Unfamiliarisationism

[yungatart]

I have the retention abilities of a goldfish. Can't for the life of me remember the road, no matter how many times I've ridden it.
So its always a brand new experience for me, which is why I err on the side of caution.


Maybe I just have alzheimers?

[ducatilover]

I tend to squint, grit my teeth and scream.

[slofox]

Maybe I just have alzheimers?

Join the club - we call it the ...errrrr..mmm...ah shit...

[ducatilover]

Join the club - we call it the ...errrrr..mmm...ah shit...

Happy Easter Gertrude

[Edbear]

I think by the time I get to ride again, all the roads will be unfamiliar...

Good thing I ride like a Nana anyway.

[dilligaf_nz]

New Roads and corners = Nana riding for me.
Too many close calls / cockups in the past to make me want to anything but..

[dilligaf_nz]

Have you ever experienced waking up in your bed with no clear memory of driving home? No booze either. Just a night shift week after week.

I get that some mornings riding to work (on the southern motorway or around spag junction normally). I suddenly realise I am further down the road that I was last time I had an awareness of where I was.

I think it's boredom..

[Mom]

I think it's boredom..

I used to drive from Greenlane Hospital to Bucklands Beach. Finish up work after seven, be home in time for my Mom to drive to her work in Parnel. Manys the time I woke up in my bed with no recollection of driving home Very scarey shit. Have not done it on a bike, though I used to do the same commute on two wheels as well.

[dilligaf_nz]

I'm pretty sure I'm still aware of what's going on around me, just not recalling it..

Still scarey sometimes though.

can you get Alzheimers at 39??

Or maybe my brain's just too huge to be bothered recalling the trivia.
like names..

[Toaster]

I consider myself a potential hazard as well as the road, familiar or not, and whoever else is on it at the time.... other bikers, cars, trucks, effluent, oil, asians, sheep.


Saving the big efforts on throttle for track days..... mmmm track dayyyyyys.......

[Robtharalson]

Up to the time I met another bike head on with fatal consequences to him, and on my favorite road no less, I had been following pretty standard racing lines when in any canyon, familiar or not. After that, however, I actually did not slow down that much -- just substantially changed my riding style to maximize sight lines when approaching any corner: never commit to a line through a corner until you know what the condition of the exit is. In order to do this your entrance should be as close to the centerline in lefthanders (righthanders for me and anyone else blessed with roads where they drive on the correct {right} side), and kissing the shoulder on rights until you have the necessary information to get through the corner without getting your insurance carrier involved. With much practice I noticed the fun factor was exceeding that of my previous go-for-it rides and I had gotten smoother and much more assured when faced with unfamiliar stretches of asphalt. A well practised hand at trail braking helps as well.

In a nutshell: Slowing 'til you know where you're going. It really works remarkably well.

#1 rule of canyon riding: THE ROAD IS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH ASPHALT COLORED SAND UNTIL YOU PROVE OTHERWISE! Even if you just ran it 15 minutes ago. Yeah, it almost caught me out a few times.

Rob

[MSTRS:Me]

That's called 'late apexing' and is a very effective riding tool on any road, familiar or new. Much safer, and you get more corner for your buck...
Racing lines are for race tracks. They are potentially lethal on public roads.

[R-Soul]

Join the club - we call it the ...errrrr..mmm...ah shit...

The "Hide Your Own Easter Eggs" club?

Dont laugh. Its hours of fun.

[XP@]

Positioning: delayed apexing will give you the best view and position you in a good place away from the oncoming traffic.

Speed: You should be able to stop in 1/2 the distance you can see. But I don't want to ride like a nana I hear you cry! You don't have to though, all you need to do is look at the "vision point" and apply this rule of thumb:
1. Slow down if the vanishing point is coming towards you.
2. Hold even if it is staying in the same place.
3. Speed up if it is going away from you.
Apply this as required for each corner as required. Remember if there is a blind spot around the corner it is (like our Californian friend said covered in crap (potholes, slips, possums, gravel and 4x4's over the center line).

The technique in this video works really well if you have never been down a road before or have been down it 100 times this week.
http://www.mikewaite.co.uk/video/fre...ts/bends-high/

What is not included in the video is the explanation of what the vision point is. It is the point where the left and right sides of the road meet. Next time you are on a road you know keep an eye out for this point and notice how it moves in relation to the shape of the bend.