Riding Inside Your Sight Lines

[Ari Rankum]

I'm aware of how much room I need to stop my bike in given conditions at given speeds. I use that to estimate how safely I can ride through various twisty roads. I try not to ride faster than the maximum speed I can ride before I cannot stop within the distance I can clearly see. On my favorite roads, I cheat this plan quite a bit. Instead, I try to estimate, how much it is going to hurt, or how much damage will occur to the bike if there's, for instance, a tree across the road. I'm not justifying my choice, just explaining it.

Most of my thinking, admittedly, and wrongly, is about stationary obstacles in the road that should not be in the road. Or deer.

Yesterday, riding through a blind 'S', I found myself closing on the grill of an SUV at a combined speed of 90 or 100mph. I first observed this with less than 100' of room. It seems that said SUV wanted to give the bicyclist on the shoulder of his lane enough room when he passed. He seemed to think a blind 'S' was a great place to do this. Never mind that within 500' of where the SUV made this move there was 1/4 mile of straight highway, with passing zone, with completely unobstructed view. He also seemed to really like the completely unused oncoming lane of traffic to complete this manouever. Now, there were only two lanes, and I was, in fact, using the lane he drove into before he was. I missed my ultimate demise because I was able to go by on the white stripe on the right of my lane.

If I had been riding at more than 6/10s, if I were completely leaned over, if I had no ability to get my bike way the hell off its line and dive to the right side, I'd be dead.

I ******* hate drivers that have no respect for lane discipline. It seems that NO SUV driver knows where the left edge of their vehicle is, as most of them are frequently on the wrong side of the road. I'm really glad I did not turn around to have a chat with that SUV driver. There would have been an incident.

When you're thinking about your sight lines, just be aware that they may be one hell of a lot shorter because of the ****** driving completly on the wrong side of the road.

Please excuse the language. It usually only happens when I get really pissed off.

 

[Woodstock]

Scary ****. That's one of my biggest fears when out in the corners. That and a broken down motor home.

 

[painman]

It all goes back to the basics that we learned when we started driving. Never go faster than what you can see ahead that will allow for a safe stopping distance for the road and the conditions. This came into play when I use to drive 18 wheelers weighing in at 80,000 lbs. Whatever the case or vehicle may be allow for a safe stopping distance. My personal experience in what I observed was most accidents were the result of over driving the conditions and not allowing enough safe stopping distance between you and what is ahead. We have all gotten in over our heads at one time or another. If you haven't you are an exception and with all the accidents that seem to be happening around here lately.... please, keep the rubber side down. PM. <><

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

I'm aware of how much room I need to stop my bike in given conditions at given speeds. I use that to estimate how safely I can ride through various twisty roads. I try not to ride faster than the maximum speed I can ride before I cannot stop within the distance I can clearly see. On my favorite roads, I cheat this plan quite a bit. Instead, I try to estimate, how much it is going to hurt, or how much damage will occur to the bike if there's, for instance, a tree across the road. I'm not justifying my choice, just explaining it.
Most of my thinking, admittedly, and wrongly, is about stationary obstacles in the road that should not be in the road. Or deer.

Yesterday, riding through a blind 'S', I found myself closing on the grill of an SUV at a combined speed of 90 or 100mph. I first observed this with less than 100' of room. It seems that said SUV wanted to give the bicyclist on the shoulder of his lane enough room when he passed. He seemed to think a blind 'S' was a great place to do this. Never mind that within 500' of where the SUV made this move there was 1/4 mile of straight highway, with passing zone, with completely unobstructed view. He also seemed to really like the completely unused oncoming lane of traffic to complete this manouever. Now, there were only two lanes, and I was, in fact, using the lane he drove into before he was. I missed my ultimate demise because I was able to go by on the white stripe on the right of my lane.

If I had been riding at more than 6/10s, if I were completely leaned over, if I had no ability to get my bike way the hell off its line and dive to the right side, I'd be dead.

I ******* hate drivers that have no respect for lane discipline. It seems that NO SUV driver knows where the left edge of their vehicle is, as most of them are frequently on the wrong side of the road. I'm really glad I did not turn around to have a chat with that SUV driver. There would have been an incident.

When you're thinking about your sight lines, just be aware that they may be one hell of a lot shorter because of the ****** driving completly on the wrong side of the road.

Please excuse the language. It usually only happens when I get really pissed off.

I am glad you are safe Ari, it is every biker's nightmare. Points to your skill level. Went for a short ride with a buddy today, and I advized him to slow down. He has only a couple thousand miles under his belt but I think he was getting cocky and no way he would have been able to handle a situation like you encountered. Staying in our own skill levels is so hard with nice machinery like the FJR.

P.S. I agree about ignorant, careless brain dead drivers......where are the cops when you want them?

 

[madmike2]

Yep! I had the same thing 3 different times yesterday on Hwy 4, climbing up the East slope of the Sierras. Pickups, SUVs, doesn't matter, they think they can "cross over" wtih impunity. One was an "meeting" as you described. On one "blind" right-hander I had the 4th incident when 3 supermotards were coming well over the "centerline" on my side. The clincher: I crested the top and dropped down 2 miles to a frozen over lake. Rounding a curve, there was an SUV across the lanes talking with 3 "pedestrians" (hikers).

I am soooo glad I made the determination to "ride within the limits" yesterday. This was a timely posting. There are lots of people out there, enjoying the roads and scenery, who forget the public roadways are to be shared.

A.) The public roadways are not your private nature preserve so you can wander aimlessly through the forests, etc.

B.) The public roadways are not your private highspeed test track so you can clip apexes at will.

Let's all be careful out there!

 

[sparky3008]

P.S. I agree about ignorant, careless brain dead drivers......where are the cops when you want them?

They are sometimes the one trying to run you over.

On one of the sport bike forums a girl was driving down a strectch of highway when a car came over into her lane and almost had to go to the side of the road to avoid it.

She then decided to take off at a high rate of speed to get away from this car and a few others that seemed oblivious to her.

All of a sudden lights came on behind her and guess who it was, the first car that almost ran her off the road.

The cop didn't give her a ticket because he realized what he had done but he did lecture her about slowing down and she lectured him about watching out for motorcyclists...

Glad you are ok.

In West Virginia I drive down a road off of 81 (901). It is very twisty and one reason I like it but occasionally you get trucks going down it that shouldn't be on that road. There is no way for them to make these sharp turns without coming into your lane. One day I came on one and man that was no fun...

 

[Toecutter]

I ******* hate drivers that have no respect for lane discipline.

That's the biggest reason I stick with the "Right tire track lane discipline" in the twisties. It also forces me to slow down, while still having as much fun practicing my mad skilz.
Oncoming vehicles (even small ones like ours) can ruin your day in a hurry. Just ask Joseph, if you can find him around. Anybody heard from him? I haven't noticed any posts lately.

 

[Woodstock]

In West Virginia I drive down a road off of 81 (901). It is very twisty and one reason I like it but occasionally you get trucks going down it that shouldn't be on that road. There is no way for them to make these sharp turns without coming into your lane. One day I came on one and man that was no fun...

Does that mean what I think it does?...

...Heaven has 'net access! :yahoo:

 

[sparky3008]

Delete. Must not steal Thread

 

[Sherman]

Please define "sight lines"

 

[sparky3008]

Please define "sight lines"

How far you can see as in blind curves.

 

[madmike2]

Please define "sight lines"

How far you can see as in blind curves.

Yep. The technique (in its simplest form) is to stay in the opposite wheel track (left track for righthand turns; right track for lefthand turns) and not turning-in across your lane to apex the corner until you can see the exit. It takes practice and discipline but this way there are no surprises (like gravel, SUVs, RVs, critters, etc., for you to play "tag" with).