Are you gaining experience, or just logging miles?

[DataDan]

Rolling up miles on the odometer is easy enough, but turning those miles into experience that will make you a better rider takes the right attitude and conscientious effort.


Cut off when a car merges into his lane from the right, a rider avoids a crash by swerving left. Afterward, he brags about slapping the driver's mirror as he passed, but he doesn't seem to understand the trajectories and events that led to the close call. What do you suppose will happen next week when he finds himself in the same situation? Most likely, the same thing. Unless, of course, unlucky spacing and timing make a crash unavoidable. This rider may be accumulating miles, but he didn't gain any experience from the incident.

Though this is a hypothetical example drawn from many forum posts over the years, it's easy enough to imagine different situations and events that could have led to the close call:

• The car was merging into traffic from an on-ramp.
  
  
• The driver was surprised when traffic ahead slowed suddenly, and he swerved left.
  
  
• The driver figured out that he was in an exit-only lane he didn't want to be in.
  
  
• The driver was in a hurry to get to the HOV lane.
  
  
• The driver had been lane shopping, looking for the elusive "fast" lane.
  
  
• The rider was stuck in the car's blind spot.
  
  
• The rider was traveling much faster than the car, making it difficult for the driver to have seen him before changing lanes.
  
  
• The rider had simultaneously changed lanes from the left.

Any of these common traffic situations can lead to being cut off. But a rider who recognizes the developing event from past experience can avoid even the close call by adjusting speed or position so he's not there when the driver changes lanes.

To get full value from the experience of a close call or unpleasant surprise, you must accept full responsibility for your own safety, regardless of legal fault. That attitude will enable you to see your own errors, others' errors, and the random stuff that puts you at risk, without an emotional reaction that prevents analytical thinking. And after you've identified the error, that same attitude will help you plan tactics to avoid a similar encounter, so next time you'll see it developing and have a plan for getting away from it safely.


Can you think of a close call that you reacted to by getting pissed off, preventing the kind of analysis which, in retrospect, offered a good lesson?

How about a close call that you reacted to in a productive way, enabling you to see beyond your errors or those of another driver and to come away with a good lesson?

 

[Misti]

Rolling up miles on the odometer is easy enough, but turning those miles into experience that will make you a better rider takes the right attitude and conscientious effort.


Cut off when a car merges into his lane from the right, a rider avoids a crash by swerving left. Afterward, he brags about slapping the driver's mirror as he passed, but he doesn't seem to understand the trajectories and events that led to the close call. What do you suppose will happen next week when he finds himself in the same situation? Most likely, the same thing. Unless, of course, unlucky spacing and timing make a crash unavoidable. This rider may be accumulating miles, but he didn't gain any experience from the incident.

Though this is a hypothetical example drawn from many forum posts over the years, it's easy enough to envision events that preceded the close call:

• The car was merging into traffic from an on-ramp.
  
  
• Traffic ahead slowed suddenly.
  
  
• The driver figured out that he was in an exit-only lane he didn't want to be in.
  
  
• He was trying to get over to the HOV lane.
  
  
• He had been lane shopping, looking for the elusive "fast" lane.
  
  
• The rider was stuck in the car's blind spot.
  
  
• The rider was traveling much faster than the car, making it difficult for the driver to have seen him before changing lanes.
  
  
• The rider had simultaneously changed lanes from the left.

Any of these common traffic situations can lead to being cut off. But a rider who recognizes the developing event from past experience can avoid even the close call by adjusting speed or position so he's not there when the driver changes lanes.

To get full value from the experience of a close call or unpleasant surprise, you must accept full responsibility for your own safety, regardless of legal fault. That attitude will enable you to see your own errors, others' errors, and the random stuff that puts you at risk, without an emotional reaction that prevents analytical thinking. And after you've identified the error, that same attitude will help you plan tactics to avoid a similar encounter, so next time you'll see it developing and have a plan for getting away from it safely.


Can you think of a close call that you reacted to by getting pissed off, preventing the kind of analysis which, in retrospect, offered a good lesson?

How about a close call that you reacted to in a productive way, enabling you to see beyond your errors or those of another driver and to come away with a good lesson?

Excellent question DataDan, wish I had thought of it :teeth

I used to get pissed off when a car would change lanes in front of me. It seemed to happen ALL THE TIME when I first started riding and it wasn't until I complained to a friend about it that he said, "It's your own fault, Misti...you should be able to SEE It coming and you should always leave yourself a way out."

I resented his comments at first until I started to view ALL cars as having the potential to cut me off, and I started to anticipate it. Soon enough I was seeing the car getting ready to move into my lane before it actually did so I was able to either speed up, or slow down to let it in. Since then, I don't really get CUT OFF because I always see it coming. It took, as you said, some analysis on my part, practice, and a shift in attitude to change my riding for the better.

On another note, I highsided due to losing the rear several times in races without ever knowing what went wrong, what a high side really was, or how to prevent them. It wasn't until I took the Superbike School and rode the Slide Bike that I really understood what was causing the high sides and how they could be prevented, or dealt with. I will never forget the feeling of chasing a fast student at Laguna Seca, losing the rear on turn 5 due to cold tires, and SAVING myself from a highside because I knew what to do. It was the coolest feeling.

I often have students that have crashed many times over, yet don't seem to understand why. They don't seem to want to take the time to figure out what went wrong, what skills they need to prevent the situation from happening again, and put the effort into improving their riding skills so they can deal with those situations.

I hope this post gets people thinking of ways they can better their riding skills. :thumbup

Misti

 

[Blacknblue]

Yes. Riding alongside a semi-truck and passing at a leisurely pace, the driver moved into my lane and forced me into the median strip. I was watching the front tires so it didn't take me completely by surprise but now I don't linger beside any vehicle I'm passing but make an effort to get to the next space buffer zone quickly.

Just a thought about getting angry: If I'm really honest, I would have to admit that the one person on the road who pisses me off the most, by far, would be myself-- for making stupid mistakes in the first place.:mad

 

[Underdog]

Whats the point of getting pissed. It has no value and can only turn things worst.
When some idiot crosses me, I try to evaluate the situation... very very rarely does this happen without me anticipating it, but when it does I run a quick check. If I can point to the culprit I make a mental note. If not, I brush it off.

Cagers don't care about you. To most, you're just a potential hood ornament.

 

[Underdog]

Also...

• The driver is on his/her cellphone, iphone, smartphone, whatphone, ipod, GPS, morning coffee, lipstick/makeup/mascara, or is engaged in a fiery argument with a passenger, shouting at the kids in the rear, forgot that he/she is pulling a trailer, or just had a bad day/night/personal relations...

 

[DataAngel]

Good one DataDan! I haven't been cut off yet but thats in part due to how I ride, especially on the freeway. I only "hover" next to a car when the drivers in view from my left or right and during traffic, any other time I am always hugging the part of the lane that keeps me in view of the left/right mirror and center mirror. If I am passing I speed up so that I am in front of the other vehicle relative to my lane so that if they change lanes they will not hit me.

It isn't always easy to tell when a car will change lanes, but it is easy to make an assumption: Near an onramp/offramp or any lane merges, such as tunnels, bridges, hwy merges, or if the flow of traffic is showing that up ahead people tend to be merging to one lane or another for any numerous reasons.

The only time I recently was almost hit by a vehicle was 3-4 months ago. I left a stop light quick so I could make a left hand lane change followed by an immediate left turn on one way. Just before I made my lane change I heard screeching tires and looked back and to my left to see a F-150 3 feet off my ass losing traction. I was on my way to changing lanes but thankfully hadn't moved into the left lane yet. I don't recall if I used my blinker, but I used my mirror and checked my blind spot before I made my move. My analysis is that the truck had made a left turn from a side street and upon entering moving traffic gunned it. I did pull into a parking lot and me and the driver exchanged profuse apologies. Lesson learnt: make sure i am always using my blinker as it gives a signal to others of my intentions, not to brake hard in traffic before making lane changes or turns because that probably means i am going to fast, and its always my fault regardless because no matter what, im the one who will end up paying for it, either by hospital or death.

 

[Marcoose]

Can you think of a close call that you reacted to by getting pissed off, preventing the kind of analysis which, in retrospect, offered a good lesson?

At myself? Too many to count. At others? So few I can't remember the last time.

Good thread, Dan. :thumbup

I had a German Shepherd, Max, who was one those perfectly trained dogs. It had 99% to do with Max, and 1% with me, but the secret was that every moment with Max was training, even playing, resting or eating, and there, Max was a joy to be with.

Taking cues from Max's good behavior, all my rides are for gaining experience, from leaving the car park, crossing those drawbridges grid-like surfaces, looking for zombies, practicing emergency braking, etc. The fun for me comes from enjoying the miles between experiences.

I take it serious and personal when something catches me by surprise, and immediately log it in my lessons learned mental notebook. A good rider, which I'm not, always leaves an exit open.

Back to be pissed off at others, if I may advise, never, ever get into a disagreement while on the bike. You're bringing fists to a gun fight.

Marc.

 

[Angel-be-Good]

I had a handful of legitimate "close calls" in the first five months of riding, but in the past ten months none. I hope that means I'm learning.

 

[Pinky]

oooh, good thread idea! Since 1985, I've had a few close calls, moments of stupidity and even "she should be dead" crashes. Biggest lesson, that I pass on to noobs all the time is that people will turn left in front of you, so be able to stop and make yourself extra visible. In LA I even put my hand out in a STOP motion as I approach someone poised for a leftie.

Big lesson I relearned in March, that I shoulda learned permanently in 2000- never ride in the center of the lane, and don't follow too close. That way it's easier to slide around the car that suddenly stops in front of you. I actually did this right/got lucky when some fool decided to abort his RV pass mid-RV. Because I had room to move and he didn't stop so much as slow waaay down, I was able to lanesplit between the fool and the RV.

don't flip people off in LA, they will try to kill you. for reals. nothing scarier than some psycho kid in mom's Escalade chasing you down streets you can't lose him on at double the speed limit.

bigger bike + big, bright headlight= waaaay more respect than I got on my vintage scooters.

learn a thing or two about cornering, even if you think you never want to race. My lack of awareness of centrifugal force combined with watching a 500GP videotape at a rather impressionable age STILL haunts me, keeping me from letting my bike lean as much as it is capable, even when it's safe to. Even having once used "The Lean Machine." I think I need a few DAYS on that thing (or a few hours on the back of Randy Mamola's D16!!!) to conquer that demon.

find that hump on hwy 58 that makes you catch air at speeds greater than 120mph, mark it with a warning so you can discern it from the 50 other identical but less peakey humps. That's more a "note to self" but I'm not so interested in finding it the way I found it the first time. Even though I had been forewarned, that stretch of 58 can get pretty dull below 120.

I survived many an angry night ride during a very dark time in my life, so I can't tell people not to do that. But I did not "survive" a few hours of severe discomfort. Being so desperate to reach my hotel, cold and wet, I rode stupid and was lucky I crashed having to stop too quickly on a city street rather than from the insanity I'd unleashed on the freeway.

Lesson learned: Never rent a motorcycle in a foreign country without being sure you can get it trailered back to the rental shop (from wherever you roam) at a reasonable price, AND make sure the insurance (or your CC) covers damages, AND most of all, either make sure it can't possibly rain on your trip (unless you're some kind of sicko who likes riding in the rain) OR make sure you like their cancellation policy, OR reserve the bike the day before you need it.

 

[tzrider]

Dan, great thread!

I've found that the more comfortable I am with operating a motorcycle the more attention I can devote to what is going on around me. When I was a new rider, I had close calls from time to time. That rarely happens today, partly due to being comfortable on the bike.

The other part of it is in being able to put yourself in the other guy's shoes. If you're approaching a car, a good question to ask is, "What does that driver probably want to do?" In many of your examples above, there would be clues in the environment that you could base reasonable predictions on. The better you understand the situation others are in, the better you can anticipate their next actions and place yourself out of harm's way before the "close call" has a chance to materialize.

 

[DataDan]

Also...

• The driver is on his/her cellphone, iphone, smartphone, whatphone, ipod, GPS, morning coffee, lipstick/makeup/mascara, or is engaged in a fiery argument with a passenger, shouting at the kids in the rear, forgot that he/she is pulling a trailer, or just had a bad day/night/personal relations...

The spirit of this thread is looking past factors like that--which obviously do contribute to crashes--and accepting responsibility for your own fate. Yes, drivers are sometimes distracted, but there's not a darn thing you can do about it. What you can do is learn to recognize common situations where driver carelessness would put you at risk and adopt tactics to avoid them.

 

[vaara]

Sometimes if I get past a car that I think is about to do something stupid, I check my 6 to see if they actually did it. This is so I can improve my ability to predict cager behavior.

I constantly practice swerving around manhole covers etc.

 

[Carlo]

I have had quite a few close calls in which my first reaction (after averting the disaster) was anger, even to the point of angry words with the "perpetrator".

Invariably, I feel rotten afterwards for reacting in such a way, which leads to reflection on what happened, and how I could have avoided it sooner, which would have lessened the "need" for anger as a reaction. I always learn from my mistakes.

After many such angry reactions and the resulting shame for being such an asshole, I find myself reacting to other road user's stupidity a lot more calmly, and when I feel the necessity (and the opportunity is available) to let the other road user know what they're doing wrong, I'm able to do it in a far more constructive manner.

 

[Carlo]

Sometimes if I get past a car that I think is about to do something stupid, I check my 6 to see if they actually did it. This is so I can improve my ability to predict cager behavior.

I constantly practice swerving around manhole covers etc.

I'm often in a situation where I think to myself "that person's going to make the worst possible move", and they frequently do exactly what I told myself they were going to do. I think that you eventually achieve the ability to read cues that are so subtle they're received subliminally, and interpreted instinctively.

or, perhaps, drivers tend to make the same stupid moves in similar situations every time?

 

[RobC]

Earlier Post:

Driver ignorance (usually of the 4-wheeled kind) is why I got my Ex-CHiPy 1150RT-P !!

After getting cut-off and nearly painting the left side of Caldecott with my face, not to mention envisioning the new and excting shapes I was sure to be forming as I cartwheeled through the tunnel...I decided to get a commuter bike that generally gets everyone's attention- when they can tear themselves from their cell phones that is

.

I tend to be an "offensive" rider rather than defensive- I always look for a way out and scan including using my mirrors. In the aforementioned near-miss (or near hit?) in the Caldecott- what mattered is what I did- before during and after. He obviously wasn't looking and the lane merge at the entrance left me in his blind spot. I could have avoided this by either making a better estimate of speed and timing to end up in a better (more visible) lane position, OR :shocker maybe even slowed down to get out of his blind spot. In any case- I didn't go down or get squished- and I didn't pull a jackass move and slap his car or cut him off once I was clear of the tunnel.

 

[littlebeast]

i guess i tend to approach riding like i'm stealing my space. if i get away with it, then i've succeeded. a cat burglar of sorts. tricky wins.

 

[SquidStar!]

yeah everytime i ride i always get this feeling that either someone in front of me would either cut in front of me or slam his break.. and i have this mentality of always thinking ..."stay away from broken bones"... so either i ride with a 1 car length in front of me, or as mush as possible i ride with a car in front of me with no one right next to me ..i tend to stay on the side where there would be less traffic and easy to maneuver when emergency happens..

 

[Marcoose]

I didn't get mad at anyone today, but on the way home I rode up and down California St to hone my hill skills. Does it count?

 

[serazin]

We also have to remember and practice the lessons we learn from our experience.

A week ago I was in my usual afternoon commute and a pickup I was passing decided to pass a truck and pulled into my lane while I was next to him. I know better, I should have seen it coming. To add insult to my folly, while I was cussing myself out for doing such a stupid thing, I got next to him again and let him do it again!

NO, he didn't do it intentionally, he was just zoned out and completely unaware of what was going on around him. He didn't even check his mirrors.

I was at fault. I know better I just wasn't practicing what I preach. I let myself get into a bad situation and the only thing that saved me, twice, was my quick reactions. I never should should have been where I was.

 

[Neema12]

Although I am a new rider and have little experience to contribute I have a quick tip that helps me when I ride. I just purchased my first bike and rode on the longest trip today. It was 50 miles in each direction and was on the 680 between san jose and walnut creek.

I left at 10am on a sunny Sunday instead of logging this many miles as my first longer freeway experience during a commute time.

As I was riding north, 10 minutes into my trip a sliver caddy was displaying typical behavior of a bad driver. Changing lanes often, not using signal, and her car was even previously damaged by what looked like a t-bone into the passenger side from a large object. I took these mental notes and continued my ride. 15 minutes later the car was close to 10ft behind me when I looked into my mirror. She changed lanes, sped up, and cut me off. I predicted this and it happened. What I learned in 1Rider was true... I immediately decided I needed to stay away from her car and act offensively to make space between us.

If I was not observant of her previous behavior, avoided to recognize her threat, and lacked the good judgment of reacting after my prediction... then I could have been in an accident after my first week.

Thanks for the helpful information 1Rider