Wet bending.... (hmmm...)

[Doofah]

Hey guys,

I'm very green, wet behind the ears or n00bish, and have a fairly inadequate instruction on my CBT from a 'day 1' instructor...

Sure I can now ride around cones in a car park, and I can make my way 15 miles to my ex's house and back to see the kids... however they're country roads with lots of adverse camber, crap surfacing and horrid white painted blobs masquerading as road markings and mini-roundabouts instead of good old fashioned junctions in what passes as a village around here..

In the little riding experience I have, I've always decelerated as I approach a corner, stayed off the throttle into the corner (very low throttle, no acceleration, trying to keep a stable speed)... and accelerating once I pass the apex, just like in the car.

The problem is my backend is a lot looser in the wet weather we're enjoying, and my limbs are allergic to wet tarmac impacts..

Other than doing the same corners a lot slower, and adding more rear braking to the slowing down mix when necessary - is there a change in routine?

I was also taught to move left for right bends but try to never pass the center of my lane for left bends... unless vital... Oncoming traffic being the obvious hazard... and yet I watch training videos from various sources online and see the occasional instructor snaking to the white line and back for bends.... in a smooth and controlled manner of course... Who's right??

[Reborn]

If you can see there is nothing coming the other way, there is nothing wrong with using all your side of the road to round off the corner.

[indie]

as has been said if you can see round the bend use the full area of your side of the road, as long as your suspension is all ok and your tyres are good with the correct pressure in them youd be suprised as to how much grip you still have in the wet, riding in the wet is just a confidence thing

[Rerb]

Yep, if you can see it's safe why not. If you ever attend an advanced course this is what they will teach you.

[druidsam]

i use as much of my lane as possible making sure my head isnt hanging over the centre line on right handers, and do all my braking before i enter a corner while the bike is upright, if you do need to brake mid corner then only use the back, and use it gently, as indie has said you still have a lot of grip in the wet and once you build up a bit of confidence, you may actually enjoy riding in the rain


.............................Sam

[Maxingwell]

I agree with all the points above but, I'm not sure going the other side of the centre line will get you through your test. It prob something you'd want to do after you have passed.
Also, riding in the wet, from my limited experience, just take it easy to start off with and build up your confidence slowly. I'm still more tense than I should be in the wet but have had a lot of practice in the last week or 2. just watch out for drain covers and 'rainbows'.

[Doofah]

Cool thanks - I watched a moped rider weaving around corners whilst I followed gingerly a few hundred yards back, in the rain, slowing too much for every corner lol..

His lil 50cc kicked my ass - I guess confidence is the trick

[bilbo141]

doofah why not take a look at some of the videos ive posted you may be able to pick up a few tips there its the DSA videos

[grotbag]

Originally Posted by Doofah

Hey guys,

I'm very green, wet behind the ears or n00bish, and have a fairly inadequate instruction on my CBT from a 'day 1' instructor...

I was also taught to move left for right bends but try to never pass the center of my lane for left bends... unless vital... Oncoming traffic being the obvious hazard... and yet I watch training videos from various sources online and see the occasional instructor snaking to the white line and back for bends.... in a smooth and controlled manner of course... Who's right??

As already said, until your test is passed, your instructor is right!

[bilbo141]

and so is grotbag , and i wouldnt be worried about how fast or slow your ridin bends - it only comes with practice,experience, confidence and what a lot of people forget about - BIKE - not all bikes handle the same and you have to be aware of your YOUR limit on that bike not anyone elses - RIDE YOUR RIDE , and just enjoy yourself