel on the road are a few criteria that dictate a more conservative approach,
\n\tso leave yourself a three or four foot margin for error, especially at the left side of
\n\tthe lane where errant oncoming traffic could prove fatal. Simply narrow your
\n\tentrance on a blind right-harder and move your apex into your lane three feet on
\n\tblind left turns in order to stay free of unseen oncoming traffic hogging the
\n\tcenterline. Because you're running at The Pace and not flat out, your controlled
\n\tentrances offer additional time to deal with unexpected gravel or other debris in
\n\tyour lane; the outside wheel track is usually the cleanest through a dirty corner
\n\tsince a car weights its outside tires most, scrubbing more dirt off the pavement in
\n\tthe process, so aim for that line.<\/p>\n
A GOOD LEADER, WILLING FOLLOWERS<\/p>\n
The street is not a racing environment, and it takes humility, self assurance and
\n\tself control to keep it that way. The leader sets the pace and monitors his mirrors
\n\tfor signs of raggedness in the ranks that follow, such as tucking in on straights,
\n\tcrossing over the yellow line and hanging off the motorcycle in the corners, If the
\n\tleader pulls away, he simply slows his straight way speed slightly but continues
\n\tto enjoy the corners, thus closing the ranks but missing none of the fun. The
\n\tsmall group of three or four riders I ride with is so harmonious that the pace is
\n\tidentical no matter who's leading. The lead shifts occasionally with a quick hand
\n\tsign, but there's never a pass for the lead with an ego on the sleeve. Make no
\n\tmistake, the riding is spirited and quick in the corners. Anyone with a right arm
\n\tcan hammer down the straights; it's proficiency in the corners that makes The
\n\tPace come alive.
\n\tFollowing distances are relatively lengthy, with the straightaways taken at more
\n\tmoderate speeds, providing the perfect opportunity to adjust the gaps. Keeping a
\n\tgood distance serves several purposes, besides being safer. Rock chips are
\n\tminimized, and the police or highway patrol won't suspect a race is in progress.
\n\tThe Pace's style of not hanging off in corners also reduces the appearance of
\n\tpushing too hard and adds a degree of maturity and sensibility in the eyes of the
\n\tpublic and the law. There's a definite challenge to cornering quickly while sitting
\n\tsedately on your bike.
\n\tNew rider indoctrination takes some time because The Pace develops very high
\n\tcornering speeds and newcomers want to hammer the throttle on the exits to
\n\tmake up for what they lose at the entrances. Our group slows drastically when a
\n\tnew rider joins the ranks because our technique of moderate straightaway speed
\n\tand no brakes can suck the unaware into a corner too fast, creating the most
\n\tcommon single bike accident. With a new rider learning The Pace behind you,
\n\ttap your brake lightly well before the turn to alert him and make sure he
\n\tunderstands there's no pressure to stay with the group.
\n\tThere's plenty of ongoing communication during The Pace. A foot off the peg
\n\tindicates debris in the road, and all slowing or turning intentions are signaled in
\n\tadvance with the left hand and arm. Turn signals are used for direction changes
\n\tand passing, with a wave of the left hand to thank the cars that move right and
\n\tmake it easy for motorcyclists to get past. Since you don't have a death grip on
\n\tthe handlebar, your left hand is also free to wave to oncoming riders, a fading
\n\tcourtesy that we'd like to see return. If you're getting the idea The Pace is a
\n\trelaxing, noncompetitive way to ride with a group, you are right.<\/p>\n
RELAX AND FLICK IT<\/p>\n
I'd rather spend a Sunday in the mountains riding at The Pace than a Sunday at
\n\tthe racetrack, it's that enjoyable. Countersteering is the name of the game;
\n\tsmooth, forceful steering input at the handlebar relayed to the tires' contact
\n\tpatches through a rigid sport bike frame. Riding at The Pace is certainly what
\n\tbike manufacturers had in mind when sport bikes evolved to the street.
\n\tBut the machine isn't the most important aspect of running The Pace because
\n\tyou can do it on anything capable of getting through a corner. Attitude is The
\n\tPace's most important aspect: realizing the friend ahead of you isn't a
\n\tcompetitor, respecting his right to lead the group occasionally and giving him
\n\tcredit for his riding skills. You must have the maturity to limit your
\n\tstraightaway speeds to allow the group to stay in touch and the sense to realize
\n\tthat racetrack tactics such as late braking and full throttle runs to redline will
\n\talienate the public and police and possibly introduce you to the unforgiving laws
\n\tof gravity. When the group arrives at the destination after running The Pace, no
\n\tone feels outgunned or is left with the feeling he must prove himself on the return
\n\trun. If you've got some thing to prove, get on a racetrack.
\n\tThe racetrack measures your speed with a stop watch and direct competition,
\n\twelcoming your aggression and gritty resolve to be the best. Performance street
\n\triding's only yardstick is the amount of enjoyment gained, not lap times, finishing
\n\tposition or competitors beaten. The differences are huge but not always
\n\tremembered by riders who haven't discovered The Pace's cornering pureness
\n\tand group involvement. Hammer on the racetrack. Pace yourself on the street.
\n\t <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE PACE by NICK IENATSCH, Motorcyclist Magazine The Pace focuses on bike control and de-emphasizes outright speed. Fullthrottle acceleration and last minute braking aren't part of the program, effectively eliminating the two most common single-bike accident scenarios in sport riding. Cornering momentum is the name of the game, stressing strong, \u2026 Continue reading