Lots of great stuff again Giles and here is my 10p....
I still love filtering even though I only get a chance "sooth" when away from 60N!
Previously being a courier and riding traffic 7/10ths of the time is certainly a steep but good curve and all learnt by experience
To be honest I miss mixing it a bit up here...
Some of my simple mantra’s for traffic/urban riding and may have already been mentioned in one way or another...
- Don’t ever feck with trucks/buses. You are either in front or behind but not stuck next to them. In moving traffic an artic will make a mess of you without them even noticing! Just have a quick size comparison between your GS and an artic wheel...
- In heavy and moving traffic you always keep at a distance and position that will allow smooth transition from following to filtering with no dramatics. On single lanes this is usually back offside as mentioned. On motorways or dual carriageways this is usually ready to go between lanes. On a motorway it’s usually safer between lanes 2 and 3 as there are less trucks and usually a bit less movement between lanes.
- Filtering stationary traffic is usually more dangerous than moving traffic as this brings into play pedestrians/side junctions and accentuates any speed difference.
- Always filter from “space” to “space” and always plan ahead for the next. This stops you getting “stuck” on the outside of the traffic or without anywhere to go. If you are any good there will be not much change in speed but you will have somewhere to go if things change quickly.
- Don’t filter up the arse of the bike in front for the immediate above reason. You “ride your own ride” even in traffic.
- Always filter at a speed that feels comfortable and at a speed that you know you can execute a quick stop if necessary. Your bike control is up to you!!
- Always let quicker riders past as they will piss you off in your mirrors and you will definitely piss them off!
- Obviously filtering trucks etc leaves you “blind” so means lots of extra caution!
- Follow moving dual carriageway/m-way traffic ready to go for the gaps and with plenty of forward vision as if the traffic stops quickly you will be ready to take to the “escape route” rather than caught “line astern” with the others and in danger of being rear ended by some dozy twat. I NEVER stop in a line of traffic if possible and only if I know what is going on behind. I also use some reflective stuff on the rear of the bike to wake up said dozy twats.
- ALWAYS look for drivers eyes as if they are not looking at you they DEFINATELY haven’t seen you. You should take NOTHING for granted as peds/drivers can see right through you and if they are still moving there is still a chance! (Some cars might even see scaring you as a bit of fun!).
- Use lateral movement as a wake up to drivers. If you move left to right across your lane you are giving yourself more safety distance anyhow from left junctions/crossing peds. Obviously visa-versa for traffic/peds on right.
- If you stop at the head of the traffic at lights, go slightly ahead and don’t feckin’ stall on the get away!!
- Zillions more and sorry for any repetition but knowledge is power etc and there are lots of ways of remembering things....
Regarding covering brakes I don’t do usually as I trust my instincts to be correct but can after trials riding and if it suits you then fair enough. Regarding “undertakes” I only do it now if really pushed but usually don’t as if anything happens you are probably fecked in the eyes of the law. An A38 Exeter-Plymouth commute usually used to be all the cars in lane 2 with the odd truck in lane 1. I often used the “lane speed” theory but if you bomb up the inside and get twatted by a lane mover you’re in trouble.
Re Rasher on braking... usually it varies according to your braking need but in dry weather any quick stop braking is still predominately front with a bit of back. Wet more balanced according to your bike.
For traffic the clutch/throttle/rear brake technique for balance and slow changes of direction is a cracker and practice it to get your feet up balance off to a T. Aa quiet corner of a carpark is excellent training ground
One BIG thing I learnt early is front skids on NON ABS bikes are obviously the most dangerous and learn to load the initial braking with an "ease" and then quickly progressively "squeeze". It's the 1st bit of emergency braking that causes the loss of control and crash! Too much front brake "grab"
IF YOU HAVE ABS sudden and hard braking is OK as the ABS will react quicker than you.... just make sure it's working