Adjusting Shock Absorber Settings

 Low speed settings are all that most shocks have.  High end models also have a high speed adjuster.

In general, I have found I like minimal compression damping and maximal rebound damping.

The compression affects how hard the jolts coming into the chassis feel to me.  Less compression makes for softer bumps.

Rebound affects how high I get bounced out of the seat after a big hit.  More rebound means less bouncing.

I go for a compression setting that is as soft as possible with only occasional bottoming out.

I go for a rebound setting that keeps me in the seat.

Point and Shoot is the only way to ride pavement

I am talking releasing the brakes as soon as full lean is achieved.  The apex is hit on the gas, rather than trail braking to the apex then opening the throttle after the apex has been passed.

Trail Braking is when the front brake is used to hold the front end down all the way to the apex.  Holding the nose down reduces the steering head angle, supposedly making for quicker steering.  Classic trail braking is done all the way to the apex, at which time the gentle brake release you describe happens.

Back in the days when drum brakes were all that was available trail braking had some validity simply because drums never deliver the same brake performance two corners in a row.  They would fade during a single hard stop from top speed.  Engine braking was very important back then, something the big singles of the day provided.

Tires used to break loose suddenly before radials were developed.

Frames used to flex strangely.

All of which makes hard braking-> flicking it in–> gassing it hard out pretty sketchy.  Much more likely to make it all the way to the end of the race if corner entries are gentle and drawn out affairs.

All the components are better now, much more predictable and consistent. Which is why trail braking is no longer relevant.

Point and Shoot extends the front end back to the middle of its travel, so it can respond to surface irregularities.  It also shifts some weight to the back tire, so front end deflections have less effect on the whole machine.

I started riding a long time ago, when trail braking was still winning GPs.  I used to load my front heavily going into corners.  The whole idea of getting on the gas before the apex was alien to me.  I argued with Keith Code about it.  He finally said "You paid me hundreds of dollars to be here and hear this, how about yo go out and try it and see what happens?"

What happened was someone laid Velcro(tm) down under my front tire.