I'm sure everyone who rides has a place they call their own. You know, the road you dream about while sitting in a cubicle or bus, or at the bottom of a ditch digging. How about the road that keeps you sane while moving a four story house in SF (imagine stairs, lots of them, they never end). It's the road we own, no one knows it better, or so we think. Remember guys and gals, there's always- and I mean always- someone faster. Know when to fight.
So what makes this road ours, why is it so different? It's the one we know best, that's why. There is something to be said for familiarity- it breeds comfort and confidence, which makes you more relaxed. When that happens you can do anything. It's easily compared to sex: imagine your love for the first time everyone's nervous. As time goes by it just gets funner and better, familiarity makes things comfortable; then you have confidence to ask to be tied up (wait that's just a scenario of mine, I mean, err, of course).
So as with your favorite road, you start to see the turns when you close your eyes. Imagine the buzz of the bike, the feel of flight and the sense of speed, you're smiling right? Now the important part since your blood is now flowing is to concentrate, look forward in your internal movie the way of your road, the more you see the better you'll get. Relax, notice the important things, the entry, apex, and exit and how they connect, look for curvatures that will enhance the sweep. Noticing the countryside or surrounding areas will help, this will let you know where you are, especially when running up in the hills, valleys and mountains that are our playground. Trust me, thinking you were somewhere else, flying in too hot and getting loose isn't fun. (it actually is but not for anyone or everyone, must be mad)
You don't have to go fast all the time. The more you recall, the better you'll be. A mountain, hill, tree or farm will bring memories of a sweeping area or straight run.
I know some of the Sunday Morning Ride guys who are fast, I mean fast! They know every part of that road, they have names for all the sections and can talk easily about the run and how their comrades were faster or slower in certain sections. This is a 50-mile or longer run, not a 2.2 mile closed circuit course, many, many turns-get it.
To me, this is a very admirable skill, a great deal of seat time and bravery involved. Those boys are badasses!
It all starts with your favorite road. As time goes on, you'll be able to divide yours into sections and then create names for those sections. Your riding pals will hopefully do the same, and from there a riding group is born to explore other areas with confidence that you and your mates can handle certain situations. All of a sudden you'll find (I call it going to the next level) that the unknown road your on is familiar, you don't know it but your body, bike and brain do. Just like most things important, familiarity led to confidence and while you were relaxed the favorite road in your brain had a similar section in front of you running so your relaxed body took over. Neat, huh. Of course all this is going on and you don't even know it. Vroom! That's called seat time, the more the better. Just remember pay attention.
As I write this at the Kilowatt I'm getting a pint from Andy and wondering how I'm going to make the Isle my favorite back road. To be that comfortable there would make me more relaxed, that's for sure.
~Cheers, Alx