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

[Oakie]

I don't think it is a blind spot either. Possibly from a wing mirror but not the interior mirror
In decent rain I'll often ride in the right wheel track but I don't concentrate on doing so because that takes attention away from other stuff going on around me. In anything else I tend to ride just to the right of the vehicle ahead so I can see what's happening ahead.
I do make it a habit when I'm riding to check if I can see the face of the driver in front in his mirrors as at least that means he'll see me if he cares to look. It's quite surprising what you see doing that too ... like yesterday the woman driving along with her cup of coffee in one hand and texting with the other. I think the coffee hand had the steering wheel.

[Skyryder]

I ride to the right most of the time. Depends but sometimes I go as far to the right as possible. That way I get a clearer view of what's up ahead. However if I am sitting behind I'm aback a bit and will on occasions slide over to left just tl let the driver know where I am and then come back over to the right. On a motoway and cruising I go centre to stop any vehicle coming up along side and forcing me off the road.

Riding the right track is usually the place to be but there are at times alternitives.

Skyryder

[Guitana]

I don't see that it matters!!! Most Cagers are blind and claim they never saw you coming anyway,even though you were wearing day glo riding gear, had your lights on high beam, and were waving your arms and tooting your horn!!!
They should conduct an experiment, stick a picture of a motorcycle on the front of a kenworth truck, and see if any cagers pull out in front of it or try to run it off the road!! The results would be interesting!

[ozrobo]

its safest were you feel safest at the end of the day and if your bike is loud enough they know ur there and i dont stay behind them long enough for it to matter

[KoroJ]

I tend to ride out to the right and get my lights right in their mirror. Makes me feel safer to get close because I,m effectively beside them, I can see the road and it encourages them to move to the left for me to slide right on through.

[canarlee]

I tend to ride out to the right and get my lights right in their mirror. Makes me feel safer to get close because I,m effectively beside them, I can see the road and it encourages them to move to the left for me to slide right on through.

yeah thats what i do, i am to the right of the wheel track and they allways move left and let me pass (well most do), if i stay in the right wheel track they never move over! hmm i wonder why?


honestly peeps, give it a go and see what happens!

[idb]

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.

Best post...listen to this man.
And for what it's worth I always ride at the right corner of the vehicle in front so that I have stopping space if I need it.

[Jantar]

Best post...listen to this man.
And for what it's worth I always ride at the right corner of the vehicle in front so that I have stopping space if I need it.

And that way trucks and busses also know that you are there. In the wheel track you are completely hidden.

[Chickadee]

I ride in the right side of the lane most of the time. Riding in the wheel track of a car may be a bad idea. I didn't see a pot hole in heavy traffic and narrowly avoided landing in the b*stard (big deep mother). Tall cars and 4WD's are bad for visability, cars can't see you behind them and think there's a gap - brown pants moment for riders. People should ride where they're comfortable riding and being seen (varying upon circumstances of traffic and road conditions).

[98tls]

Quite often you see stickers on the back of trucks that say "if you cant see my mirrors then i cant see you".

[Fireyawn]

For the 2 seconds I stay behind a car it is the right wheel track for me. 1 2 indicate, overtake- no more problem

[canarlee]

And that way trucks and busses also know that you are there. In the wheel track you are completely hidden.

thankyou!!!

[James Deuce]

And that way trucks and busses also know that you are there. In the wheel track you are completely hidden.

You're too close if that is the case.

[Boob Johnson]

I cant be assed to read all the posts here but the rode code & experienced riders have told me to follow the right hand track of the cage in front. Its safest for many reasons all of which have been covered in previous posts no doubt.


Good to see an overwhelming majority agree


If for nothing else if the clown in front slams on his anchors & your not paying attention then you can dive easily up the guts to avoid a fork to tail

[canarlee]

You're too close if that is the case.

d00d, try it next time you are out on ya bike! prolly not too close just in the wrong place, as said before, to the right of the wheeltrack is prolly the best place!


or if you aint in a hurry then right in the middle, that way you cant help but be seen in their rear view mirror! (which is my original point)


sorry to be trying to argue this point but what i am trying to say is; stop telling all newbies that riding in the right hand wheel track will solve their problems, which is what seems to be happening! that was the first comment i saw on a thread about a newbie rider riding home for the first time in the rain! that aint allways going to be the answer! i think the answer should have been something like this "ride how you normally would (unless you are a speed freak etc), just plan a little further ahead!" or some such similar. why feel scared to ride in the rain? most people that ride on the roads have good tyres, and those tyres that the average joe uses are as good in the wet as they are in the dry!

i guess what i am saying is the training/teaching methods havent evolved like they need to have! get out of your old habits folks!