Mathematics of riding

[TOTO]

While on a nice ride yesterday I got thinking of what things go into consideration before we decide to go for a ride and how to maximise our chances of getting back home. So here they are:

1. ROAD

- New VS familiar road. If the road is new slowing right down is a good thing to do. This will allows us to use the first ride on that road to commit to memory any "surprises" the road offers. Things such as a un-signposted 25km/h corner, uneven surface mid corner, likelihood of gravel from driveways, one lane "give way" sections, decreasing radius corners etc. Those generally being non-variable factors - i.e. likely to be similar next time I do the road, therefore next time when the road is ridden, the rider (YOU) is one step ahead and knows what to expect.

2. WEATHER

- Rain, heath, and wind. Depending on the riders experience in riding in the rain riding confidence will differ, but some things to consider when the surface is wet. Smoothness is riders friend. This is because you are more likely to get a warning of something wrong happening and therefore have a chance to correct it before its too late. Avoiding shiny patches, tar bleeds, white lines, black lines (white lines that have been painted black), potholes is a good survival technique. Doing this at a lower speed it much easier and gives you more time to react. Another things to consider regarding weather are things such as high winds over crests that may blow you over in another lane or off the road, or extremely hot summers day that makes all the tar on the road melt and therefore bringing the level of grip between tyres and road virtually to zero.

3. BIKE

- "How long have you been riding this bike?" "Do you know how it behaves?" "Is the bike of sound mechanical condition?" - those are all questions that the rider needs to assess before deciding how to ride the bike. If new on the bike, and the bike is different type to what previously was ridden it is likely that it will have different handling.

4. GEAR

- What are we riding in. Are we riding in kevlar jeans, summer mesh jacket or do we have full armoured leathers on ? Things that need to be considered before thinking of upping the pace. How much is it gonna hurt if rider goes off.

5. COMPANY

- Who are we riding with ? Are we with a more experienced riders ? Is the others have more experience than us ? If "yes" then are they riding their own ride or are they riding with us and up to our level ? Are we the more experienced riders and knowing there are less experienced than us following, do we slow down in order not to endanger them, and hopefully show them some things ?

6. EGO and BEHAVIOUR

- Does it matter what others think ? Is trying to impress the girl riding behind me worth me crashing into the ditch ? Is crashing into a ditch impressive ? Am I likely to endanger others by showing off ? This goes for the riders around us too. Are they show-offs, can we trust them with our lives ?

There are a number other individual factors that we also need to consider such as emotion, willingness to take risks, ability to assess danger, time and place etc, but a basic maths for a ride would look something like this:

UNFAMILIAR ROAD + MARGINAL CONDITIONS + GOOD BIKE + LESS PROTECTIVE GEAR + BAD COMPANY + BIG EGO = HIGHER RISK LEVEL

or like this:

WELL FAMILIAR ROAD + GOOD CONDITIONS + GOOD BIKE + GOOD PROTECTIVE GEAR + GOOD COMPANY - BIG EGO = LOWER RISK LEVEL


So next time you got for a ride, do the maths first. It may save your life.

[KrazyGixxerBoy]

Nicely put, I treat every ride the same...I ride with all the gear, at my own pace (which tends to be quite quick), with the dodgiest of company and the smallest ego, and even on roads I know, I expect surprises!

[Cr1MiNaL]

First time I do a road I do it at a slow pace. I also lean off my bike heaps, which gives me plenty of options (gravel , possum, steep 15kmph off cambered corner etc). I take the best line possible through every corner. I memorise the corners and their camber. This last point is so important. I can pretty much visualise every turn of every corner from Kopu to the Coroglen pub just thinking about it, including the ruts bumps and where an unorthodox line is actually better then the race line. That's when I ride freely, not before. Company is perhaps more important than all of these points. Good post Toto and quite timely.

[slofox]

[B]1. ROAD

Things such as a un-signposted 25km/h corner,

Found one of those this morning...except that it was signposted but I was too stupid to take appropriate notice of it at the time...

[KwakaZM]

Making yourself familiar with roads and other elements is definately the key between enjoying your ride and needing the westpac resue guys flying you to the nearest hospital...

No wonder the likes of Rossi visualize the circuit and their lines before every race.. At a younger age I was always intrigued as to why bike racers would close thier eyes and twist and turn on the spot pretending to ride a bike....

Also before setting off just a few deep breath's to clear your mind and focus on the task at hand helps heaps....

[Gremlin]

I don't think you should be treating a familiar road any differently to an unfamiliar road. Just because you went round it last week, doesn't mean that there isn't unsignposted roadworks, a rock fall, animals, etc, this time around.

I deliberately ride a big variety of roads, so I struggle to remember any one road corner by corner, and I ride what I get, as such. It is handy to remember tho, oh, that corner is a bit sharper than you would expect, etc, but you shouldn't be riding at a pace where you can't handle it.

[CookMySock]

I don't think you should be treating a familiar road any differently to an unfamiliar road. Just because you went round it last week, doesn't mean that there isn't unsignposted roadworks, a rock fall, animals, etc, this time around.

I deliberately ride a big variety of roads, so I struggle to remember any one road corner by corner, and I ride what I get, as such. It is handy to remember tho, oh, that corner is a bit sharper than you would expect, etc, but you shouldn't be riding at a pace where you can't handle it.

I think this is the best approach. What is on the road in front of you TODAY is what you have to deal with TODAY. Mentally making a database of everything and using it as insurance is a lot of brain power consumed for little return, and using it to ride faster is asking for trouble.

In the end, ego DOES play a big part, and some days when we want to cane it around some corners were ARE going to do it, but it's up to the individual rider to ask themselves just to what length are they prepared to take it.

Roll yer dice and pay yer money. How many rolls and how much money you bet is up to you.

Steve

[YellowDog]

'Familiarity breeds contempt' and all that good stuff.

I do agree that on a known route/road your confidence and hence speed through corners will generally be faster. However we need to remember that whilst on the public highway there are many other potential showstopping factors to deal with.

It's a bit of a pisser but unfortunately a real fact of life.

[PrincessBandit]

I think this is the best approach. What is on the road in front of you TODAY is what you have to deal with TODAY. Mentally making a database of everything and using it as insurance is a lot of brain power consumed for little return, and using it to ride faster is asking for trouble.

In the end, ego DOES play a big part, and some days when we want to cane it around some corners were ARE going to do it, but it's up to the individual rider to ask themselves just to what length are they prepared to take it.

Roll yer dice and pay yer money. How many rolls and how much money you bet is up to you.

Steve

I agree entirely with this. While I understand the benefit of having intimate knowledge of a particular road in terms of being able to anticipate corner tightness, degree of lean, appropriate approach speed etc. pushing the envelope is, sooner or later, going to come at a cost. Then people will bitch and moan about the gravel that was unexpectedly there, or the little old lady puttering along that they didn't expect up ahead, or the boat on the trailer which swung out into their lane....

[Cr1MiNaL]

I agree entirely with this. While I understand the benefit of having intimate knowledge of a particular road in terms of being able to anticipate corner tightness, degree of lean, appropriate approach speed etc. pushing the envelope is, sooner or later, going to come at a cost. Then people will bitch and moan about the gravel that was unexpectedly there, or the little old lady puttering along that they didn't expect up ahead, or the boat on the trailer which swung out into their lane....

I used to hate gravel mid corner. With my 'track' riding technique adopted/modified 4 the road, I find it quite interesting and not so scary when the bike moves under me now. Still, your hairs do stand up on ends every time it happens! Fun. The most important bit is to lean off, no matter how much people tell you not to do it on the road. Trust me do it right and you give yourself a lot more options.

[p.dath]

I don't think you should be treating a familiar road any differently to an unfamiliar road. Just because you went round it last week, doesn't mean that there isn't unsignposted roadworks, a rock fall, animals, etc, this time around.

Yeah but a familiar road is still going to have the same number of corners, turning in the same direction, with the same straights. Sure there will be variations in the road surface, different weather and obstacles on the road, but a lot of the ride will be the same.

When going around a blind corner on an unfamiliar road you can't tell if the corner is going to tighten more, rise, fall, or change camber.

So I guess I support the idea that you support an unfamiliar road differently than a familiar road.

[BMWST?]

I used to hate gravel mid corner. With my 'track' riding technique adopted/modified 4 the road, I find it quite interesting and not so scary when the bike moves under me now. Still, your hairs do stand up on ends every time it happens! Fun. The most important bit is to lean off, no matter how much people tell you not to do it on the road. Trust me do it right and you give yourself a lot more options.

leaning off is not the be all and end all.if you hit a thick layer of gravel the result will be the same.If you are leaning off you decease your visibility around the corner and you may see the gravel(or whatever) too late

[Cr1MiNaL]

leaning off is not the be all and end all.if you hit a thick layer of gravel the result will be the same.If you are leaning off you decease your visibility around the corner and you may see the gravel(or whatever) too late

Are you serious or taking the piss? Leaning off does not mean 'on another bike' it simply means hanging one cheek off the seat and kissing the inside mirror. By doing so if you see gravel you can simply twist your wrists and stand the bike up in less than half a second. The bike moves under you at a greater angle to the road ( 45 degree tilt v/s 60 degree tilt), your weight is off the front wheel and on the pegs lowering the center of gravity and helping control the slide. Another flick of the wrist keeping your body position the same and you've changed your line yet again effortlessly (*pause* at the same time your body is still leaning towards the inside of the corner dragging you through it - you have not shifted your body at this point so you are not working against the gyroscopic effect of the wheels and not messing with the suspension; furthermore if ur on a sports bike with low handlebars your in the best position to effectively use steering inputs, if you really want to take it a step further you can now weight the outside peg with your right leg while slightly trailing the rear brake. Now please explain to me how you would manage to do this even quicker and safer while planted firmly on the seat. And we all know when you don't lean off the lean angle of the bike is greater. You see gravel you button off, it's natural instinct. What happens to the geometry of the bike then? The front loads up even more, now you hit the gravel with a preloaded front (when the front is loaded around a corner, gravel or no gravel, your chances of running wide/front lowsiding are so much greater). Next thing you know it your in an ambo being rushed off to the ICU. Every rider adopts his own style, I am simply arguing the benefits of the way I choose to ride.

[wbks]

I take the best line possible through every corner. I memorise the corners and their camber. This last point is so important. I can pretty much visualise every turn of every corner from Kopu to the Coroglen pub just thinking about it, including the ruts bumps and where an unorthodox line is actually better then the race line.

You make it sound like a racetrack...

[Cr1MiNaL]

You make it sound like a racetrack...

Well it's not. Thought that was pretty obvious. Then again your a noob. I don't even think about it, soon it will become second nature young grasshopper.