Road-craft 'skills'.

**Katman** · 18th September 2008, 20:07

When riding with a group of riders be aware of the body language of the rider ahead of you as they disappear around a blind corner.

They will give you advance warning of any hazard that you can't see.

**doc** · 18th September 2008, 20:12

Originally Posted by Katman

If I were to pick one Roadcraft skill that will do more to keep you alive than any other it would be the practice of constantly scanning what is around you and identifying and assessing potential hazards.

Yup "Defensive driving" use to have do course's on it to get certain licence's .
Not much point of being "in the right" when a car has hit you riding a bike .

**Motu** · 18th September 2008, 20:50

Originally Posted by doc

Yup "Defensive driving" use to have do course's on it to get certain licence's .

Used to have to do it when convicted of dangerous driving too....got a nice sticker to put on the window to show the Cops you were a reformed naughty boy.

Eye contact is good...keep it - it doesn't mean you exist in his or her consciousness,but like someone throwing a punch,intentions are telegraphed though the eyes.

Know what's around you - that goes for the district you are in and time of day.School buses,dairy herds,milk tankers.....see that tanker trailer parked on the side of the road? There will be a truck coming back for it.Same with stock trucks,low loaders....there are clues to the local activities going on in the area,be aware of them.

**avgas** · 18th September 2008, 20:56

imagine you are laser guided, let your eyes track a path on the road as far as you can see......don't aim yourself somewhere you don't want to go.

**avgas** · 18th September 2008, 20:59

Originally Posted by Katman

When riding with a group of riders be aware of the body language of the rider ahead of you as they disappear around a blind corner.

They will give you advance warning of any hazard that you can't see.

Likewise watch the suspension of the car/bike in front - you will notice issues with the road well before your eyes will just looking at the surface.

**FJRider** · 18th September 2008, 21:08

Originally Posted by Katman

When riding with a group of riders be aware of the body language of the rider ahead of you as they disappear around a blind corner.

They will give you advance warning of any hazard that you can't see.

With a two second gap...ensure you have good eyesight... even at 100 km's/hr...thats a good distance...

**bikemike** · 19th September 2008, 00:18

Self preservation / restraint - Other road users are NOT out to kill me but they might still kill or maim me today, and they will regret it
Observation and Interpretation - Understand my environment and know where my knowledge is lacking, look and see as much as I can
Predicting what's going to happen next? - It won't happen suddenly (part of this is vector analysis, partly it's human nature)
Knowing and respecting my skills and abilities - mine, my bike's and the two of us together - at this moment
Communicating - with my lights, indicators, hands, head, position, speed, horn, anything!
Planing to stop and be able to stop - can I stop? can I stop? can I stop?
Planing to escape - to somewhere safe
Self reflection - that learning experience will never occur again, use it
Self adjustment - always be prepared to change my mind and change my riding
Keep reminding myself that I have NEVER ridden this bit of road before

11 No absolutes - right wheel track, keep left, 2 seconds, stagger, filtering, .....

On point 3, there was an interesting article in New Scientist, covered quite a few startling observations about how the brain works. Interesting for us is the reassurance that making sense of the world in any way whatsoever requires us to have incredibly efficient probability engines for brains. We should be good at working out what happens next, it's our modus operandi. Of concern is the length of time that can pass between making a decision and acting on it - such that the outcome is determined in advance of recent events. I see that all the time when people pull out on me on roundabouts, they saw me, I know they saw me, but they themselves can't understand how they are now pulling out in front of me given that they saw me - the decision to go was made even a few seconds ago and my arrival on the scene could not change their behaviour, too late!
Here if anyone has full access: http://www.newscientist.com/channel/...the-brain.html

**dipshit** · 19th September 2008, 14:28

Reading and anticipating the road ahead so nothing catches you out by surprise.

To me this is the definition of good road riding skills and a benchmark to aim for....

... The rider is reading the signs (figuratively) and anticipating danger beforehand... rather than acting in reaction and spending his day abusing other road users like a complete wanker.

He and his bike gets home in one piece at the end of the day having enjoyed a good safe ride.

**Drum** · 20th September 2008, 22:14

When lane splitting I like to scan the the wing mirrors of the cars in front of me.
Even the most inattentive drivers tend to have at least a cursory glance before changing lanes - just enough time to prime the brakes.

**ManDownUnder** · 20th September 2008, 22:27

Quite seriously put forward - leaving your ego at home.

For me this means having fun, but riding within your limits (wherever they are). It also means learning from mistakes, or near misses or (in my case) an off.

Always ride your own ride. Always work on making it better

**CHOPPA** · 21st September 2008, 12:40

The best piece of advice i could give my sister when she was learning to ride was just look at every car etc as if its gonna pull out in front of you and be ready incase they do

**trustme** · 25th September 2008, 21:54

Something I keep telling my wife when she rides .
You may be behind , but you never follow, always ride your own road.
If you blindly follow, when the car/bike in front makes a mistake you are likely to repeat the mistake. following means the relax/switch off mode tends to kick in
I know there is a debate about staggered group riding , but I will always ride staggered so I can see past the guy in front , sitting directly behind him means I am subconciously following him & I don't trust anyone not even the guy in front.

**FROSTY:Me** · 25th October 2008, 13:16

I've repeated this a lot of times but for me its still totally relavant.

ALWAYS ride as if everyone and everything is out to kill you-Including you yourself.