Not Missing a Beat

I sold my 2007 R1 trackbike last month.

The intent in buying that bike was to retire the TAAF R1 from track duty to help preserve it, yet 2013 was actually the worst year I've had on it, having had a lowside in May, then taken out by a car in October. And since I really wasn't finding the confidence on the 07 R1 that I have on the TAAF R1 - despite working on it all season - suffice it to say, the honeymoon was officially over for the TAAF R1. It was time to bring it out to the track again.

Back in track duty, over a year later.

I had my first track outing on this bike again on February 24th, after about 14 months since I turned a wheel on any track on the bike. I was expecting some atrophy as far as pace given the time in between, so my goal was simply to end the day in the sub 2:15's lap time around Thunderhill Raceway, so at least I'd know that I can still do A-pace (generally). I would've been STOKED if I can do sub-2:10's, but it took me all season last year to finally do 2:08's on the 07 R1 - a pace that I was doing on this bike since 2011.

2:08's on the 07 R1, finally, during the last trackday of 2013

I spent the first two sessions yesterday getting acclimated on this bike again at track speed. Even though I've been riding it for the street, the two disciplines require a different kind of riding. I was also timing my sessions to get as much free track ahead of me throughout a lap, to keep my lines consistent. It was on the session just before lunch break when I decided to run my lap timer, and I was fortunate enough to string together some laps that had no traffic whatsoever.

And talk about a pleasant surprise...



2:11's.

Goal achieved!

Sub-2:15's indeed well before noon! Boy was I relieved that the extent of my pace's atrophy on this bike wasn't too excessive. I felt like popping a cold one open for lunch had there been one! So I wondered if I could get to sub-2:10's that day after all. I was getting my groove back on the bike, the conditions were awesome (clear skies, in the 70's, perfect track conditions), and with 34 riders in total for the day (private open day), low chances of dealing with any traffic.

I took my time getting back to the track after lunch, wanting to let everyone else get their post-lunch warm-ups done. It wasn't until almost 2PM that I went back out to get myself back up to speed. When I went back to the pits to rest for the next session, I didn't go out until the track seemed to have less activity, then I turned on my lap timer and went back out.

Unfortunately, while I didn't run across successions of riders during my session, I couldn't do a whole lap without having to get around at least one other rider each lap. I strung together four flying laps before giving up since I couldn't be without a clear lap.

But an even pleasant surprise...



2:09's!

 It took me half a day on this bike to do what it took me a whole season to do on the 07 R1.

I LOVE THIS BIKE.

The Gift That Keeps Giving Back

Just over two and a half years ago, I inadvertently found myself on the receiving end of one of the most fantastic experiences of my life.

 

Suffice it to say, though I had only hoped to display my bike in any area they could make available for me under the Yamaha banner, what Sarah allowed me to do at the time was more than I dreamt of. It was like an evolution from my decision to turn my motorcycle into a “moving billboard” for The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation (TAAF), to being able display this work in a motorsport event that I religiously followed!

That experience remains to be one of my fondest memories with my motorcycle, which in no doubt can be attributed to Sarah Timleck’s appreciation of my efforts for TAAF through what I had done with my bike. For the longest time, I didn’t know if my bike and I could ever top that accomplishment, and would’ve been happy to let that be the highest note. But fast forward to now, and much like then, my bike and I find ourselves with an amazing opportunity well beyond my intent...

Image courtesy of Performance Bikes

 Peformance Bikes (PB) is a motorcycle magazine hailing from United Kingdom, which in my opinion, is really the only motorcycle magazine worth reading no matter where you live as a motorist, even if you have to pay premium for an international subscription. Which reminds me,I should probably subscribe already and stop stealing my friend Rob’s monthly issues...

Each month, PB asks their viewers to submit their pride and joy, a handful of which are chosen by PB to be featured in their two-page Riders’ Specials segment, with a photo of the bikes and some choice words from the owners. Last month, I submitted my bike. So what that I was a reader from the US – worse that could happen was they say “Thanks, but no thanks,” and the best case scenario was they’d let my bike have a corner of their page in the next issue. As luck would have it, they did accept my bike for their Riders’ Specials column for the March 2014 issue. Of course I was beyond STOKED at the prospect of seeing a photo of my bike and my name printed on the magazine that I would religiously steal from my friend Rob!

Only, I didn’t just get a corner on their page after all...

The guys and gals at PB were awesome enough to choose my bike as their pick from all the submissions, giving my bike and words a full-page spread!

Even in the age of digital information and media, where your actions and words can reach farther than you could intend or imagine, there is still something to be said about seeing your work and name printed on a regularly distributed publication as an achievement. This moving billboard of mine I made to create awareness for TAAF, for it to reach as far as the United Kingdom in a publication that I respect – well – it makes one feel very accomplished.

This bike has taken me places I didn't think I could get to.

To be honest, it’s a bit strange to be continually rewarded for an effort that you intended as a gift to something greater than you. 

But I’m not complaining!