Getting back your bottle

an advanced riding tutor once told me that if you can get round the corner on the brakes you can get round it off them. What he was talking about is just the sort of situation you suggest, when your speed is fine for the bend until it suddenly starts to tighten up

Since then this is something I have always gone with and it hasn't let me down once, despite a few scary moments! For most of us the bike is better than we are, and even though you're panicing inside the bike is perfectly capable of getting you round.

The key thing is to fight the urge to tense up - relax yourself and your arms and look ahead as far as you can round the bend. Instead of braking, ease off the throttle slightly which will help scrub off some speed - don't close it totally though or you'll load the weight over the front wheel. Concentrate on being relaxed and watching where you want to go (not the large tree at the side of the road!) and this should see you right.

As Fizzwheel mentioned, if you're not sure what the bend does go in slower - it's much more enjoyable accelerating out than having a brown trouser moment because you went in too fast!!

Cool tips Peter, i'll try it later on.

I got bored at lunch, below is a rough idea of what i mean. Blue being Braking...

Am i on the right track (i know the lines are hard to tell). Where it says 90 ish, thats the corner im having issue with. Going round in a clockwise direction.



Just gonna take some more practice at lower speeds methinks.

[fizzwheel]

I reckon you're about right but its hard to tell as I dont know that bit of road.

It may be that you are breaking in the right place but because of your lack of confidence maybe you are being over cautious and braking to hard.

Try braking earlier and being more gentle with the brake and try and be smoother with your inputs to the throttle, brake and handlebars.

Its just practice try not to over analyse what you are doing. Relax as others have said and try not to fight the bike.

Try going through the corner slower as I said before find a speed that you are comfotable at that allows you to pick a good line. Gradually over time increase your speed making a note of roughly where each time you brake.

I wouldnt keep riding the same piece of road over and over again. Maybe try it two or three times then go off on a longer run and stretch your legs and the bike a bit and come back later on.

Remembering riding a bike is supposed to be fun

I would IMHO say that you have the right idea though.

Edit looking at that again, Personally I would be finishing my braking where you are starting yours and having my entry speed right for the flick onto the roundabout as thats the sharpest point in that bend.

Again just my interpretation.

Have you got a mate who you could follow and watch their line and ask them what they are doing on that bit of road.

Daimo...Fizz's suggestion of getting your braking over and done with sooner is a VERY good one. Doing that you and the bike are nicely settled just waiting for you to lean her in. The less you have to do and think about as you enter a corner the better.

You will have this sorted before you know it. Don't worry about speed, work on being smooth...speed will then naturally follow as you grow in confidance.

YEah i've got my old man, he used to race bikes so can give me some pointers, but he's currently having some of his spine chopped off in an operation, it'll be a while lol.....

Sods bloody law, raining now Bang goes my friday night fun ride home.

Im cool with racing lines etc, all clued up in that, and im very good with the car and lines, but actually DOING it on a bike is a lot different im discovering lol...

I think i'll go back when its dryer and concentrate more on making my braking and throttle more smoother. I'll be braking earlier, and as you say, from there on the speed will eventually come.

Top advice, cheers lads

PS, anyone in NW Kent who wants to know my little "track" then check page 1

Crikey, when it said 90ish I though that was your entry speed!!! I was thinking 'no wonder he has to brake while cornering!'.

Silly me.

Ummm, thats the peak speed on the straight, then im on the brakes, but not tooo hard as the curve is tight.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Daimo

Ummm, thats the peak speed on the straight, then im on the brakes, but not tooo hard as the curve is tight.

How many metres is it do you reckon from where you start to brake to the give way line at the roundabout ?

daimo ,as prev posted ..have the bike in a lower gear (3rd instead of 4th or whatever )and you can use the throttle to 'roll off 'some speed and have more control over ur speed ,rather than braking mid bend its far safer to just roll off the gas (though not ideal)and use the engine braking .thats the biggest and best tip ive had from a fast rider about going in too fast,get set up and in the right gear so that u can either
(1)get on the gas when safe to do so ,or
(2)roll off to slow down even more
try not to go into a bend in too high a gear,you know what i mean(40 mph in top )and have very little engine braking ,try it ,it works