laugh at the novice + filtering question

So two things I learnt today:

1) don't pop the clutch out as you're turning on shiny new tarmac in the wet as you get slidy action!

2) don't lock your chain next to the exhaust as you burn your hand...ouch!

Question - On my way home I have a 3 lane road with a dedicated left turn lane going onto a 2 lane roundabout. This exits onto a 3 lane road with two lanes to turn right (the way I'm going). The first roundabout has no lights, and the second has lights. Both roads have a central reservation with a kerb. It's not really possible to filter down the right due the kerb.

So coming up to the first roundabout there is quite often slowly moving traffic in the two right hand lanes but an empty left turn only lane. Filter down the empty lane, the middle of the other two lanes or not bother?

Coming to the second roundabout there is usually stationary traffic at some point with all three lanes stopped. Again, no room to go down the right hand side. Go down the middle of the two lanes or not filter at all?

Cheers

[fizzwheel]

1st roundabout.

Personally I would not be filtering down the empty left hand lane. That puts you in a vulnerable position. If somebody at the last minute decides they want to be in the lane and they havent spotted you. They'll turn into your path and down you'll go. Personally I'd filter down the middle of the two right hand lanes.

2nd Roundabout

I'd Filter on that. I'd pick the route through the traffic that left me the biggest escape route in case a car driver decides to change lane at the last minute. Also I'd pick the route that put me out onto the roundabout roughly in the correct lane that I wanted. Usually I filter in betwen lanes two and three in that kind of circumstance.

Just keep your speed down and give yourself time to react to last minute lane changes and have an escape route in mind and you'll be just fine.

Personally, I'm just starting to get the feel for filtering, so I look for big open spaces, and if I'm not sure, or hesitant at all, I just sit there in traffic.

On both roundabouts, if there's space, I'd filter down the middle of lanes 2 & 3, trying to keep within the lines so I'm in lane 2 as much as possible.

Also, filter in a low gear as to avoid the low low rev range. I try to keep revs around 5k when filtering. That way, if I'm part way past a car, and they indicate - or worse, move without indicating - a gentle squeeze of the throttle propels me past them quite nicely, and I'm still able to use engine braking for anything happening in front of me.

Also, keep an eye out for other bikes, it's easy to concentrate on the queue ahead, and all of a sudden have a biker in your mirrors. Happened to me on the way home tonight, and he tried to pass me just as I was acellerating around a white van. Not nice seeing him there when I thought it was empty, but when he saw me looking, he backed off & nodded for me to go first, so it wasn't too bad I suppose.

Final point grecian9, from your recent posts, you seem to be pretty much at exactly the same level of riding as myself, and asking questions before I realise about issues. Keep up the good work, I'm learning just as much as you

Well, as an ex courier, I say use whatever space you can find, but BE AWARE and only travel at slow speeds if there's any chance someone can Numpty you.

Then again, when I was a courier I crashed once every 2 weeks, so maybe my advice is a bit... not good...

Originally Posted by Baph

Also, filter in a low gear as to avoid the low low rev range. I try to keep revs around 5k when filtering. That way, if I'm part way past a car, and they indicate - or worse, move without indicating - a gentle squeeze of the throttle propels me past them quite nicely, and I'm still able to use engine braking for anything happening in front of me.

Cracking advice!

OMG, what happened to the emoticons?? They've been multiplying!

ex-courier advice...hmmm

the day I went for my interview in London a courier mounted the pavement on Knightsbridge, went behind the bus stop outside the Lainsborough hotel and nearly hit me. Having lived in London for 3 yrs I realise most couriers will say "use any space available"! I may progress to this level in a few years but right now I'll take the other advice, especially in Bradford, where most car drivers are talking on their phone whilst waving to their mates.

oh and by the way Pigbunk...has anyone ever told you, you look reet like Chino Moreno from the Deftones?

flat out filtering lol any space is mine