Riding in/out of car tracks

[Doomsnite]

I try and keep centre in the lane to stake my road position but some roads I find have grooves where cars have been. So the centre, aside from having gravel and whatnot sometimes, is a little bit of a hump. At the risk of not wanting to slip, I have then been riding in one of the tracks, either inside or outside. Is the hump in the middle prone more to slipping and risk of falling? This is a possible stupid question for both wet and dry conditions.
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Triumph Street Triple-R
Sold: Honda Hornet CB600F-Y / Yamaha YBR125

[Sload]

Erm, well I tend to use the tracked areas for corners anyway I swing to the middle for lefts and over to the lefts for right hand turns. You will tend to find those areas have a touch more grip too and less crap on some roads. Just my opinion obviously.
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Honda Varadero >> Triumph Speed Four >> Honda CBR1100xx

[kerr]

A lot of riders ride in the tracks, the middle tends to be where all the crap builds up.
Stay right of centre though, not left as this is just inviting cagers to try and muscle past you.
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aprilia 125 Af1 Futura >> Suzuki gsxr 600 srad >> J1 zx6r >> cbr 600rr >> Speed Triple

[chickenstrip]

Right of centre of your lane should be the default position, but road positioning depends on the situation of any given moment, and in most cases will be constantly varying. You might wind up on the centre hump to avoid some other hazard, pothole, patch of diesel, vehicle drifting over in opposing lane etc. Once clear, then reposition at right of centre. You can't maintain that constantly though.

[Doomsnite]

Thanks. I guess i was defaulting to left of centre, dont know why though. If there was no debris in the centre hump, is the actual hump hazardous.
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Triumph Street Triple-R
Sold: Honda Hornet CB600F-Y / Yamaha YBR125

[-Matt-]

[Rogerborg]

[Doomsnite]

[Ribenapigeon]

Simple rule of thumb. Normal riding: right hand track. At a junction turning left: move (after lifesaver) to the right hand track. Keep out of areas not frequently used as that's where crap builds up and your wheel can slip on these areas especially when turning. When taking bends it changes, on a right hander you move to the left, this is so you don't lean your head into the path of oncoming trafficn which could be uncomfortably lethal

There are two good reasons not to ride in the left hand track. Firstly cars will push past you and oncoming trafific will also (if passing parked vehicles) take the gap as an invitation to move into your side of the road. Secondly, riding on the left you could rear end a cyclist or hit a pedestrian. Pedestrians looking to cross the road often don't see you. They're thinking CAR not bike/bicycle/kangeroo. I'm suprised they didn't tell you this on your CBT.

[Doomsnite]

To be honest, he just showed me road position when approaching junctions and roundabouts. Moving to left and right after lifesafer depending on which way I'm turning. Thanks for the info
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Triumph Street Triple-R
Sold: Honda Hornet CB600F-Y / Yamaha YBR125

[map]

On the same principle of wet weather F1 racing the tyres (or tires if you're not in the UK) will create a dry line by dispersing the water. This is good. So ride in the lanes created.

However, don't just ride in one, you should use all of the lane. That means moving to the right on a left hand bend and vice versa for a right bend. This gives you a better view of the road ahead.

It's also useful to move position if following a truck. Remember you have to see its mirrors for the driver to stand any chance of seeing you.

Only time I'd be wary of riding in the tyre tracks is if it's bad frost or icy/snowy. The car wheels will compress/compact the frozen stuff and make even more hazardous.
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Easter Bunny]

If you ride in the outside tyre markings of minor roads especially when the road has dirt or farm debris in the area between the tyre markings always be aware a very wide vehicle could appear round the bend giving you very little chance to move over and potentially have to ride over debris to do so, some of the trye "tracks" wander over close to the centre of the road on the bends

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The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train!

[Rogerborg]

[map]

[Easter Bunny]