Got a way to go yet then....

[skeetly]

I was thinking my pace was coming along nicely until today.
I had the opportunity to try and follow 3 different people today; well bascially they passed me so I thought I'd have a follow to observe lines, position etc.
No chance! They were gone. While I had no intention of being silly i was still amazed at how difficult it was to keep up.

Erm that's all really

[rictus01]

How experienced are you ?, practise is the key, concentrate on doing it right and not on pace out on the road, grabe yourself a copy of motorcycle roadcraft (WH Smiths ?12.99) and try following some of that.

Cheers Mark.

Originally Posted by skeetly

No chance! They were gone.

On the straight or on the bends? As mentioned above, it is down to experience, this does not mean that someone who has ridden for 10 years is more experienced than someone who has ridden for 5 years though. There are many factors in experience, mileage, type of riding, etc...

As also mentioned above, pop in to WH Smith and get the road craft book, even a veteran could learn something from this!

It is always humbling when you find someone faster than you isn't it!! ...

However, if you have indeed improved yourself, there are probably many others that are now slower than you!!

It is a dangerous old world out there on the road, so I wouldn't overly rush yourself, it was wise to hold off rather than end up in the ditch

At the end of the day, why do you want to be as fast as these others anyway?!!?

This is going to come across wrong, but sometimes I wish I DIDN'T ride as fast on the road!! I am a pretty confident rider and I just get in the zone at times and can't stop myself from riding like a total c**t!! ... hell of a buzz at the time but its not good for my licence or life expectancy!! I generally get to the other end and feel guilty for what I have just done!! And ashamed I didn't have more self control!!

It is going to bite me one day, and bite me hard!!

[skeetly]

Rictus: Experience? Freshly peeled and still pink and shiny (well apart form what i remember form years ago)
Pace? I'm not trying to go like the clappers; the bike seems to be able to go much quicker than i feel the need to twist the throttle. I'm concentrating on trying to get a reasonable line through corners (wide to see (on my side), wait as long as I can and then make sure I lean it in plenty and try and come out in the middle of my lane )
I'm making a conscious effort to ignore the speedo really and just rely on what it looks like to decide how fast i can take the corner.
TBH thinking about it this morning I think one problem is me concentrating on what I need to do so much I am braking too early and/or too hard IYSWIM.
By the time I'm in the corner I quite often find I've leaned over too much and have to pick it up again to be where I want to be.

Dave:
Probably both
As mentioned above I think i've sussed it after thinking about this morning.

I'll pick up a copy of that book cheers for the recommendation.

blue: Well they didnt appear to be riding like c####s just sort of got further and further away
I really am trying not to end uo in the ditch (holds nearest wooden thing) but it was interesting as its helped me to analyze what I could do better as I thought i was doing ok really in my own little world.
(Takes hand off head)

Cheers

Originally Posted by skeetly

..

Never seen you ride and probably never will, but I'll bet a shiny penny that if you could improve your braking; that will close the gap more than any other single area

[rictus01]

Although improving your actual riding skills will no doubt help, road craft will also give you better techniques to increase you observational speed, many riders are able to go fast, but a fair few exceed their own observational speed to do this, with the inherent risks involved.

whilst some don't have a health degree of concern over the hazards out there, it's generally because they don't see them, this may mean to start with improving this skill could even slow you down as you'll spot more potential hazards than before, however you will have increased your safety margins a fair bit, so will have tomorrow to keep practicing

Cheers Mark.

[skeetly]

Duly noted and I DO accept the authority of obvious experience here

[JamesMio]

Have you thought about IAM? I'm doing it now, and what they teach is heavily based on the Police RoadCraft techniques.

I've only done 3 observed rides but already my confidence has grown... Well worth a look IMO.

[the_lone_wolf]

Being in your position almost exactly a year ago i can only pass on the most important thing 12 months and 5k miles have taught me:

- The faster you try to ride, the slower and more ragged your riding will be, concentrate on being smooth and you will find that the pace will improve...