Nutty season on the roads

[TheDemonLord]

There is only one time i would consider it safe to hug the centre line and that would be in preparation to do an overtake. Is that the particular time you are thinking of and if not when exactly? The UK riding school videos i saw had them riding about 80% of the time on the centre line. It does give you sometime to swerve if someone pulls out of a driveway though but if there is a lot of traffic coming the other way there would be a greater chance if being hit by it. There was a warning on a NZ FB page today that on one particular road a lot of traffic was hugging the centre line and that motorcyclists should stay away from the centre line if going the other way on that road. Staying away from the centre line unless preparing to pass is the rule I will ride by and have ridden by.

Okay - go read Gremlins post.

Notice how he articulates the points giving a reasoned and nuanced view, even acknowledging that people misapply and misinterpret good advice.

Now, compare his post to yours.

The comparison should hopefully show why people get so frustrated with you.

[Katman]

...nuance your position....

....nuanced view....

....or nuance.....

Have you learnt a new word?

[nzspokes]

Okay - go read Gremlins post.

Notice how he articulates the points giving a reasoned and nuanced view, even acknowledging that people misapply and misinterpret good advice.

Now, compare his post to yours.

The comparison should hopefully show why people get so frustrated with you.

Thankfully Gremlin described SSV far betterer than I could, but yeah. What he said.

[TheDemonLord]

Have you learnt a new word?

Are you so desperate to score points that you are complaining about using the correct word to describe something?

[TheDemonLord]

I have read on here many times and like i said have seen UK riding school videos that encourage centre line hugging. He appears to say schools here teach no such thing as the correct way to ride being on the centre line and that its up to the rider to chose their line depending on conditions. Thats the way I have always ridden anyway.

Okay, I'll assume that is indeed how you ride (I've never seen you ride) - but what you describe vs what Gremlin describes are totally different.

I'm trying to be as charitable as I can be here, but what you say is completely at odds with what I think you intend to say.

And it is this last part that I suspect is what irritates so many people.

[nzspokes]

I have read on here many times and like i said have seen UK riding school videos that encourage centre line hugging. He appears to say schools here teach no such thing as the correct way to ride being on the centre line and that its up to the rider to chose their line depending on conditions. Thats the way I have always ridden anyway.

Post a vid that shows that.

[jasonu]

Cassina, it is good you are not in Italy. You would spend so much time reading the road signs you would get no riding done (maybe a good thing)

Yep that is over the top but is no worse than the gaggle of signs you will see going down Symonds st.

[Gremlin]

I have read on here many times and like i said have seen UK riding school videos that encourage centre line hugging. He appears to say schools here teach no such thing as the correct way to ride being on the centre line and that its up to the rider to chose their line depending on conditions. Thats the way I have always ridden anyway.

Both countries follow the same roadcraft, but there are some exceptions, mainly around road rules. Order of precedence is:
- Road User Rules 2004 (legislation)
- Road Code (interpretation of legislation)
- Roadcraft

In the UK, it is legal to use the oncoming side of the road (a practise commonly referred to as offsiding) when setting up for a left hander. However, IAM UK is now discouraging this. It is not legal in NZ to use the opposite side of the road unless overtaking (and it's legal to do so).

Down a straight piece of road with no oncoming vehicles I would position myself just left of the centre line, giving myself equal opportunity and visibility to both sides of the road. I would sacrifice position for safety (the technical term) when there is oncoming traffic (why be closer to vehicles than you need to be?). All other factors considered, if I was on a straight piece of road and there was a road to the right, with limited visibility, I would move left to increase my view of that road.

And now for the mis-interpreted bit. Around left handers I would position myself close to the centre line. I am travelling at a reasonable speed that I can change my line mid corner, and when I do see oncoming traffic I sacrifice position for safety. Subject to safety and stability being satisfied, I can see further around the corner, traffic around the corner can see me sooner and all in all, gives me more time to react (which is at the core of roadcraft). Yes, I've seen plenty of vehicles cutting corners, including motorcycles, but guess who's breaking the law? I will still move and maximise my safety but also common I give them a very obvious arm that they should be keeping left.

[Gremlin]

I dont know how to post a video on here but this is the title of the Youtube video you should be able to look up. if he was to ride like that on many NZ roads he would likely end up dead.

How to ride like a Police biker! Advanced motorcycle riding techniques and skills - YouTube

Crossing of centre line already covered. The rest, probably one or two spots I'd be sacrificing position for safety but hard being perfect and having everyone critiquing every second back and forth.

I probably do more motorcycle km's a year than you (slowed down, only about 25-30k a year currently) and I'm still breathing... I also do a lot more back roads as a percentage of km travelled, including narrow gravel, unmarked sealed roads etc.

[R650R]

Cyclists want everything changed for them.... could just learn tor ide instead.... http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8830...iti-expressway

[nzspokes]

I dont know how to post a video on here but this is the title of the Youtube video you should be able to look up. if he was to ride like that on many NZ roads he would likely end up dead.

How to ride like a Police biker! Advanced motorcycle riding techniques and skills - YouTube



Mods note - Done this for you and so that people don't quote me on it.

Thanks Mr Onearm.

Cassina, tell me where in that vid they say to stick the the centre line? Time on the vid will do.

And did you notice what they do with approaching traffic? SSV in play.....

As Gremlin said Offsiding is legal in the UK but not here.

[nzspokes]

Cyclists want everything changed for them.... could just learn tor ide instead.... http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8830...iti-expressway

Or learn to spell....LOL

No thats a fuckup.

[WristTwister]

But my safety tip is if you dont hug the centre line on bends there is no need to move left of centre if someone is coming the other way and if they are coming around the bend fast enough you may not have enough time to move left anyway. Will all bends being different the amount of time you get to get out of the way (if any) mid corner will vary greatly and you will have stuff all time at all if they are over the centre line. Too risky for me sorry but if you think thats safe good luck.

Is this what you mean?

[MVnut]

or if you drive a Porsche....

[MVnut]

You just have to observe the riding to notice a lot of time is spent hugging the centre line and going over it too. Police riders have to take greater risks because of their jobs I guess.

Is that logic Cassina style ?