Originally Posted by
Banditbandit
I ride year round - I don't park the bikes in winter ..
I think I'm just a lucky hoon ..
Less luck, more you keep riding, riding is a skill, use it or lose it.
Originally Posted by
Banditbandit
Yeah - I did consider that - as I dropped in behind the last bike in the snake it looked like a young woman on a harley 500 .. she freaked and wobbled - did not seem happy for me to be behind her ... So then I wasn't ..
Yeah - chances are they did not see me before I passed them ... (the last one certainly did .. ) Yes - I've have bikes pass that I didn't even see coming ... as long as they don't hit me all good .. the only ones who rattle me are way too close .. others .. (Well, I tend to open the throttle and chase them .. but never too hard - I won't push anyone who doesn't look confident - and I won't chase competent riders on real sports bikes - I know what I can and can't do .. if they are really moving I let them go - but it's funny to watch guys on high speed sports bike who can't lose a 650 bandit ...) .. I was really wide on the corner - almost on the right side white line ..
In the end - such things happen on the road - and they need to get used to traffic .. If they had been at 100klicks I would not have done it .. they was only doing 80ks ... (I had a thought there - but it's gone ... ) ... Oh yeah - they didn't see me coming - and I was GONE before they could react ..
Fair enough, often the best way to deal with a hazard, whether real or potential is to get away from it. You are correct in that part of the learning process is about the unexpected or other road users acting outside the box. I guess its my inclination to be that bit more accommodating when I see L plates or groups like that which are likely under instruction.
Originally Posted by
Banditbandit
I really watch the road - no letting the attention wander off .. unless I'm cruising .. I watch cars, their body language, driver's heads - anything looks even slightly suspect I back off ...
So often I'm reacting BEFORE anything actually happens ...
I suppose you'd call that experience ..
I would suggest its anticipation, analysis and response. There are plenty of "experienced" riders who take in as much information as you do and watch the road really carefully. They just don't do anything with it. 30 Years riding may just mean 30 years of making the same mistakes over and over again.
These are possibly the same riders whose mates talk about how good a rider they were after they die riding.
Roadcraft is essentially what you are describing: watching the road is gathering information, looking for what is suspect; backing off could be one or all of position, speed and gear in response to what you anticipate happening and then; accelerate to get away (at 140klicks on a bend is probably not always the best solution there.....) rinse and repeat.
Thank you for the honest answer. Your posts have always struck me as coming from a decent spud, glad to see I wasn't wrong.
Life is not measured by how many breaths you take, but how many times you have your breath taken away
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