Racing lines and overtaking
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Topic: Racing lines and overtaking
Posted By: Yowie
Subject: Racing lines and overtaking
Date Posted: 09 September 2011 at 1:19pm
This has been covered before, but I would like to post a reminder to all riders that:
additionally, can I please ask:
As far as I'm concerned, taking the longer path around a slow rider is no inconvenience. And nobody need to adjust their line for a faster rider when riding up a straight road - it seems obvious, but some can be a little too keen to dive into the brush out of my way these days. I hope this is helpful. It is writen for everyone's safety and enjoyment while racing. |
Replies:
Posted By: GeoffBird
Date Posted: 09 September 2011 at 1:37pm
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Having seen the issue from both sides, if I see a faster bike catching me in my mirrors, I take close to my normal line, but allow half a metre between me and the edge of the track. That way the faster bike has a way through whichever side they go, without taking to the grass. Apologies to the faster riders that I haven't seen in the past, including Howard at Redbridge  ! But when I raced a streamliner I always assumed that the slower rider hadn't seen me and tried to remember riders are blind on the side they don't have a mirror, as I'm sure Howard does too. As he says, the very worse thing is sudden swerves by the person you are trying to pass.------------- Right Time - Right Place - Wrong Speed |
Posted By: Andrew S
Date Posted: 09 September 2011 at 1:38pm
Well said, Howard. I would add that, except very rarely, the faster rider should always go round the outside on a bend and the slower rider is entitled to expect that's what will happen. If there appears to be a gap on the inside then assume the rider in front wants it that way and doesn't want it filling with someone trying to pass.
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Yowie wrote:Posted By: HeatherF
Date Posted: 09 September 2011 at 8:55pm
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From a slower rider.
The biggest problem I find is when being overtaken by a train. The front rider passes and leaves a bit a space and then moves in front, the second rider then tries to follow that line and cuts in closer and by the time the 3rd or 4th rider is passing they do have a tendency to cut in too fine and cut the slower rider up. I have taken to leaving more space between me and the edge so that I have somewhere to go when this happens.
I agree it is helpful to stick to a "pass on the outside" convention. At Fowlmead, having seen a group of "middling" riders coming (in my right mounted mirror) and sticking to my line, it was a bit disconcerting to have a very fast rider come up the inside where I didn't think there was any space!
Thanks for consideration
Heather
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Posted By: Yanto
Date Posted: 09 September 2011 at 9:30pm
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I have to hold my hand up to trying on the inside! Believe me it is a learning experience going from a sedate trike to a fully faired and fairly fast roller skate! I don't think it was me was it Heather, I don't remember any dodgy passing of you? Although I did get caught at fowlmead where a train of slower riders broke up in front of me coming into the bends before the long up hill straight, i was committed to the RHS after passing some of the train on the LH bend, but then i was stuck closing fast on the inside of train leader going into the RH bend, a quick blast on brakes slowed me down ok, but it easy to get caught out! In Hindsight i should have slowed and waited to pass everybody on the straight. |
Posted By: GeoffBird
Date Posted: 09 September 2011 at 9:45pm
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Yanto wrote: "Although I did get caught at fowlmead where a train of slower riders
broke up in front of me coming into the bends before the long up hill
straight..." Yes, that was the train I was in Ian - one of those unfortunate moments when you arrived during a critical tactical move in someone else's race and people are too busy to check their mirrors. I felt your pain at the time! Passing slow traffic does take practice. I was never particularly good at it. ------------- Right Time - Right Place - Wrong Speed |