GEARED TO RIDE By Shane ‘Rossey’ Ross
Hey bike fans, didn’t this week go fast, and with the recent rains, prompted me to talk to you about ‘Riding Strategies’.
In addition to learning roadcraft skills and tactics to make you a better and safer rider, there are some strategies you can introduce to eliminate or reduce the risk of a crash. For example, riders with alcohol in their system have an increased risk of a crash; the obvious strategy to eliminate that risk is to not drink if you plan to ride.
Now, to that bad weather I was talking about… There are some factors that increase crash risk while riding in bad weather, some of those risk factors are reduced vision, less traction, additional load on the rider’s concentration, and let’s face it, if you as the rider can’t see, other motorists can’t see you either. Another major factor is rushing to get home before it rains. As rider, this can be very risky, increasing speed, taking unnecessary risks like weaving in and out of traffic, beating traffic lights etc. this causes the rider to have less time to react to potential hazards, and increases the risk of a crash. So, the obvious strategy to eliminate that risk is to not ride in the rain.
OK… lets say you did the right thing, and you checked the weather prior to going out on a lovely days ride, there was little evidence that you were going to be caught in a down pour, so you’ve decided to hit the road with an impending smile on your face, and on the way home, you see a doozy looming over Stanthorpe, and you just know you will be riding in it. There are some things you can do to reduce the risk, if you get caught in this very situation.
Firstly, and most importantly, reduce your speed, give yourself time to react to potential hazards. You should also increase your crash avoidance space from 3 seconds to 6 seconds, staying further back from the vehicle in front, giving you time to brake earlier and more gently in slippery conditions. Avoid painted road markings and train tracks like the plague, these become very slippery when wet. Have you ever run across a pedestrian crossing in your favourite going out pluggers and ended up skating across the road like Steven Bradbury?. Also, if you find yourself in a long ride while it is raining, take more breaks, as your concentration load is increased, so is your fatigue. And finally, wear bright colours, and carry wet weather gear. At least if you see that miserable storm being sent your way, at least you can stop, put your wets on and know that you have a comfortable and dry ride home without rushing.
Thanks everyone for reading, and please stay safe out there on the wet roads. I’m Rossey, and as I say each time, Stay Shiny Side Up, and Ride your own Ride, and I’m going to get you ‘Geared to Ride’.
