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repiV
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Joined: 15 May 2007
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PostPosted: 22:17 - 01 Jun 2007    Post subject: Post-test training Reply with quote
Something that was highlighted to me while I was doing my DAS and that seems to be holding true now that I've passed my test is that my awareness and planning is shite.
I commute through London - Stanmore (nr. Harrow) to Southwark and so these issues are massively amplified. I'm fine hooning it at the weekends, I regularly pin the throttle right back (Fazer 600) and haven't put myself in any danger in the process, it's heavy traffic that really catches me out. Twice now I've nearly been knocked off by absentmindedly filtering across a junction I didn't notice or think about because I was concentrating on the traffic. It's a good thing I don't panic under pressure because last time I managed to avoid getting sideswiped by a sharp swerve, but I'd rather avoid such situations altogether.
Sometimes I feel I maybe just go into a world of my own or I just don't notice certain things. Occassionally I go to do a shoulder check and when I look forwards again I have to do an emergency stop as the traffic ahead is braking.
I'd like to avoid having an accident, so what's the best thing to do?
Practice has sorted out the other main issue I had, dealing with the weight of the Fazer. Had lots of foot-stamping moments, a couple of times where I had to lift it off my leg after coming to a stop in an awkward position and losing it, and once I lost the front end doing a U-turn. Been fine lately though. But I don't seem to be improving much with my hazard perception. Sad
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St0rmer66
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Joined: 27 Nov 2005
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PostPosted: 00:15 - 02 Jun 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote
I found BikeSafe a big help and I am hopefully going to do my IAM training at some point. It just helps to focus the mind, you already know what you SHOULD be doing, you just need to get into the habit of actually doing it.
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strag
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PostPosted: 06:09 - 02 Jun 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote
You might want to consider public transport.
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repiV
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Joined: 15 May 2007
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PostPosted: 07:55 - 02 Jun 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote
St0rmer66 wrote:
I found BikeSafe a big help and I am hopefully going to do my IAM training at some point. It just helps to focus the mind, you already know what you SHOULD be doing, you just need to get into the habit of actually doing it.


Just had a look at BikeSafe...sounds good actually. Do they also obsess about making sure you ride at a constant 30-31mph (dangerous imo) like they do in the test, or are they much more interested in safe riding than strictly legal riding?
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repiV
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Joined: 15 May 2007
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PostPosted: 07:57 - 02 Jun 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote
strag wrote:
You might want to consider public transport.


Then I'd die of the infectious diseases found on the tube...
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sagalout
Nearly there...



Joined: 09 Jun 2006
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PostPosted: 08:29 - 02 Jun 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote
repiV wrote:
St0rmer66 wrote:
I found BikeSafe a big help and I am hopefully going to do my IAM training at some point. It just helps to focus the mind, you already know what you SHOULD be doing, you just need to get into the habit of actually doing it.


Just had a look at BikeSafe...sounds good actually. Do they also obsess about making sure you ride at a constant 30-31mph (dangerous imo) like they do in the test, or are they much more interested in safe riding than strictly legal riding?


I did the Bikesafe course with Stormer66 and would also recommend it. Aswell as focusing the mind, its interesting to follow a Police rider and watch the lines they take and the extremes of the road they use - its one thing to read it in a book but another to actually see it in practise and it really does allow you to read the road better and much further.

As for speed limits, I think they differ county to county. I've heard of some where they are very open to high speeds, but the thirsk one they made it clear that they expect you to stick to the 30/40/50 limits but were a bit more flexible on NSL, especially when overtaking which to be honest is how I ride anyway
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Giffer2
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 13 Feb 2007
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PostPosted: 08:47 - 02 Jun 2007    Post subject: Re: Post-test training Reply with quote
repiV wrote:
Something that was highlighted to me while I was doing my DAS and that seems to be holding true now that I've passed my test is that my awareness and planning is shite.
I commute through London - Stanmore (nr. Harrow) to Southwark and so these issues are massively amplified. I'm fine hooning it at the weekends, I regularly pin the throttle right back (Fazer 600) and haven't put myself in any danger in the process, it's heavy traffic that really catches me out. Twice now I've nearly been knocked off by absentmindedly filtering across a junction I didn't notice or think about because I was concentrating on the traffic. It's a good thing I don't panic under pressure because last time I managed to avoid getting sideswiped by a sharp swerve, but I'd rather avoid such situations altogether.
Sometimes I feel I maybe just go into a world of my own or I just don't notice certain things. Occassionally I go to do a shoulder check and when I look forwards again I have to do an emergency stop as the traffic ahead is braking.
I'd like to avoid having an accident, so what's the best thing to do?
Practice has sorted out the other main issue I had, dealing with the weight of the Fazer. Had lots of foot-stamping moments, a couple of times where I had to lift it off my leg after coming to a stop in an awkward position and losing it, and once I lost the front end doing a U-turn. Been fine lately though. But I don't seem to be improving much with my hazard perception. Sad


Sounds to me like you are trying to do too many things on your bike, er on the side of caution - If you aren't sure about it or it gives you a problem don't do it, concentrate on one of the other aspects you are concerned about - Brake them down to stages.

1. Don't filter at the moment until you are happy that you are paying full attention to everything else.

2. Slow it down a little and back off from the cars in front.

3. Look ahead, not just at the car infront of you but down the road/traffic, look for their brake lights, side roads, parked cars etc etc

If it takes you 10 minutes extra to get to where you are going but you get there safer then it's 10 minutes well spent.
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bazza
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Joined: 27 Aug 2004
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PostPosted: 09:06 - 02 Jun 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote
repiV wrote:
Just had a look at BikeSafe...sounds good actually. Do they also obsess about making sure you ride at a constant 30-31mph (dangerous imo) like they do in the test, or are they much more interested in safe riding than strictly legal riding?


They don't obsess about it, but you're expected to be able to control yourself and the bike where needed.
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repiV
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Joined: 15 May 2007
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PostPosted: 09:03 - 03 Jun 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote
sagalout wrote:

I did the Bikesafe course with Stormer66 and would also recommend it. Aswell as focusing the mind, its interesting to follow a Police rider and watch the lines they take and the extremes of the road they use - its one thing to read it in a book but another to actually see it in practise and it really does allow you to read the road better and much further.

As for speed limits, I think they differ county to county. I've heard of some where they are very open to high speeds, but the thirsk one they made it clear that they expect you to stick to the 30/40/50 limits but were a bit more flexible on NSL, especially when overtaking which to be honest is how I ride anyway


I usually drop two gears (I cruise in as high a gear as possible to save fuel) and give it a burst of full throttle when overtaking (not in busy urban streets obviously, but then I don't usually overtake in that scenario). Partly because I feel the safest and most sensible method of overtaking is to get it over and done with asap and partly because it's a whole lot of fun. Very Happy
Would be interesting to see the lines they take, when I take sweeping bends I usually end up readjusting my course several times.
One of the things I find really fun about the bike actually is finding different ways of steering it. I love using the force of my knees on the tank to make it sweep left and right...it's quite effective actually. Putting force on one of the footpegs is nice for minor adjustments too. Smile
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repiV
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Joined: 15 May 2007
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PostPosted: 09:06 - 03 Jun 2007    Post subject: Re: Post-test training Reply with quote
Giffer2 wrote:

Sounds to me like you are trying to do too many things on your bike, er on the side of caution - If you aren't sure about it or it gives you a problem don't do it, concentrate on one of the other aspects you are concerned about - Brake them down to stages.

1. Don't filter at the moment until you are happy that you are paying full attention to everything else.

2. Slow it down a little and back off from the cars in front.

3. Look ahead, not just at the car infront of you but down the road/traffic, look for their brake lights, side roads, parked cars etc etc

If it takes you 10 minutes extra to get to where you are going but you get there safer then it's 10 minutes well spent.


Actually that's a good point. I guess it's easy to get carried away with all the other filtering bikes squeezing through the tiniest of gaps. London streets in rush hour generally have another two makeshift lanes added to them, full of bikes. Very Happy
I'll ease off a bit and see how it goes.
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repiV
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Joined: 15 May 2007
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PostPosted: 09:10 - 03 Jun 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote
bazza wrote:
repiV wrote:
Just had a look at BikeSafe...sounds good actually. Do they also obsess about making sure you ride at a constant 30-31mph (dangerous imo) like they do in the test, or are they much more interested in safe riding than strictly legal riding?


They don't obsess about it, but you're expected to be able to control yourself and the bike where needed.


That's fine...it's a whole different kettle of fish to riding to the speed limits instead of riding to the conditions. So much focus on the speedometer = inattention on the road.
The area around a speed camera may aswell be a death zone of sleeping drivers...travesty.
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17-in-87
Trackday Trickster



Joined: 07 Feb 2006
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PostPosted: 09:37 - 03 Jun 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote
I commute into London every day as well, I find it helps to do a running commentary to yourself if your concentration starts to wander, trying to point out any hazards etc.

Also when filtering, never assume that the guy in front of you is great at spotting hazards either - I've seen plenty of people get into trouble by just blindly following the bike in front.

And as said previously, leave yourself a bit more room between you and the vehicle in front. Thumbs Up
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repiV
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Joined: 15 May 2007
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PostPosted: 09:45 - 03 Jun 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote
17-in-87 wrote:
I commute into London every day as well, I find it helps to do a running commentary to yourself if your concentration starts to wander, trying to point out any hazards etc.


I'll try that. Smile

Quote:

Also when filtering, never assume that the guy in front of you is great at spotting hazards either - I've seen plenty of people get into trouble by just blindly following the bike in front.


On Friday I was filtering on, I think Harrow Road W9 (I got lost, as usual Laughing) and stopped next to this car as there was a junction ahead and oncoming traffic. I wasn't going to risk being sideswiped as has nearly happened a couple of times before. Then this scooter behind me kept beeping the horn, so I just kind of rolled my eyes and went for it, then when we came to the traffic lights I shared my experience with him of the dangers of filtering across junctions. He just shrugged and said nothing.

Quote:

And as said previously, leave yourself a bit more room between you and the vehicle in front. Thumbs Up


Yup. I usually make sure I'm following the two (or three) second rule, but it's quite difficult to do in London.

Btw, if you come in from north London, do you use the A41? It's so much quicker and less congested than any other route it's unbelievable, and it's cool that you can use the bus lanes on Finchley Road now. I actually take a detour to Elstree to get onto the A41, but it's still way quicker than going straight onto the A5.
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