[Budd]

I see a lot of people worrying about riding lines. It is really not something you should be bothered with unless you are hitting the track or riding in a group.

Looking at different sites and thinking back to the MSF course, I constantly see the advice for cornering. You know the advice: outside, inside, outside. I have a problem with this advise. It may be great on a track, but I have never been in a legal situation where taking this path is necessary. At legal speeds, you are simply going to make the turn. I have seen the advice contradicted on the same sites that provide it as well. One site gave the advise and then tempered it with, but be sure to stay in a position in your lane that provides for a car coming two feet into your lane. So basically, they were saying, stay on the outside or maybe come over to the middle.

If you are riding in blind corners you are reducing your line of site by going inside. It isn’t safe.

Also, if you are going to ride the centerline on the inside of a turn, watch your head line. That is really the last thing you want sticking out into on coming traffic.

[sarc]

I can partly agree with that, but not completely. Yes, road debris and obstacles don’t always make it feasible to follow the ideal biking line. However, when it comes time to do a quick stop while cornering, (think the last few drills at MSF, don’t remember the number exactly) following those lines will give you the maximal amount of free straight space in which to break or slow down. Just a thought.

While I haven’t run into a situation where this is necessary, one of the instructors harped on this a lot, stating several examples where it really did help him out. Just food for thought. If its distracting you too much, obviously just stick in the lines, but if not, that just one more good habit to get into.

Also, corners can sneak up on you. I’m sure anyone who has ridden for a while has at least one story. Sure, you don’t always mean to bomb through the turns, but in unfamiliar territory, sometimes things happen and you find yourself going in a bit too hot. Its this kinds of situations where being in the habit of riding a good line will pay off, even if you don’t realize it at the time.

Sarc

[megaspaz]

The best line on the street is the one that leaves you the most room to deal with unexpected situations and gives you the most vision through the turn. If you’re planning on canyon carving, look up and understand late apexes.

Edit: on the street you shouldn’t really be worring about the racing line or qualifying line. good to know though. you can never have too much knowledge…

—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…

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