STREET SMART

[William Tan]

What i always tell my friends:

 

Always be aware of your surrounding.

 

I know some ppl who rarely checks his mirrors. Some even fold them up!

 

For me, even if the car is travelling at the same speed as me, but i am too close. i will chose to change to clearer lane whenever possible. I have the "circle-of-freespace" that i try to apply whenever possible.

 

I always try to make sure that the cars infront and behind me are at a distance, and whenever possible, i will also make sure my sides are clear. That's why,

 

Always be aware of your surrounding.

[yappiez]

How about the importance of having good side mirrors and using them?

This actually saved me from going under 2 timber trucks in Malaysia which were beating the red lights..

 

Traffic behind is just as important as those in front.

[james70]

Alan,

Well Done for this Topic. Will be of Great help to all newbie out there including me.

Love the "Concept" & "Atitude" thingy.

Years of Riding Experience will definately make a difference here.

Ride Safe n Steady.

James

[Spectrum]

Thks for All your Views.

Your contribution is Invaluable to Both Newbie & Experience Riders.

 

As For the 1st 6 minutes of riding...

 

There are some suggestions:

 

Be Extra Cautious riding the 1st 6 mins & concentrate on the road.

or...

If u have some other means of transport... drive, mrt, bus, walk...

(u accually takes away 50% of being hurt)

[Spectrum]

Originally posted by vfrT@Mar 11 2005, 09:45 AM

Leaving earlier for your destination does not take away the fact that most of the accident happens at the beginning of your journey. Another point to note is that your tyre has not warmed up yet, so taking a big turn at speed immediately is risky.

 

As for a riding at a leisurely pace, I find that this is even more risky as the mind is not concentrated on riding. I can testify to this as I had 2 major accidents - both when i was riding at a leisurely pace; once at no more than 30 km per hour- when I was hit by a high speed car; the other time I was going no more than 40kmph and not concentrating and hit a pile of gravel left by road constructor at the side of the road and went down hard.

 

I now ride safe - that is using my brain and at a safe speed relative to the road and traffic condition. Since then *touch wood* i have been accident free. Oh I have been riding since 1974.

Concentration is Very Important!

 

As for What would be the Best Speed to Ride...

 

The Recommended Speed Is...

 

Same as the Flow of the Traffic

or

Slightly Faster...

 

The Greater the Difference in Speed...

The higher the Risk in Having an Accident... :thumb:

[BuZZBeaM]

Originally posted by Spectrum@Mar 9 2005, 10:48 PM

Buzzbeam...

 

was wondering if u could tell us a bit of your story of the events...

 

 

1) (less than 5mins into my journey)Wet road, not raining.. exit KJE to BKE, change lane from 3rd to 1st lane, suddenly notice e cars infront ebrake to avoid an accident infront, i kan chiong spider, ebrake too, feel e rear wheel lock but still going straight.. heading towards e rear of a coach! *PANIC* steer my handlebar (my rear wheel lock) to avoid it, in e end me & e bike skidded on e tarmac! luckily all e cars behind me manage to stop in time. I've learnt to access e situation better & not to change 2 lanes @ a time

 

2) (1min from my hse MSCP) Early morning to work, skidded on a filter lane. Rd is not wet, no sand/small stones either. So Either im going too fast or i bend too low. Tires not warm up yet. Learnt not to b complacency on e route tat i know very well.

 

Both incident happen 1-2years back, both happen when im going to work (could it be cos of going to work ?? )

[pigsmu]

1 have a golden rule which I always stick to.

 

Never ride near a Taxi!!!

[BuZZBeaM]

Due to e recent uprise of TP using camera, I've been looking up e bridge everytime i pass by 1. I feel like Im a road hazard, any1 do tat as well?

[Spectrum]

Buzz, Fortunate that when u Skidded... The cars behind stopped...

 

As for the low spd drop...

 

...could be cold tires, as tires grip better as they warm up.

That's why we see the GP riders going zig zag before the start of the race.

 

Another reason could be insufficent tire pressure.

Had a few drop myself till some gd advise from my fellow bikers to pump up.

 

When bikes is left untouch for a few days...

The Tires pressure decreases pretty fast.

Unlike Car tires..

 

So with insufficent tire pressure...

the bike does not turn easy and when it does...

And when it turns.. It dives into the Road.

[Spectrum]

Originally posted by BuZZBeaM@Mar 12 2005, 05:05 PM

Due to e recent uprise of TP using camera, I've been looking up e bridge everytime i pass by 1. I feel like Im a road hazard, any1 do tat as well?

If we travel with the spd of the general traffic... Think no need to Worry about Cameras...

[Guest shebiker67]

Advice not to ride when you are emotionally unstable. It's pretty often to hear people drive/ride after they have arguements or dispute or when something has happen. However, the driver/rider are not in the stable mindset to concentrate on the road. Eg: after breakup with bf/gf or argue with bf/gf... and he/her may speed or did not concentrate on the road because mind is elsewhere.

 

Therefore, it'll be good to go public eg bus ride for him/her to sit down and think over things that has happen etc.

 

Hope this helps.

[Spectrum]

Well Said... Anything that is Taking Away the Attention Required On the Road Traffic would be Dangerous to U.

 

Ahem... Let someone else drive U home. Taxi, Bus, MRT...

or Ask your riding buddies come find U & share a Teh Tarik.

 

And when U feel more settle... They can pillon u back or ride back with U.

 

If No One to Call...

http://www.samaritans.org.sg/images/header/worried.jpg

Call... There is always someone who cares about U...

Just Don't Ride till U are OK emotionally....

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Tip04.jpg

[Spectrum]

STREET SMART

TIP OF THE DAY #4

 

Less Traffic = Fewer hazards equals Less Risk & Stress.

 

Try Leaving Your HOME a Little Earlier eg. 15min/30min

And see if the amount of Traffic is Much lesser.

 

U can always pack your breakfast & have it at your place of work.

With a 3 in One coffee bag. (can even make u slimmer)

 

Try Leaving your Place of Work Later eg. 15/30min

& see if the Traffic is much lesser.

 

Consider adjusting your work schd

And maybe make the trip more enjoyable.

 

TRY Different Routes TO your Place of Work/Home.

 

Some maybe Longer... But if the Traffic is low...

U will probably get there in Better Shape.

[calvin]

jus my 2cent worth

 

know your limit

know your bike limit

cross the limit & you are in the danger zone

 

ride safely

[Ravon11]

Well.. after some years of riding on the road..

I feel tat there's this thing which is quite impt to riders n drivers.

 

Try to read the road n traffic.

erm.. jus lik how a footballer read the game: where the ball goes, where he shld position himself at..

Rider or driver read tat taxi, buses, lorries may swerve out or sudden brakin.. r examples ..

 

An example:

My experience.. Once riding along a neighbourhood rd at night. 1 car abt 3 to 4 car length behind. a taxi wif hazard lights on dropping some1 by the side of the rd abt 200metres ahead. I immediately read tat the taxi can jus move off suddenly. N true indeed it jus drove out wif the hazards lights on!! But luckly i'm already prepared to slow down..!!

 

Well.. tis is wat i mean by reading the rd.. Anyone wif similar experience?

[William Tan]

Something like pre-intuation. As in try to predict. This is something that can't be taught. Just have to gain in through experience.

 

Some ppl do learn, some don't. Guess some are just meant to ride and some aren't.

[Fc2222B]

Originally posted by Spectrum@Mar 12 2005, 07:17 PM

...could be cold tires, as tires grip better as they warm up.

That's why we see the GP riders going zig zag before the start of the race.

bro... zig zagging does not really warm up tires... hehe i think its a misconception.. but GP riders do dat to get a feel of the grip they have from the tires... at the same time.. seeing if the handling is alright just immediately before a race starts...

 

since they have tire warmers on... the tires are almost up to race temperature already from the start...

 

as for warming up tires... the best way i've read from Mags and tried out myself.. to get heat into tires is.. hard braking on straights for the front and hard acceleration for the rear tire.. on the roads.. well.. just be cautious till u have 10km or so of riding done...

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/StreetSmart005.jpg

[Spectrum]

SEE & BE SEEN

 

This Picture was taken last week.

Driver turning out from a minor Junction in to a Main Road.

 

If for any reason... Driver a little late for appointment, tired....

as to lack concentration in anyway

& miss seeing the difficult to see bike...

 

He would have turn Car right Into His Lane

 

And .... SURPRISE!

 

The Biker will have to do Emergency Braking or

Serve Right into the Next Lane to avoid the Car...

Hoping There are no Vehicles on that lane.....

 

Riding in the Shadow may be a Cool Thing to Do on a Hot Day...

But Beware of Drivers that Just don't see U...

 

Never Assume That U are Visible...

It is Better to Assume That U are InVisible!

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/StreetSmart5.jpg

 

Way to Protect Ourself...

 

 

Plan A: If u Are Prepared Mentally that

The Vehicle Is Coming out into your Lane (cos he does not see U.)

 

Obviously, U would Slow Down to let Him thru...

Maybe look Behind to take the Next Lane Right (checking for traffic of course)

 

Plan B: Flash Highbeam/Friendly Horn to Let Him know U are Coming.

Beware! Him Slowing Down does not means He is Stopping...

On One Occassion...

A car slowed down but did not stop and drove right in front of me.

(Did not see the Stop Sign for Him)

 

I could not stop even with max brakes.

Crash into his side with My car...

Spd was slow... Min damage.

No Injury to occupants!

 

Remember!

In a Crash... The driver will walk out to see the damage...

Car & U... IN that order...

As for the Rider...

I am sure the Rider will Suffer a Little More injuries.

 

Just A add-on:

 

Hear from fellow motorist working around there...

This Corner at Guillemard Rd is has many bad Accidents...

Wonder why?

But remember... Know the Statistic but do not be One...

[none]

Good thread

Spectrum, you should go and setup your own bike column, for the way you present the tips.

[Spectrum]

Originally posted by Fc2222B@Mar 14 2005, 05:44 PM

bro... zig zagging does not really warm up tires... hehe i think its a misconception..

Thks FOR The Enlighting Information...

[Spectrum]

Originally posted by none@Mar 14 2005, 06:19 PM

Good thread

Spectrum, you should go and setup your own bike column, for the way you present the tips.

Most of the TIPs are From Books, Magazines & My Riding Buddies...

Now I learn Plenty More...

From The Contributions From Fellow Bikers IN this Thread...

Best We Learn from Each Other's Experience...

It Widens Our Knowledge...

...In the Hope That Less of Us gets Hurt!

So... Just Post Your Views & Your Road Adventures...

(even be it a simple incident or observation)

Discuss it... SO that we can all LEARN.

And Have More Enjoyable RIDES!

 

As u can read from the above Post..

...I had the wrong concept on ZIG-ZAGGING in warming up the Tires...

 

So Ride easy for the 1st 6 mins till your tires warm UP!

 

NB: Hey "None" Mae Hong Son... Nice Riding

Frontier.

Some Stories to Share for Riding Up North-North

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/StreetSmart06.jpg