Riding highway

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ofblong · #1 Unread post by **ofblong** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 4:04 pm

Ok looks like I have perty much no choice when I go to pick up the bike I may be getting on tuesday in that I will have to ride about 10 miles of speed limit 70mph highway (just built at that). which of the 3 lanes (abc) should I ride in and I will most likely be in the most right lane since at 70 I will be going slower than most traffic other than semi's. I am nervous because this will be my first road ride on a bike. do you guys ride on the left/center/or right of a lane? I am assuming center but possibly left?

VermilionX · Sun Jul 23, 2006 4:39 pm

i ride the lane where there is less vehicles. i ride like snake though and lane split a lot.

anyway... i suggest to stay in the 2nd outer lane away from the middle. that way, peeps doesn't have a right to get pissed at you for being slow and at the same time, you're not in the direct path of mergers from on-ramps.

or just have it delivered if you don't think you can handle it.

ofblong · #3 Unread post by **ofblong** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:09 pm

hehe I think I can handle it just I have to remember to calm down and not get over excited lol. its about a 45 minute drive from my house and from a private seller so he wont deliver it anyways. I was thinking in the middle of the outer lane but I wasnt positive lol. I know from taking the state test everything has to do with being in the middle part of any lane as that is where your best chance of moving one direction or the other is to avoid an accident

. thanks for replying

.

Gadjet · #4 Unread post by **Gadjet** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:22 pm

problem with riding in the middle of the lane is that that is where all the oil, coolant, and other assorted slippery goo dropped by cages gets deposited. It's also where you are most likely to find dropped trash and other obstacles, as the 4 wheel traffic will sweep it into the center. Your best bet is to ride in the left wheel track of either the rightmost lane or the center lane. In the right lane, by riding in the left wheel track, you are most visible from cage traffic coming up from behind you and it makes it less likely that someone will try to share your lane.

Sev · #5 Unread post by **Sev** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 6:48 pm

A better idea would be to see if you can find a friend who also has a bike (or a local forum member). Ask him/her to ride with you to the bike, then ride back with you. You can either lead and have the other rider block for you, or follow and worry about a little less stuff and just follow.

As an added bonus two bikes are a LOT more visible then just one riding by themselves, which is important.

Ideally you'll be doing this during non-rush hour, middle of the day, or towards the end of the night.

And like Gadjet said - in the right and middle lanes stay in the left wheel track, in the left lane, stay in the right wheel track. This makes you the most visible. And tougher for cars to force their way into your lane.

Shorts · #6 Unread post by **Shorts** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 7:47 pm

I do the friend riding the bike home thing. From our bike shop it a 45 min drive of congested city, highway and farm roads. It was just more comfortable to ask a more experienced rider to bring the bike home. Of course, I'm buying them beers that night, but they love getting a chance to ride any bike it isn't even a favor.

ofblong · #7 Unread post by **ofblong** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:09 pm

well the only person I could ask is going up north so wont be around however I will have my wife with me but she will be following in the mini van which is scary in itself with the way she drives lol. thanks for the tips

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noodlenoggin · Mon Jul 24, 2006 1:50 am

Well shoot, if you have a "chase car" you should be golden -- nobody's going to be crowding up behind you. I say get on the freeway, ride in the middle lane -- left wheel-track.

When it comes down to it, the freeway is just another road -- wider, maybe, but your lane is the same width as any road. Let people go faster than you and don't worry about them...again, you'll have a minivan behind you to block.

Another thing I'd do is take 15-20 minutes and ride the bike around the neighborhood until you feel pretty familiar with it... THEN go hit the expressway.

Nibblet99 · #9 Unread post by **Nibblet99** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 2:56 am

noodlenoggin wrote:Another thing I'd do is take 15-20 minutes and ride the bike around the neighborhood until you feel pretty familiar with it... THEN go hit the expressway.

+1 on this... you may have a chase car, but if your lady is a slow driver people will want to go around her and maybe dive back into the lane (especially coming up to exits)

Spend 20-30 minutes, practicing using your mirrors to know whats around you at all times, and also to quickly do shoulder checks incase you will need to do a hasty lane change... Gotta make sure where you're going is safe too

Make sure you're extra wary around exits and entrances to the freeway. A lot of people don't plan for things and make hasty changes, without looking properly (although I'm sure you're already aware of this)

#10 Unread post by **bok** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 3:04 am

how many off/on ramps are there on this drive? the right lane (considered the slow lane in most places) would be fairly safe as long as there wasn't a bunch of merging happening around you. if there is a bunch of merging, i would say the middle lane.

be careful with the trailing vehicle if you aren't keeping up with the rest of traffic, because some clown in a cage might try to zip past the minivan and cut in front of them, not realizing you were ahead of them (this is part of why left lane position is really good too). and make sure you have a hand signal worked out with her to let her know if she starts crowding you.

try and see if you can pick the bike up after 7 at night to reduce congestion on the roads. as was suggested, get familiar with the bike in 25-35mph zones first. if you have to pick it up at 5 or 6, maybe get some practice in, then take the wife for dinner til the traffic thins out.

other than all that, have fun on that fresh highway