50bookchallenge #6/50: A Twist of the Wrist, Keith Code
I can’t tell you how many people have told me that I absolutely must read this book to learn to become a better rider. It seems to be an almost universal selection for the motorcyclist’s bible.
What I did not know before opening the cover was that it’s entirely dedicated to track racing. Therefore I always felt Code was not writing to me. In fact, some of his suggestions are downright useless to a rider of my inadvanced skill level. Timing sections of laps and comparing one’s times with one’s competitors, for example, is really not helpful to me.
There is, however, a lot of great stuff in here. The chapter on falling has advice that is applicable no matter where one rides. The chapter devoted to countersteering is one that every rider probably should be sat down and forced to read. And the physics of cornering or stopping is the same on the road as it is on the track.
I’d like to do a track day someday, and hopefully then I’ll be able to put some more of Code’s suggestions to work. In the meantime, the ones I can start to put into action will be immediately useful, if only I can remember them. Perhaps I should review a chapter before each ride.
I liked the illustrations in this edition as well.
