Post by scrap on Mar 5, 2012 10:59:54 GMT 10
Which Wheel track?
For any experienced rider, the wheel track decision is an automatic and almost unconscious decision. For newbies, the issue is a bundle of inconsistencies.
A question that every single RE learner has asked me is “which is the correct wheel track” or the variation “which is the best wheel track to follow”.
Simple answer – there is no single correct track, it depends on circumstances. As a general rule, the right wheel track is the most commonly used but this is mitigated by whether the road is a single or multilane carriageway.
Single Carriageway
As noted, the right wheel track is preferred. It puts your bike in the driver’s right external mirror as well as the centre interior mirror. Most drivers check their right exterior mirror more often than the interior mirror and much more often than the left mirror – that’s just a fact of life. Most riders travel with their highlights on – the undulations on the road will bounce the light in and out of the driver’s mirrors, making their presence even more noticeable – a bit light the flashing lights pushbike riders use which are more noticeable than a stationary light.
Exceptions to this are when there’s heavy vehicle opposing traffic. Heavy vehicles have a varying wind effect and the amount of buffeting effect can’t always be anticipated. Small trucks can have a buffeting effect greater than expected. If unprepared, the buffeting can move the motorcycle around alarmingly, especially for a novice rider. In this scenario, move to the left hand wheel track to reduce buffeting and return top the right when heavy vehicle traffic eases.
Four lane Carriage way (2 either direction)
If in the left lane, maintain the right wheel track, but no too far right as this affords vehicles behind you to try and pass you / nudge you to your left. If there’s heavy vehicle traffic passing you in the right lane – ease to the left wheel track till the traffic eases to get out of the buffeting.
If in the right lane, I tend to ride in the left wheel track providing a larger escape area to my right if the inattentive motorist on my left decides to lane share with me – also provides an opportunity to kick any right side panel of the vehicle that can be reached, this should alert the driver of your existence before he moves too far into my lane reducing my escape paths. If the driver continues (which is rare after the thump of a boot into the vehicles panels) then I have the maximum amount of road allowable to accelerate and get away. This will only work if the rider has situational awareness. For a novice, its often better to use the right wheel track until you’re used to anticipating other driver’s reaction – and they will be different. Car versus car awareness is a lot different to car versus bike.
Six or greater lane Carriageway
If using the extreme right of left lanes, see above. If you’re like a large percentage of riders who like to the centre lane so there’s two options to split traffic, alternate between the two wheel track to pick the best split option. For those sedater riders who don’t split – either wheel track is suitable – but be aware of traffic moving into your lane from BOTH directions.
Passing
Number of lanes isn’t really relevant here. Generally with a passing manoeuvre, pass using the right wheel track to get out the slipstream created by the vehicle in front. The further across you can pass, the lower the slip stream drag as you pass the front of the vehicle – this is accepting the fact that you can use the slip stream to get speed up before pulling right to pass.
Country Roads
The wheel tracks on country roads can be more rutted than the centre line making for a bumpy ride. The oil line on country roads is generally barely perceptible – so it will provide a smoother rider with minimal risk. On a group ride, some ride leaders insists on a staggered formation so there is much of an option – but given the opportunity – the oil line is a good option in the country.
Wet weather
This is a whole new ballgame. A lot depends on the type of road surface and the amount of rain. Since riders have no idea just how much rain has fallen in a particular spot they’re passing – it difficult to judge whether the some of oil line has been washed into the wheel tracks, or whether it was a light drizzle which hasn’t impacted on the oil yet. The type of road surface has a bearing on any decision making as well.
On coarse blue metal roads, the blue metal will stand proud of any oil and is a safe place to ride if the road is sufficiently wet. The wheel tracks will be pooled with a water / oil mixture and a smoother bitumen surface which can be, but not necessarily, nasty. If in the wheel tracks, watch the cornering – keep the speed down a little and keep the bike more upright.
On smooth bitumen roads (hotmix), rain – any amount of rain with lift the oil off the bitumen and it will either pool in the oil line or wash into the wheel track. Personally I hate sitting in the either wheel tracks in wet weather if there are vehicle in front – the rear tyres send up a dirty spray of water, smearing the visor. Nor do I like the oil line – it can be unpredictable. The solution as I see it is to ride the shoulder of the road, between the wheel track and the oil line, on the left if there’s lots of passing traffic, or on the right if there’s minimal passing traffic
For any experienced rider, the wheel track decision is an automatic and almost unconscious decision. For newbies, the issue is a bundle of inconsistencies.
A question that every single RE learner has asked me is “which is the correct wheel track” or the variation “which is the best wheel track to follow”.
Simple answer – there is no single correct track, it depends on circumstances. As a general rule, the right wheel track is the most commonly used but this is mitigated by whether the road is a single or multilane carriageway.
Single Carriageway
As noted, the right wheel track is preferred. It puts your bike in the driver’s right external mirror as well as the centre interior mirror. Most drivers check their right exterior mirror more often than the interior mirror and much more often than the left mirror – that’s just a fact of life. Most riders travel with their highlights on – the undulations on the road will bounce the light in and out of the driver’s mirrors, making their presence even more noticeable – a bit light the flashing lights pushbike riders use which are more noticeable than a stationary light.
Exceptions to this are when there’s heavy vehicle opposing traffic. Heavy vehicles have a varying wind effect and the amount of buffeting effect can’t always be anticipated. Small trucks can have a buffeting effect greater than expected. If unprepared, the buffeting can move the motorcycle around alarmingly, especially for a novice rider. In this scenario, move to the left hand wheel track to reduce buffeting and return top the right when heavy vehicle traffic eases.
Four lane Carriage way (2 either direction)
If in the left lane, maintain the right wheel track, but no too far right as this affords vehicles behind you to try and pass you / nudge you to your left. If there’s heavy vehicle traffic passing you in the right lane – ease to the left wheel track till the traffic eases to get out of the buffeting.
If in the right lane, I tend to ride in the left wheel track providing a larger escape area to my right if the inattentive motorist on my left decides to lane share with me – also provides an opportunity to kick any right side panel of the vehicle that can be reached, this should alert the driver of your existence before he moves too far into my lane reducing my escape paths. If the driver continues (which is rare after the thump of a boot into the vehicles panels) then I have the maximum amount of road allowable to accelerate and get away. This will only work if the rider has situational awareness. For a novice, its often better to use the right wheel track until you’re used to anticipating other driver’s reaction – and they will be different. Car versus car awareness is a lot different to car versus bike.
Six or greater lane Carriageway
If using the extreme right of left lanes, see above. If you’re like a large percentage of riders who like to the centre lane so there’s two options to split traffic, alternate between the two wheel track to pick the best split option. For those sedater riders who don’t split – either wheel track is suitable – but be aware of traffic moving into your lane from BOTH directions.
Passing
Number of lanes isn’t really relevant here. Generally with a passing manoeuvre, pass using the right wheel track to get out the slipstream created by the vehicle in front. The further across you can pass, the lower the slip stream drag as you pass the front of the vehicle – this is accepting the fact that you can use the slip stream to get speed up before pulling right to pass.
Country Roads
The wheel tracks on country roads can be more rutted than the centre line making for a bumpy ride. The oil line on country roads is generally barely perceptible – so it will provide a smoother rider with minimal risk. On a group ride, some ride leaders insists on a staggered formation so there is much of an option – but given the opportunity – the oil line is a good option in the country.
Wet weather
This is a whole new ballgame. A lot depends on the type of road surface and the amount of rain. Since riders have no idea just how much rain has fallen in a particular spot they’re passing – it difficult to judge whether the some of oil line has been washed into the wheel tracks, or whether it was a light drizzle which hasn’t impacted on the oil yet. The type of road surface has a bearing on any decision making as well.
On coarse blue metal roads, the blue metal will stand proud of any oil and is a safe place to ride if the road is sufficiently wet. The wheel tracks will be pooled with a water / oil mixture and a smoother bitumen surface which can be, but not necessarily, nasty. If in the wheel tracks, watch the cornering – keep the speed down a little and keep the bike more upright.
On smooth bitumen roads (hotmix), rain – any amount of rain with lift the oil off the bitumen and it will either pool in the oil line or wash into the wheel track. Personally I hate sitting in the either wheel tracks in wet weather if there are vehicle in front – the rear tyres send up a dirty spray of water, smearing the visor. Nor do I like the oil line – it can be unpredictable. The solution as I see it is to ride the shoulder of the road, between the wheel track and the oil line, on the left if there’s lots of passing traffic, or on the right if there’s minimal passing traffic