Experienced riding techniques

[Blackbird]

I've just found a video on experienced riding techniques which will be of real benefit to newer riders and as a good refresher to those who have been in the saddle for a longer stretch of time.

Go to the UK Highways Agency: http://www.public.tv/channel.php?group=4EW9-3P8K-9MF4-C6GO-YVU5. The rider is demonstrating a number of techniques - road positioning etc but the most important aspect is his grasp of situational awareness/information processing. It's a fantastic demo of just what he's mentally processing to mitigate risk.

It supports the life-saving "12 Second Rule" the instructor pushed when I did my advanced roadcraft course; i.e you should be scanning ahead for the distance you would cover in 12 seconds at the speed you are travelling at. The video also shows the results of the rider using his rear view mirrors too.

Hope it's useful.

Geoff

[CookMySock]

That's very good. It's quite similar to what they teach in the Defensive Driving Course, but far far more motorcycle oriented.

I'll pick a few holes in it though ;

It's a little pedantic in town. Extreme levels of care aren't really required when you're doing 20km/hr and can stop in about 2 meters, unless you are asleep.

He uses the centreline like its there for entertainment purposes. I doubt the fuzz will appreciate that.

Looking in shop windows for reflections while in motion is a little bit much.

No indicator required for a motorway lane change. Really? I do not think so. Use your indicator for any lane change IMO.

Open-road riding very close to the centre white line. I don't like it. Combine a damp white line with a slight lapse in concentration, and you are over the white line into slippery territory. Curiously, he even identifies this as a hazard later on while he being overtaken.

Other than that, newbs definitely view and review.

Steve

[Blackbird]

Yep, there's a different view in the UK about centrelines compared with NZ as shown by the heated discussions in the "straightlining" threads.

I must admit that I'm a bit anal in town too what with dozy pedestrians and cages either pulling out without looking or opening their doors on you!

For any newbie though, the greatest message to take on board is just how much information is being taken in. You can add smell to visual cues too (effluent, diesel etc), "feel" and auditory ones too, despite ear plugs!

I've just downloaded the video so that I can repeat play it using the Orbit Downloader.

[MarkH]

The trick is not to do as the instructor in a video does, but to watch and see what you think is valuable to you to learn from. Your riding style may mean that some things that he does really don't apply to you, but there will be other things on this video that will make you think and you could start applying some of what he says to your everyday riding.

If after watching the video you find yourself thinking about the potential hazards more then it has done its job. Personally I would think that anyone that finds this video even a little useful would find they get much more out of a RRRS course - I would advise anyone that hasn't done one to go to an RRRS if at all possible.

[CookMySock]

The trick is not to do as the instructor in a video does, but to watch and see what you think is valuable to you to learn from. [...] If after watching the video you find yourself thinking about the potential hazards more then it has done its job.Wise words.

Steve

[newbould]

Love the comment "ahh jeans and trainers - nice!"
Thanks for the link - will help with my "full" on Tuesday!

[Blackbird]

You're very welcome! Yep, I loved that comment too!

When I did my advanced course, the instructor kitted me with a 2 way radio system and made me keep up a running commentary of potential hazards and what I was doing to mitigate them. Sweat was trickling down my back with the effort.

I was going to say best of luck on Tuesday but luck doesn't come into it if you've prepared well. Best wishes and post up how you got on!

Geoff

[quickbuck]

No indicator required for a motorway lane change. Really? I do not think so. Use your indicator for any lane change IMO.



I think he was using Sarcasm there.... Note the tone he said thanks?

Could be wrong, and it may be a bill that was passed in the UK where you don't need to use them on the motorway... because he thanked somebody in what sounded like a sarcastic undertone.

As for the video, yeah.. some of the riding was very close to the line for my liking too... I guess position is key.

Over all a pretty good video for training purposes though...

[scracha]

He uses the centreline like its there for entertainment purposes. I doubt the fuzz will appreciate that.

The centre line is there for entertainment purposes in the UK



Open-road riding very close to the centre white line. I don't like it. Combine a damp white line with a slight lapse in concentration, and you are
Steve
The white lines over there aren't as slippery. Could be argued that you've got a better choice of escape route should something pull out in front of you.

[quickbuck]

The white lines over there aren't as slippery. Could be argued that you've got a better choice of escape route should something pull out in front of you.

I was hoping this was the case.... I was shocked at the amount of paint he had no choice but to ride over...

[CookMySock]

The white lines over there aren't as slippery. Could be argued that you've got a better choice of escape route should something pull out in front of you.See his comment when he is overtaken by that bike - he notes the rider turning in over the slippery white line. But yes, less slippery than ours.

I feel "off balance" when I'm near the shoulder solid white line. If anything should happen I have little or no room to swerve.

Escape route - agreed. I was surprised to see him take right-handers wayyyy out around the solid-white line - just for the reason so he can see around the corner better. His logic is sound, but he could just slow down and achieve the same thing, but his manoevering options near the side of the road, as you suggest, are very limited.

I feel much happier and safer remaining in the middle of the right half-lane. From this position I have many more options and ways-out of almost any bad scenario. I have the best traction for hard braking, and I can slip down the right dashed or the left solid line should I stumble across an object on the road.

Steve

[cheshirecat]

Not a bad video.
Did a UK advanced police rider course many many years ago and a lot of kudos was placed on precision positioning no matter what speed. IE getting the centerline of the tyre just inside the yellow line. The law on this is quite severe, thou shalt not cross penalty is dangerous driving, ban and ones insurance through the roof . I used (and still do out of habit) window reflections all the time especially in London, plus moving shadows under vehicles. Saved no end of 'incidents'.
I seem to remember some hu ha on slippery lines but don't know if this has been addressed.
Last time I looked the High way code over there was some 500 pages.

[monkeymcbean]

Not a bad video.
Did a UK advanced police rider course many many years ago and a lot of kudos was placed on precision positioning no matter what speed. IE getting the centerline of the tyre just inside the yellow line. The law on this is quite severe, thou shalt not cross penalty is dangerous driving, ban and ones insurance through the roof . I used (and still do out of habit) window reflections all the time especially in London, plus moving shadows under vehicles. Saved no end of 'incidents'.
I seem to remember some hu ha on slippery lines but don't know if this has been addressed.
Last time I looked the High way code over there was some 500 pages.


Ive got to ride with a few English peoples down here and some do ride to the lines around corners to position themselves to see the farest ahead up the road, I have tried this and I like how you can see ahead very well and you just move in from the centreline area say in a left hand corner if a car is comming round at the same time (surprising the visual advantage). But i don't think it is rule of thumb as all corners are different, I tend to move around alot in my lane depending on whats comming towards me, behind me, and whats on the road verges etc. I reckon it was a good video in the fact he was awake, identifiying hazards and looking far ahead, out across to the intersecting roads at what might jump out at him, i reckon all this hazard identification just keeps you from getting to complacent, keeps you 'sharp' and on the job.

[Blackbird]

i reckon all this hazard identification just keeps you from getting to complacent, keeps you 'sharp' and on the job.

Yep, and it should be practiced until it becomes totally automatic. When you first start doing it, talking out loud to yourself is no bad thing.

[boomer]

lol, Dangerousbastard fell off last week... i wouldn;t listen to a word he says!

[Shaun]

lol, Dangerousbastard fell off last week... i wouldn;t listen to a word he says!



Sounds like I best shut up then also:beer:

[cheshirecat]

These lines an't too bad here (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/videos/2009/April/apr2009-video-the-ultimate-allrounder-test/)

[Shadows]

Any body who learnt anything from that video lacks the common sense to be riding a motorcycle.

[Blackbird]

Any body who learnt anything from that video lacks the common sense to be riding a motorcycle.

Congratulations on being the first twat on this thread:2thumbsup

[CookMySock]

lol, Dangerousbastard fell off last week... i wouldn;t listen to a word he says!Fell off my chair laughing, yep.

Steve

[Shadows]

Congratulations on being the first twat on this thread:2thumbsup

It's my opinion and I'm sticking with it

[Dolph]

Made me a bit homesick too !! :crybaby:

Really enjoyed that link,..and I'm so glad that the roads around Kerikeri aren't so built up. However, the surfaces are not as good as the UK (or elsewhere in NZ for that matter). I definitely benefited from the vid (I've got quite a lot of common sense too BTW :rolleyes: )

Yes,...as a noob, I try to do the running commentary and it does make you more aware. This has encouraged me to keep it up.

Wonder if they'll do any more ?? Couldn't find any other links that were bike specific....

Cheers !!

[bikemike]

Best regular ride video I've seen posted on here - though I'm no forum whore.

A few comments from the UK perspective:
Under advanced instruction, and under self-preservation imperative, you must avoid the proliferation of paint on the roads over there, and so here also! Even when riding over SCHOOL crossing signs I was taught that the optimal line is over the bar of the L, the shortest amount of paint. But, that position is always sacrificed if some other factor poses greater risk. A-Road dual-carriageway roundabouts often have yellow lines painted right across the carriageway at ever decreasing intervals as you approach - so you have to scrub off early in the wet because the later you leave it the more paint there is!

I think his lines were thoroughly justified. He often gave up his position for safety, and commented as such. The key thing in that regard for an advancing rider is that his bike was always where he wanted it, there was always a plan and a good reason why he put his bike where he did.

I was also taught to ride those tight lines; to the shoulder or the crown. The thing is, you always give them up when they are not safe, and for me that would include when it's wet because my speed would be reduced and I don't need to take the advantage of the better view so much. (I've advocated giving it up elsewhere on here for other reasons too)

Not sure of the no indicator required comment, but I will say that I was taught that an indicator is a signal to another road user. I got canned if I indicated to fresh air.

I appreciate that here in Godzone we must indicate for at least three seconds before every manoeuvre but I think the blind habit approach sucks.
Giving an indicator as a concious signal makes you think more about giving signals in general, and about who can and can't see you, how you get their attention, change positions, use the horn, wave a hand, use and indicator etc. If you always indicate then typically you just do it without thinking and don't adjust your set. nah. On the other hand, I haven't found a roundabout in NZ yet where I can't give both signals when turning right, or a left hand when going straight through - indeed, my nearest one I often also give a hand signal for straight through on the approach so an opposing vehicle can make progress knowing where I am going without an indicator (yet). Signal to another road user :-)

Wrong shop window in the highlight? I use that all the time also.

For me the key reminders were, how much there is to see, how much it can help you ride, how slow you have to go when you are fully aware of those hazards, and how much you cannot ride by rote, but you can by a system with a plan, which he is using.

I disagree with the comment on being pedantic at low speed. You are going so slow because of the threat level. Most accidents, yadayada

[quickbuck]

Any body who learnt anything from that video lacks the common sense to be riding a motorcycle.

Shame sense is not as common as one hopes......