Adventure.gs

An inability to see through a series of bends, to the bend we can’t see round, and go to the place on the road where we want to be for that bend, by the smoothest flowing line. (One hazard at a time again eh!) All candidates know the correct position for the hazard ahead, it’s just unfortunate that for the most they’re late picking up that position and their ride becomes ‘sweepy swoopy’ wastes time, loses speed, looks crap and is crap.

And in the same breath, there are those candidates who are on the perfect line for the left hander coming up, just inside the white line, who suddenly and abruptly sweep across to t’other side of the road for the ‘maximum view’ (On a couple of occasions had to dive back again because of something coming into view!) We should ask ourselves, “Is it safe?”“Is it to advantage?” If the answer is yes to these questions then OK. Most of the time it’s not to advantage because we had a good enough view anyway! Certainly for the speed they were doing! By all means use the other side of the road, but let’s get there in smooth flowing lines. If ‘The Line’ doesn’t take us there then let’s not bother. As one guy said to me, 65 years old and only just back into ‘biking’ “I get it Mick, you want me to gel the corners together!”

Exaggerating ‘the position’ in built up areas where there’s no real need. Because they’ve been taught nearside for right-handers, up to white line for lefthanders, they do it at 30 or 40 mph when we have a sight line of two hundred yards and can stop in a fraction of the distance we see to be clear. The car behind of course is asking, “What’s this twerp in front doing, turning left, no right, no left...!”

Speed in built up areas sometimes creeps up when being sucked along by the car in front. I’m not talking about when there’s a long line of traffic. Many the time the rider in front is doing 30 to 32 mph (where it’s safe of course) a car joins from our left or right ahead of us and is now going our way. The car builds it’s speed up to 40 and the rider in front gets ‘sucked along’ and is soon keeping a nice distance behind said car...at the same speed!

Often a lack of ability to ‘suss out’ the traffic ahead, and pick a smooth, safe, uninterrupted passage through. Again... not rocket science. Fail to use the advantage the motorcycle has given them.... thinking car! Needs planning coupled with good forward observations, anticipation, and an accurate assessment of speed and distance!

All tied in with not looking far enough ahead. (Again!) We often have the scenario whereby the candidate waits for an overtaking opportunity, and I can literally read their thoughts by body language / movement. “Oh, I can overtakes now, I’ve an overtake on. Let’s see, err, gear, oh, right, I’ll come down to thirds, err, now that’s OK. mmm Mirror, oh yes the mirror mmm seems ok, oh hell, a shoulder check, right done that, now we go, we’ll show him what these Ninjas will do!” Then they ride ROUND the car they’re overtaking. That’s of course if they haven’t now missed the opportunity.

RATHER look beyond the vehicle in front, read the road, anticipate, plan plot and scheme, as I like say, We’ve caught the vehicle up, we’re travelling faster than it, so we’re already planning to overtake long before the opportunity is there. Do the homework, scan the mirrors, position out, cross views, and you’ll see the bit of road that’s just round this corner that’s straight enough. Gear already, mirrors scanned, all homework done, and as the bend opens up WOOOOOOOSH! Gone! Without exception I can ask a candidate “And where was I when you looked in your mirror prior to that overtake?” the answer nearly always is “Already out there!” Time and time again I see people ‘riding round’ the hazard, or the vehicle being overtaken.