25-02-13, 09:37 AM
tricky as either way can give you grief. BUT running on other side of road is more likely to kill you !
best advice is to use road positioning to see through a bend before you commit . Slow in fast out is the motto.I have turned into blind bends before with stationary traffic the other side...observation is key to maintaining progress. Have seen so many crashes on you tube with bikers trying their hardest to go as fast as possible through bends, when in reality if they had seen and analysed the corner they would have used appropriate speed.Similarly with seeing through a bend and having time to recognise a hazard and take avoiding action.Worst thing on gravel BTW is to brake or accelerate....usually the wheel will skip a bit but regrip once on smooth tarmac. Keep wheels as upright as possible and steer ahead if possible.IF the corner is observed properly and speed is appropriate , you will have at least some time to react.
Its an old adage but most corner crashes are due to excess speed through lack of experience/ knowledge in watching the road ahead...and using appropriate speed. Restraint is maybe the hardest skill any biker has to gain to keep alive.
Personally I never commit to any corner I cannot fully see through. Hence why so many of our roads aint that good for fast riding. And why trackdays are so much better !
Speed comes with experience. Gain the experience first, the speed is easy then.
best advice is to use road positioning to see through a bend before you commit . Slow in fast out is the motto.I have turned into blind bends before with stationary traffic the other side...observation is key to maintaining progress. Have seen so many crashes on you tube with bikers trying their hardest to go as fast as possible through bends, when in reality if they had seen and analysed the corner they would have used appropriate speed.Similarly with seeing through a bend and having time to recognise a hazard and take avoiding action.Worst thing on gravel BTW is to brake or accelerate....usually the wheel will skip a bit but regrip once on smooth tarmac. Keep wheels as upright as possible and steer ahead if possible.IF the corner is observed properly and speed is appropriate , you will have at least some time to react.
Its an old adage but most corner crashes are due to excess speed through lack of experience/ knowledge in watching the road ahead...and using appropriate speed. Restraint is maybe the hardest skill any biker has to gain to keep alive.
Personally I never commit to any corner I cannot fully see through. Hence why so many of our roads aint that good for fast riding. And why trackdays are so much better !
Speed comes with experience. Gain the experience first, the speed is easy then.