curve cages and breaking

Message

smakawhat · #1 Unread post by **smakawhat** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:19 am

Wanted to hear some thoughts, been riding for awhile and have had issues with having to quickly stop on curves at high speed.

I am an MSF grad and I handled this in the course no problem. Thing is in the course you come to a full stop and are doing this at low speed. The issue I have which comes up all the time where I ride is that I'll be following at a good safe distance on a curve behind someone who usually slows down very quickly.

I was behind this van both of us doing 60 this morning, and suddenly he hit his brakes in a right curve and got down to about 30 real quick. So I stood my bike up to break quickly but in doing so I almost ended up heading to the opposite lane trying to stop, before I eased up, moved over more and then hit the breaks again.

Of course I am here and nothing happened but I am wondering if when riding in a curve I should spend more time in the inside of it so that if I have to stand the bike up and stop I wont have to worry about going straight into the other lane.

any thoughts.

thanks.

Candy750 · #2 Unread post by **Candy750** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:27 am

I'm still learning too. But, I don't follow real closely to other riders and/or cars. I need my space for just such an occasion. With more space, it would be about slowing down, not braking hard. If you have more room, and slow, you can maintain some of your turn (lean angle). When you brake hard, it will stand back up, run wide....

VermilionX · Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:44 am

i don't see a lot of fast cagers in the canyons.

the only cager i know that drives fast on them is my sis's BF. but it's been awhile since we last rode in a canyon and i've improved a lot since the last time.

anyway... i suggest you give more room if you end up following fast cager. they can afford to brake harder and drift since they have 4 wheels.

PS. yes, i know bikes can drift too.

SuperRookie · Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:05 am

Smaka, make sure you're looking as far as possible through the curve and not target fixating on the vehicle directly in front of you. You should be aware of the necessity to reduce speed before the vehicle in front of you even flashes its brake lights. Don't outride the conditions, the road or your ability to SEE.

Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:18 am

What road were you on? Most roads I've been on at 55mph or higher posted speed limit didn't curve agressively enough for me to worry about drifting into oncoming traffic even if I did have to stand the bike up alittle.

smakawhat · #6 Unread post by **smakawhat** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:19 am

SuperRookie wrote:Smaka, make sure you're looking as far as possible through the curve and not target fixating on the vehicle directly in front of you. You should be aware of the necessity to reduce speed before the vehicle in front of you even flashes its brake lights. Don't outride the conditions, the road or your ability to SEE.

sounds good.. that bike you are sitting on looks real... familiar...

smakawhat · #7 Unread post by **smakawhat** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:32 am

storysunfolding wrote:What road were you on? Most roads I've been on at 55mph or higher posted speed limit didn't curve agressively enough for me to worry about drifting into oncoming traffic even if I did have to stand the bike up alittle.

Twas a section of 66 before getting off in Rosslyn. By the way, watch out for the stripped pavement section over the bridge if you aren't aware of it.

Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:35 am

The part right before going through that long lit overpass?

smakawhat · #9 Unread post by **smakawhat** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:37 am

after

Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:41 am

I think Super rookie has this one pegged. That area gives you plenty of view down the road.

The best advice when riding is to anticipate bad things happening. I always go paranoid and think everyone is out to get me.

At the same time you should probably get some practice doing some stops through curves at higher speeds.