California Superbike School - Cornering
Cornering Skills -
A recommendation from Paul Dickinson for the California Superbike School
The limitations of riding and training on the roads can make it potentially unsafe for professional instructors to teach as much as they would like, particularly when it comes to cornering skills. After all there's quite often a wall on one side of the road or traffic coming from the other direction!
The ideal training programme for all riders is a combination of road and track based skills given by suitably qualified instructors, each discipline enhancing the other.
So where is the best place to practice these skills you've been working on and at speeds that won't cost you your licence? And where can you really try them out with no risk of traffic coming the other way? Please read on to continue your discovery in the art of cornering.
Every year I take a couple of days away from my busy life as an instructor and look to participate in another motorcycling activity. I do this for a number of reasons but the main drive is to continue my personal and professional development as a rider and instructor. There is always something to learn when it comes to bikes and riding. Choosing an activity is potentially a little difficult for me; a fall could put me off the bike and out of teaching for a long time if not forever, but a number of years ago I decided to go along to a track day organised by BMW.
The day was run by the California Superbike School at the Rockingham race circuit. From beginning to end they were professional in their task of delivering a safe experience. And the day was so enjoyable it set me to thinking about my next learning curve - a day with the California Superbike School doing their level 1 course.
I would liken this to the CBT of the track and as I run CBT courses I know the value of doing things in this order. So I went ahead and booked. Since that time I've completed all 4 levels at the school and continue to learn something as well as having a great time riding my bike in safe conditions on a track. Completing all 4 levels has helped my road riding for sure.
We ride bikes for the exhilaration on the track and for the freedom on the roads. We also know there are many potential risks particularly on the roads. Quite often these risks are handling issues created by the rider. Happily we know too that the right coaching on the road and track dramatically reduces the risks. I recommend courses at the California Superbike School as experiences that will help you to develop as a rider. 
Find out more by taking a look at their web site ... www.superbikeschool.co.uk
On a slightly different note, this year 2009, I went to the Nurburgring circuit in Germany on an organised training course with a friend of mine. I was a little nervous but excited by the prospect of riding on it. The 14 mile circuit with 73 bends is a rider's dream. The circuit is closed to the general public during this course.
There is no doubt that some of the skills learned at the California Superbike School helped me to enjoy the experience. It was well run and is something that I would recommend all riders to participate in. If you would like more information about the organised Nurburgring course, or what you might need to do by way of preparation with your riding, please contact me, paul@in-gear.co.uk . It takes place in August each year. The dates for 2010 will be announced early in the new year.
Do you have to be a racer or an instructor or simply brilliant to go on the Nurburgring course? NO, absolutely not. You need some experience, a willingness to learn, and the knowledge that this kind of course helps to make riders more skilled on the public roads, wherever they ride.
Paul Dickinson
For further details on any of the training please use our contact form or E-mail paul@in-gear.co.uk or telephone 01275 375 111, Thunder Road Motorcycles Newport 01633 86 88 88 or Thunder Road Motorcycles, Bridgend 01656 66 11 31 and ask for Paul Dickinson.
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