First time lane splitter

[PrincessBandit]

Yes, that's me! I know a lot of you are very experienced with this advantage of riding but it has taken me quite a while to try it myself. Taking my bike in to Ellerslie at 8.15 in the morning on the Southern m'way was a 1st - 2nd - no make that 1st again crawl from Papatoetoe. My left hand was getting so sore as I watched countless bikes zoom past inbetween the lanes. So thinks I, this must be better than my pathetic slow progress, it's about time to give it a go. Well well well, I could get to like this! Admittedly I only did it while traffic was either stationary or very slow, and when I could see sufficiently far ahead that I wasn't heading for a closed in trap. I still was aware of other bikes zipping around and leaving me far behind in the congestion, but hey I was making much better progress than the last time I did the slow speed crawl up the motorway So here's to another first ticked off my list of things to do on my bike - who knows one day i might even get as far as a wheelie (hahahahahha, not very likely it's so far down my list that I'll probably never get there....)

[Fatt Max]

Well done, great effort.
I myself am still at the "Oh I say missus, do I still have the bottle for this" but I am sure the old 'rear end' muscles will tighten up suffciently for me to give this a try.
I go from Howick to Newmarket each day and tend to avoid the motorway but I'm planning a trip daahhhnnn sarf so that may be the time to have a go.
Well done again, good on ya
Take care, ride safe and eat pies...

[Number One]

it's all over now - you'll have trouble staying in your own lane behind anyone....a monster has been born

I look forward to the wheelie vid now

[wysper]

Does anyone split up to a roundabout?

For some reason that makes me nervous! Traffic lights, ok, motorway ok.
But not the same for roundabouts.

weird

[Number One]

Does anyone split up to a roundabout?

Every once in a while I split up to and AROUND one particular damn roundabout - but we are talking about Johnsonville and sometimes the traffic doesn't move at all...fucking hole of a place!

[racefactory]

I only started lane splitting when I was once scared my bike would blow up cause it was over 3/4 on the temp guage and on motorway amongst slow moving traffic so i couldnt just pull over... needed to get some more air flow!

[maybe]

Lane splitting is da bomb its great to get ahead while traffic is at a stop or very slow.

[discotex]

Does anyone split up to a roundabout?

For some reason that makes me nervous! Traffic lights, ok, motorway ok.
But not the same for roundabouts.

weird

I'd say that's good road sense. All the angles are conspiring so that people can't see you.

[Grub]

I only did it while traffic was either stationary or very slow, and when I could see sufficiently far ahead that I wasn't heading for a closed in trap.

And that, I believe, is the secret. I don't feel comfortable doing it above those speeds and the people I see doing it I just know are going to post a " ... fucking cage lane-changed on me ..." thread and I don't have much sympathy.

I can even manage to get a little angry when I think that one of the cages they've cut off will be sufficiently pissed off to close the gate on me next time I'm splitting.

[wysper]

I split anything, anywhere, especially if its stationary. If theres a gap, point it and squeeze the juice on firmly. Keep the speed differential down.

DB

so many things to say.. so little time....

keep it clean keep it clean keep it clean

[davebullet]

took me a while to try since my slow speed riding is a little wobbly.

As Grub said.... When finished, I always thank the cage I pull in past with a little left hand raise. Hopefully means the next time that cager will let bikes splt and not shut them off. Trying to build credibility for us bikers!

[Swoop]

Good on ya PB!

Keep a good look out at all times, including your mirrors every 5-10 seconds or so. Another bike can get behind you quite quickly...
Pull over and let them through. Nothing is more of a PITA than a line of bikes stuck behind some blind biker.

Your next will be getting some mirrorectomy practice.

[Okey Dokey]

Hey, that is really good! Well done you for giving it a go, and especially for waiting until you were ready. Too often people can feel pressured and attempt to ride beyond their comfort zone.

Good work, princessbandit!

[Number One]

First of all, I have been a learner rider for a year, and I have NEVER had a "faster rider wanting to split past me" so how real is it? I can't be that fast.

You are not that fast I have been known to split relatively quick on occasion and I have both come up on slower splitters AND had faster splitters come behind me too. I always move over to let faster people past (and 9 times out of 10 I get an appreciative wave for it) and I never crowd the slower ones..tending to either wait for them to realise I'm there and move over (or not) or failing that I just pass them legally from the other lane.

99% of "faster riders" wouldn't dream of splitting past a timid lady rider on a large and heavy roadbike.. what of the consequences of that? What if someone did it to your mrs and gave her a bad fright? Not everyone is as confident, competant, or skilled as you.

Ahem...who are these timid lady riders you speak of AND how can you tell that a timid rider is infact a lady...tbh most of the timid riders I've actually come across have been either very young or slightly older men.

What Swoop was saying was if you do split beware you are not alone - others do it too and MY point is no matter how fast you do it (and slower is better of course - safety first and all that) there is often times someone on a bike coming up behind you ready to go faster...so keep your eyes out for them and just let them past so you don't get caught up in their need for speed.

Easy peasie and sensible as hell really

[jrandom]

My left hand was getting so sore as I watched countless bikes zoom past inbetween the lanes.

That happens to me when I'm driving the car, too, but I'm always careful not to let truck drivers look in and see what I'm up to.