Riding in the wheeltrack of the car in front of you?

**Ocean1** · 16th August 2007, 17:19

Who cares if they can see you or not? You relying on them to keep outa your way? Bad idea. Do you seriously think if they suddenly wake up and see that poor wee puddytat jump out onto the road and hit the picks that they're going to brake less hard because they know there's a bike behind them?

Ride like you're invisible, don't ever depend on anyone else's skill or behaviour. If you're within range of anything else that's physically capable of tagging you then you've already fucked up.

**discotex** · 16th August 2007, 17:21

It's just a guide. Gotta pick the best road position for the situation.

On the motorway I ride to the left of the lane if I'm in the far right lane. Puts me in the mirrors of the person to the left of me and I don't have oncomming cars to worry about seeing me when they turn right.

Riding in the right wheel track isn't just about the car in front. Sure you may be in their blind spot but that's more than made up for by the fact that oncomming traffic can see you before they turn right across your path.

If you're following distance is ok and you can see the driver in their mirrors it cancels out the blindspot. The driver isn't likely to check their mirrors before doing a u-turn anyway so this is all academic I guess.

canarlee, are you suggesting people follow the left wheel track, the middle of the car, or to the right of the wheel track instead? IMO of all of those only the latter could be of any benefit. I do that so I can see clearly up the road for said piece of 4x2 etc.

**avgas** · 16th August 2007, 17:21

Originally Posted by canarlee

i see people are voting but not commenting!
so come on why do you think its safe to ride in one of the biggest blind spots of a car?

So that would be anywhere from 2 o'clock to 10 clock in the drivers position then?
Biggest blind spot in most cars is at in the back right and right corners, not directly behind in the wheel tracks (assuming you do a 2 second rule).
But i still don't riding in the wheel track is safe - nor is riding outside of the wheel track.

**Kendog** · 16th August 2007, 17:28

I have noticed when Mrs Kendog is following me at night, if she is in the right wheel track her headlight is in line with the car behind her. The lights blend in and she becomes near invisible when looking back in the mirrors.

The same may apply the other way with the tail lights blending together, I have not tested or noticed this.

**canarlee** · 16th August 2007, 17:33

Originally Posted by discotex

IMO of all of those only the latter could be of any benefit. I do that so I can see clearly up the road for said piece of 4x2 etc.

that is what i do.

i started this thread to try and see how differently people felt about this, also because as i have said before, most if not all newbies are just told to ride in the right wheel track and i think this is wrong!

**Mom** · 16th August 2007, 17:45

Seems this one is well covered here, but yes r/h wheel track, specially in the wet. Avoids all the oil and crap left in the middle of the riding lane. Far enough back to eyeball the driver in the mirror. Dont sit behind them too long, get past at first safe opportunity.

I was taught that taking the r/h wheel track gave you better "ownership" of your piece of road.

Originally Posted by canarlee
i see people are voting but not commenting!
so come on why do you think its safe to ride in one of the biggest blind spots of a car?

Just saw this. Not in their blindspot! Where you can eyeball them, to the right of the lane you are travelling in.

**Goblin** · 16th August 2007, 17:48

I'm never comfortable following any vehicle. If I must sit behind something I like to move from side to side. Depends on the road too. I like to avoid potholes and bumps and corrugations so Im constantly changing line. Ultimately I like a clear road in front so overtake when it's safe to.

I'm especially scared following large lorries. You ever seen one of their tyres explode?

**MSTRS:Me** · 16th August 2007, 18:12

The question is 'Is it safe to ride in the wheeltrack...'
The answer is "It isn't safe anywhere on the road, but the righthand wheel track is generally the best position, bearing in mind that proper riding means you will move within your lane as necessary"

**BMW** · 16th August 2007, 18:26

I used to ride right in the centre of the car infront.

But not now. had a really good accident from doing just that!

Was going along the motorways on a nice sunny day thru spagetti junction area. I moved from one lane to the other one doing ariund 90km/hr. The speed limit at the time was 80 so I was a little fast but not hooning.
As i moved to the centre of the car I ran over a large brick!! yes the car had driven over it and since it was in the centre of the lane never touched it.
The damage was pretty good. The large chuck out of front tyre and rim ( see attached pic). The the rock hit the bottom of the bike. Taking out a 'hole' in the lower faring and breaking most of the support struts and then exited out damaging the rear rim!

The insurance company was not happy replacing both rims!

So now I have learnt to never ride in the centre of a lane again!

**YLWDUC** · 16th August 2007, 18:30

Originally Posted by Karma

Well the only other place to ride would be inthe centre of the lane, and in this weather that means a lot of oil and stuff coming up out of the tarmac... I think I'd rather keep a safe stopping distance and ride in the wheel track.

Well said. You'd be in the cars blind spot if you were following too close. Cars usually dodge and swerve to avoid things, so if the crap is already in the middle of the road you don't get any warning (cause the car doesn't swerve.) Riding in the right wheel track also puts you in line with a cars brake lights etc, so I reckon it makes you more noticeable to the cars behind you. Plus, it makes them less likely to want to overtake if you're actually obeying the speed limit

Anyhow, thats my two cents

**terbang** · 16th August 2007, 19:04

The right wheel track is a good place to be for all of the reasons allready mentioned. But its not the only place to ride in all of the time. If you are going to hold that position, let them know you are there. Often a gentle weave across the width of the car as you approach will help them see you and once they have seen you, things get exponentially safer. But then never trust a cage driver either. You will see them looking for you in their mirrors once they know you are around and its just plain smarter to hang back a bit to stay within their vision. Tailgating is just dumb. If you are in close enough to be exposed to their blind spot, then you are probably moving in for an overtake. Right?

**BarBender** · 16th August 2007, 20:12

Originally Posted by kiwifruit

i do it, the right wheel track, but i dont follow cars for long, only just b4 i pass them, etc

+ 1..........

**James Deuce** · 16th August 2007, 20:19

If you're riding so close that you can't see what the vehicle in front is about to run over you're too close. You deserve to get hit by whatever emerges from underneath the vehicle in front.

It doesn't much matter where you ride in the lane so long as you aren't tailgating.

Use the lane to your advantage - the ability to move around in our lane is the one major advantage we have over other vehicles.

Having said that I mostly ride in the right hand wheel track, primarily to stop traffic overtaking me in my lane and trying to push me off the road. I've had that happen more often than I've had to dodge stuff I didn't see in front of the vehicle ahead.

**sunhuntin** · 16th August 2007, 20:37

Originally Posted by Goblin

I'm never comfortable following any vehicle. If I must sit behind something I like to move from side to side. Depends on the road too. I like to avoid potholes and bumps and corrugations so Im constantly changing line. Ultimately I like a clear road in front so overtake when it's safe to.

I'm especially scared following large lorries. You ever seen one of their tyres explode?

i do the same. always moving, dipping and weaving. in town, ill ride to the right of the wheel track, not only so i can be seen, but also so i can see. open road, it all depends. sometimes ill be hard right, other times hard left. other times, ill be in the middle.
cobham bridge is a 2 lane 80k bridge here in wangas. i take it both to and from work. when crossing it, i ride the center of the lane, as it is too narrow for me to feel comfy riding the wheel track [the oncoming traffic looks closer than it likely really is.] once im off the bridge, i move back to the right.

**mbazza** · 16th August 2007, 20:42

I ride where ever I can see the face of the driver. Usually the right wheel track. This gives me three quarters of my lane and all of the other lane (traffic free) to use to dodge stuff. If I'm far enough back with a dop down in gear I'm in a good position to start a passing manouvre. Cheers