Passing discussion

[OreoGaborio]

Some of the posts in the "All in the rider..." thread reminded me of this article... Thought you guys might apreciate the read.

http://www.ahrma.org/features/passing.htm

[azoomm]

GREAT article.

Particularly...

What I noticed about being passed by them was that I had to do absolutely nothing different than what I was already doing for a safe pass to happen. They came and went without bothering me in the slightest. I did not have to change lines or grab a handful of brake or even let off the throttle, because they had already calculated my speed and line and theirs, and knew it was going to work out. It had better; it was their responsibility to see to it.

Changing your line or throttle setting or braking in a turn while someone is in the process of passing you is asking for trouble.

Why? He is faster here than you or he would not be passing. That being true, he has the only view of both bikes as he approaches and he alone can make calculations about where you will be when he passes. If you alter that calculation after he has committed to the corner and the pass, then you caused the consequences that come after. Simple enough: Protect yourself during passes by keeping on doing what you were already doing as if the other rider was not even there.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by OreoGaborio

Some of the posts in the "All in the rider..." thread reminded me of this article... Thought you guys might apreciate the read.

http://www.ahrma.org/features/passing.htm

Very nice read. Thanks.

[the chi]

Outstanding read!! Good find Oreo!

[smileyman]

Very good article! And I agree with it totally. After cutting my teeth endurance racing on a variety of equipment, (read crap), I got used to passing and being passed. You could always tell those who were not really good at calculating a pass as you would either end up going back by or watching them crash their brains out and trying not to look and target fixate!

And that gets us to the top step of our conversation doesn't it. Once you reach the point where your racing with peers and passing equal riders on equal machinery, or at least and equal combination of both, you get into another realm of motorcyle riding.

In this top step there is not only the ballet of man and machine, but also the high speed chess match to boot. Kinda like watching the master Vale Rossi, stalk, out ride, and out wit his opponnent.

Knowing when to carry the other rider deep into the corner, when to watch him run wide, how to set him up, not just for that corner or that pass, but for the win.

I recall racing an expert plated SV from Lousiana one day and matching him for speed I knew I was going to have a terrible time passing him. As laps ran out i could keep pace easily but how to get around?? I didn't want to do something "novice" and take us both out, so I outsmarted him. I positioned my bike on an outside line (to make sure I didn't lowside or push him wide) in a place where I couldn't have ever passed on the outside...This got his attention, broke his concentration, and made him overshoot the next left-right-left combination. Of course I had waited for the last lap for this desperate move and after breaking his drive, easily outpulled him to the line for the checkered flag.

It was all mental and maybe just a tad gearing, but I got the win and he was clueless and angry..."why would you try and pass me there?" "That was impossible!" "You coulda crashed your brains out on the outside!" Tha cajun never got it, that he just got bluffed into a mistake and taken for all the marbles

[jeeps84]

Originally Posted by The Chi

Outstanding read!! Good find Oreo!

To bad not everybody uses these techniques. Especially in the beginner/novice classes. You could give this article to all of them to read and most wouldn't. You could read it to them and most wouldn't hear. Seems to me that only seasoned riders use most these rules. The noobs just wanna go fast with lil regard to everyone else.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by jeeps84

To bad not everybody uses these techniques. Especially in the beginner/novice classes. You could give this article to all of them to read and most wouldn't. You could read it to them and most wouldn't hear. Seems to me that only seasoned riders use most these rules. The noobs just wanna go fast with lil regard to everyone else.

Yep!

[the chi]

Originally Posted by jeeps84

To bad not everybody uses these techniques. Especially in the beginner/novice classes. You could give this article to all of them to read and most wouldn't. You could read it to them and most wouldn't hear. Seems to me that only seasoned riders use most these rules. The noobs just wanna go fast with lil regard to everyone else.

So true, and they fail to learn whats important, the technique and style needed! Perfect that and speed will come!

I love watching the really good riders, and you can most definitely tell who puts articles like this to use!

[r!der]

Very cool read!