MCN (yes, we all know) are carrying a weekly series on how to (maybe) ride better. They might interest some here.
Here are the first three:
Here are the first three:
MCN’s Skills Course, in association with Rapid Training
- Thread starter Wapping
- Start date
Typical MCN rubbish. At least 2 of the pictures shows a rider in the decapitation zone. Bad practice which shows a lack of preparation for the bend.
Look.....Lean......Roll
The ‘Decapitation Zone.’ Not heard of that one before
Two years ago, after a while off the bike following an accident, I spent a day training with Giles, formerly of this parish and one of the Rapid Training instructors. It was without doubt one of the best days I have ever spent on a bike.
I think you're missing the point. When it comes to positioning on the approach to, and riding through a bend, you're positing for safety, stability and view through the corner. You should always be looking to give-up your position for safety. Always. So you wouldn't be riding a line through this "decapitation zone" that you're talking about IF you couldn't see that there was no oncoming traffic, or certainly any oncoming traffic that would put you in a dangerous position.
A classic mistake that a lot of riders who have either done advanced training or are trying to ride the System make is on bends that they slavishly follow the theoretical/optimum line through the bend, often and seemingly without regard for on-coming traffic. The amount of times I see bikes either on, or close to the centre line going through a left-hand bend whilst there are HGV's oncoming is a lot. You often see bikes doing this, passing oncoming HGV's on the apex of the bend, close enough to the oncoming/passing vehicle that they could touch them.
Well, I think I’ll stick with my opinion on this one. On the first pic, I may have given a bit of position due to the junction on the left. But not that much.
It looks to be brow on a slight hill, and how high is the hedge ? . Does the rider have 100% view all the way through ?
We’ve all seen thousands of occasions when this has happened right in front of us. Occasionally with a bad ending.
Maybe you should offer them your services? It sounds like you have much more experience than their instructors.
Been there done that.
Taught advanced stuff full time for 10 years inc blue lighting. Skid control. Escape n evasion etc.
gets like a sausage factory eventually
I disagree as you dont know where he started his turn in to see the road ahead clear and apexing
Totally understand you and fully respect your right to your opinion, even if it is wrong.
In principle, assuming the hazards that you perceive to be there are in fact present, then I would agree.
However, as others have mentioned, the picture you are referring to does not show you what the rider can see, and I doubt very much that a rider of his experience, or any of his associates at Rapid, if it was one of them on the bike, would put themselves in any danger or make such a fundamental error.
Looking at the other articles I would say they are using the same bend for other pictures.
For example, the small picture just below the one you refer to is an aerial shot, and the large picture on page 2 of Part 2 are, I think, both the same bend but with him going in the opposite direction.
However, the more 'telling' picture is the first picture on page 1 of part 3, again he is going in the opposite direction, but it looks like a drone shot from the distance. If this is the same bend, and I think it is, there is bags of view across the really wide verge.
So, if the pictures are of the same location (but taken at different times of the year as the grass is more parched in the last one I refer to, plus there are more leaves on the trees) then IMHO his positioning was fine. I would suggest he does have a 100% view all the way through, and the hedge doesn't even come into the equation, no matter how high it is. I can't see any clue that would suggest that there is a brow of a hill either.
I agree that MCN is generally rubbish, but I think these articles are sound.
MCN are also uploading Rapid training videos which I am sure the photos are taken at same time.
MCN Rapid training Video 1
We cannot look at a single image or two and assume that the rider is in a dangerous position. There are a myriad of other factors that commenters have made that the rider may* encountered. It may also be true that they were on a closed private road... or not.
If the advice given is wrong or compromises safety over positioning then I would write into MCN and outline that they should make that abundently clear.
What I would say is that photos taken for an article like this/these should not depict positioning or should be caveated as, they can be taken as gospel Especially for new riders who may* again be more impressionable.
(A certain line should not be used at all times and depends on the view/weather etc. etc.)
MCN Rapid training Video 1
We cannot look at a single image or two and assume that the rider is in a dangerous position. There are a myriad of other factors that commenters have made that the rider may* encountered. It may also be true that they were on a closed private road... or not.
If the advice given is wrong or compromises safety over positioning then I would write into MCN and outline that they should make that abundently clear.
What I would say is that photos taken for an article like this/these should not depict positioning or should be caveated as, they can be taken as gospel Especially for new riders who may* again be more impressionable.
(A certain line should not be used at all times and depends on the view/weather etc. etc.)
The top 'decapitation' picture and the tiny one underneath it...plus the one on p47 are all the same bend. It looks to have great sightlines from picture ones road positioning perspective. Entering the bend with 200 m plus forward vision with a decent chunk of the small junction also visible. The rider had ample road to move slightly left if he spotted something oncoming. Seems fine positioning to me....
I read the above and think - well I think I kinda just do all that automatically. Might look at what training I can find - I actually fancied doing a race school but maybe road based training is the way forward, horses for (literally) courses I guess.
I can recommend somewhere in between.... A Hopp Rider Training day at Cadwell Park. (I'm not linked in any way, just done a few of their days over the years)
Thank you, I appreciate that. That does not seem bad value for money either, so I will look into that.
Be quick....there was 1 place left on the July event...it tends to sell out. They have a mix of instructors incl serving/retired Police, ex racers etc. They bin off dangerous riders or anyone showboating so have very few 'offs'. I can't ever recall a red flag and I've done a few of their days. It is certainly not a track day. you'll learn loads about your bike. (The best one I attended was a rainy one....by mid morning, half had gone home. By PM very few were left. I learned just how much grip...albeit on a race track....my GS had in the wet.)
