bluninja
17th February 2003, 12:42
After Kwaka_Kids comment on my overtaking I just thought I'd post about what I know about safe:D overtaking. It will either inform and educate or get people challenging my views and suggesting a better way.
Most people do a :banana: overtake. They look ahead, see enough room to overtake, accelerate towards the vehicle in front, pull out from behind and overtake, then pull in afterwards.....some actually check, mirrors indicate, do a lifesaver look, but I've assumed that these are de riguer :rolleyes:
This is not the best way to overtake. The normal mistake here is that occasionally the road isn't clear and this becomes obvious when you pull out. Problem is that you are now already alongside the vehicle in front and have to brake hard just to get back to your side of the road (or put the hammer down and hug the centre line till past).
The way I would suggest.
Do your observations as normal prior to deciding to overtake and move out in a position to overtake, but without closing on the vehicle in front.
Now you have a clear view ahead you can check if the overtake is really on. If you've missed something coming the other way, just return to your own side.
Accelerate past the vehicle in a straight line that returns you to your own side of the road within 1/3rd the clear distance ahead that you can see.
So how is this different/better? Well you can make it back to your own side of the road if the overtake isn't on; the overtake is cleaner and the bike remains upright and more stable under acceleration; vehicles coming the other way can see you are returning to your side of the road. Completing in 1/3rd of the viewable clear distance allows something to appear in the opposite direction at twice your speed and still let you get back safely.
Other sugestions:
If you abort for any reason, make sure you start your observations all over. You will have travelled a fair distance, and there may now be potential hazards to doing the overtake that you haven't seen. (I learnt this the hard way....RSVR overtaking versus tractor turning on to road....Ouch! My original overtake would have completed before the tree lined farm opening)
Overtake streams of traffic at 10-20 kmh over their speed. This gives you the chance to throttle off and slide back in when traffic appears; or the opportunity to brake before collecting the back of the car that decides to overtake suddenly. Warp speed may get you past the queue quicker and back to your own side of the road, but you risk being collected by the traffic you are overtaking. Try and think of it as a series of single overtakes where you could move back if you wished.
Don't follow another rider on an overtake unless you know there is space for you to get back after they are in the new space.
Do not whatever you do overtake me 2 up, popping the front wheel across a bend as it makes me feel really inadequate :D
TTFN Leo Tolstoy
Most people do a :banana: overtake. They look ahead, see enough room to overtake, accelerate towards the vehicle in front, pull out from behind and overtake, then pull in afterwards.....some actually check, mirrors indicate, do a lifesaver look, but I've assumed that these are de riguer :rolleyes:
This is not the best way to overtake. The normal mistake here is that occasionally the road isn't clear and this becomes obvious when you pull out. Problem is that you are now already alongside the vehicle in front and have to brake hard just to get back to your side of the road (or put the hammer down and hug the centre line till past).
The way I would suggest.
Do your observations as normal prior to deciding to overtake and move out in a position to overtake, but without closing on the vehicle in front.
Now you have a clear view ahead you can check if the overtake is really on. If you've missed something coming the other way, just return to your own side.
Accelerate past the vehicle in a straight line that returns you to your own side of the road within 1/3rd the clear distance ahead that you can see.
So how is this different/better? Well you can make it back to your own side of the road if the overtake isn't on; the overtake is cleaner and the bike remains upright and more stable under acceleration; vehicles coming the other way can see you are returning to your side of the road. Completing in 1/3rd of the viewable clear distance allows something to appear in the opposite direction at twice your speed and still let you get back safely.
Other sugestions:
If you abort for any reason, make sure you start your observations all over. You will have travelled a fair distance, and there may now be potential hazards to doing the overtake that you haven't seen. (I learnt this the hard way....RSVR overtaking versus tractor turning on to road....Ouch! My original overtake would have completed before the tree lined farm opening)
Overtake streams of traffic at 10-20 kmh over their speed. This gives you the chance to throttle off and slide back in when traffic appears; or the opportunity to brake before collecting the back of the car that decides to overtake suddenly. Warp speed may get you past the queue quicker and back to your own side of the road, but you risk being collected by the traffic you are overtaking. Try and think of it as a series of single overtakes where you could move back if you wished.
Don't follow another rider on an overtake unless you know there is space for you to get back after they are in the new space.
Do not whatever you do overtake me 2 up, popping the front wheel across a bend as it makes me feel really inadequate :D
TTFN Leo Tolstoy