Akaroa GP rant

[rastuscat]

Just putting it out there.

I took a Ride Forever course out yesterday on SH75, the Akaroa Hiway.

Before the ride we talked all the theory, and part of that was the cornering line that is appropriate on the roads of NZ. Not the track, the roads. Apexing isn't a good idea on the roads, as there are people coming the other way.

Out we went, and I couldn't keep track of the number of people apexing on the open road. I had my guys using their lane as they should, and that allowed for numpties hanging over the centre line, so no real risk was taken by my guys. (and girls, actually). We would be coming into a left hand corner, using a line 2/3 of the way out from the left, giving us width without being too close to the centre line.

This pic is just an example, it wasn't taken by me, it's from a Facebook page I use. Just for illustration.

What is it with people apexing on the hiways? Hanging their heads and other items across the centre line?



Interested in peoples views on this. Frankly I ended up being pretty grumpy about it yesterday, people using the roads as a race track.

[rastuscat]

Really? Surely a track day yes, but on a road we share with other people?

[Scubbo]

crazy eh, I do it from time to time when i'm not conciously trying not too... which is dangerous and have had a few scares tbh... getting better at not doing it though / breaking those old habbits of playing computer games if i'm honest

[pritch]

OK on left handers and OK on right handers - if you have good visibility. Otherwise no.

A decade or so back while riding around East Cape I had a near miss with a local builder in his ute. There is not a lot of room on that road and he was apparently full of the joys of spring and his driving was umm ebullient(?).

Thereafter I used an imaginary line a couple of feet to the left of where the real one would be, if there was one.

SH43 is another road where it doesn't pay to take liberties, same for the Coromandel loop, and as you suggest, the road to Akaroa.

A Kawasaki rider once told me that Akaroa is a nice place to have fish and chips by the sea. He was right.

[george formby]

I see it so often I can only conclude that the riders and drivers are oblivious to their road position and possible consequences. It also makes me think that if it's so common and people are getting away with it for so long that our roads are not as dangerous as is sometimes made out. Yeah, I know, a lot of room for improvement...
Still, seeing it constantly reinforces my efforts to stay out of the way.

[trufflebutter]

The saying 'Own your piece of road' is at times, misinterpreted.

Technically, that picture is not showing apexing. To apex, is to be at the highest point.

[pritch]

To apex, is to be at the highest point.

Eh?


10 chars

[trufflebutter]

Eh?


10 chars

To be at the highest point of the corner, not the lowest.

[awa355]

I never realized just how much I used to get my right shoulder / handlebar over the centre line on right handers, until I stated filming my rides with the GoPro. That gave me a wake up call, and now I try to be more conscious of bike placement.

[Tazz]

[rastuscat]

I never realized just how much I used to get my right shoulder / handlebar over the centre line on right handers, until I stated filming my rides with the GoPro. That gave me a wake up call, and now I try to be more conscious of bike placement.

Funny. That's one of the things that going on a course gives you.......another set of eyes to see what you are doing. I guess the GoPro gives you that same advantage.

[carbonhed]

A picture

[rastuscat]

The saying 'Own your piece of road' is at times, misinterpreted.

Technically, that picture is not showing apexing. To apex, is to be at the highest point.

I'm with you on that. The riding wasn't really proper apexing. It was more "Riding On The Stupid Line"

[Katman]

Frankly I ended up being pretty grumpy about it yesterday, people using the roads as a race track.

[The End]

Is it such an issue when you can clearly see what is in front of you/see completely through the corner?

I won't lie, I do it sometimes when I am on a road I know and see there is no traffic coming.

Would a coppa pull me over for failing to indicate when moving out of my lane, or something else?