Good tip to avoid getting squeezed, although the hard square edges on the panniers should put most car drivers off!
GSA Filtering
- Thread starter Skipssong
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Good tip to avoid getting squeezed, although the hard square edges on the panniers should put most car drivers off!
casperghst42
Registered user
The GSA is so big and bulky that people seeing it in the mirror know that it will make a lot of mess if they hit it
On the other hand I only do filtering if absolutely needed (which is twice a day), as I don't trust car drivers (and I don't expect bikers to trust me when I'm in a car - which hardly ever happens).
Casper
On the other hand I only do filtering if absolutely needed (which is twice a day), as I don't trust car drivers (and I don't expect bikers to trust me when I'm in a car - which hardly ever happens).
Casper
I do it all the time, Balance, confidence, practice slow riding if you need to.
Watch this one though..
Stationary traffic, nose to tail, no-one can go anywhere, so I tootled slowly through (15-20mph) feeling pretty safe. Then someone decided his door wasn't shut properly, so he opened it...
I was behind his back wheel at the time..fortunately he was very quick opening and shutting it! And very surprised as I went by. I didn't even have time to to say "gosh golly"
One of the benefits of a bike is you can keep moving
Rgds Dave
Watch this one though..
Stationary traffic, nose to tail, no-one can go anywhere, so I tootled slowly through (15-20mph) feeling pretty safe. Then someone decided his door wasn't shut properly, so he opened it...
I was behind his back wheel at the time..fortunately he was very quick opening and shutting it! And very surprised as I went by. I didn't even have time to to say "gosh golly"
One of the benefits of a bike is you can keep moving
Rgds DaveStay alert
"Stationary traffic, nose to tail, no-one can go anywhere, so I tootled slowly through (15-20mph) feeling pretty safe. Then someone decided his door wasn't shut properly, so he opened it..." You can often foresee this sort of 'distraction' but NOT always; In certain seasons here the whole family may decide to get out of the car, both sides, and the children pour onto the verges to play - not the time to 'beat the clock!' (and 15 - 20 mph may be far too fast.
"Stationary traffic, nose to tail, no-one can go anywhere, so I tootled slowly through (15-20mph) feeling pretty safe. Then someone decided his door wasn't shut properly, so he opened it..." You can often foresee this sort of 'distraction' but NOT always; In certain seasons here the whole family may decide to get out of the car, both sides, and the children pour onto the verges to play - not the time to 'beat the clock!' (and 15 - 20 mph may be far too fast.
It's not the car far ahead that knocks you off, they'll always be far ahead. it's the car alongside that knocks you off
Your better off looking into the wing mirror of the car just ahead each time. Then you can see if he's seen you and how observant ( or not) he is.
It's also amazing how much you can "will" someone to look into their wingmirrors to observe you
.
It's not the car far ahead that knocks you off, they'll always be far ahead. it's the car alongside that knocks you off
Your better off looking into the wing mirror of the car just ahead each time. Then you can see if he's seen you and how observant ( or not) he is.
It's also amazing how much you can "will" someone to look into their wingmirrors to observe you
That old Jedi trick: "This is the bike you are looking for"
chipsonfriday
Registered user
I filter on a daily basis on my commute up and down the M5 and M4. I have learned over the years to become very observent and watch out for the fools who don't use their mirrors. The attached video is just a reminder that no matter how big the gap is between lanes you still need to be prepared for 'that' moment.
Don't ride faster than your reactions can.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GH8D2EqDZs
Chips
Don't ride faster than your reactions can.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GH8D2EqDZs
Chips
The wrong attitude
"....fools who don't use their mirrors....." Do not think that you have any right to filter through the traffic and the average driver (God help us!) will not be particularly concerned with his rear view mirrors if he is doing about 5 mph with someone a couple of metres behind him. I have to confess that I, who spend only about 20% of my time in a car, as opposed to on the bike, am sometimes tkren unawares by a bike coming through. On the video the speed was obviously too high. You won't get much sympathy I am afraid, whatever you hit!
"....fools who don't use their mirrors....." Do not think that you have any right to filter through the traffic and the average driver (God help us!) will not be particularly concerned with his rear view mirrors if he is doing about 5 mph with someone a couple of metres behind him. I have to confess that I, who spend only about 20% of my time in a car, as opposed to on the bike, am sometimes tkren unawares by a bike coming through. On the video the speed was obviously too high. You won't get much sympathy I am afraid, whatever you hit!
Got what was coming his way i'm afraid. Lets hope he'll learn from it.
iftikartaxis
Registered user
This summer me and the missus fully loaded 1150gsa
coming up the M5 miles of standing traffic
I shove main beam on and go for it nice big wide panniers and steady away
low speed i tend to get a bit of a wiggle so once i'm happy with my speed
i'm ok totally different when theres no baggage
some pricks don't like us to filter and try and block a few did this i filter between lanes 2-3 if possible truck drivers are the best for moving over
thats what bikes are for as long as you do it safely
"Praise the lord and pass the Ammunition"
coming up the M5 miles of standing traffic
I shove main beam on and go for it nice big wide panniers and steady away
low speed i tend to get a bit of a wiggle so once i'm happy with my speed
i'm ok totally different when theres no baggage
some pricks don't like us to filter and try and block a few did this i filter between lanes 2-3 if possible truck drivers are the best for moving over
thats what bikes are for as long as you do it safely
"Praise the lord and pass the Ammunition"
chipsonfriday
Registered user
Anyone who changes lane, bikers included, have a duty to be aware of their surroundings. The highway code clearly states Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre. That simply means use your b****y mirrors mate before you change direction. Anyone with some respect for their own lives and maybe that of other users of the road must surely be constantly aware of those around them, as well as general road conditions etc. etc.
Yeah, I know there are a few who think they own the road. But isn't that what riding safely is all about - being aware that the next car could just be driven by that person and to take reasonable care at all times for just that moment...
Having said that I completly agree the speed in the video was way too fast. Accidents do happen but we shouldn't be contributing towards them, increasing the odds that the accident will happen.
Yeah, I know there are a few who think they own the road. But isn't that what riding safely is all about - being aware that the next car could just be driven by that person and to take reasonable care at all times for just that moment...
Having said that I completly agree the speed in the video was way too fast. Accidents do happen but we shouldn't be contributing towards them, increasing the odds that the accident will happen.
Deleted account 190920001
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Couldn't agree more with that. I filter every day on the M8 including this week with the hellish weather. Just take your time and get used to things, never go faster than your abilities. If your scared your going too fast! As mentioned before as well its all about the closing speed. Keep your speed to within 10-15mph of the rest of the traffic and give yourself time to react. If the cars are doing 10mph and your doing 40 you will never react in time and your going to hit hard.
"filtering"
Spend a few years despatching if you really want to get some technique, however:
1. Bone up on your highway code/roadcraft about keep left bollards, ghost islands and bus lanes.
2. If the oncoming traffic is having to move over to let you through, and you get caught, expect to get treated harshly
3. Remember, an inviting looking safe haven between 2 vehicles might contain a tow rope.
4. If you do balls it up, make sure you understand the view of your insurers when they receive your claim form and accompanying sketches.
GS Monkey is right.
Spend a few years despatching if you really want to get some technique, however:
1. Bone up on your highway code/roadcraft about keep left bollards, ghost islands and bus lanes.
2. If the oncoming traffic is having to move over to let you through, and you get caught, expect to get treated harshly
3. Remember, an inviting looking safe haven between 2 vehicles might contain a tow rope.
4. If you do balls it up, make sure you understand the view of your insurers when they receive your claim form and accompanying sketches.
GS Monkey is right.
I drive my company car to, within and from London almost daily and always leave a gap for bikes (unless there is no gap). A lot of London GS riders probably pass me on the A3 through West Hill/Wandsworth or in central London.
If you see a silver Vectra estate with 'Dunham-Bush' emblazoned all over it, try not to scratch the paintwork theres good fellows.
And apologies on behalf of our company idiot in his Ford Connect van who did a U-turn in heavy traffic and knocked a filtering rider off a few weeks ago.
If you see a silver Vectra estate with 'Dunham-Bush' emblazoned all over it, try not to scratch the paintwork theres good fellows.
And apologies on behalf of our company idiot in his Ford Connect van who did a U-turn in heavy traffic and knocked a filtering rider off a few weeks ago.
gsbiker
Registered user
I filter when I can and safe to do so. Did a few long motorway trips this year and got caught up in traffic a few times. Last time it happened I filtered for miles. There are idiots on the roads who try to block you but that only makes me more determined to get past which I usually do with or without panniers.
Sniper1
Registered user
WindyChuffer
Registered user
A lot of the issues of filtering with GSA panniers are in the head.
Sure the panniers makes the rear a bit wider than the bars, but if you were heading for a gap that was pannier width, then you'd be crawling through with your feet on the ground.
I once filtered through London rush hour one morning at full pelt but forgot my panniers were on. Only realised when I got there... Doh.
Having said that, the panniers do increase your turn radius a little when negotiating parked cars etc.
Sure the panniers makes the rear a bit wider than the bars, but if you were heading for a gap that was pannier width, then you'd be crawling through with your feet on the ground.
I once filtered through London rush hour one morning at full pelt but forgot my panniers were on. Only realised when I got there... Doh.
Having said that, the panniers do increase your turn radius a little when negotiating parked cars etc.
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