Jake
June 25th, 2003, 07:36 AM
Flatlander's Ride Guide for Twisties--by Tom Brown.
Panic is our enemy. Don't race. Don't show off. This is real life. You CAN get hurt bad. You can lose your bike, your license and, you know, other stuff. You can hurt others real bad too.
Panic is our enemy.. This is a public road with unknown hazards. Don't take corners at a race-track pace. Keep some cornering and braking ability in reserve for surprise situations. Radar, gravel, road kill, hidden driveways...
Panic is our enemy.. When turns start to get "blind", spread out and don't stagger. Use the whole lane.
Panic is our enemy. .Enter corners on the outside of the lane (where you can see and be seen early and make adjustments in time). Stay outside until you know where the corner ends unless there's good reason not to...bad camber, tar strips, oncoming car etc. Slow your pace if this happens.
Panic is our enemy. .Use a lower gear. This is not an economy run. Engine braking is the best way to adjust speed without upsetting the attitude of your bike in a turn. Enter unknown or blind turns at 1/2 to 3/4 of red- line.
Panic is our enemy.. If you loose the rider in front of you, just let her/him go. The ride leader will stop and gather the whole group before each turn-off. Just follow the route and you don't have to worry about losing the group. You're not expected to see them every second. We don't mind waiting for you.
Panic is our enemy.. If someone is holding you up pass carefully when there's room. Signal, flash lights and wait for the rider ahead to motion you by. Otherwise, back off and enjoy the day. Bear in mind the passee's experience level. No shame in caution. No glory in getting there first.
Panic is our enemy.. Leave plenty of distance. Don't fixate on the rider in front of you. Watch the road instead. If she's/he's a good rider, that's what she's/he's doing---watching the road! Try to take a different line from her/him so you can see around her/him better. Don't assume this rider is the "perfect rider." Don't assume you're "safe" following even the perfect rider's line blindly...everyone makes mistakes or encounters surprises and you want to avoid following the leader into a hazard.
[i]Panic is our enemy. Manage your adrenaline level. If you get "scared", slow down...There may be a good reason for it! It could be the setup on your bike is wrong for the road or load or maybe something's coming loose or it could be that oncoming cement mixer in your lane up ahead...listen to your instincts but don't let them take over. Never freeze...when you feel this starting to happen, slow down, let a couple of riders pass you if necessary. Breathe deeply a couple of times and regain your focus. You'll realize how "zoned out" you were. Survival reactions can cause muscles to freeze, eyes to fixate and put you in the ditch! You should be using your brain and not your "nerves."
Panic is our enemy. .Manage your hydration level. Drink water at every stop. When you're "in the wind" your fluids leave your body quickly. If you get even mildly dehydrated, your mental ability will suffer...and you'll be prone to panic and bad judgement. Too much sugar will cause low blood sugar fatigue (sugar coma) when your body pumps massive amounts of insulin into your blood. Ask a diabetic. This is especially prevalent 20 to 60 minutes after meals on the road. Eat light or at least be aware of this issue and deal with it when you feel it...again, be present and deal with your circumstances.
Leader: Explain everything to each rider before each ride so there is no question.
Panic is our enemy. Don't race. Don't show off. This is real life. You CAN get hurt bad. You can lose your bike, your license and, you know, other stuff. You can hurt others real bad too.
Panic is our enemy.. This is a public road with unknown hazards. Don't take corners at a race-track pace. Keep some cornering and braking ability in reserve for surprise situations. Radar, gravel, road kill, hidden driveways...
Panic is our enemy.. When turns start to get "blind", spread out and don't stagger. Use the whole lane.
Panic is our enemy. .Enter corners on the outside of the lane (where you can see and be seen early and make adjustments in time). Stay outside until you know where the corner ends unless there's good reason not to...bad camber, tar strips, oncoming car etc. Slow your pace if this happens.
Panic is our enemy. .Use a lower gear. This is not an economy run. Engine braking is the best way to adjust speed without upsetting the attitude of your bike in a turn. Enter unknown or blind turns at 1/2 to 3/4 of red- line.
Panic is our enemy.. If you loose the rider in front of you, just let her/him go. The ride leader will stop and gather the whole group before each turn-off. Just follow the route and you don't have to worry about losing the group. You're not expected to see them every second. We don't mind waiting for you.
Panic is our enemy.. If someone is holding you up pass carefully when there's room. Signal, flash lights and wait for the rider ahead to motion you by. Otherwise, back off and enjoy the day. Bear in mind the passee's experience level. No shame in caution. No glory in getting there first.
Panic is our enemy.. Leave plenty of distance. Don't fixate on the rider in front of you. Watch the road instead. If she's/he's a good rider, that's what she's/he's doing---watching the road! Try to take a different line from her/him so you can see around her/him better. Don't assume this rider is the "perfect rider." Don't assume you're "safe" following even the perfect rider's line blindly...everyone makes mistakes or encounters surprises and you want to avoid following the leader into a hazard.
[i]Panic is our enemy. Manage your adrenaline level. If you get "scared", slow down...There may be a good reason for it! It could be the setup on your bike is wrong for the road or load or maybe something's coming loose or it could be that oncoming cement mixer in your lane up ahead...listen to your instincts but don't let them take over. Never freeze...when you feel this starting to happen, slow down, let a couple of riders pass you if necessary. Breathe deeply a couple of times and regain your focus. You'll realize how "zoned out" you were. Survival reactions can cause muscles to freeze, eyes to fixate and put you in the ditch! You should be using your brain and not your "nerves."
Panic is our enemy. .Manage your hydration level. Drink water at every stop. When you're "in the wind" your fluids leave your body quickly. If you get even mildly dehydrated, your mental ability will suffer...and you'll be prone to panic and bad judgement. Too much sugar will cause low blood sugar fatigue (sugar coma) when your body pumps massive amounts of insulin into your blood. Ask a diabetic. This is especially prevalent 20 to 60 minutes after meals on the road. Eat light or at least be aware of this issue and deal with it when you feel it...again, be present and deal with your circumstances.
Leader: Explain everything to each rider before each ride so there is no question.