Going round corners on a bike

[sigma]

Which mandatory overtaking minimum specification are you using?

Do not feel you have to overtake, only ride to the level you are happy to. If another bike appears and you feel you are hampering them, move over so they can proceed, do not feel pressured to speed up to fit them.

 

Overall, ride for yourself, not some arbitrary ideal or to please others.

 

I don't have full binocular vision. I use one eye at a time. I don't know what I'm missing as I've never had it. That apparently makes overtaking more challenging as I cant judge the speed of other traffic particularly well. There has to be virtually no traffic in the opposite direction before I overtake in a car or bike. I dont seem to have any problems with the fiels of vision tests when I get my eyes tested though.

[bald_pig]

If you've made a mistake and are going too fast you have to commit further and lean in harder 99/100 you'll make it*. If you slam the brakes on and try and right the bike 99/100 you'll crash.

 

Can confirm! (I'm the bike in front)

[Davit2005]

Can confirm! (I'm the bike in front)

 

Oops, shows there is a big difference between a car and a bike and could of been worse if a vehicle was coming the other way. I've come off in the wet on a motorbike by pulling the front brake too hard round a bend in the rain many years back but luckily it was a right hander and I stayed on my side of the road and was jus doing about 20MPH at the time. Jus picked my bike up and carried on riding to work.

[Andrew_C]

OK, so you got that wrong (I can't really see why!) but Why TF did your mate follow you!?

[Chris_Cook]

Its probably target fixation - You end up going where you are looking.

 

I'd recommend finding some easier corners and build things up. There isn't really such a thing as going round the corner too slowly, as there is always a chance of being stuck in traffic.

 

I've done exactly the same thing on Saturday on my CBT re-take, except I just recovered at the last moment.

 

The other thing that helps is keeping everything smooth - braking, acceleration, gear changes and clutch. If its not, then the suspension will go up and down, the distance between the wheels will change as a result and the bike will generally be less predictable. Chain tension is also important, so worth checking regularly if on a geared bike.

[bald_pig]

OK, so you got that wrong (I can't really see why!) but Why TF did your mate follow you!?

 

We both did what dmj said, too fast for the corner and slammed on the brakes, mate had a little extra braking time so made it slightly further before running out of road...

[foofighterjim]

We both did what dmj said, too fast for the corner and slammed on the brakes, mate had a little extra braking time so made it slightly further before running out of road...

 

And a good example of what @TechMonkey said, ride your own ride. Thank you for sharing this and glad everyone was ok, that could have been very nasty.

[nicholab]

And a good example of what @TechMonkey said, ride your own ride. Thank you for sharing this and glad everyone was ok, that could have been very nasty.

 

I got in my head to slow down for corners even when doing only doing 40mph. I am going slowly already so every one has to overtake me.

[Davit2005]

I got in my head to slow down for corners even when doing only doing 40mph. I am going slowly already so every one has to overtake me.

 

Speed is less of a consideration. You go around a corner a) Safely considering traffic, weather and mechanical limits, b) been able to stop on your side of the road in the distance you can see to be clear (half that on a single track road) and C) staying within legal speed limits.

 

The same stands for a car, but even more so on a bike is setting your self up for a corner and don't commit to a speed without considering the points above.