Shifting
10-07-2011 | 10:21 PM
#1
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From: New York
Shifting
I shift better with dress shoes than with sneakers... Weird? I can't get the right feel. Does that happen to anyone else here? Maybe its because I haven't owned a manual car in over 8 years...
10-07-2011 | 10:25 PM
#2
Why would that be weird? Shifting is all about comfort...I'm guessing you wear dress shoes frequently. They are typically less narrow and bulky as well, which can give you better feel around the pedals.
10-07-2011 | 11:07 PM
#3
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I agree. If you're comfortable, you'll shift better. It's all about how it feels to you. I'm comfortable in these old shoes I've had for the last 5 or 6 years. They're horribly worn out, but so comfortable. When I have my work boots on, I drive horribly 
10-08-2011 | 04:22 AM
#5
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-Shifting is a delicate thing-
I would be willing to argue that there are right and wrong ways to shift. Despite my feelings on this issue I think that your quandary might be solved by the following information…
Intro:
In any car with a ‘sports’ clutch you have a very narrow engagement area. Because most people let the clutch out based on pure muscle memory two major factors come in to play (regarding the subject at hand).
When a person thinks the clutch is about to engage the will brace their body in a certain manner to be able to maintain posture. When the clutch does not engage [enter reason here] as one expects the effect is exaggerated. From this one will get that super long ‘let out’ that makes everyone look at you like, “hey grandma, quit riding the clutch”.
The second is the exact opposite. The clutch engages before the driver expects and the reaction to stiffen or brace your body is sudden. This usually results in the car bucking from either clutch re-engagement or your right foot doing a party stomp on the accelerator.
Solution:
So where does this all come into play you ask? Say you sit in the car, for the most part, in the same manner and position each time you drive. The only large variable to ‘where’ the clutch engages would be the thickness of your footwear’s sole. A thinner shoe will engage the clutch sooner and a thick sole later. FWIW I am ‘tall’, I move the seat all the way to the rear with the seat back also being tilted pretty far. I leave just enough room in the rearward seat adjustment so that when I drive with my combat boots, I can move the seat backward and have the ‘same clutch’. I would assume this answers your question.
Additional Info (For those who might have trouble with being consistent ‘clutchers’ (lol) and the curious):
Make a habit of planting your heal right before the clutch engages the flywheel. You have more control and articulation when using your ankle instead of your whole leg to modulate the clutch.
Consistent seat position is also very important. If you are sharing your vehicle you really should take advantage of the seat position memorization board (no idea what its real name is). I do not allow anyone else to drive my car, but I do have the programmer set so if some dork at the tire center moves my seat I don’t have a sore back for a week. At any rate, having the same seat position will help the muscle memory noted above.
If it has not occurred to you might consider RPM based shifting. Pay attention to shift points, how quickly RPMs drop in a particular range, how fast you normally drive, and how quickly you enjoy shifting - doing so will reveal a plethora of useful data. This will sound super dorky but I actually have 3 major ‘modes’ of driving. Relaxed driving (low rpm shifting), fun driving (usually within the speed limit but up to 4k shifts for acceleration fun), and racing. You might be interested to note that your shifts will need to be quicker when at low RPM verses with more spirited driving. I won’t go from dork to nerd on you but it has to do with the relation of gear ratios, rotating mass, and pressures.
One of the last things I will mention is feeling. (No, I am not going to help you get connected with your inner child.) Humans do a lot of subconscious correction when driving that we normally are not aware of when we drive. Some footwear will have more feeling than others. If you are having troubles understanding this concept go driving (at your own risk) with your shoes off – just bare feet. You will be amazed at the difference in feel. (If you are like me, you might also have a tendency to play with your pedals non-stop.) At any rate, when not shifting consistently often this will have a major factor in how we shift from one pair of footwear to another.
If you still are having trouble then please post your issue and I will address if possible. I think most would be surprised at how much difference they could realize if they re-learned how to operate a clutch [IMO] properly. Besides, it is not as if I am writing an all encompassing paper or article on the issue. Just trying to share… hope you enjoy!
I would be willing to argue that there are right and wrong ways to shift. Despite my feelings on this issue I think that your quandary might be solved by the following information…
Intro:
In any car with a ‘sports’ clutch you have a very narrow engagement area. Because most people let the clutch out based on pure muscle memory two major factors come in to play (regarding the subject at hand).
When a person thinks the clutch is about to engage the will brace their body in a certain manner to be able to maintain posture. When the clutch does not engage [enter reason here] as one expects the effect is exaggerated. From this one will get that super long ‘let out’ that makes everyone look at you like, “hey grandma, quit riding the clutch”.
The second is the exact opposite. The clutch engages before the driver expects and the reaction to stiffen or brace your body is sudden. This usually results in the car bucking from either clutch re-engagement or your right foot doing a party stomp on the accelerator.
Solution:
So where does this all come into play you ask? Say you sit in the car, for the most part, in the same manner and position each time you drive. The only large variable to ‘where’ the clutch engages would be the thickness of your footwear’s sole. A thinner shoe will engage the clutch sooner and a thick sole later. FWIW I am ‘tall’, I move the seat all the way to the rear with the seat back also being tilted pretty far. I leave just enough room in the rearward seat adjustment so that when I drive with my combat boots, I can move the seat backward and have the ‘same clutch’. I would assume this answers your question.
Additional Info (For those who might have trouble with being consistent ‘clutchers’ (lol) and the curious):
Make a habit of planting your heal right before the clutch engages the flywheel. You have more control and articulation when using your ankle instead of your whole leg to modulate the clutch.
Consistent seat position is also very important. If you are sharing your vehicle you really should take advantage of the seat position memorization board (no idea what its real name is). I do not allow anyone else to drive my car, but I do have the programmer set so if some dork at the tire center moves my seat I don’t have a sore back for a week. At any rate, having the same seat position will help the muscle memory noted above.
If it has not occurred to you might consider RPM based shifting. Pay attention to shift points, how quickly RPMs drop in a particular range, how fast you normally drive, and how quickly you enjoy shifting - doing so will reveal a plethora of useful data. This will sound super dorky but I actually have 3 major ‘modes’ of driving. Relaxed driving (low rpm shifting), fun driving (usually within the speed limit but up to 4k shifts for acceleration fun), and racing. You might be interested to note that your shifts will need to be quicker when at low RPM verses with more spirited driving. I won’t go from dork to nerd on you but it has to do with the relation of gear ratios, rotating mass, and pressures.
One of the last things I will mention is feeling. (No, I am not going to help you get connected with your inner child.) Humans do a lot of subconscious correction when driving that we normally are not aware of when we drive. Some footwear will have more feeling than others. If you are having troubles understanding this concept go driving (at your own risk) with your shoes off – just bare feet. You will be amazed at the difference in feel. (If you are like me, you might also have a tendency to play with your pedals non-stop.) At any rate, when not shifting consistently often this will have a major factor in how we shift from one pair of footwear to another.
If you still are having trouble then please post your issue and I will address if possible. I think most would be surprised at how much difference they could realize if they re-learned how to operate a clutch [IMO] properly. Besides, it is not as if I am writing an all encompassing paper or article on the issue. Just trying to share… hope you enjoy!
10-08-2011 | 09:52 AM
#7
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10-08-2011 | 02:13 PM
#12
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 226
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From: New York
I agree! That's was great. Although I am not an expert at all, I definitely can see there is a right and wrong way to shift. I know my shifts could be a lot better, but I'm still learning the car. I've had it over a week. Considering having driving shoes, as I shift better with flat flexible shoes. Yesterday I tried revv matching and marched it perfect (it was pure luck). I see the concept though.
10-13-2011 | 10:14 AM
#14
barefoot or if I have to have shoes on, dress shoes here too. The shoes are thinner and have less cushion in the foot of them and give you that little extra feeling of the engagement point. I am all kinds of sloppy when I have airmax's on.
