Some advocates of laptiming sometimes ask how else we can measure how well we're doing. I responded that, for me, the satisfaction I feel at the end of a lap is of much more importance to me. Which got me thinking about what it is that contributes to the sense of a really satisfying lap. Here's what I concluded ...

Smoothness. Was I always in the optimum gear at every point? Did I change gear at the best possible moment? Did I ease off or brake to the perfect speed for the entry to each bend? Did I keep the car balanced at all times? Did I begin accelerating at the optimum point?

Precision. Did I get the car or bike to track the exact line I intended to? Did I clip the entry, apex and exit dots (or whatever markers I've selected instead where I vary the line) to the centimetre? Did I correctly predict exactly where the car would slide to and exactly where it would regain grip? Was the transition from slide to grip a smooth one?

Observation. When the track conditions change, do I notice all the differences? Can I correctly estimate the friction available on each bend given the conditions at that particular time? Do I notice vehicles behind me as soon as they come into view, or only when they have closed up somewhat?

Anticipation. Where other traffic is concerned, was I able to predict what it was going to do? When overtaking, did I pick the optimum moment and manage to get past without fuss? When being overtaken, do I correctly predict exactly when it will make its move and how it will do it?

Courtesy. Do I end a lap feeling that I behaved towards everyone else exactly the way I would have wanted them to behave towards me? Are my overtakes courteous? Do I assist faster vehicles in getting past easily?

Safety. Was there any point at which I cut further into my safety margin than I'd intended to? In particular, when overtaking was the revised line I had to take safe at the speed at which I was taking it? Was there any way I could have increased my safety buffer without sacrificing satisfaction? Did I ever let myself get wound up by someone else's actions such that it affected my drive/ride?

I've done laps which were among my fastest ever but didn't give me much satisfaction because they felt a bit ragged. I've done moderate speed laps which gave me enormous satisfaction because everything came together really well. This is why I can have almost as much fun in an old Golf as in a Porsche.

Are they subjective rather than objective measurements? Yes. Does that matter? No - I'm there to enjoy myself, not to meet any external objective.