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Serious Thumper
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Savage heart of darkness
Posts: 680
Cartersville, GA
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Ride like you're invisible, and learn to anticipate potential accidents BEFORE they become reality. Better to be late than not arrive at all, or in a different destination you had not planned for.
If you're a noob and riding doesn't feel right or comfortable, then consider finding another pastime or getting a small dirt bike to practice in the dirt. Dirt bike riding can teach you valuable handling skills that can be carried to the street, and it doesn't hurt as much to fall down. In fact, there are riders who feel that everyone should be a reasonably practiced dirt bike rider BEFORE riding on the street. Riding is somewhat a learned process, but like many other activities there are some folks who will never quite "get it", whereas others have an innate ability to understand the physics involved with traction, coordinated turns, etc. In many ways riding is much like flying, but in only two dimensions.
When riding a multilane hwy in traffic make sure the car beside you knows you're there. I've had cars change into my lane (with me already in it) when the driver was no more than a few feet from me! Look for the driver's quick head glance at the left rear view mirror then begin to think about options (horn, speed up, slow down, boot thru driver side window, etc).
When riding in the mountains in bushy or heavily treed areas on a multilane hwy (i.e., 2 up 2 down), ride as close to center of the road as possible. If something jumps out of the bushes (deer, bear, Sasquatch) you want to have as many options as possible.
During abrupt stops, watch the car behind you as much as your own safety margin in front. Never assume he can stop as quickly as you. I have had to ease up on the brake on occasion to accommodate the car following me, and a few times even get up alongside the car in front so I didn't become a car sandwich. Also in those situations pump the brake a few times blinking your stop light to get the following car's attention that you are stopping.
When realizing you've gone into a corner too hot, remember that traction comes from one bank account and one only! You can choose to use it in braking, or turning, or applying partial to both, but the total amount available all comes from the same source. In other words, once you begin applying brakes, there is less traction available for turning and vice versa. Note, however, you can generally lean and turn far sharper than most riders might think before losing traction.
Take an MSF course or two and listen to the wisdom.
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