How do you handle twisty roads?

[blues2cruise]

I believe as a new rider that one should ride in their comfort zone....comfort zone being different for everyone. In other words, your skill level, experience, confidence and type of road or bike all come into play.

I was accompanied home today along the Sunshine Coast Hwy by a 40 year veteran of riding. I have been licensed for 4 months.

On the straight stretches and the gentler curves I maintain the speed limit or a tad over, but when I get to the really tight curves, I blink the brake light to alert anyone behind me that I am slowing down, I gear down BEFORE the curve so that I enter the curve at a slower pace and as I reach the apex of the curve I accelerate so that I power out of the curve.

(oh, and for you speedy types....if I am holding up traffic, I find a safe place to pull in and let everyone go by. The last thing I need is an irate car driver behind me on that highway. )

When my acquaintance and I got to the ferry, he started to tell me how to ride. For example, he tried to tell me I should not be using my brakes. In my classes I learned to use the brake lights for communication to alert those behind me I am slowing down. (I'm thinking maybe he should have a refresher course on road safety.)

Anyway, the real issue here is his insistence that I go too slow in the curves. He said I should be powering up for the curves and take them faster. Even though I explained that I power out of the curve, he said I should go faster all the way through.
I told him, if I was to go faster, that would make the bike lean too much and I am still "gaining experience".

He says it would be easier to go around the curves faster because the bike is meant to lean. Yes, well, there is leaning and then there is leaning

I say I need to gain more skill and confidence before I start riding like a racer, because those extreme lean angles scare me. I don't have enough experience yet (nor the desire) to be taking those really tight turns at high speeds.
I told him, you ride your own ride, I will ride mine.

Anyway, I would be interested to know how others approach riding curves.

[allawybiker]

Keep doing what you're doing, you are correct. Gain experience and enjoy it while you're at it, why rush things and regret later!?

[BuzZz]

That's just wrong. An experianced rider should always change thier speed/habits to suit the newer rider. Attempting to force someone to ride out of thier comfort zone or above thier head(especially a newer rider) is dumb and asking for trouble. If he is really a good rider, he should be able to ride at any pace you set easily.

[Psycluded]

Agreed, that guy might not be the best riding partner you could have. Riding above your skill level is the numero uno quickest way to the hospital or morgue.

[Sev]

I think the new rider should be pushed a little bit. Like do the road once and let the new guy choose the speed the first time through. After that speed up a little bit and try it again. But it has to be the new rider who is pushing himself. The ONLY way to truely gain confidence in your ride is to push yourself a little further each time you take the same corner. But if it's some third party telling you that you have to go faster tell them to bugger off. You don't HAVE to do anything.

Playing keep up with a more skilled rider is just a good way to get yourself hurt.

[honda599]

Hi Donna

Experienced riders should always adapt when riding with new riders. I think they should lead the ride and set good examples for others. Even when riding in a large group with experience riders accidents can happen when some show off or ride beyond their abilities. Getting comfortable with twisty curves takes experience.

Randy

[stock28]

Ride your own ride..enough said.

[JustJames]

From my thought as a new rider, they both should be adjust their style.

New rider should at least inform the group of the lack of skill so the leader and put he/she is the right position with slower rider. New rider should learn how to couter steering before go out on twisty road and try to not using both brakes too much. New rider should accelerate through the turn, DO NOT slow down /using brake during the turn. New rider should at least listen to experience rider if they try to improve and teach you some of skills to ride safer on twisty road.

Experience rider should look after new rider in their group, slow down enough to make new rider feel comfortable (might not too slow to loose their enjoyment). Experience rider should place new rider in slower group or set up a buddy partner for new rider.

Your Comfort Zone might be too comfort for other riders. If you ride in a group, you will have to compromize as well. If the group you join ride too fast than you comfort then you'd better off with new group with the same style of riding.

[blues2cruise]

Thanks everyone for your input. Being "challenged" a bit is ok, but not pushed.
That's when mistakes can happen.

I was riding today with honda599 and dr_bar. They are both very experienced riders. They both know I am new, so honda599, being our tour guide for the day, kept the pace at a reasonable level.
We went through some areas of Mission and Maple Ridge I have never seen.
The pace honda599 set for the twisty roads was probably a lot slower than he would go if he were alone, but, they were a little faster than I would go if I were alone, so I was being "challenged" but still in a comfortable way.
This is the way to gain skill and confidence as was suggested above. By not rushing into things, the skills can build incrementally on themselves.

Mission today.....Westwood tomorrow....

[mswarrior]

With a big grin