Seriously lacking confidence in ANY traffic

[SavageHoutkop]

on the cycle lanes point, I've just discovered this gallery of 'cycling facilities of the month' - hilarious!

http://www.warringtoncyclecampaign.co.uk/

 

[BigonaBianchi]

I find that the more i ride in traffic the more assertive a cyclist i become..since moving here I have to ride on some seriously busy A roads a lot and I ride as if i am a car myself..am very confident out now in traffic.

 

[Joe24]

Is counter-steering "common sense"? I think most people if they had to manoeuvre sharply to the left would find it counter-intuitive to move the handlebar slightly to the right, and then to the left, if they wanted to execute a tight/fast left turn.

Counter steering is common sense.
I will do it without thinking about it, like turning down my road(tight fast courner) aswell as other courners, but I find that sometimes, you don't really need to do it.
But I do do it sometimes on tight courners that aren't so fast when I'm on my fixed, seems to get the bike to flick over better.

 

[Sam Kennedy]

corner

 

[Joe24]

corner

TWAT

 

[Sam Kennedy]

 

[Rollon]

The problem is in my limited experience anyway, is that things happen so fast, you are talking about split second manovers and being able to react so fast is virtually impossible. By the time it takes to react, wallop! its done.
Dave.

 

[Joe24]

The problem is in my limited experience anyway, is that things happen so fast, you are talking about split second manovers and being able to react so fast is virtually impossible. By the time it takes to react, wallop! its done.
Dave.

Then take it easier with things then.
Soon, the speed you thought felt fast feels like cruising speed.
Just take your time and relax Try to anticipate things and you will soon be fine

Although, even people that have been cycling for years get it wrong.
On Sunday, me and a mate were coming back from Derbyshire. He was in a slightly worse condition then me, but he was still fine and cycling safe.
Anyway, group of about 5/6 girls around 14/15 up ahead as we go through Newstead Abbey. We are catching them up fast-ish, I'm infront and see the girls slow down, see a group of other girls they must know. I slow down and I'm over on the right. Girls slow to a stop, but there's still space on the right to go past. Girl on the left goes left then for some reason moves over to the right and stops.
Luckily, I had seen and slowed right down, so when she stopped, i just trackstanded then went on the bit of a gap on the right of her.
My mate had to brake hard and stop.

So I wouldn't worry about things happening too fast if I were you, just relax

 

[Origamist]

Counter steering is common sense.
I will do it without thinking about it, like turning down my road(tight fast courner) aswell as other courners, but I find that sometimes, you don't really need to do it.
But I do do it sometimes on tight courners that aren't so fast when I'm on my fixed, seems to get the bike to flick over better.

I guess you ride quite a lot, Joe? Do you think people who are new to cycling would think it a common sense technique to lean/turn to the right in order to suddenly turn left?

 

[Joe24]

I guess you ride quite a lot, Joe? Do you think people who are new to cycling would think it a common sense technique to lean/turn to the right in order to suddenly turn left?

I do ride quite alot, however, i do think that it is done so naturally when needed that you wont realise.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

It hadn't even occurred to me that this might be needed until I read it posted here. Then I thought well, that makes sense - it's what you do in a car to (eg) swing into a tight parking spot...

 

[jimboalee]

'Counter steering' is an advanced technique for Motorcyclists.

Luckily, push bikes are not as heavy as Triumph T595s, and I've never used the technique on my SWorks.

 

[Arch]

It hadn't even occurred to me that this might be needed until I read it posted here. Then I thought well, that makes sense - it's what you do in a car to (eg) swing into a tight parking spot...

Yes, if you think of it. (and if you drive long vehicles, you have to do it just to get round some corners). But there are so many people out there with only basic handling skills in a car, let alone on a bike.... So as you say, it's not obvious, or instinctive, until someone tells you - then, it's common sense....

 

[Coco]

As Arch says its a learned skill and half an hour in a car park will show you its anything but common.

 

[Weegie]

Yes, if you think of it. (and if you drive long vehicles, you have to do it just to get round some corners). But there are so many people out there with only basic handling skills in a car, let alone on a bike.... So as you say, it's not obvious, or instinctive, until someone tells you - then, it's common sense....

Surely countersteering has nothing to do with the truck driver who has to swing wide round a corner?

Countersteering a bike uses momentum to throw your body into a lean in the opposite direction. When a truck/bus driver swings wide, it's got nowt to do with momentum - it's just a standard manouevre to get a big thing round a corner without kerbing it. I know lots of car drivers swing wide at road junctions as well, but exactly why is beyond me. It's actually dangerous.