Unfamiliarisationism

[Maha]

The word pertains to becoming over familiar with the roads in which you often ride.
All (without exception) roads that I normally ride on are have one/two/three and at times a few more of those bends/corners that can catch you out if you don't know the road.
So for me (or anyone for the matter) who rides certain roads regularly, you know where these 'catch you out' spots are, and they are not normally a problem.

But when you ride a piece of road for the first time, the 'catch you out' corners can do exactly that.
Not all corners/bends are speed posted.
Maybe at best, an arrow here and there but that only tell which way to point you bike.
One particular bit of roads north of here has a corner that, head north is not a problem, but head back the other way is a very different story, it caught me out once, but I stayed upright so the outcome was good on that day.
Question: What is your mindset when you approach a road for the first time?

[Gremlin]

hopefully not asleep. I ride plenty of unfamiliar roads (and I don't think your word exists ). Other than that, smooth, conservative lines and read the road.

[Subike]

Lower my speed.
treat every corner as a potential hazard
be prepared to stop at all times
read the road. heavy wear on the surface just before a crn can depict a sharper corner where trucks have had to brake harder, thus compact or ripple the surface with their weight. this is a clue for a sharp corner that is not speed marked. Or a corner that tightens after you enter it.
Tree line breaks can depict farm gate positions, potential hazard from both entering farm vehicles and or stock.
never take for granted that the road condition is up to std, as road repairs can leave humps or hollows which could upset your line of travel.
Don't assume that the person in front of you automatically knows the road better than you if they are going at a faster pace, they may just be a higher risk taker than you

[Mom]

hopefully not asleep. I ride plenty of unfamiliar roads (and I don't think your word exists ). Other than that, smooth, conservative lines and read the road.

Not asleep seems a great way to be riding

Have you ever experienced waking up in your bed with no clear memory of driving home? No booze either. Just a night shift week after week.

[Quasi]

new roads and old always get my respect. And old roads ridden the opposite way are just like new roads. It always amazes me when i do the regular rides back to front, how they are as tho i have never been on them before

But any road on my duc make my heart sing.

[sunhuntin]

im not a speeder in any sense of the word. i dont ride faster than my eyes [or headlight if its dark] can see.
i dont try to guess what the rest of the corner looks like and usually slow down if im at all leary. i like the sign posted corners, and will usually ride slower than the suggestion first time round.

even the roads i know well [say between wangas and palmy, or wangas and welly] i treat like new each time. i may know the lay of the road, but i dont know whats ON the road.

[mikemike104]

My motto on new roads: Slowly Slowly

thatisall

[MSTRS:Me]

All the clues, obvious and subliminal, come into play. That, and keeping speed such that I can stop if I have to.

[kiwifruit]

Question: What is your mindset when you approach a road for the first time?

Knee down at all cost

[Maha]

Knee down at all cost

Even on the straight bits?....damn, how tall are you?

[porky]

Knee down at all cost

And fang it all the way to the grave!

[Maha]

Lower my speed.
treat every corner as a potential hazard
be prepared to stop at all times
read the road. heavy wear on the surface just before a crn can depict a sharper corner where trucks have had to brake harder, thus compact or ripple the surface with their weight. this is a clue for a sharp corner that is not speed marked. Or a corner that tightens after you enter it.
Tree line breaks can depict farm gate positions, potential hazard from both entering farm vehicles and or stock.
never take for granted that the road condition is up to std, as road repairs can leave humps or hollows which could upset your line of travel.
Don't assume that the person in front of you automatically knows the road better than you if they are going at a faster pace, they may just be a higher risk taker than you

Now this is a great reply. Knowing/assuming/taking for granted/potential hazards, its all covered in these few words.

[R-Soul]

i may know the lay of the road, but i dont know whats ON the road.

and that sums up roads in general, old or new, familiar or unfamiliar - well said!
If you want to push the bike ,go to a track.

[slofox]

Mindset on new roads? Careful. (And on familiar roads too, come to that.)

Several experiences have led to that.

1.) Worst one. I've never forgotten it. Rural road, open road speed limit. Which I was probably exceeding. A kid ran out into the road as I came around a corner I could not see through. Just metres in front of where I was. No chance of stopping. I was sure I would hit him. He stopped and I missed. But had he taken a couple more steps, I would have hit him with probably fatal consequences. Reason? I was too fast for the corner/visual field. Dumb.

2.) Recent. Came over the brow of a hill I ride often. There in front of me was a car on my side of the road. Passing cyclists two abreast. Lucky for me there were seal repairs on the road that day and I was going slower than usual. So I missed him. Normal speed would've had me as a hood ornament. Learn again. Don't fang into place you cannot see.

I grit my teeth at times when I see riders doing either of the above things. Sure, the odds are low - most of the time the road is clear. But from time to time it's not.

How could you live with yourself if you ran into somebody's kid who did as in No1. above?

I couldn't.

[BMWST?]

i will deliberatley ride lines that maximise vision ,use the contours of surrounding lanscapes to give a clue as thwhere the road goes,fencelines ,waterways can all give clues as to which way the road goes.Some good observations earlier too.Keep looking far ahead tho not just on the few metres of raod ahead of you