Reading the book A Twist of the Wrist. Gotta question.

[Marsolais]

For those that have read this book, did you find it really hard to read? It seems like there is a lot of BS added to help people associate normal everyday things to road racing. This whole ten dollars worth of attention thing is totally breaking the flow of the reading up.

I picked this one up and the second one. Please tell me the second one is better. If not then I am moving one to Rossi's autobiography.

[wolf44]

When you crashed you used up all $10 worth of attention on the wheel hopping  and target fixating on the gravel when you should have been using $5 on throttle/brake control and $5 on staying on line

[Marsolais]

When you crashed you used up all $10 worth of attention on the wheel hopping  and target fixating on the gravel when you should have been using $5 on throttle/brake control and $5 on staying on line

Thanks jerk. LOL. But according to the book I was over drawn by about eleventeen dollars and sixty one cents. But really did you find it kind of hard to keep a flow going when reading it. Or is this just like this at the beginning?

[tstruyk]

I read the first one 1 dozen years ago (or so it seems).  It had its good points and some were I still say  

Doesnt he talk about getting all your braking done upright and then turning in?

One drill I liked and still do was a visualization drill.  Going over a track in your mind with a stop watch... see how close to an actual "time" you can be.

Never read 2, got a few chapters in and said F' it... couldnt seem to get a grip on what he was saying.

I think its just like any form of instruction. If you can pull a few things, or one REALLY good thing from it than its worth it (pending cost of course)

tim

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

I think its just like any form of instruction. If you can pull a few things, or one REALLY good thing from it than its worth it (pending cost of course)

+1

I absolutely agree!

The 1st year I raced ('96) I took the Team Suzuki school at Road America, I ended up hooking up with an Instructor/Pro racer out on the track and doing almost 2 full sessions of cat and mouse with him exclusively - those 2 sessions brought the biggest advancements in my racing that I had ever experienced. There have been other times where I only got 1 good thing out of a book, article, school, or advice, but that 1 thing was worth it because it's another piece added to the entire puzzle. 

[Marsolais]

So I should keep reading.

[Cowboy 6]

Sure, keep reading. I haven't finished it either.  BTW, If you think that is boring wait until you read the first two chapters of Rossi's book!  I mean, ok, you left freaking Honda already....

[Marsolais]

Sure, keep reading. I haven't finished it either.  BTW, If you think that is boring wait until you read the first two chapters of Rossi's book!  I mean, ok, you left freaking Honda already....

Gawd dam it you gotta be kidding me.

[Russell2566]

Could be worse, you could be watching the twist of the wrist DVD... holy camera shake and crappy commentary...

[Jeff]

I prefer the 2nd book.  Get used to the way Keith writes.  Associating racing items with normal everyday tasks works for the majority of people.  that's how Keith teaches.  Some people don't get along with that, but most do...

[weggieman]

One must remember when these books were written. Riding styles have changed with the equipment.

Back in the day you had to do all your braking straight up or you would end up on your head.

Take it for what it's worth. It's not gospel but still a lot can be learned from reading it. Don't give up on it. Learn what you can from it and put it to good use. Any education is better than none.

[Cyklracer]

The second book takes a *slightly* more modern perspective on suspension and tire handling characteristics (ie: trail braking, etc).  There are some very good nuggets throughout the book - I thought the bits on how common survival reactions actually provide the wrong input to the bike were very good.  Like others have said - glean from it what you can, take ownership of those pieces that work for you, and modify them where appropriate for yourself.


Also, for what it's worth  -   when I first came into racing a few years ago I picked up on the bit about coming in and immediately after getting off the bike writing down observations on the track - where you felt you could be faster, what you thought you could do differently to be faster, what you saw other fast people doing, what felt good what didn't feel good.  Especially as a newbie on certain tracks it really helped advance the learning curve and get me up to speed faster.


Of course, now I'm just a slow old guy trying to stay out of Gen Y's way