London filtering advice / tips

[itswoody]

Hello,

Been riding into and out of London on a daily basis for about a year, I'd say about 95% of the time I have no issues at all but there is a recurring habit of mine that I want to get rid of, only I'm not sure if it's really a problem or if it's just the norm for city riding.

Every now and then the bus lane will be blocked so I will cut through traffic into the middle of the road and buzz along until I can see the bus lane is open again and then cut back through. My problem is that when I cut back through I do a fast shoulder check, don't see anything and then blat out on the road but when I then check my mirrors I see someone close and think to myself shit I should have seen them but didn't WTF. A couple of times cyclists have sworn at me but I usually shrug it off. Only later do I think to myself, yeah probably shouldn't have done that. If I do the same but stop and properly look I feel vulnerable because I'm blocking the traffic and also it just doesn't feel as good.

Any advice / tips? Anyone else had this problem? Perhaps I'd be better off sitting in the bus lane and being patient (not much chance of that to be honest!).

I'm on a 125 YBR at the mo, perhaps a taller / more powerful bike will mean this is a non issue once I've got mod 2 done (booked for 5th Nov)...

[c_dug]

The solution is simple, A) just don't check your mirrors once you are back in the bus lane and B) Fuck cyclists.

On a slightly more serious note, if I am approaching a place where I am parallel with the gap/traffic that I am trying to merge in to I am far more likely to trust my mirrors than attempt a life saver, sometimes it is just too far an angle to try and safely look back.

I'd also say that is is about experience as much as anything, I'd say two years into a daily commute across the centre of London and I have almost stopped doing silly things.

Lastly, the cyclists and other bikers should be able to see you are merging into the lane, they might not have to give way to you but they should at least be anticipating your pulling in, all cyclists and motorcyclists in the city should be aware of how reduced visibility can be at times!
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[iooi]

I always thought it was mirror... Then lifesaver.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[G]

It will also depend on other environmental factors - for instance if you're on a tall bike or there's only smaller cars around, you can often get a good view in plenty of time.

And things like the 'angle of attack' - have you had to slot at 90 degrees between two cars, or are you just 'merging'.

If you've got mirrors out and you're merging, I'd certainly use them first. If you're just accelerating, a bike already doing the speed limit may catch you fairly quickly.

In anything but injury, remember that cyclists will likely 'win' a coming together. Be it through insurance (it won't affect their vehicle no claims, if they do have insurance), or through damage to vehicle, at least presuming the bike doesn't end up under a car.

Filtering is a bit like dirt bike riding - a lot of it is about selecting the best line through obstacles and that 'line' is dependant on a changing environment (as opposed to track racing where the 'line' is pretty straightforward and only needs to be moved when either trying to overtake or trying to block an overtake.)

[c_dug]

It is in the normal run of things, and when I get back to the 'burbs I'm all over the proper checks, but when you need to check the area directly over your shoulder and back a good 20-40 feet then you just need to trust your mirrors, unless you can turn your head a complete 180°.

The problem I find is that trying to shoulder check that kind of angle involves twisting your whole body a bit, which moves the bike around a bit, which isn't good when you are 6 inches from a dumper truck or double decker.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[_Iain_]

On a YBR, pin it & dont even think about blinking.
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[esullivan]

The shoulder check in that situation is for spotting a vehicle (which can be a bicycle) right along side of you, inside the blind spot of your mirrors. I agree with c_dug that the mirror check is the most important, and then a quick glance to see that there isn't someone directly to your left or slightly behind who isn't visible in your mirrors. Don't study the situation to your left -- do it quickly -- in case someone stops suddenly in front of you. When fully satisfied that the way is clear, move smartly to the left before the situation changes. Don't dawdle and drift across. Any cars (or more likely idiots on scooters) will try to undertake you.

I used to have similar scares when overtaking vehicles on the Westway flyover. I'd look to my right and in my mirrors and not see anything, change lanes and then be surprised by a car or van right on my tail. They would sneak in between the mirror/shoulder checks (invisible in the shoulder check because they haven't come up that far yet, but then also invisible in my mirror check because they are coming up fast).

That rarely happens now, but only because I've gotten better at keeping full awareness of what's around me, double- and triple-checking myself to keep up-to-date. There's no magic formula, unfortunately. You'll either get better or get hurt.
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[Lupo]

You should avoid "tunnel vision", where you are mostly concentrating in what is ahead of you. Constant quick checks, mirrors/shoulders like Esullivan says, gives you a more complete picture of what is around you, and helps a lot on that kind of manoeuvring.
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A por ellos, que son pocos y cobardes.

[ws4936]

[gorillaonabik...]

[illuminateTHE...]

Some phaggots complaining about riding in london, just plan ahead.

Also use short cuts to beat red lights simples
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Theory: PASSED Module 1: PASSED Module 2: PASSED 12/2012!!!

yzf r125 [SOLD] sv650 [CURRENT]

[goto10]

[illuminateTHE...]

[SQL]

take numberplate off

[c_dug]

[barrkel]

My advice: plan further and go faster.

Going faster than the other traffic - not massively faster, but a bit faster - and you're far less likely to have something pop up beside you without you noticing it keeping up.

By planning further ahead, you get more time to do your observations. You should be anticipating possibly making those "last-minute" lane changes and checking your blind angle well in advance and without any rushing. This gets better with time.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[calyx]

Check your mirrors before cutting through the traffic into the middle of the road.
After overtaking the bus you should immediately cut back through to make sure no one got back in the bus lane before you did.
Are we talking about A41 Finchley Road by any chance?
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Boris - London

[itswoody]

Nah A1 Holloway Road. Not been so bad this last few days, have calmed down a bit! Thanks all for tips will put them to use in my mod 2 next week (not that I will be filtering lol).

[jonbee56]