Hey Nat. From the viewpoint of someone with only 40 years of riding, your riding is pretty much fine. You have a tendency to roll over manhole covers, but hey, London commute, you can't avoid the kentish things. Position 3 for near side / slow lane, position 1 for far side / fast lane, and usually position 3 for middle lane. There's potentially an argument for position 2 on middle lane when traffic is flowing, but that leaves you no "out" if it all goes shit shaped. My advanced riding trainer taught basically that, but it was in 1991. If you want to get better, do advanced training. Del might tell you it can FRO, but he can FRO, the FSC. Also, your filtering is a bit slow. 80mph for the win, if you accelerate, your bars go over the top of the mirrors, and if you slam on, they go under. And that, ladies and gentlepods, is how I got 5 points from the very nice plod-on-a-bike who tried to catch me from where he first saw me at Hangar lane to the Target Roundabout where I eventually noticed the blue flashing light..
Hi Nat. Good video as always mate. Tbh I think you need to ride in whatever position your comfortable in. I agree with yourself though that you are more visibly seen in the positions you have mentioned and that is the method I try to follow. Safe riding. 😊
forget all this position 1,2.&3 IAM's malarky.. the best position is the one where you can get a good view of the road ahead, be seen by other road users avoid potholes, drain/manhole covers, and white lines (when wet) and gives you an escape route if it all goes pearshaped center position has least grip, debris and is mostly oily
On single carriageways I generally ride towards the middle of the road so that if a driver overtakes me they have to put themselves on the other side of the road into oncoming traffic. If you ride in position 1 they will just push past and shove you into the gutter. On duel carriageways or motorways it depends on the lane and traffic you were doing fine you need an escape route and to be seen . I would recommend the police’s road safe course it isn’t preachy and is well worth doing.
Agree with you about positions. Visibility: to see and be seen. Flexibility in positioning to maximise the above is desirable with both the unfolding traffic dynamic and road adhesion(wet manholes paint etc). An escape route for a 'what if' scenario is inherent in survivalist behaviour.
It's a big subject and we teach our students to use their position to their advantage. All three positions have advantages and disadvantages. New riders are taught to use the "command" position as most are used to riding a bicycle and will forever hug the curb.
Nearly 40 years riding and instructed for a few years, you're fine mate. I don't normally recommend books but the police riders handbook (Roadcraft) has some very good advice in it.
Did my test in 1977 on a 250 after a year on a 50cc . Turned up on a housing estate, around the block and emergency stop all with the tester on the pavement. I must admit those that have done the modern courses are better for it. Still riding at 64 and learning ever day.
Passed my test in 1993 on a Jawa 350cc combo (velorex side car) after a few years of having not passed on a solo 125 and having had to come off the road on my 125 and ride a moped for a year 😕 so my solo riding training is zero ...went straight to a Reliant Rialto (not my choice) hubby at the time didn't like bikes so for nearly 30 years I didn't ride a bike just cars vans etc ....I got divorced after 20 years with him ...met a great guy who encouraged me to get a bike even though he's not into bikes ....had cancer twice major surgery 😢then when I got better I thought sod it I want a bike again ....started off on a 125 just to get back into it ....then a 250 super dream 😊then a jinlun 250 then a GS500 still got ...a Suzuki bandit 600 too heavy and tall nice 4 cylinder sound though ❤ then a Yamaha tw 125 still got ...and my latest mad purchase a Himalayan 411 ❤ I agree with you about visibility...I very nearly got squashed being in position 3 by a van ...he started to reverse back at a junction it was only the pedestrian to my left banging on his passenger door that alerted him to my existence ihad no escape route ....I make sure I have lots now 😊
I all ways ride in what ever position I feel I’m most visible but I also look for an escape route for if or when things happen. I have. A mental thought running constantly of where could I go if shit happens
I rarely ride in position 2 unless the road is completely empty and i know that it's not going to be a sea of shrapnel and old oil leaks. Pretty much all of my riding is done in London where every other vehicle is a van or a truck so sitting in the middle like that is pointless, plus the truck drivers would probably prefer you sit where they can see you anyway!
I agree with your positioning and that's how I ride. Maybe the camera makes the gaps you ride through look small and maybe you are time pressured to "get on with it", that is outside of my recent experience. Too many cars driven by people who are themselves powered by cocaine and other stuff. Too many drivers looking at their phones and not looking out for me. In traffic, some sixth sense that pings my brain and says " you need to get ahead, of ** or drop back from , or go left or go right. Armchair critics meh! Riders who don't have to commute in the London or in other city traffic Meh They can have no valid opinion. Any ride we can walk away from, was a good one.
This whole 3 lane position thing is pure nonsense. If I don't ride in position 2 I don't blink out of existence to any car drivers. I mean the lanes aren't that big and someone in a care is unlikely to know why your doing it anyway. Like you, I ride in a position that allows me the best vision although I'm always asserting dominance as is my right! That being said if I every give advice on riding I'm doing it for my own amusement and not for anyone's education.
Hey Nat. From the viewpoint of someone with only 40 years of riding, your riding is pretty much fine. You have a tendency to roll over manhole covers, but hey, London commute, you can't avoid the kentish things.
Position 3 for near side / slow lane, position 1 for far side / fast lane, and usually position 3 for middle lane. There's potentially an argument for position 2 on middle lane when traffic is flowing, but that leaves you no "out" if it all goes shit shaped. My advanced riding trainer taught basically that, but it was in 1991.
If you want to get better, do advanced training. Del might tell you it can FRO, but he can FRO, the FSC.
Also, your filtering is a bit slow. 80mph for the win, if you accelerate, your bars go over the top of the mirrors, and if you slam on, they go under. And that, ladies and gentlepods, is how I got 5 points from the very nice plod-on-a-bike who tried to catch me from where he first saw me at Hangar lane to the Target Roundabout where I eventually noticed the blue flashing light..
Hi Nat. Good video as always mate. Tbh I think you need to ride in whatever position your comfortable in. I agree with yourself though that you are more visibly seen in the positions you have mentioned and that is the method I try to follow. Safe riding. 😊
forget all this position 1,2.&3 IAM's malarky.. the best position is the one where you can get a good view of the road ahead, be seen by other road users avoid potholes, drain/manhole covers, and white lines (when wet) and gives you an escape route if it all goes pearshaped center position has least grip, debris and is mostly oily
Is that not what he said and what he does?
@@brockett yes it was, and the comment was intended to be in agreement to Nat 😄😄
Hurray!
Gday Nat, all in good spirits.
Remember what DGG says about riding into & away of the setting sun...😉
On single carriageways I generally ride towards the middle of the road so that if a driver overtakes me they have to put themselves on the other side of the road into oncoming traffic. If you ride in position 1 they will just push past and shove you into the gutter. On duel carriageways or motorways it depends on the lane and traffic you were doing fine you need an escape route and to be seen . I would recommend the police’s road safe course it isn’t preachy and is well worth doing.
Agree with you about positions. Visibility: to see and be seen. Flexibility in positioning to maximise the above is desirable with both the unfolding traffic dynamic and road adhesion(wet manholes paint etc). An escape route for a 'what if' scenario is inherent in survivalist behaviour.
It's a big subject and we teach our students to use their position to their advantage. All three positions have advantages and disadvantages. New riders are taught to use the "command" position as most are used to riding a bicycle and will forever hug the curb.
Nearly 40 years riding and instructed for a few years, you're fine mate.
I don't normally recommend books but the police riders handbook (Roadcraft) has some very good advice in it.
Did my test in 1977 on a 250 after a year on a 50cc . Turned up on a housing estate, around the block and emergency stop all with the tester on the pavement. I must admit those that have done the modern courses are better for it. Still riding at 64 and learning ever day.
Passed my test in 1993 on a Jawa 350cc combo (velorex side car) after a few years of having not passed on a solo 125 and having had to come off the road on my 125 and ride a moped for a year 😕 so my solo riding training is zero ...went straight to a Reliant Rialto (not my choice) hubby at the time didn't like bikes so for nearly 30 years I didn't ride a bike just cars vans etc ....I got divorced after 20 years with him ...met a great guy who encouraged me to get a bike even though he's not into bikes ....had cancer twice major surgery 😢then when I got better I thought sod it I want a bike again ....started off on a 125 just to get back into it ....then a 250 super dream 😊then a jinlun 250 then a GS500 still got ...a Suzuki bandit 600 too heavy and tall nice 4 cylinder sound though ❤ then a Yamaha tw 125 still got ...and my latest mad purchase a Himalayan 411 ❤ I agree with you about visibility...I very nearly got squashed being in position 3 by a van ...he started to reverse back at a junction it was only the pedestrian to my left banging on his passenger door that alerted him to my existence ihad no escape route ....I make sure I have lots now 😊
Whatever is needed to give space in my opinion.
I all ways ride in what ever position I feel I’m most visible but I also look for an escape route for if or when things happen. I have. A mental thought running constantly of where could I go if shit happens
I also drive a van as well so I know what is visible to a van driver and make sure when I’m on the bike I’m in those positions
I rarely ride in position 2 unless the road is completely empty and i know that it's not going to be a sea of shrapnel and old oil leaks. Pretty much all of my riding is done in London where every other vehicle is a van or a truck so sitting in the middle like that is pointless, plus the truck drivers would probably prefer you sit where they can see you anyway!
If you’re being told to put your left foot down stop it!
Which foot. Now that's a whole other video!
Not in the states there's always the chance of leaking fluids and no escape route
🏍👍👍👍
What happened to the shiver 😅
@@5tevenH I gave up on it and sold it on mate
I agree with your positioning and that's how I ride. Maybe the camera makes the gaps you ride through look small and maybe you are time pressured to "get on with it", that is outside of my recent experience. Too many cars driven by people who are themselves powered by cocaine and other stuff. Too many drivers looking at their phones and not looking out for me. In traffic, some sixth sense that pings my brain and says " you need to get ahead, of ** or drop back from , or go left or go right. Armchair critics meh! Riders who don't have to commute in the London or in other city traffic Meh They can have no valid opinion. Any ride we can walk away from, was a good one.
Any ride that you skip way from was fun!
This whole 3 lane position thing is pure nonsense. If I don't ride in position 2 I don't blink out of existence to any car drivers. I mean the lanes aren't that big and someone in a care is unlikely to know why your doing it anyway.
Like you, I ride in a position that allows me the best vision although I'm always asserting dominance as is my right! That being said if I every give advice on riding I'm doing it for my own amusement and not for anyone's education.