Hazards?

[Breed777]

Ok so I understand Diesel and Oil are a big thing to avoid.... as a newbie what about road marking paint, cats eyes.... manhole covers etc.... anyone had anything bad happen while riding over the kinda stuff you generally find on the road AND .... I know people say travel in the right hand side wheel track of a car, but I find that part of the road is alot more worn and smooth, where as the middle between a typical cars tyres still has alot of grip... (since car tyres dont go there).... where is it best to ride?

Keen to hear your thoughts and stories....

[MSTRS]

Just being on the road can be hazardous...
Do try to avoid stuff like painted lines, tarsnakes and manhole covers ESP WHEN WET!!!
Remember that the centre of the lane is also where crap from car drivetrains tends to drop...oil, grease etc.

[vifferman]

I find that part of the road is alot more worn and smooth, where as the middle between a typical cars tyres still has alot of grip... (since car tyres dont go there)..
The tyres may not go there, but most of the slippery crap that drips out of other vehicles, such as oil, coolant, brake fluid, etc. does go there.

The biggest hazard on the road is other vehicles. Watch out for them: the other drivers are either deliberately out to get you, or so unobservant that they effectively don't notice you, which is the same thing. Act like all other vehicles are potential hazards, and you'll be safer.

[Breed777]

Just being on the road can be hazardous...
Do try to avoid stuff like painted lines, tarsnakes and manhole covers ESP WHEN WET!!!
Remember that the centre of the lane is also where crap from car drivetrains tends to drop...oil, grease etc.

Awesome, that never crossed my mind.... will be sricking to the right from now on....

So which would you chose on a well used road.... riding in the middle or on a well worn tyre track that looks like it has little grip?

[duckonin]

Ok so I understand Diesel and Oil are a big thing to avoid.... as a newbie what about road marking paint, cats eyes.... manhole covers etc.... anyone had anything bad happen while riding over the kinda stuff you generally find on the road AND .... I know people say travel in the right hand side wheel track of a car, but I find that part of the road is alot more worn and smooth, where as the middle between a typical cars tyres still has alot of grip... (since car tyres dont go there).... where is it best to ride?

Keen to hear your thoughts and stories....


Speed..:niceone:

[MSTRS]

Awesome, that never crossed my mind.... will be sricking to the right from now on....

So which would you chose on a well used road.... riding in the middle or on a well worn tyre track that looks like it has little grip?

Never contain yourself to one part of the road at all times. I tend to stay towards the right side of the lane (about where a car driver's head would be), BUT in the right lane of a 2+ laned road I would mirror that. I will also move side to side if needed, to assist with visibility (mine and them) or avoidance of some hazard in my path. I am not scared of the centre of the lane but I respect it when wet.
Do not be fooled by the smooth appearance of a wheel track...the grip is fine under normal conditions.

[p.dath]

Avoid anything that is a difference surface to what you are on now. So if you are riding on tar seal, avoiding riding on anything that isn't tar seal.

[beyond]

White paint, melted tar when wet and dry (if cornering hard), catseyes, diesel, oil, tin cans, cardboard, leaves, dead possums/rabbits, gravel and anything else that should not be there is best avoided.

You can't always pick the best track and sometimes the right tyre track of cars is best but when well worn, stick to the left one and when it's dry your best grip on seal is in the middle when going for it as there is not normally any melted worn patches.

[MSTRS]

... when it's dry your best grip on seal is in the middle when going for it as there is not normally any melted worn patches.

+1 to that. The stretches where tarmelt and vehicle weight has removed or pressed the chip down, leaving smooth gooey tar...they can be a challenge. Stay in the centre and adjust your speed to suit so you can hold your line for cornering purposes.
On a road like that, in the rain or otherwise wet/damp conditions...well, you'd best have your wits about you.

[NDORFN]

Patched potholes with bitumen in the wet. Those little suckers, while grippier than the rest of the road in the dry, are slippery as fuck in the wet. If you hit one and feel a slide, don't overeact! If you maintain line and balance you'll slide off it and pick up traction on the metalled surface.

[puddytat]

On well worn seal in the WET, I often choose the middle of the lane as there is simply more seal there....shiny shit is slippery. Ive had more "slips" on the shiney stuff than the stuff in the middle, & touch wood Ive not had problems with drivetrain gunk....but its the Sth Isl & we dont have anywhere near the vehicles on the road down here.You got to be careful with the right lane as you can end up cranked over with your head well into the oncoming lane...
As others have said,you do want to move about & pick your lines.

[Blackbird]

Have a look at the video in this thread: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=98728. It covers a huge amount about hazard identification.

[YellowDog]

Lots of stuff on KB about aviding white lines (especially new ones) and metal covers.

Take it easy.