Running Wide

[Biff]

We've probably all done it - run wide on a corner. If you're new to road bikes and feel some strange desire to run wide on a corner on purpose - I advise you do it on a right hand bend, as running wide on a left hand bend can be very messy.

So why did you do it? Chances are because you were going to fast. At least too fast for you. Yet.

If you enter a corner which then tightens more than you anticipated, or that you've taken a wrong line into, and you then realise you don't know how to turn the bike in any more, or you physically can't - you have just entered something often refereed to as an OFC - an ‘Oh Fuck Corner’. These are best avoided, and are a good indication that you may be riding faster than your ability.


My advice should you find yourself amidst an OFC:

- Don't panic.
- Ease off the throttle - the bike will tip in more.
- Counter steer (pull and push) hard. You'll be amazed just how far over some bikes will lean (it's times like these that you’re grateful for the fact you’ve got decent tyres )

Enjoy.

[Karma]

I had an OFC at the trackday on the 5th... stood up the bike, hauled on the breaks and held on tight.

[Gremlin]

thats ok for a track day... often you can't be that lucky on the public roads...

Something you shouldn't do is pull the front brake (part of the panicking Biff mentioned). The expected result is for the bike to stand up, and if stands up, you tend to go straight, and not corner. Trust me on this... I found it out twice in 3 days...

Sometimes, touching the back brake slightly can help you to pull the bike lower, and into the corner, but not always guaranteed, and something that should be experimented with, in relative safety.

For exiting a corner, it is best to be on the gas, rather than off, or coasting, as this helps to settle your suspension.

Your biggest point is Biff's first. Do not panic.

[Grahameeboy]

I find that not panicing is the key.......we all do it...often just not concentrating rather than too fast....with the SV you get a lot of engine braking which helps and I have found gentle use of front is okay.

[Drum]

heh, heh.......a tight feeling in your stomach/ anus, and a rapid rise in heart rate just as you're turning into the corner - is that an OFC?

[Grahameeboy]

heh, heh.......a tight feeling in your stomach/ anus, and a rapid rise in heart rate just as you're turning into the corner - is that an OFC?

Nah that's when your trying to get away from the cops.......Oh Fuck Cop.....sorry to our Cop friends....just a little light humour as I am not a cop basher

[paturoa]

..and DO NOT under any circumstances look at where you dont want to go, cos that is where you will end up

Only look where you do want to go

[diggydog]

yeah right,theres another reason to why going of line, taking a corner and that lose shit on the road, but do get the drift about too fast and trying to correct her.

[sAsLEX]

Something you shouldn't do is pull the front brake (part of the panicking Biff mentioned). The expected result is for the bike to stand up, and if stands up, you tend to go straight, and not corner. Trust me on this... I found it out twice .

You can brake in corner, but yes the bike will want to stand up, so you have to counter this with more counter steering .

[mynameis]

Ok good points raised there Biff and others posts do sound logical as well. But one question only?

I mean how the hell do you not panic? If you shit yourself then you just shit yourself how do you control your heart rate and "not panic"? Something we have control over? Let me attempt to answer my lame question.

If it's something that you haven't encountered before then you will panic big time, but if it's a situation you're slightly used to then you will have "contorl" over it and yourself to not panic?

Do I make sense here guys? So whats the solution to not panic?

[m99dws]

In the 1st week of owning my SV I was on the Darlington to Northallerton road (not that anyone will know it here!). I knew the road well from driving cars often enough but 1 bend caught me out.

It was a left sweeping bend and for some unknown reason I went wide and right into the opposite lane. If there were any cars coming at the time I'd have been squashed. It was an eye opener and was a lot more cautious after that.

[klingon]

I think you answered your own question....

If it's something that you haven't encountered before then you will panic big time, but if it's a situation you're slightly used to then you will have "control" over it and yourself to not panic?

If it's something you haven't encountered before, you may panic. So if you make sure you encounter everything you possibly can in a reasonable controlled/safe situation, then you're more likely to be able to handle it and not panic.

So read threads like this (thanks Biff) then find a safe place and practise.

[sAsLEX]

Ok good points raised there Biff and others posts do sound logical as well. But one question only?

I mean how the hell do you not panic? If you shit yourself then you just shit yourself how do you control your heart rate and "not panic"? Something we have control over? Let me attempt to answer my lame question.

If it's something that you haven't encountered before then you will panic big time, but if it's a situation you're slightly used to then you will have "contorl" over it and yourself to not panic?

Do I make sense here guys? So whats the solution to not panic?

Train your mind. Mental exercises can make a large difference.

[yungatart]

You have to mentally override what the body decides is a natural reaction.
I had a moment yesterday on the Wairoa road, came around a left hand corner faster than I was really comfortable with, went wide (didn't cross the white line tho), there was a truck coming the other way. Don't look at the truck, don't brake, lean more - then breathe a sigh of relief as I made it around the corner.
I am sure the truckie saw the look of horror on my face and the whites of my eyes as I headed towards him!

[Hitcher]

I had a run-wide moment on a right-hand corner coming into Hunterville on this year's Grand Challenge. Fortunately I wasn't going excessively fast and was able to get back onto the asphalt on the left-hand corner that immediately followed. However there were a couple of raised driveways and some cherry trees to negotiate. My riding buddies applauded, but I suspect more good luck (i.e. no drains or parked cars) was involved than good management (i.e. resolving not to use the brakes).