Triumphrat

saphena · 05-24-2008, 08:28 AM

Decided to go for a ride to scrub off my new rear tyre last night - A339, Alton to Basingstoke - and to practice my tutor's last instruction to keep my vision up and chase the vanishing point.

It is amazing how well that works, the whole length of the road at the speed limit, no panics, no needless slowing down, no comfort braking - felt marvellous.

Get more petrol and make the return trip, slower now because of "senior citizen tourists" and associated queue of "o'er I'm not brave enough to overtake so I'll sit right up close instead" cagers in the way. Decide to go down the A32 to West Meon Hut and ride the famous A272 to Petersfield.

Well by the time I got there, 7:30pm Friday evening in late spring, I wasn't the only bike wanting to ride. The first 1-2 miles is fairly straight and I was soon overtaken by about a dozen roary crotch-rockets who sped off and disappeared into the bends.

I adopted the same strategy as on the A339, at the speed limit, chasing the vanishing point. In no time flat I'd caught the racers and effortlessly stayed with them right through the bends until we came out at Petersfield.

Does it get any better?

StreetT675 · 05-24-2008, 01:07 PM

Saph,

I have to admit to being a comfort breaker going into bends, I've no idea why but I always just touch the front brake in preparation for a courner. I guess I like to be decelerating as I enter a courner and the accelerate from the apex. Old habbits die hard I guess.

I'll try chasing the vanishing point I tend to look for the apex and then the exit point.

Catenaccio · 05-24-2008, 01:26 PM

Ah, chasing the Vanishing Point - a concept ripped off from the movie of the same name. One of the weirdest and most liberating movies of my youth.

TriumphTengu · 05-24-2008, 02:09 PM

I find some of these concepts hard to grasp.
I guess I was built for comfort not for speed.

Though I do 'Ton Up' on occasion.

andymott · 05-24-2008, 02:56 PM

Good post - anything that makes people (re)evaluate their riding is a Good Thing(tm).
I tend to set up for a corner too late, finding I'm still braking when I start to turn in so the bike is unsettled and I'm late in the throttle. I also turn in too early (used to racing cars, not bikes) and then have to aim again for the apex. Maybe chasing the vanishing point will allow me to fix this...

Next ride I'll give it a go. Thanks for the incentive!

:

BigStripey · 05-24-2008, 05:43 PM

It may well be an ancient publication these days, but there is still is a lot to be gained by reading 'Roadcraft'. In many ways it is still as relevant toaday as it was 40 years ago.
In the UK, advanced police driving and motorcycle riding is still based on the principles of roadcraft.

Once you grasp the principle of the 'vanishing point' together with your positioning in the road, it will all slot together, and you will be surprised how smooth and fast you can be. Especially as all those around you are screaming through the gears and going no faster really.

Any further training is good training.............