Lap Timers

[Spjallen]

A lot of you guys seem to have / use lap timers. Why? Apart from the obvious over all lap time, but cant you get that from the pit board?

[steeevvvooo]

I’ll be buying one before the next meeting. For me, as I race mostly against myself at the moment, it’s important to see times coming down. The beacons on the pit wall will be switched on for a test day (don’t think they are for track days as usually there’s no timing allowed) so you can monitor lap times and note your progress. Also gives you an idea where you are compared to others before the results from qualifying are out.

[bradders]

what pit board?!

[Spjallen]

Its that thing you are meant to look at but cant take your eyes of the road or bike ahead! I'll ask Julie to do one for you next time, I never see mine!

[bradders]

in all honesty, I have thought about it; would help I think towards the end when I'm tiring and I diont know whats coming behind

[ells]

I changed mine this year to GPS laptimer due to ease of setting up rather than blanking for other peoples beacons. Usefull for seeing if your pace is dropping off, but just found out if there are people close enough to you then I dont bother ever looking at it more interested in beating them than the clock.

:)

[banger san]

Agree with Mark, when dicing with you and Miles never looked at the lap timer, too much going on for me to overload the brainbox with even more info.

[bradders]

when you get alone its worth having one, mine wasnt working (and I couldnt see it anyway) and would defo have helped me keep my pace even.

[PDL]

when you get alone its worth having one, mine wasnt working (and I couldnt see it anyway) and would defo have helped me keep my pace even.

+1 deffo worth having one if there is no one in front of you. Helps you keep your pace and on test days they are invaluable.

[numbskull]

I was convinced I needed one when I didn't have one, and after spending £200 on a GPS one, I discovered that I am usually too busy to look at it till I have got off my bike after the session.

Just my opinion.

[Ghost]

I need a Gregorian calendar. :(

[mat2hew]

I was convinced I needed one when I didn't have one, and after spending £200 on a GPS one, I discovered that I am usually too busy to look at it till I have got off my bike after the session.

Just my opinion.

+1 Mine is in my tool box,, can't be bothered to fit it.

[Si1208]

I ran with a lap timer for the first time last weekend. I found it great for the test day but not so useful in the races (too busy with other stuff!)

[Jolley]

I had a GPS one (Get MD Log or something). I would never use it in the race, but would use it in practice and qualifying. I would set myself a target time (usually the lap record) and work at getting as close to that as possible. It is nice to know you are moving in the right direction whilst you are out on track (have I mentioned I had the most pole positions last year?!! ;) ).

I think without timing whilst I was on track it would be easy to over-ride. This way, I could ride smoothly and calmly and see the results were still good (I find if things are flowing well and you are going quickly it can often feel slow, so this way I had an actual measure).

[Spjallen]

Thanks guys. We're is the best place to mount them? Top yoke looks simplest?

[bradders]

Wherever it's easiest for you to see. Top yoke fits me

[milesaway]

got to be handy to check times after each practice session to see what's working especially for trying different gearing etc- lets you know how far off the mark you are- reckon looking during the session is only going to slow you down or cause a nasty misshap though
- the beacons do seem to work on track days too- you just got to hide them away down in fairing so they cant see that you've got them fitted
- at pembrey trackday last year got praised for not using it when they saw the empty velcro on top yoke- little did they know..

[bradders]

A glance down on the straight is normally all it takes. I used it quite a bit last year, more to check I was roughly on constant pace when getting tired towards the end of a race

[skidlids]

There was time on the back straight at Snetterton to have a look and add that time to the split time you had a look at coming up the start finish straight.

I'd like to know why there was a second beacon on

[ells]

If you get one that signals best lap so far / best of session then you need not look at it.

M

[Jolley]

The GET one I had (and probably all GPS ones) let you set splits. Mine would flash a green or Red LED as you passed the split and tell you how much up/down you were on that split (to your best lap). It was nice I keep seeing that green LED in the bottom of your vision as you worked your way through the first session.

[ells]

With splits it also may give you the lap time that you could have done by combining the three splits.

I don't use this as I think I might already know I could do better. I do like gps for ease of setup and other peoples beacons not interfering.

M