Filtering problems

[Fire_Eyes]

Today was the first day I did some serious filtering. The roads were very full and the line of cars was huge. I think for the first time I did a very good job but I want to ask a question. When you filter do you look at the mirrors of the cars once your close to them. When I feel like I can piss I do. But sometimes I tend to look at the mirrors and then I get nervous.
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Kawasaki ZZR 400 | K5 GSX-R 600

[loply]

If youre nervous just trail your left foot along the ground so you can stop and balance instantly if need be.

If the gap is a bit tight I usually stop and put my left foot down, then slowly roll past the mirror and the continue on (usually dragging my left foot).

Just be careful obviouslly that your foot doesnt get caught under a wheel if a car moves off.
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[mrchips]

I generally only filter past one line of stationary or under 20mph traffic though in cases where I've been between two lanes I slow down if I'm not sure and if I think cars are a bit tight I will either just slip the clutch and move between them carefully and slowly or in the worst case scenario cut my losses.
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Northern Irish? www.nibikers.com

[Krs]

If i had £1 for every time i've knocked of hit a wing mirror off lol,

[.....]

Take it easy, build your confidence and be very aware. Make sure your concentration is 100%. Filtering can be fun

[sakean99]

I spent many years communting thro' the Mersey Tunnel (no overtaking in the tunnel, but the queues to pay were often long and up to 8 lanes merged ultimately into 2) For what it's worth here are the lessons I learned.
Dragging your feet means you are less in control - either the rear brake or gear change isn't available. You also have less balance as you can't transfer weight low down to the footpegs.
Practice slow riding with both feet on the pegs. You can do this best by staying in the queue until you have the confidence to filter/ overtake. Don't take your foot off the rest until after you stop, lift it back as you let the clutch out. Bikers dragging toes along the tarmac look like proper amateurs!
Watch the trials riders & rock hoppers balance when completely stationary, it can be done!
If the gap doesn't look big enough then it probably isn't. Bikes filtering don't piss off most drivers these days, unless you clip their precious metal! Filtering kerbside allows you to overhang the pavement so you only need 2/3rds the room, or overtake where opposing traffic streams are generally a fair distance apart and you can see what is coming.
Enjoy the benefits of biking without causing too much stress to other road users!
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Born again Bikers can do it again, & again, & again!

[loply]

To clarify my statement with regards to dragging a foot,

If im filtering down a line of traffic with regular tight spots I usually dont bother putting my left foot back on the peg.

I keep it floating and when I get near a tightspot I usually put it down, come almost to a stop and ease the bike forward with the clutch and my left foot, then continue.

If the tightspots are only a few meters apart Ill just keep my left foot floating for conveniencce. I wouldnt drag both feet though for obvious rear-brake reasons.
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[Scotsman37]

I don't take feet off the pegs unless I am stopping and in time you can easily judge how small gap you can safely get through, but when it's bucketing of rain I don't usually filtering due to a lot of car/lorry drivers don't think to much about looking at their blind side but rather looking to see what's ahead of them through the rain.

My advice is take it easy and let your confidence build up !

[hustler]

[BLOFLY 636]

don't worry mate if you want to PISS! then just do it don't worry about the people watching you in there side mirrors
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Those bloody footpegs......they ought to do away with em!